The WCC/NW region held its second celebration in Washington State on August 21', 1999. The masters of ceremony were Rithy Lim, Project Treasurer, and Ms. Sarom Kloth, WCC's youth leader.

Honoring the ceremony was Professor Naranhkiri Tith PhD. SAIS of Johns Hopkins University Washington DC. He gave an impressive speech on " New Citizenship Implies Not Only Rights and Privileges but Also Duties and Responsibility ". The theme of his speech had been translated into Cambodian for distribution. It touched all aspects of citizenship, especially for the Cambodian people by telling them to exercise their rights and understand democratic principles, the rule of law and citizens roles. To the young people, he asked them to take full advantage of what the American society has to offer and challenged them to dare to dream and to aim high and try their best. To realize these dreams they must have education; and then they have a good chance to succeed. Many of them had never heard of nor participated in this kind of event before. The Cambodian people are just barely clawing their way back from a long civil war. They have been traumatized. This is our priority mission to educate and move them toward these principles.

Following Dr. Tith's speech, Mr. Setthivuth Oung, WCC/NW President, addressed how he and other members in Washington are nurturing the US senators and local representatives to promote and defend democracy, the rule of law and human rights in Cambodia and integrating the Cambodian people into mainstream America, and how our members established four projects this year? What was the benefit to the community? He received letters from Slade Gorton, US Senator, and Jack McCalf, US Congress congratulating WCC/NW organization for the projects which have served the community at large in Snohomish County. Ms. Vonnie Hong, WCC Executive President came from Connecticut to support our activities and reported on WCC activities since she was elected president. Mabbeskal Man, Vice president from Oregon, talked about peace and development in the State of Oregon, what he had gone through in the past before joining the organization, and what other members do in the Northwest Region.

Moreover, Shari Schneider, a Board member from United Way, the grant donor, gave an excellent speech about the grant and our project. Kathy Urig, program assistant in Foods and Nutrition from Washington State University Cooperative Extension, spoke about the Senior Program which was translated by Rithy Lim. She was happy to help WCC in Washington State by assisting in teaching the program. She said how important the project was to help the elderly Cambodian take care of themselves by changing their old habits of cooking and choosing healthy food. It was hard to make the change, but they were willing to cooperate in reducing high blood pressure, diabetes and cholesterol.

Matha Peppones, director of Senior Services of Snohomish County, provided information about the services available in the area and answered questions from the group in the class. She said no one from the Cambodian Community has participated in the nutrition services available, such as meals on wheels, congregation meals or meal sites that the county has provided. This was the first time that WCC/NW members have been established and organized in almost 20 years of US residency. The contract manager and her assistant, Catherine Wu, from Human Services Department, city of Everett, also came to the special event to lend support.

Dean of ABE/ESL, Bill Sperling, from Everett Community College gave an in depth speech on the subject of" English As a Second language and Immigration and Naturalization Issues" with verbal translation into Cambodian by Monica Oung. He expressed admiration for all Cambodian people who had studied hard and passed the INS test. He also conducted the US National Anthem, the Star Spangled Banner.

This was our first time that the celebration had the students from the Cambodian American Cultural Adjustment class performing the traditional " Coconut Dance" which was organized by Sokha Seam, the Project Officer. Monica Oung, WCC/NW General Secretary, thanked all the guests from other agencies and WCC supporters with a bouquet of roses for their support and their commitment to the success of this project. This celebration brought all the Cambodian people, young and old, other group leaders, and the monks together. Some of the elderly Cambodian became very nostalgic watching our traditional Coconut Dance.

Since the start of the project in Feb. '99, the county newspaper reporter and the director of the Campaign Committee from United Way have come to interview and video record some of the Cambodian elderly. Their reports reflect the progress in the lives of these people, how they came to the USA and the problems they had, what they are looking for in the future, and what they think about the Senior Project they have been involved with. This report will appear in the county newspaper in late September 1999. The tapes are currently available for public showing. The picture showing representatives from several successful organizations and groups will be distributed in a brochure to interested parties for fund raising purposes. This group poster will be seen on community transit buses in the fall of '99. The United Way Campaign Committee was the sponsor of this excellent idea.