in line with practices in Melbourne. As with the introduction of any new organisation, there were some rough times as TTF engaged with the local Vietnamese communities. Nevertheless, through persistence, I think we succeeded in creating a credible presence in both Brisbane and Perth. I would like to thank Fundraising Managers in these cities for working so hard in advocating and promoting TTF to their communities. 2009 was also the year when we saw the fruits of our labour as more and more community members and organisations contacted TTF to donate, wrote us into their wills, or raised money to donate to us. One community group involved in direct donation have handed over their entire database to TTF as a sign of confidence in our ability to reach Beneficiaries. I also spent considerable time working on updating our database, and setting up a network of Australian and Vietnamese volunteers to assist with direct contact with our Beneficiaries. Many volunteers in Viet Nam have given up countless hours and contributed their own expenses to visit with our Beneficiaries, and spending time to talk to them and update their information for our records.

As our organization grows, so does the administrative workload, not to mention the operational complexities of co-ordinating funds from four different jurisdictions. I am glad to report that our band of volunteers in Melbourne has increased, and more young people are committing their time to assisting in administration, both at the operational and executive level. I expect another year of steady fundraising efforts, and am particularly excited about the completion of the development phase of our database. We will be busily uploading paper-based information onto the database in 2010 and updating information. The database will enable TTF to process appeals from Beneficiaries much faster and more efficiently, and will free up a lot of time for us to get on with much needed project development.

One continuing obstacle for TTF is the lack of human resources. We still need assistance with administrative work, such as processing appeals, data entry, file management and updating Beneficiary information. As usual, I beseech community members with time on their hands to contact myself to register their interest in assisting us.

Finally, I would like to thank Directors and members of the Executive team for their support and commitment to TTF in the past year. I would especially like to thank all volunteers who have made their way from all parts of the world to visit our Beneficiaries, offering support and reminding Beneficiaries that they have not been forsaken by their fellow compatriots.

TTF had seen off another successful year, and despite the harsh economic climate, we are witnessing continuing generosity and compassion within our community. In the past financial year, there had been a slight increase in our operating costs, from $12,268.00 in 2008 to $16,325.00 in 2009, reflecting an increase of 33%. There are two factors contributing to this increase. First, TTF is now actively fundraising in Melbourne, Sydney, Perth and Brisbane. Although TTF is completely staffed and managed by volunteers, keeping operating costs down immeasurably, fundraising and appeals costs have increased in the past year. Another factor explaining the increase in operating costs can be attributable to the cost of printing and delivery Tinh Thuong Dac San. We believe that this is a cost well spent, as it is the main means by which we present to the public our Beneficiaries’ stories and their courage, humility and determination to survive in an increasing materialistic and competitive world. TTF does not believe that we should only provide financial support to Beneficiaries, we see Beneficiaries as individuals whose inimitable voices must be heard amongst the clamoring noise of competing ideologies, histories and realities.

TTF welcomed the addition of Brisbane earlier this year, bringing the cities in which TTF is active to four (4) across Australia. The traffic on our website, word of mouth and Dac San have also helped to bring TTF to the attention of people around Australia and the world. We will continue to focus on the website and other media, such as community radio, newspapers and our Dac San to promote our work.

2009 was the year in which TTF focused on engaging with Vietnamese communities in Perth and Brisbane, our two newest areas of activity. Fundraising Managers devoted a great deal of their time promoting TTF, within the Vietnamese communities and organisations including Vietnamese Veterans Associations (VIC, WA), RSL (VIC, QLD), Cao Dai Group (WA), Vietnamese Women Associations (VIC, WA), Vietnamese Elderly Association (QLD), Vietnamese Students Association (VIC) and local media. This provided a good opportunity for TTF to consider our internal policies and general approach to fundraising, as TTF is acutely aware the each city is different with different cultural and social dynamics. TTF is very keen to ensure that activity in each city reflects the communities there, and are based on local concerns and interests. As a non-partisan, non-political organization, TTF is very conscious that the communities we operate fully understand our processes and the importance we place on transparency and accountability for the moneys we raise.

Consequently, TTF have also been busy enlisting volunteers in Australia and Viet Nam to assist us in updating Beneficiary profiles, to ensure that the information we have are accurate and that we are providing adequate support for Beneficiaries. Many are ageing, and as such, will require different forms of assistance - medical, financial or emotional. TTF aims to ensure that our Beneficiaries receive the support they need by recruiting more helpers on the ground.

This past financial year also saw a record $113,394.00 money raised, reflecting 105% increase from last year’s fundraising efforts ($55,237.00). This is largely attributable to the fact that we are now fundraising in four capital cities. It is due to the efforts of TTF’s Fundraising Managers in each city, their enthusiasm and sheer hard work that we have managed to raise so much money. We would like to take this opportunity to thank all Fundraising Managers and their volunteer helpers for their great efforts, as well as the generous public, many of whom have chosen to remain anonymous.

As mentioned, TTF was approved for fundraising in Brisbane at the beginning of 2009. In total, TTF fundraising across Australia consisted of:

§ Victoria – Footscray, Richmond and Sandown Park New Year Festivals

§ Brisbane – October 2009 fundraising event, and a generous donation from Linh Son Temple which held an event to raise money for TTF Beneficiaries (held in February 2009)

§ Perth – Fundraising events in March and November 2009

§ Sydney – Donations from established and new donors

All Fundraising Managers in the above cities have worked very hard at developing relationships and promoting TTF’s presence in their respective Vietnamese communities. 2009 also saw a consolidation of TTF’s promotion and marketing efforts in Brisbane and Perth, and TTF would like to thank the Vietnamese communities in these cities for their support in all its forms. Fundraising Managers also met for the first time at TTF’s Annual General Meeting and were able to report on their activities and have started to work on a common strategy for the next few years – this included community liaison, financial management and record keeping, publicity and promotion.

Fundraising in all cities also involve tin collection for which we would like to thank all participating businesses for enabling us to place our tins for donation. No street appeals have been conducted due to lack of resources. As usual, our main fundraising drive is at the New Year Festivals in each city. We welcome any assistance from the community in our fundraising efforts. Additionally, many donors have donated from overseas, particularly the United States and France. We have been providing assistance to a donor in the United States to build and fix houses for Beneficiaries, and providing assets and capital for Beneficiaries to start a small business.

Finally, below are the names and contact details of Fundraising Managers in each city. Please do not hesitate to contact TTF if any reader is able to assist with our activities in any way, especially during our biggest fundraising event – the New Year Festivals:

 

In 2010, TTF will be exploring possibilities for micro-financing for Beneficiaries, and are planning to move beyond sponsorship to community development and economic sustainability for Beneficiaries. We welcome any donors or community members’ expertise and experience in this area (including contacts or networks in Viet Nam) and would appreciate assistance in our planning and development phase of this project.

§ Vietnamese Community Association (Victorian Chapter) for their support, and for providing TTF with stall, generous in space, and good in position, at Sandown Park Festival.

§ Vietnamese Community Association (Queensland Chapter) for their constant support at our fundraising events in October 2009.

§ All volunteers across Australia who assisted at the appeal stalls:

o In Victoria - Footscray, Richmond and then Sandown Park Festivals;

o In WA – February 2009.

o In Queensland – In February 2009.

§ For supporting and assisting TTF in our radio and print media appeals, we thank:

o Vien Xu Radio for generously giving us our much needed air time;

o Anh Tran Trieu in supporting TTF in the past few years

§ All volunteers who have helped in big and small ways;

§ All our donors and sponsors throughout the year;

§ All participating businesses in Melbourne, Queensland, Perth and Sydney who accepted TTF Collection Tins;

§ Our ceaselessly dedicated and generous ladies working with Chi Nguyet (WA) and chi Ha (QLD);

§ Vietnamese Students Association for it diner ball to raise money for TTF Beneficiaries (held in November 2009);

§ Anh Nguyen Quoc Khanh for design, development and maintenance of the new database, recently completed;

§ Chi Dao for helping translate TTF Policies and Guidelines;

§ Anh Vu for translating the Annual Report;

§ Gia Dinh Phat Tu Chanh Dao, for yearly donating food for volunteers at Sandown Park Festival;

§ Phan Vy, Cam Van, Thien Thanh, Thanh Huynh, chi Hue and family, chi Van, Nhi and Thuy for their immense efforts at Footscray, Richmond and Sandown Park New Year Festivals ;

§ Dong Huynh for efforts throughout the year, particularly in updating profiles and helping at Sandown Park Festival;

§ Anh Quynh for his help with IT and for maintaining TTF’s website;

§ Directors, Office Bearers, Members and Volunteers of Tinh Thuong Foundation, namely:

§ Thuy Quach and her family

§ Chau Xuan Hung and his family

§ Dang Tuyen and his family

§ Jacqueline Ngo

§ Nguyen Thai Tuong Thu

§ Nguyen Tuong To Minh and her family

§ Khai Tri - books and music.

§ Nguyen Huu Minh

§ Nguyen Ngoc Minh and his family

§ Ho Kim Phuong

§ Nguyen Minh Thu and her mother.

§ Chi Nguyet and Anh Nhon (Perth).

§ Nguyen Thanh Tu (Perth).

§ Nguyen Canh Tan and his family (Sydney)

§ Nguyen Thu Ha and her family (Queensland)

§ Volunteers in Viet Nam and volunteers who travel to Viet Nam – a big thank you.