[Tlc] L-Lao Studies support

[justinm at ucr.edu]

Sabaydii!

Creating an organization and developing its programs can be a
slow and arduous process that requires hard work, passion,
dedication, and sound financial support.  The Center for Lao
Studies (CLS) is run by volunteer staff who have dedicated
many hours of their valuable time to this one of a kind
organization. However, the most difficult aspect of our work
is obtaining the level of financial support needed to sustain
the organization's everyday operations and valuable programs.
 I often compare the Center for Lao Studies to an
inexperienced college graduate who is searching for a first
real job.  Without much experience, he or she would need to
work harder than most to get a job, and without the job he or
she would have no experience.  CLS is this new graduate,
trying to build its reputation with limited funding, one
program at a time--in the hope that funders will see the
importance of what we do.  

Without funding we cannot afford to improve our programs, hire
paid staff or obtain our own office space.   Therefore, we are
turning to you, our loyal supporters, to ask for a financial
gift that will strengthen our mission, which is to promote and
advance the field of Lao Studies in all disciplines through
research, education, seminars, conferences, cultural
exchanges, and exchange programs.  This past year, your
financial contribution enabled CLS to support a few programs,
such as co-hosting the Second International Conference on Lao
Studies.  We hope you will continue your support by becoming a
member of the Center for Lao Studies, or, if you are already a
member, renewing your membership.  

The Center for Lao Studies is a unique organization that
serves both as an academic and a resource center.  What makes
our center stand out is our devotion to exclusively developing
and promoting the field of Lao Studies.  In a university
setting, Lao Studies tends to fall under the umbrella of
bigger fields of study and under various administrative
structures, such as Centers for Southeast Asian Studies or
Centers for Asian Studies.  In most cases Lao Studies is not
the main focus--Lao specialist faculty are almost nonexistent,
Lao language is not taught, and research and publications on
Lao-related topics are rare.  The Center for Lao Studies is
committed to filling this void by working with academic
institutions and community organizations around the world to
initiate exceptional programs.  Often these programs have
never before been implemented, such as the Journal of Lao
Studies and our Summer Study Abroad program that allows
students the opportunity to study Lao in Laos.  

CLS relies on people like you to ensure that Lao Studies will
no longer be ignored as an academic field of study--you are
the backbone of our organization.  One way to help is by
becoming a member of CLS or renewing your membership.  Please
consider contributing $50, $75, or whatever you can afford. 
The easiest and fastest way to become a member is to do it
on-line using a credit card.  What better way to start off a
new year than to make a financial gift to an organization like
ours.  For our American donors, this is your last chance to
make a tax-deductible gift and count it against this year's taxes.

We appreciate all you have done and wish you all the best in
this holiday season.  

Click here to DONATE ON LINE

Sincerely yours,

Vinya Sysamouth, Ph.D.
Executive Director
Center for Lao Studies


The Center for Lao Studies is a non-profit organization with
501(c) 3 status. Donations made to CLS may be tax deductible
to the extent allowed by law.


____________________________________

CLS Programs and their Developments

The Center for Lao Studies programs include supporting
international conferences on Lao studies, which takes place
once every three years.  Northern Illinois University hosted
it the first year, and the Center for Lao Studies teamed up
with Arizona State University to host the second conference. 
CLS will work with Khon Kaen University and the National
University of Laos to plan for the third conference, which
will take place in 2010.  The Center also aims to implement
several research projects and publish high standard academic
peer-reviewed publications.  This includes supporting a
refugee oral history research project and the Journal of Lao
Studies.  CLS will launch both in the spring of 2008.  In
addition, our editors are working hard to ensure that the
publication of selected papers from the first conference will
be available in early 2008.  

Other CLS programs include the Summer Study Abroad in Laos and
the International Lao New Year Celebration.  This one of a
kind eight-week study abroad program (starts in the summer of
2009) will allow Lao-American and American students the
opportunity to study Lao language, Lao history and Lao culture
at the Lao-American College in Vientiane, Laos.  The Lao New
Year Celebration will take place at Treasure Island in San
Francisco, California in April 2009.  It is anticipated that
several thousand participants from around the world will join
in this celebration.  The Center for Lao Studies is also
committed to supporting education.  We would like to provide
scholarship funding to U.S. students to learn Lao and to
carryout their fieldwork research in the Lao PDR, and to
provide funding for rural students in Laos to study at the
college level.  The scholarship program is a long-term project
and will be developed once we are financially secure. Our
other long term projects include setting up the CLS library
and a museum devoted to Lao Studies.

At the Center for Lao Studies, we strive to provide an
opportunity for all to use our resources, to participate in
our programs, and to be educated and informed on issues
pertaining to Lao Studies.

______________
Dr. Justin McDaniel
Dept. of Religious Studies
2617 Humanities Building
University of California, Riverside
Riverside, CA 92521
951-827-4530
justinm at ucr.edu