Members of Los Angeles County Asian American Employees Association (LACAAEA) attended the 2010 Lunar New Year ceremony at Capital Seafood Restaurant, Monterey Park, California, on January 29, 2010.

Standing (L to R): Jeremy Li; Orange County Supervisor Janet Nguyen, Chair, Orange County Board of Supervisors; Irene Hamada; Jackie Guevarra; Ana San; Greg Sasaki and Justin Mong.

Sitting (L to R): Carlos Cortz, Marie Thongpricha, Susie Yan and George G. Yan.

    Los Angeles, Jan. 29, 2010 -- The 2010 Lunar New Year falls on Feb. 14, 2010 and the reception sponsored by the Vietnamese Employees Association of Los Angeles County (VEALAC) was held on January 29, 2010 at Capital Seafood Restaurant, Monterey Park, California. Phillip Browning, Director for the Department of Public Social Services delivered the Lunar New Year's Greeting and well wishes. Supervisor Janet Nguyen, Chair, Orange County Board of Supervisors, was the featured speaker and told her sensational personal story, which might be the most memorable moment of the evening. She became the first woman Supervisor to represent the First District, the first Asian-American and the first Vietnamese-American to serve on the Board of Supervisors, and the youngest Supervisor elected in Orange County history. Only the fifth woman to serve on the Board of Supervisors. VEALAC helped to ring in the 2010 Lunar New Year's celebration by making the event culturally entertaining and lively for all who attended. The entertainment during the evening was provided by Sao Mai Musica BandA, Los Angeles County Employees and Hat Bo (Vietnamese Tradition Opera). During the zodiac sign parade, we learned that instead of the Rabbit (commonly one of the twelve animals in the Chinese zodiac), the Vietnamese culture has a Cat in its zodiac. A theme of warm wishes for a Healthy, Happy, and Prosperous New Year's flowed throughout the evening.

Mr. Steve Schafer, Program Manager for San Gabriel/Pomona Red Cross attended the event and accepted $1,000 from the President of VEALAC for the Haitian earthquake victims.