2016-2017 Elections: Candidate Information

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A note from the outgoing president:

It has been an absolutely phenomenal year for us, and we are so ready to charge forward and continue that momentum into the upcoming year. Our Vietnamese Student Society has worked tirelessly, striving for our core values:  leadership, culture, and comradery. Throughout the year, we hope you have made lasting friendships, explored new aspects of this culture, whether your own or not, and stepped up to the plate to develop your own personal skills and values. Our experiences are only as much as we put into it, and this year’s team has put in sleepless nights to continue the tradition of excellence and family environment that exists today. As this term ends, we need help in choosing the passionate leaders that will shape the future of VSS. What values and traits do you want your leader to embody? Charisma and enthusiasm? Determination and confidence?  There is no one better to decide than you – our esteemed members! So without further adieu, I am so excited to announce the candidates for 2016-2017!

– Vicky Mai

Voting closes at midnight on March 10th, 2016. 

Click here for the candidate list!

Click here for the voting page!

2015-2016 Elections: Candidate Information

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Welcome to the VSS Candidates Page for the 2015-2016 Executive Team!

After another successful year of VSS events, we are very proud to bring to you the candidates running for the upcoming year! The positions the candidates are running for are in brackets in the order of (first choice, second choice). Good luck! May the odds be ever in your favour.

The online voting page can be found here.

Continue reading

Welcome

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Welcome to the website of UBC Vietnamese Student Society. Our club is the cultural and community hub for anyone that has Vietnamese background or an interest in Vietnamese culture. Our club members’ common trait is the love for Phở!

Pho Recipe by Luke Nguyen

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Luke Nguyen is a famous Vietnamese chef, restauranteur, TV host and author that has dedicated his passion for Viet food in many ways. Check out his book, The Food of Vietnam here.

PHO

2 kg (4 lb 8 oz) oxtail (ask your butcher to chop it into 3 cm/11/4 inch pieces)
4 tablespoons salt
1 unpeeled garlic bulb
4 large unpeeled onions
150 g (51/2 oz) unpeeled ginger
2 kg (4 lb 8 oz) beef brisket
185 ml (6 fl oz/3/4 cup) fish sauce
80 g (23/4 oz) rock sugar
1.6 kg (3 lb 8 oz) fresh rice noodles (you will need about 200 g/7 oz per person)
400 g (14 oz) trimmed sirloin, thinly sliced
4 spring onions (scallions), sliced
Freshly ground black pepper
Coriander (cilantro) sprigs
1 cup of bean sprouts
1 bunch Asian basil
2 bird’s eye chillies, sliced
1 lemon, cut into wedges
Spice pouch
1/2 tablespoon coriander seeds
1/2 tablespoon cumin
1/2 tablespoon fennel seeds
8 whole cloves
5 star anise
2 cassia bark, about 10 cm (4 inch) in length
1 tablespoon whole black peppercorns
40 cm (16 inch) square piece muslin cloth

In a large pot, submerge the oxtail in cold water, add 3 tablespoons of the salt and soak for 1 hour, then drain.

To make the spice pouch, dry roast each ingredient separately in a frying pan over medium heat until fragrant. Cool, then coarsely grind using a mortar and pestle or small spice grinder. Add the ground spices to the muslin square and tie up tightly in a knot. Set aside.

Heat a barbecue grill or char gill pan over medium-high heat and grill the unpeeled garlic, onions and ginger evenly for 15 minutes in total until all sides are blackened. Now peel the blackened skins and discard them, and then roughly chop. By doing this, the garlic, onion and ginger becomes sweet and fragrant, releasing more flavour into the stock.

Put the oxtail, beef bones, brisket and 6 litres (200 fl oz) of cold water in a stockpot and bring to the boil. While the stock is boiling, constantly skim any impurities off the surface for 15 minutes (this will ensure a clean, clear broth), then reduce the heat to a low simmer. Add the fish sauce, remaining 1 tablespoon of salt, rock sugar, garlic, onions, ginger and spice pouch.

Cover and simmer for 4 hours, or until the stock has reduced to almost half.

Strain the stock through a muslin cloth. Remove the brisket, set aside to cool, then thinly slice.

Blanch each portion of noodles in boiling water for 20 seconds. Drain, then transfer to a serving bowl. Place three or four slices of brisket on top of the noodles, followed by three or four pieces of raw sirloin. Pour over the hot stock to cover the noodles and beef.

Garnish with 1 tablespoon of spring onion, a pinch of black pepper and a coriander sprig to each bowl. At the table, add chilli, bean sprouts, basil and a squeeze of lime.

Recipe source: InsideCuisine

VSS October Pho Night!

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VSS Pho Night Banner 630PM

As we have mentioned in the Ice Breaker event, our monthly Pho Night tradition continues! Yes we know, it’s about time for Viet food, again. Join us on Friday, October 10 @6:30pm at Pho Tan’s Vietnamese Restaurant (on 41st Ave at West Blvd)! 

There will be a bus crew leaving the bus loop at 6:00pm. We can take bus #41, 43, 49, 480 to the restaurant. If you have any trouble finding us, call/text Vicky at 604-781-9212.

**NOTE: This restaurant only accepts CASH and DEBIT(no credit cards)**

Be sure to invite your friends and we’ll see y’all there!

RSVP on FB Event.

VSS Ice Breaker 2014

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VSS Ice breaker poster

***Please RSVP on the Facebook event page!

Hey you, yes you, my lovely friend!
Congratulations on getting into UBC for all you freshers, and welcome back!
We also would like to applaud you on making such a great decision: COMING TO THE VSS 2014 ICEBREAKER.
————————–————————–————————–
Why should you come?
– Meet other lovely people like YOU
– Make connections that will last
– Enjoy special Vietnamese snack and beverages that you cannot find anywhere in UBC
– Challenge yourself and sweat in icebreaker games

and most of all, DISCOVER YOUR INNER SELF and FIND OUT the BIGGEST secret VSS has been planning for YOU!

Why wait? The event is open for EVERYONE, so bring tons of friends! The more, the merrier! See you there!

 

VSS Elections 2014-2015!

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Welcome to the VSS Elections Candidates Page!

It is with great pleasure we introduce you to the following candidates in the Executive Elections for the 2014-2015 school year. The positions each candidate is running for are in brackets. The online voting page can be found here.

 

Ha Pham (Event Coordinator & Promotions Coordinator)

I just came from Vietnam to UBC last year and have joined VSS since then. VSS was the bridge connecting me with other Vietnamese students and people who are interested in Vietnamese culture. I was able to make many friends during the time I was struggling to adapt to the new environment in a foreign country. They helped me and gave me a lot of good advice. VSS brought the feeling of being at home whenever we were together. Therefore, I want to be part of the VSS executive team to continue to help others and bring Vietnamese culture to the world.

 

Linh Vo (VP External & VP Administration)

By becoming the youngest member of the executive team, I wish to continue the legacy of promoting Vietnamese culture in the international environment through traditional activities, history, cuisine, and values. Also, I hope to foster a greater sense of belonging within the organization by offering assistance to first year students, along with creating a warm atmosphere that make members from Vietnam feel like home, and help members in Canada to rediscover the culture. Moreover, I want to establish an extended but closed-knit member network, encourage participation and build strong connections between other UBC clubs and Vietnamese communities.

 

Ly Vu (Event Coordinator & Promotions Coordinator)

As a proud Vietnamese/Asian, I’d love to participate in organizing activities for all other (Vietnamese) students and their friends, to celebrate and promote the culture.

As I have joined VSS events before and most of you know me, I won’t need to explain how much I enjoyed the VSS events so far. I plan to do it with the same enthusiasm as you’ve been doing in the past year, or even beyond that. Since I’m majoring in marketing and I’d love to work more in that, I’d like to do marketing/event planning for VSS.

 

Minh Pham (Event Coordinator & Promotions Coordinator)

As an international student, coming to UBC for the first time can be overwhelmed. I realized that no one wants to be alone, especially those living away from home. I believe that being in the executive team would give me a chance to strengthen our society, by organizing more events that bring students together. I want to make VSS a place that people can share and discover our wonderful Vietnamese culture, as well as promoting the delicious cuisine to the community. Also VSS can help me improve my leadership, team working and creativity for my future personal goals.

 

Stephanie Nguyen (VP Administration & President)

As a Canadian-born Vietnamese, I have always loved being involved in the Viet community. Being a member of VSS since I first came to UBC, I have met so many amazing people and I wish to help give the same opportunity to others as I have been so lucky to have had thus far.

 

Vicky Mai (President & VP External)

These past two years in VSS have exposed me to Vietnamese culture and the community on campus that frequently comes together to celebrate it. I’ve formed connections with amazing people here, and continue to meet more at every event! I’d love to have another opportunity to nurture our sense of community and provide a welcome, open atmosphere for all our members, while also strengthening our organization by reaching out and immersing others in our rich culture.

Phở Nights with VSS!

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Come one, come all to the first of our many phở nights on Thursday, October 3rd at 7pm @ Pho Extreme Xe Lua on Broadway at Cambie!

Feel free to invite your friends~ We look forward to seeing you all there!

**Note: It’s CASH ONLY so be sure to bring cash with you. If not, there is an RBC a few steps away from the restaurant**

RVSP on our Facebook Event!

VSS Icebreaker 2013

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It’s that time again! Come out and meet all your lovely execs and fellow members on Saturday, September 28 at 7PM in SUB room 207/209!

Be prepared to enjoy some delicious Vietnamese food and a bunch of fun activities – including a photobooth and lantern lighting (if the weather permits)!

The event will be free for VSS members (membership is $10) or by donation! Feel free to invite your friends and we look forward to seeing you all there ^^

RVSP to our event on Facebook!

VSS ExecVoting 2013-2014

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2013-2014 VSS Executive Team will consist of 7 positions:

  • 3 Events Coordinators
  • President
  • Promotions Coordinator
  • VP Administration
  • VP External

 

Here are the 9 candidates and their top 2 applied positions (in alphabetical order by last names):

 

1. Van Dang

Position(s) Running – VP Admin, Events Coordinator

“After two years with VSS, I have seen the club growing in terms of promoting connections between Canadian-born Vietnamese and Vietnamese culture, VSS and on-campus clubs as well as other Vietnamese groups (SFU VSA, SEACHS). For the past year, I have been handling administrative work with AMS for VSS as the Treasurer/Secretary. Through my involvement with the club, I have met many friends from different cultural backgrounds, received academic and emotional support along with developed a stronger bond with my Vietnamese root. I would love to, once again, be part of the executive team to continue helping VSS reach out to people who are interested in learning about our culture.”

 

2. Vicky Mai

Position(s) Running – VP Admin, VP External

“Since joining VSS, I have met so many amazing people! I feel like I am part of a community that accepts me without judgment (and showers me with so much welcome!). I would love to be more intimately involved in VSS, and contribute skills that I have developed thus far. I’d love to play a larger role in nurturing the sense of community that we have here so that others can experience it as well. Individually, I am currently running uniform logistics and being trained to become the Divisional Administrative Officer. My job involves forms, checklists, orders, meeting minutes, funding allocation, audits, and inventories. I’ve gained a lot of experiences in my training, and believe I can apply what I’ve learned there to VSS. Focus, dedication, and communication are some assets that I value and strive to improve myself in all aspects of my life.”

 

3. Han Nguyen

Position(s) Running – Events Coordinator

“It was my pleasure working with the executives for the past year. I have had lots of fun a new experience while helping each other overcome the hardship and problems. I would like to stay on the new team and continue to contribute to this club. My past experiences include planning and organizing, promoting & marketing, communication. My goal for the next year is to expand the membership base and promote VSS.”

 

 

 

4. Khanh Nguyen

Position(s) Running – VP External, Events Coordinator

“My name is Khanh, a second year UBC student. Having grown up in Vietnam, I can proudly proclaim my love for Vietnamese culture and Vietnamese food (Pho FTW!), thus want to able to share this passion with anyone on campus. The past two years with VSS have been a blast for me, and I would love to continue being involved in this endeavor with the team next year. I have not much to brag about really, but there’s something I can promise to deliver: dedication and enthusiasm. And if you’re into Vietnamese language, don’t hesitate to contact me.”

 

 

 

5. Stephanie Nguyen

Position(s) Running – Events Coordinator, Promotions Coordinator

“In Calgary, I was very involved in the Vietnamese community around the city through volunteering at many events held by the UofC VSS or the Calgary Vietnamese Youth Association.  This would be a good way for me continue to keep in touch with my heritage while also sharing it with other people. I have a background in art and design, allowing me to see problems and solutions with a design perspective.  I am currently the Acting President of the UBC K-Wave club, formerly Head of Social Media.  I brought in weekly events along with major monthly themed events to add on to the existing annual events allowing for more chances for participation and the development of a sense of community within the club.  Through networking with other clubs/organisations I was able plan bigger collaborative events and several cultural performance opportunities for our members.  I also design individualized logos and posters for each major event.”

 

6. Tri Nguyen

Position(s) Running – VP External, Event Coordinator

“Having talked to many people in UBC, sometimes we ended up discussing about Vietnam and I was surprised by how people thought about the country as a poor and underdeveloped nation. As one of a few native Vietnamese students in UBC, I think it is time for me to take the responsibility for fostering better understanding about Vietnam in UBC. Through my involvement with the International Student Association of Sauder as the First Year Representative, I have developed the skills of event organisation and marketing. With the goal of changing people’s perspective about Vietnam, I started with promoting Vietnamese culture about the Viet Sub Fundraiser, SEAfood Night and Salad Roll Night at the personal level. So why not take it to another level and reach out to a bigger audience?”

 

7. James Timperley

Position(s) Running – President

Hi there, I’m James! I’m half-Vietnamese and half-English and I love this club. As Vice-President and President, after helping to rebuild membership over the last two years, VSS is growing strong. We have been able to branch out in the Vietnamese community, as well as on campus. As President, I want to help provide this amazing community of people with everything it needs to flourish. Whether it be socials, sports, cultural events, community service, advocacy…you and I will have a blast!

 

8. Michelle Tran

Position(s) Running – VP External, Events Coordinator

“I am proud to be Vietnamese and I want others share in my pride! Prior to meeting the founder of UBC VSS, the other lovely Michelle Tran, I had no motivation to immerse myself in Vietnamese culture and surround myself with Vietnamese people, because of the infamous negative stereotype. Attending Len Duong and meeting all the motivated Vietnamese youth was an eye opener. VSS is like family to me now and I want to help expand this family. In addition to attending LD leadership camp, I’ve also had prior experience as the UBC Undergraduate Research Opportunities Club VP external. I am a committed, motivated, and fun-loving person.  I can make positive contributions to the sure-to-be amazing executive team to bring together Vietnamese people (and Vietnamese culture loving people) to events so we can learn from each other, learn together and motivate each other to be the best we can be.”

 

9. Viet Vu

Position(s) Running – Events Coordinator, VP Admin

“Throughout the course of this year and last year, I saw the huge level of dedication that the current group of students has brought to the VSS, substantially reviving and growing the society during the past two years. I was inspired and I want to be a part of this moment, to perpetuate this momentum and to help bring VSS not to become a stronger organization but to become a warm home that welcomes all those who likes to stop by and have a glass of trà đá. I have had extensive experiences coordinating different events at UBC and otherwise, have outstanding understanding of the details and the process required in planning an event. These skills, with my unique understanding of global culture connectedness as well as my heavy involvement with student politics will ensure that I am a fair and strong representative of the group.”