Our 24th annual picnic was very good. Some people who have been to many of the gatherings thought it was the best one yet. Hopefully, they will also say that about the next one, too. About 2, 500 people were there on Sunday and there were no complaints.

As usual small things broke like -- the wheel axle on the bush hog broke but a new one was made from a cold chisel. The riding mower wouldn’t start so several Montagnards mowed a lot of the area with old-fashioned gas push mowers – and a few refrigerators decided not to work. All of this was “no problem”. Actually most people there didn’t even know that these things has occurred. The food was good and plentiful. The music was excellent and everything went off on time.

It was also successful from another angle. At each gathering people come, they see problems, and suggest solutions. That’s good but then it gets better when, in some cases, they volunteer to put the solutions into effect. This happened in several areas this last picnic. So, the next time you’re down, there may be gravel on the road to the longhouse and a weatherproof storage container. Who knows what else? A good bet would be a M’nung longhouse. A model of it was presented at the pavilion and the location was staked out. It will be a good addition to the site.

The workshop is closer to completion. The forge is up and work tables are planned along one wall. Hopefully when you get there the SeaTac containers (one can be used to sort and store the hardware and tools you have generously donated.

Next to the workshop is an old barn. What is in it is a mystery which will be explored when we can move the contents to a storage container. The container would help there too! We won’t have to take the barn down – since gravity and termites will do that for us VERY SOON.

One of the good things about the picnic are the days leading up to it. That’s when a dozen or so members arrive at the site and have a chance to look around, and sit and talk. Some of them live nearby and are at the site quite often and then there are also members and friends who come from out of the area. Their conversations often bring solutions to new or old problems. Not all of these can be put into effect immediately and some never can. Still many worthwhile ideas are formed under the pavilion. Many of our accomplishments were begun there, under the fly ribbons. So why not come down early and share your ideas.

The Memorial Day picnic is also our annual meeting. Among the information provided was the 2008 Financial Report. Our main source of income was contributions, followed by store sales. Our main expenses were Dega and STMP projects and farm operations. During the year, we took in $90,000 from all sources and spent $77,000. So we had $13,000 to carry over. All these figures are rounded out and the Treasurer’s report which was presented at the meeting was much more detailed. Among the DETAILS, you will find NO salaries. That’s because we’re still 100 % VOLUNTEER.

The financial report was for 2009, so it didn’t cover current fund raising or expenses. STMP was able to raise enough to send Y’Yop to BSA High Adventure Camp at Philmont, NM. He will be on his way soon and there will be a report from him in the next newsletter.

The money raffle ticket sales are going well. Many stubs have been returned and we have until mid-September to sell more. IF YOU WANT MORE, PLEASE LET ME KNOW.

Between now and then, STMP will be represented at three major reunions. The Special Forces Association (in Las Vegas) and Vietnam Helicopters Association (in Philadelphia) will have both taken place by the time you receive this newsletter The Special Operations Association Reunion is held in Las Vegas in September. We take the time to go to these to spread the word about our mission and to thank these organizations for their continued support. If you are attending any of these, please stop by our table and say hello.

Other meetings are planned with USSD during the summer. We’re definitely not backing off on our efforts. Donations of money to help with a possible trip to S. E. Asia are being held in a special account. We need the cooperation of OUR government. We haven’t gotten it yet. WRITE THEM! Just before this letter went to press, we learned of H.R. 1969, a bill currently going through the House of Representatives.

In part - Hr 1969: “Declares it is U. S. policy to offer refugee resettlement to Vietnam nationals (including members of the Montagnard ethnic minority groups) who were eligible for the Humanitarian Resettlement program, the Orderly Departure program, the Resettlement Opportunities for Vietnamese Returnees program, the Amerasian Homecoming act of 1988, and any other U. S. refugee program, but who were deemed ineligible for reasons of administrative error or who failed to apply because of circumstances beyond their control.”

This bill would insist that the SRV give the basic human rights to their citizens. These rights had been promised years ago, but were not and have not been allowed. This may be the last hope for ethnic minorities in the SRV and the passage of this bill is essential. Please contact your representative and request their support. Much of the bill is requesting what STMP has been seeking for years. A major attempt has been made by STMP to get the word out.

Getting our message out is very important, especially to Montagnards whose families are denied basic human rights in S.E. Asia. Our letter writing campaign seems to have gotten very little positive response. Only a few congressmen have even bothered to reply. One letter by Rabbi Fred Guttman of Temple Emanuel in Greensboro, NC was sent to our Secretary of State. It’s quoted (with permission) in part--- “I am writing to you to ask you to reconsider U.S..Policy towards the Montagnard populations living in Cambodia and Vietnam. While these populations used to receive asylum to the United States due to an agreement made after they assisted the U. S. during the Vietnam War, they now face greater obstacles to asylum. They are currently processed under UN regulations of asylum that perceive their persecution to be too far in the past to qualify for asylum. Interpreters are not always present to accurately record their stories of persecution. Montagnards seeking asylum often find themselves either stuck living in Cambodia, where they are not welcome, or returning to their homes in Vietnam, where persecution and poverty persists.

“..The US State Department’s 2008 Human Rights reports for Vietname1 [1] (note section 1a on the abuse of a Montagnard prisoner) and Cambodia2 [2] (note section 2d on reports of Cambodian authorities patrolling the Vietnamese border and returning Montagnards to Vietnam before they can reach processing centers) further detail these problems.”

“ In 2008, Cambodian authorities deported 224 rejected Montagnard asylum seekers to Vietnam while 226 Montagnards remained in UNHCR protection sites in Phnom Penh.

I implore you to reconsider their stories, and consider strengthening the channels for asylum to the U.S. as promised decades ago following their cooperation in the Vietnam War.”

As you can see, people outside of STMP do care about the Montagnards. The problem is that those in a position of responsibility just do not. Our hope is that as a united group, we can remind them that they are ELECTED TO CARE AND ACT. To this end, we have more meetings in D. C. and will continue to do so until we reach our goal.

As you are aware, STMP has given scholarships for many years. In the spring ’09 semester, 99 Montagnards were using these scholarships. Unfortunately, it cannot and need not continue as it has in the past. Our scholarship program will end with the spring 2010 semester. From then on, the scholarships will only be given to individuals in special circumstances.

Our cultural center is getting closer even though no ground has been broken. The plan calls for a building of about 6,000 sq. ft. with an entryway resembling a Bahnar longhouse. There was a model of this style building at the picnic. It should make a unique and beautiful façade to the building. Preserving the culture is an on-going thing here at the site through agriculture. Here and there are small plots planted with some “easy to recognize” vegetables and others that are not. The orchard is growing well. The trees are now about 4 ft. tall and some may bear fruit next year. These are not your common trees – there are cheberry trees or bushes. We may have one of the very few places where they are grown here in the U.S.

Farm operations were the largest expense of 2008 ($29,000). Much of what is grown is given away to Montagnard families and much is eaten on site. Almost every Saturday, there are a number of people working at the site. They don’t get paid, but they do get fed.

Another way the Dega culture is being kept alive is through their music and dancing. The next time you might be able to sample all these things (food, music and dance) will be Dega Day. This is a one-day affair and will be held on Saturday, September 19th. If you come down early, there are always things to be done, food to eat, and stories to be told. Do try to make it this time. A block of rooms has been reserved at the Holiday Inn in Asheboro (336-636-5222) and a special rate will be in effect if you mention STMP.

George Hadeler, Secretary

481 Almond Drive

Luray, VA 22835-3521

(540) 743-2943