The San Jose Cambodian Buddhist, Inc. - VERB

With VERB's Program, Committee of SJCBS has implemented the following:

GOALS: Our main goals for this project are to convert our bookkeeping from paper to electronic format, improve the youth sport programs and increase the capacity of the Saturday Khmer classes. The sport programs have been revived from a few participants to two great teams with their team uniforms and coaches. The sports programs have strengthened our youths with teamwork and communication as well as their fitness. Our Saturday Khmer school received classroom supply for four classrooms to support about 35-40 students each Saturday and continued to attract more new ones. The Saturday Khmer teaching program has built up stronger bonds between children and parents through spending time and working on projects together.

Committee of VERB's Program: Committee is looking to recruite more volunteers to help run this program to achieve the goal of both SJCBS and VERB (SEARAC).


Perom Uch - Lead 2004	Norind Su - Lead 2003	Van Check	Chanthoeun To

Bun So	Savouth Chea	Paul Lon	Paul Tun	William (Meng) Tan

Improvement of Administration Structure:

We have set up a small network and installed the DSL service at our office. We created a computer training course which was customized for our staff whom have limited or no skills with computer usage. The SJCBS now has one desktop, four laptop computers set up with DSL internet connection and one laser printer with copying capability. The desktop is now used as the main computer with the Window XP Home Edition and other desktop software applications like MS Office XP (including Khek Font – Khmer font). The laptops also have the same configuration. They are mainly used for training sessions. The computers and printers have helped the SJCBS administrative staff to work on their tasks efficiently and manage their work electronically with professional standard output.

The first training was given to four of our staff members by Mr. Chanthoeun To on July 31, 2003. In August and September, we increased the number of sessions from bi-monthly to weekly to make up the lost time.

	Bookkeeping/Tracking System: Our administrative staffs are able to sit in front of computer screen and input all records electronically. The records are up-to-date with less discrepancy in their numbers. With the electronic format, the staff can access to the records and be able to generate financial statement in a few minutes

	Training Class: Computer and Internet Training are designed to help the administrative staff and others to become information technology literate. Most of the trainees are elders and have not kept up with the new information age. The internet session helped them with research skills in finding available information on the Internet. They know how to utilize web search engines as well as Internet address (HTTP). The training session also teaches the SJCBS staff how to communicate electronically via e-mail. This computer training will be offered to general members in the near future


	JOINING CONFERENCE AND WORKSHOP:


	Mr. Perom Uch, Vice President of San Jose Cambodian Buddhist Society Inc. and Cambodian American Resource Agency, Lead 2004 VERB Program, attended 2004 National Refugee Program Consultation at Washington, DC(June 22-June 25, 2004). This year themes are Achievement and Challenge. The event was sponsored by U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, was attended by ~ 600 leaders who are working with Office of Refugee Resttlement (ORR) to help refugees, asylees and other beneficiaries establish the new life founded on the dignity of economic self-support and full participation in opportunities which Americans enjoy. June 22, 2004: from 09:00 AM-03:30 PM: Pre-ORR Conference Special Event at George Mason University, School of Public Policy. See attached pictures. June 23, 2004: Capitol Hill Visit from 10 AM-Noon. Go with TC Duong, the Advocacy Initiative Manager and






	Mr. Sophy Pitch - Project Associate of VERB (SEARAC) and Ms. Naomi Steinberg - VERB Project Manager for Administration visited the San Jose Cambodian Buddhist Society, Inc. (Watt Khmer San Jose). Hosted by Vann Chekk - President of Watt Khmer San Jose, Perom Uch - VP of Watt Khmer San Jose and Chanthoeun To - Committee member.




	Asian Pacific American Leadership Project (APA): The Northern California Leadership Submit, February 20 - 21, 2004 Three members from Watt: Perom Uch, Norind Su, and Chanthoeun To, attended this submit in San Francisco introducting, learning and networking with Asian Pacific American Leaders including






	Aging Among Southeast Asian Americans in California: Friday, October 17, 2003 by SEARAC - three board members, Mr. Perom Uch, Mr. Van Chek, Mr. Paul Lon attended this conference: Assessing Strengths and Challenges, Strategizing for the Future in Sacramento, CA



	Opportunity Conferences: September 24, 2003, two board members, Mr. Norind Su and Mr. Chanthoeun To attended the Opportunity conference in Washington DC



	VERB's Workshop: July 9, 2003, Mr. Norind Su lead his board members, Mr. Perom Uch and Mr. Chanthoeun To to attended the VERB training in Richmond CA

Community Activities:

SPORT TEAMS:

Mr. Paul Lon and his two assistant coaches have brought back the two basketball and volleyball teams that we had. Now the basketball team has 16 players and 9 for the volleyball team. The sport team is known as "Hanuman". <Click here for more details>

The Cambodian Youth Sport teams practice twice a week on Tuesday and Friday, from 7-9 p.m. since August at the indoor gym of J W Fair Middle School in San Jose. We hope within a few months both teams will be ready to compete with other local teams.

Basketball Team - (Name of Coach and Members)

Valleyball Team - (Name of Coach and Members)

CAMBODIAN SCHOOL: (Click here for more)

Mr. Paul Lon is voluntarily a representative from the school.

The School is operated by school board members:

Mr. Bophal Phen
Mr. Kas Thon
Mr. Lok Krou Lee
Mr. Paul Lon
Mr. Sok Ly Ea
Mr. Nepar Pen
Mr. Sovandy Hang

This program offers Khmer teaching to our children every Saturday from 9-12 a.m. for about ten years with funding from various non-profit organizations. With the recent cutback due to the frail economy, the SJCBS has allocated a portion of this grant to rebuild and maintain the four classrooms that we have. With this support the program is able to preserve about 40 students and hope to expand to 60 students in the near future. The grant was used mainly to help with classroom supply and other expenses.

Other Activities of Committees with VERB and Other Organizations:

As Mr. Sopy Pich, Project Associate of Values, Empowerment, Resources, and Betterment (VERB), came down to visit his grassroot partners in Northern California, we had a chance and were invited to join Dinner with him and other organizations (Laos and Vietnamese). On the left picture counting from the right of sitting around table, Mr. Paul Lon (SJCBS), Mr. Chanthoeun To (SJCBS), Mr. Sophy Pech (VERB), Mr. Perom Uch (SJCBS), Mr. Van Check (SJCBS), and third person counting from the left is Mr. Norind Su. The casual join dinner discussion was very important and valuable to us for improving the way we handle and implement the VERB's grant to benefit our organization based on the goal of VERB.