The Vietnamese American Bar Association of Northern California's mission has been, and remains, to provide a forum for Vietnamese American attorneys to exchange ideas, build professional and social networks, continue to acknowledge the accomplishments of members in our community, and to utilize our resources to help the public. Last year marked a major milestone for VABANC as we celebrated our Tenth Anniversary. VABANC has come a long way since its formation in 1998, when a small group of dedicated Vietnamese American attorneys gathered at the home of the organization's first President, My-Le Jacqueline Duong. Over the years, VABANC has had many achievements -- from its mentorship programs, law clinics, to hosting the National Conference of Vietnamese American Attorneys. The relationships we have built with Vietnamese American attorneys, law students, and the legal community have allowed us to continue to grow as a bar association each year.

The 2009 Board will continue the work VABANC has accomplished. Our goals are to strengthen the bonds we have established in the legal community and continue to promote the professional growth of our members. VABANC's success can be attributed to its members who have volunteered countless hours to help promote and raise awareness of VABANC's many projects and programs. Once again, we are reaching out to existing and new members to participate in our mentorship program, pro-bono law clinics, and community outreach programs this year. We encourage law students who have demonstrated a strong commitment to serving the Vietnamese American community in California to apply for our scholarships. This year's Board hopes to build on the momentum of the past years to continue growing and achieving goals that will reflect the unity of the Vietnamese American legal community in the Bay Area.