There is not much activity at Vientiane Chapter. The pending issue is still the legalization of Vientiane Chapter Association as I reported earlier. Concerning Student Scholarship fundraising effort, the US Ambassador to Laos H.E Ms. Karen B. Stewart, Public Affairs Officer of US Embassy in Laos, Ms Pamella S. Devolder and Mr. Vilay Soulatha a member of EWC Alumni ( US citizen ) working in Laos were invited for dinner: (i) Chantavong requested their assistance if there was any possibility in providing a scholarship for a Lao student to study at EWC in Honolulu to have Lao student presence at the EWC, or seeking scholarships from other donors such as Ford Foundation, Fulbright Scholarship to send selected Lao to study at EWC. (ii) He requested the US Embassy to be the center of gathering of EWC Alumni on some important occasion prior to getting official legal status of Lao Chapter in Vientiane. All of them promised to provide assistance to the requests. Up to now, no progress has been made.

The Chapter is continuing to seek information regarding the legal status for the Laos Chapter activities and functions. The Chapter leader, Chanthavong Saignasith, in response to the call for Chapter collective collaboration to help the EWC Foundation’s Student Scholarship goal, is hoping to secure an appointment with the US Embassy in Laos for information and guidance on supporting and financing Laotian student scholars to the EWC.

Sends heartfelt compassion and speedy recovery to our fellow EWC alumni of Japan. The Laos-Vientiane Chapter is pleased to report the following:

Networking among EWC alumni in Laos is ongoing. Regular meetings of the Chapter have not occurred due to delays in securing a legal permit to form the EWCA Alumni Association in Laos. They are reaching out to the US Embassy in Laos and are hoping that the Embassy could be a venue for meetings. The Chapter reports that they sent to the EWC the name of EWC alumni Dr. Chamla to be the EWC Vientiane Representative in Vientiane. The Chapter progress is on a holding status to date.