Frequently Asked Questions
HOW DO I BECOME A MEMBER?
VSAUW does not have an official membership sign up. To become a member, all you need to do is attend our meetings and events. However, we do offer optional membership that requires a fee which includes a VSAUW membership card, t-shirt, discounts to our events and places on the Ave, and more. Reach out to us on Instagram or Facebook @vsauw if you are interested in purchasing one!
DO I NEED TO BE VIETNAMESE/SPEAK VIETNAMESE TO BE IN VSA?
Absolutely not! VSAUW wishes to offer a safe and comfortable environment for everyone of all backgrounds. We are open for anyone who is interested in learning about, supporting, serving, and connecting with the Vietnamese community. Many of our members cannot speak Vietnamese or are not Vietnamese. We love them all! Our meetings are designed to be inclusive for everybody, everyone is welcome!
ARE THE MEETINGS AT THE SAME TIME AND DAY?
Our meetings vary by quarter and have the possibility of not being on the same day & time. Our general meetings are biweekly while events are planned for a certain date. Make sure to like VSAUW and join the VSAUW Forum on Facebook, and follow VSAUW on Instagram for updates on all upcoming events.
HOW DO I GET MORE INVOLVED?
Stay up to date on these opportunities by coming to our meetings, following us on Instagram, and liking VSAUW/VSAUW Forum on Facebook! We always share important information to our members on there. Some more direct ways to get involved with VSAUW is to apply for dance team, the ACCE Family program, or the officer team!
I COULDN'T COME TO THE LAST MEETING, CAN I COME TO THE NEXT ONE?
Yes! Members are not required to be present at every meeting and we do not take attendance. We understand that everyone has busy lives and cannot make it to every meeting.
AM I ALLOWED TO COME TO A MEETING LATE/LEAVE EARLY?
Yes! We understand our meetings don't always align perfectly with your schedules. While we'd love to have you for the whole meeting, come or go when you need to.
WHAT IS AN ACCE FAMILY AND HOW DO I JOIN?
ACCE or Anh Chi Chanh Em (Older Brother, Older Sister, Older Sibling, Younger Sibling) is a program VSAUW implemented as a way to connect old and new members together to foster connections in a smaller scale. Each member is placed within a one of the several families in VSAUW. Last year’s theme is Sanrio! We use ACCE families in all of our group games and keep track of the points. You can earn points through games at our meetings, team bonding, and participating in volunteer events through VSA.
If you aren’t already placed in a family, come to our meetings and we will place you in one!
WHERE DO THE VSAUW PROCEEDS GO TO?
VSAUW uses our proceeds in a number of ways! Our funds go to the costs of meetings, treats for our members, and our Collective Philanthropy Project (CCP) of the year, which is the Vietnam Health Clinic (VHC) — a nonprofit organization committed to expanding healthcare access and services for under-resourced populations, while fostering leadership and professional development among its members. The funds will be used to purchase medical equipment, leverage technology for telemedicine and mobile health interventions, and provide training and leadership opportunities to support the growth of their student volunteer program.