For all our graduates...

Hello friends & colleagues -

The Asian and Pacific Islander American Vote (APIAVote) is pleased to announce the re-opening of its Executive Director search process. You may be familiar with our work and our partnerships with local and national AAPI community based organizations. APIAVote is a progressive 501 (c)(3) nonprofit organization that promotes civic participation of the Asian and Pacific Islander community.

The position of Executive Director requires strong field strategy and management experience. APIAVote's primary goal is to build the field and organizational capacity of our local and national partner organizations, through coalition building and training. Its program focus addresses voter registration, get-out-the-vote (GOTV) initiatives, media/communications strategy and voter file operations.

The Executive Director reports directly to the Board of Directors and oversees a small staff that does administrative, field, communications, and program management tasks. S/he is responsible for day-to-day operations including its effective staff administration, fundraising, communications, field organizing, training and partner relationships.

This is a wonderful organization that addresses a distinct community need. It is also a great opportunity for a qualified and innovative candidate. Please forward this to your networks, and any interested parties. If you have any questions regarding APIAVote, please take a look at our website (www.apiavote.org/jobs), or contact the ED Search Committee at APIAVotejobs@gmail.com.

Thank you for your help.

Sincerely,

Jeanette Moy

Executive Director Search Committee

APIAVote Board of Directors

Vida Benavides

Interim Executive Director

APIAVote

______________________________________________________________________
POSITION: Executive Director

INSTITUTION: Asian & Pacific Islander American Vote (APIAVote)

LOCATION: Washington, DC

DEADLINE: April 15, 2009



ABOUT APIAVote: Founded in 1996, APIAVote is a national nonpartisan, nonprofit organization that encourages and promotes civic participation of Asian Pacific Islander Americans in the electoral and public policy processes at the national, state and local levels. APIAVote envisions a society in which all Asian and Pacific Islander Americans fully participate in and have access to the democratic process.

The Executive Director of APIAVote will report to the board of directors and manage a team of professionals and staff appropriate to the scope and scale of the organization's work.

SPECIFIC EXPECTATIONS: The Executive Director of APIAVote will have the primary responsibility of leading the organization through:

Fundraising and Financial Management

· Develop, manage and monitor organization's fundraising plan, including building and maintaining relationships with funders. Develop, manage and monitor organization's financial management system.

Programs

· Develop and oversee all programs of APIAVote, including field and leadership programs.

· Assist local partners to implement their civic participation campaigns.

· Develop and oversee APIAVote's communications program, to promote awareness of API civic engagement issues and highlight the work of local partners.

Coalition building and collaboration

· Promote strategic alliances and collaborations with organizational and institutional partners.

· Establish APIAVote as a leader in convening diverse Asian American and Pacific Islander communities to project a unified voice.

Personnel Management

· Hire, manage and evaluate staff and contractors, and provide supervision to senior and administrative staff, ensuring that staff have adequate resources, training and support.

Board Development

· Maintain strong and effective relations with the Board of Directors by providing thoughtful and timely information.

· Provide support to Board committees and assist with Board cultivation and development.

CANDIDATE QUALIFICATIONS: This position requires a motivated individual with experience in financial management and oversight, strategic planning, civic engagement, community/electoral organizing and fundraising at the national level. Excellent communication and presentation skills are required. Ability to manage staff and resources efficiently is critical.

COMPENSATION: Competitive salary commensurate with skills and experience. Full health and dental insurance provided.

SEND RESUMES TO: APIAVote Executive Director Search Committee - apiavotejobs@gmail.com

FOR MORE INFORMATION: Please visit www.apiavote.org/jobs or send an inquiry to apiavotejobs@gmail.com

Change.org recently sent this e-mail to Nhu-Y's friend Olga M., who forwarded it to Nhu-Y, who forwarded it to us:

Hello Olga,

We're happy to let you know that the final round of voting for the Ideas for Change in America competition begins today, and an idea you voted for – Pass the DREAM Act - Support Higher Education for All Students – qualified for the final round!

Voting has been reset to zero for the final round, so this idea needs your vote again. To vote, click on the following link:

www.change.org/ideas/view/pass_the_dream_act_now

You can further help support this idea by forwarding this link to friends, or posting it on your blog, Twitter account, or Facebook profile if you have one.

The final round of voting ends on January 15, and the following day we are co-hosting an event at the National Press Club with the Case Foundation to announce the top 10 rated ideas and present them to the Obama administration. We will then launch a national campaign in coordination with our nonprofit partners to ensure that each idea gets the full consideration of the administration and 111th Congress.

To select your "Top 10 Ideas for America," go to www.change.org/ideas today.

We look forward to seeing you on the site!

- The Change.org Team

The Asian American Legal Defense and Education Fund (AALDEF) recently released preliminary results from its 2008 General Election Asian American exit poll. Check it out here.

Various Blaaagers and members of the Columbia Asian American Alliance were poll monitors for AALDEF on November 4th. We were assigned to various locations, among them Queens, Brooklyn, and, in my case, Philadelphia. After twelve hours of monitoring, some of us became delusional, others suffered caffeine induced seizures. My favorite experience that day involves a drunk voter at my poll site who enjoyed calling everyone "Chiquita".

Nothing, however, will ever be on the same level as an encounter I had at a Chinatown poll site during the 2007 Democratic Primary. I asked a voter what his ethnicity was for the survey, and this was our conversation:

Me: What is your ethnicity, Sir?
Voter: Sexy.
Me: Um, could you specify?
Voter: I am sexy.
Me: Okay...

Perhaps readers of the Blaaag (yes, all THREE of you out there in cyberworld) will be motivated to volunteer with AALDEF in the next election, so they, too, can be harassed. It's partly offensive, partly amusing, and TOTALLY EMPOWERING!

Just a friendly reminder to VOTE! DO IT! DO IT! And if you encounter problems, report them! YOU HAVE AGENCY!

Okay, pre-election anxiety kicking in, obviously.

Have a wonderful Tuesday, folks.

The New York voter registration deadline is this Friday, October 8th! If you haven't already done so, please register here.

If you are from out of state, please check your local deadlines. Google has this handy map interface that can help you determine your local voter registration information. All you have to do is type in your address! You can find it here.

Check these out. One is funny, another well-intentioned... and the last is plain ridiculous. Leave your thoughts in the comments.