Again - thank you again for the amazing job you did on July 4th. The parade was a big success thanks to you! You made our Vietnamese-American Community very proud. Several Vietnamese media stations covered the event and we will be (or have been) broadcasted all over the U.S.

In honor of our dedicated volunteers and performers we’d like to invite you to a
Volunteer Appreciation BBQ
Saturday, July 12 @ 11:30am
Lubber Run Park
N. Columbus & 2nd St. N.
Arlington, VA 22203
You can also access the park @ the corner of N George Mason & Park & N. Park Drive. This is the Handicap entrance (has no steps to the shelter) and has double the parking spaces (b/c it’s in front of the Lubber Run Community Center). The park is immediately adjacent to the Community Center down a trail.

Please RSVP for this event by Wednesday, July 9, 2008 to july4thproject(a)gmail.com. Please let me know YES (how many people, you may bring ONE guest max) or NO.

Friday, July 4, 2008
Arrive 9:00AM SHARP

Willston Multicultural Center
6131 Willston Dr
Falls Church, VA 22044

Note: The building facilities will be closed. Meet in the parking lot IN THE BACK. Please use the rest room before you arrive.

EVERYONE:
 Drink plenty of water on Thursday, July 3rd and use the restroom before the performance
 Apply sun block
 Do not bring additional items that you cannot carry (i.e. purses, backpacks, etc)
 NO Sunglasses (during the parade performance)
 Wear comfortable walking shoes. Avoid flip flops and sandals.
 Arrive dressed in costume and make-up
 Be prepared for a hot & humid day

FAN AND HAT DANCERS - GIRLS
 Please style hair (bun only) and make up (bright lipstick, blush, eyes, etc) on your own before arriving
 Wear comfortable white shoes (NO flip flops)
 Fan dancers only: Wear LONG sleeved ao dai with collar
 Optional: Wear a tank top and/or light cotton shorts underneath your ao dai (so you can take it off after the parade)
 If you borrowed an ao dai and/or pants, return it to Tini immediately when we return to Willston Center (this means you should wear a light shirt and shorts underneath)

FLAG/COLOR GUARD HOLDERS - BOYS
 Wear light colored khaki pants (no cargo or carpenter pants)
 Wear comfortable black shoes
 Wear a PLAIN WHITE T-SHIRT (no designs) underneath your costume

***
Please eat breakfast prior to arriving. A snack bag & water will be provided when we ARRIVE in DC at 11:00AM. We will be taking buses up to DC. Your signed waiver will be your ticket to board the bus. We will leave Washington, DC around 1:45PM (or when the parade is over) and return to Willston Center. Upon returning, please return props to Tini (or whoever is charge of collecting). At that time, lunch money will be distributed for everyone to enjoy a meal together at Eden Center or a location of your choice.

Thank you for volunteering! There will be a tentative volunteer appreciation barbeque on Saturday, July 26th. Time and location are to be announced.

Questions? Call Tini (703) 731-6177

We are proud the National Independence Day Parade organizers chose us to be one of 75 groups to participate in this year’s celebrations. The parade takes place in the heart of downtown Washington, DC on Constitution Avenue with over 300,00 spectators! This is our 17th consecutive year and we hope you will join us! The 2008 theme for our unit is Vietnamese Americans Celebrating Freedom.

WE’RE COUNTING ON YOU TO MAKE THIS YEAR A SUCCESS!

Volunteers of all ages are needed to dance (no experience necessary, we teach you), hold banners, and work “behind-the-scenes”/ logistics. Some practices are required depending on your role.

NOTE: MANDATORY MEETING FOR ALL VOLUNTEERS ON JUNE 28 OR 29 IN ORDER TO PARTICIPATE IN THE PARADE.

More about each role below:

Performers

This year we are featuring three performing groups:
* Hat Dancers (Youth and beginning dancer - female)
* Fan Dancers (Intermediate/Advanced dancers - female)
* Color Guard/Flag bearers (male)

Practices will be held on Saturday and Sundays throughout June in Arlington, VA. More details to come…

Banner Holders

It is what it sounds like! We need at least 30 people to hold the banners to represent our community. Ao dai for men and women required (we can provide one for you, but let us know in advance). Mandatory meeting on either June 28 or June 29.

Behind the Scenes/Logistics

Don’t like the limelight but want to help out? In addition to performers, we need people working all the logistical pieces behind the scene too! We need help with the following areas:
* Costumes/Props/Makeup
* Logistics Managers for Parade Day Coordination
* Operations Team (food, transportation, security, etc.)

Please email Tini Dinh @ tini.dinh@gmail.com or july4thproject@gmail.com for more information and/or to sign up. Please state:

1) Desired role (mostly in need of dancers)
2) Your availability for practices on Saturday and/or Sunday afternoons.
3) If you have a Vietnamese Ao Dai to wear for the parade.

We also still need help doing fundraising and recruitment PLEASE PASS THE WORD ON TO ALL YOUR FRIENDS! This is a wonderful opportunity to meet new friends, have a memorable July 4th and represent the Vietnamese Community in this national celebration of freedom.