past activities: Women in the Law -- keynote speech in Seattle WA in 2006: note that the law firm of Bill Gates' father was one of the sponsors

 https://www.vabaw.com/2006-banquet

The Vietnamese-American Bar Association of Washington's
2nd Annual Banquet

Our 2006 banquet was a memorable one, incorporating many cultural elements. Our theme was “Raising the Bar.”

One of the highlights of the evening was University of Denver College of Law Professor Wendy Duong’s passionate speech reminding Vietnamese American attorneys of the need to overcome stereotypes, to always remember where we come from, and most importantly to use the law profession as a means to “supply ourselves with the podium in life from which we can speak” to make a difference in our profession, communities, and global society.  To read Professor Duong’s speech, click here.

The banquet generated a buzz in the local Asian-American community. Almost 200 guests were in attendance, including 40 dignitaries comprised of WSBA Board of Governors, Judges, representatives of each minority bar association, leaders from local organizations, and representation from Seattle University, University of Washington, Gonzaga University, and Lewis & Clark. Our event was mentioned in 4 local newspapers in both English and Vietnamese, together totaling a circulation of nearly 75,000.  A performance by the Huong Viet Performing Arts group closed out the evening.

For photos from the Second Annual Banquet, click here. We also thank the Sponsors of our Second Annual Banquet, listed below.

Lychee Sponsors:

• Cairncross & Hempelmann
• Davis Wright Tremaine

Tamarind Sponsor:

• Perkins Coie

Papaya Sponsors:

• Aoki Sakamoto Grant
• Cohen & Iaria
• Helsell Fetterman
• Preston Gates Ellis