Washington Business and Technology Institute - PPAA18 (Pan Pacific and Asian American Forum)

Newsbrief ***** Friday, April 2, 2004 ***** # First Edition
Washington Business and Technology Institute (WBTI)
http://communitylink.reviewjournal.com/lvrj/wbti
Advisory Board: Governor Kenny Guinn, Chairman; U. S. Senators Harry Reid and John Ensign, Vice Chairmen; U. S. Representatives James Gibbons and Shelley Berkley, and Las Vegas Mayor Oscar Goodman, Executive Directors.
U. S. Secretary of Labor Elaine Chao
Chairperson
Dr. Tony T. Lei
President
District Judges Mark R. Denton and Valorie J. Vega
Vice Presidents
Dr. William N. Thompson
Director of Public Administration Institution
Dr. E. Lee Bernick and Dr. G. Keong Leong
Deans of Graduate School of Business and Public Administration
Dr. Sue Fawn Chung
Director of Culture Institution
Justice of the Supreme Court William Maupin, Attorney General Brian Sandoval, and District Judge Stewart Bell, Honorary Chairmen of Clark County District Attorney and Police Civil Commission (CCDAPCC)
District Attorney David Roger and Clark County Sheriff Bill Young
Chairmen of CCDAPCC
(702) 255-9058
*It's our pleasure to pay a tribute to the above officials who dedicate to the civic and community service aspects of our organization in an honorary or adjunct capacity.
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U. S. Congresswoman Shelley Berkley is going to hold Senior Advisory Committee meeting
By GSBPA*1
On Monday, April 12, 2004, U. S. Congresswoman Shelley Berkley will hold her next Senior Advisory Committee meeting. The location of the meeting is at the new Leiburn Senior Center, 6230 Garwood Avenue, Las Vegas, Nevada.
"We plan on discussing the following items: 1. the new Medicare prescription drug benefit. 2. Social security benefits (including privatization). 3. Notch baby legislation. 4. Government pension offset." *2
"Please contemplate those issue that are most important to you and feel free to contact Jan Churchill at 220-9823 if you have anything you wish to place on the agenda. Jan will also accept your RSVP. Your input as a value member of this committee is very important to me. I look forward to seeing you on the 12th," wrote U. S. Congresswoman Shelley Berkley to Dr. Tony Tung-tien Lei, President of Washington Business and Technology Institute (WBTI). The letter was sent to him in Las Vegas as an Official Document by her from Washington, D. C. on March 29, 2004.*3
About the Author, U. S. Congresswoman Shelley Berkley, of the above letter: *4
Congresswoman Shelley Berkley was elected to the U.S. House of Representatives in November, 1998. Shelley represents constituents living in the First Congressional District of Nevada, including residents of Las Vegas, North Las Vegas, and unincorporated areas in Clark County. The District annually records the largest population increase in the nation. U. S. Congresswoman Shelley Berkley has A Lifetime of Commitment to Nevada
She has lived in Las Vegas for over four decades. Shelley has a deep sense of commitment to give back to the community that opened the doors of opportunity for her. She also has never forgotten that her family headed west seeking a better life, and found it in Las Vegas. She completed junior high and high school in Las Vegas, then went on to become the first member of her family to attend college when she enrolled in UNLV. Elected Student Body President, 1971-1972, she graduated with honors and a B.A. in Political Science from UNLV in 1972. After earning her law degree at the University of San Diego School of Law in 1976, she returned to Las Vegas to begin her career.
U. S. Congresswoman Shelley Berkley has successfully sought appointments that enable her to meet the needs of Southern Nevada, since she swore in as a Member of Congress on January 6, 1999.
Shelley is a former Vice Chair of the Nevada University and Community College System Board of Regents. Appointed to the Board in 1990 by the Governor, she was then twice elected as a Regent by Las Vegas-area voters. She completed her second term on the Board in 1998. Throughout her tenure, Shelley worked to keep higher education in Nevada affordable and accessible to all qualified students.
Elected to the Nevada State Assembly in 1982 and serving through 1984, She championed consumer protection for car buyers and mobile home owners, fought for tougher drunk driving laws, and founded the Senior Law Project.
This bright lady has devoted her energies to charitable and civic efforts ever since she was a teenager. Her work and ideas have contributed to many of Southern Nevada�s successes. A representative sampling of her record of service includes:
Past President, Las Vegas Public Broadcasting System affiliate, KLVX Channel 10; Former Board Member and Secretary, UNLV Alumni Association; Nevada Advisory Committee Member, U.S. Civil Rights Commission; Founder and President, Southern Nevada Association of Women Attorneys; among others.
Shelley Berkley has held key positions in the private sector during a career that spans nearly a quarter of a century:
Former Vice President of Government and Legal Affairs, Sands Hotel; Former Chair, Board of the Nevada Hotel and Motel Association; Former In-House counsel for Southwest Gas Corp; Former Deputy Director, Nevada State; Commerce Department; Former National Director of the American Hotel-Motel Association; Served as a Delegate to the White House Conference on Tourism; among others.
Shelley Berkley has been recognized for her community service and commitment. Of the many awards she has received, some of the most notable are:
Las Vegas Chamber of Commerce "Woman of Achievement"; Las Vegas Business and Professional Woman "Woman of the Year";
Clark County Mother of the Year, 1994; Las Vegas Review Journal's Outstanding Women in Clark County; UNLV Distinguished Alumnus of the Year; among others.
Shelley and husband Dr. Larry Lehrner now reside in Northwest Las Vegas. Shelley's son Max studies at the University of Arizona, while son Sam attends Bonanza High School in Las Vegas. Dr. Lehrner's son David attends classes at Indiana University, while daughter Stephanie is enrolled in the medical school at Western University of Health Science in Pomona, CA.*5
It's our pleasure to post the following literature by the Office of Congresswoman Shelley Berkley at its website:*6
BERKLEY VOTES TO PROTECT MEDICARE AGAINST PRIVATIZATION
Southern Nevada Seniors Could Face Thousands in Out-of-pocket expenses, Annual Premiums of $1,950.
(November 22, 2003 -- Washington, D.C.) U.S. Representative Shelley Berkley (D-NV) today voted against Republican-sponsored prescription drug legislation (H.R.1) that would open the door to Medicare privatization, force seniors to pay thousands of dollars in premiums and prescription drug costs and drive millions of older Americans into HMOs
"This plan promises more to HMO's and drug companies than it does to seniors faced with rising drug costs," said Congresswoman Berkley.
"I support a prescription drug plan under Medicare, but not one that showers billions of dollars on insurance companies while leaving seniors to face thousands of dollars in out-of-pocket costs," Berkley said, noting that the bill gives $17 billion to PPOs and HMOs to lure seniors away from traditional Medicare. "The real goal of the Republican prescription drug plan is to open the door to the privatization of Medicare, a program that has protected America's seniors for decades."
Berkley was one of 215 Representatives opposing the bill. A late-night vote on the legislation scheduled to last 15 minutes was held open for three hours by Republican leaders desperate to overcome an initial 216-218 loss.
"Republican leaders struggled for three hours to get this bill passed anyway they could and I can only imagine that deals that were cut and the arms that were twisted," said Berkley
Berkley also criticized provisions in the bill that would block re-importation of drugs from other countries at lower prices and prevent Medicare from negotiating better deals with drug makers to lower drug prices for seniors.
"Republicans bowed to drug industry pressure and are out to prevent Medicare from using the buying power of 40 million Americans to negotiate better prices. If the VA can bargain for better prices on medicine for our veterans, why are Republicans blocking Medicare's ability to use the same bargaining chip?," Berkley said.
The legislation also creates a gap in coverage, where seniors are left to pay 100% of their own prescription drug costs.
"Some Las Vegas seniors will pay $4,000 out of their first $5,000 in drug costs under this plan -- that is not what I call comprehensive prescription drug coverage," said Berkley, describing the cost of the benefit to a senior earning more than $13,000 per year.
Berkley also noted that a so-called "premium support" provision in the plan could leave Nevada seniors with some of the nation's highest annual premiums.
"Under the GOP's prescription drug plan, seniors living in Clark County could be paying almost $2000 a year in Medicare premiums, while seniors in other parts of the U.S. would pay less than $700," she said.
The premium support provisions in H.R.1 call for the selection of six demonstration projects nationwide. Las Vegas is one of the sites under consideration for this trial. A recent analysis by the Department of Health and Human Services shows that the premium support system would result in dramatic disparities in premiums for traditional Medicare within states and regions, and across the country. For instance, a senior in Clark County would pay $1,950 annually in premiums, while a senior in Davidson County, North Carolina would pay $675 annually.
Finally, the plan would erode retiree coverage for almost three million seniors, including 15,000 Nevadans, who have good drug coverage now through retiree health plans. The GOP plan discriminates against seniors with retiree health coverage by excluding such coverage from counting toward spending for the catastrophic benefit.*7
On February 23, 2004, U. S. Congresswoman Shelley Berkley wrote Dr. and Mrs. Tony Lei that,"Thank you for your generous contribution to my re-election campaign. I greatly appreciate your support. Please know that your help makes a significant difference. I look forward to continuing my service in Congress and shall endeavor to serve in the manner that merits your confidence in me." *8
Shelley Berkley is born a leader. Shelley is an educated leader. Shelley is a prctical and bright leader since her college life. She received her juris doctorate degree from San Deigo Law School. She was the former Regent of University and Colleges of Nevada. She has been Executive Advisor for Washington Business and Technology Institute (WBTI) since 1996. Her successful leadership both good in work performance and human relations has won all her assistants' and followers' full and sincere respects. In order to celebrate Shelley Berkley's winning as U. S. Congresswoman, elected as a member of the International Relations Committee (IRC) of the Congress, and Dr. Tony Lei as her Senior Advisor; Washington Business and Technology Institute (WBTI) and Chinese American Academic Association of Nevada (CAAAN) established the "Literature and Academic Forum" ("LAF") in 1999. It has been brought to you by Las Vegas Review-Journal through http://communitylink.reviewjournal.com/lvrj/wbti. *9
At the time when Shelley was elected as the Member of IRC, she told Las Vegas Review-Journal that to promote the tourism, trade, and investment with foriegn countries for Nevada and our states is her primary interest. Her emphasis is enhancing the 2004 mission of WBTI:
(1). To encourage and promote academic research, community service, humane spirit, and educational programs. (2). To launch and participate events and projects for the development and cooperation of tourism, education, business, and culture.*10 We are pleased to welcome her good wishes to all our citizens, residents, and visitors of Nevada that "I look forward to continuing my service in Congress and shall endeavor to serve in the manner that merits your
confidence in me." *11
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References
*1. GSBPA of WBTI is the initials of Graduate School of Business and Public Administration (GSBPA) of Washington Business and Technology Institute (WBTI).
*2. Berkley, Shelley. "A letter to Dr. Tony Tung-tien Lei from U. S. Congresswoman Shelley Berkley," (March 29, 2004), Washington, D. C.: Office of Congresswoman Shelley Berkley.
*3. Ibid.
*4. Google. ' U. S. Congresswoman Shelley Berkley's Biography,' "google.com. Google!" (April 2004), U. S. A.: Google!
*5. Ibid.
*6. Yahoo. 'Shelley Berkley's literature on Medicare,' "yahoo.com., Yahoo!" (March 2004), U. S. A.: Yahoo!
*7. Ibid.
*8. Berkley, Shelley. "A post card to Dr. and Mrs. Tony Lei," (February 23, 2004), Henderson, Nevada: Shelley Berkley for Congress.
*9. GSBPA of WBTI. 'Congratulations! For U. S. Congresswoman Shelley Berkley,' "LAF3, Newsbrief of WBTI," (January 26, 2004), Las Vegas, Nevada: WBTI.
*10. Bell, Stewart; Walsh, Jessie; and Chang, Chang. 'Las Vegas nicer with community service through cultural arts,' "10 Year Thai Cultures in Las Vegas, Nevada," (September 16, 2003), Las Vegas, Nevada: Thai Cultural Arts Association of Las Vegas.
*11. Berkley, Shelley. Ibid.

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Newsbrief ***** Thursday, April 1, 2004 ***** # First Edition
Washington Business and Technology Institute (WBTI)
http://communitylink.reviewjournal.com/lvrj/wbti
Advisory Board: Governor Kenny Guinn, Chairman; U. S. Senators Harry Reid and John Ensign, Vice Chairmen; U. S. Representatives James Gibbons and Shelley Berkley, and Las Vegas Mayor Oscar Goodman, Executive Directors.
U. S. Secretary of Labor Elaine Chao
Chairperson
Dr. Tony T. Lei
President
District Judges Mark R. Denton and Valorie J. Vega
Vice Presidents
Dr. William N. Thompson
Director of Public Administration Institution
Dr. E. Lee Bernick and Dr. G. Keong Leong
Deans of Graduate School of Business and Public Administration
Dr. Sue Fawn Chung
Director of Culture Institution
Justice of the Supreme Court William Maupin, Attorney General Brian Sandoval, and District Judge Stewart Bell, Honorary Chairmen of Clark County District Attorney and Police Civil Commission (CCDAPCC)
District Attorney David Roger and Clark County Sheriff Bill Young
Chairmen of CCDAPCC
(702) 255-9058
*It's our pleasure to pay a tribute to the above officials who dedicate to the civic and community service aspects of our organization in an honorary or adjunct capacity.
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Newly appointed Clark County Commissioner Lynette McDonald vowed to cut her finacial ties to Station Casinos before being sworn into office
By Tiffany Chang
Adrienne Packer of Las Vega Review-Journal reported Thursday, April 1, 2004 that the newly appointed Clark County Commissioner Lynette McDonald vowed to cut her finacial ties to Station Casinos before being sworn into office.*1
Governor Kenny Guinn of Nevada appointed Wednesday March 31, 2004 Lynette Boggs McDonald to the Clark County Commission to fill the vacant position in District F left by the resignation of Mark James.*2
"Boggs McDonald said Wednesday that she resigned from the local gaming giant's board of directors and that her attorney is working to rid her of stock options she was awarded." *3
McDonald's position on the Station Casinos board of directors had concerned some residents of District F, who for months fought Station over a proposed 300-foot hotal tower.*4
"Boggs McDonald accepted a position on Station's board of directors in July. She receives $50,000 a year and stock options from the gaming company." *5
"Ms. Boggs McDonald has been not merely a capable and competent member of the Las Vegas city council, she has arguable been among its brightest members --- certainly a leader of the field when it comes to possessing a strong moral compass. Her grasp and clear articulation of the issue of the separation of powers, when it comes to city employees serving in the Legislature, has stood in marked contrast to the muddled mewling of some of her cohorts." *6
"Ms. Boggs McDonald was clearly one of the best candidates for the job. At the county level, in an era when so many members of the County commission appear to have been wandering a dark forest in search of the slightest glimmer of moral or ethicsl guidance, Ms. Boggs McDonald has the potential to be not merely an adquate additon to that body, but a great leader, arriving at a time of serious need." *7
Congratulations! Lynette! "It's our honor to have our faculty member Ms. Boggs McDonald appointed by Governor Kenny Guinn as one of the Commissioner of Clark County Commission. We're impressed by the good editorial of Las Vegas Review-Journal entitled 'Appoints good news --- Both Douglas and Boggs McDoanld are highly qualified for new posts,' on Aril 1," said Dr. Tony Lei, President of Washington Business and Technology Institute (WBTI), early in the morning on Thursday, April 1, 2004.
The following is a post for the Office of Governor Kenny Guinn of its Press Release to us on March 31, 2004 by e-mail:
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: March 31, 2004 Contact Greg Bortolin or John Trent
775-684-5670
Gov. Guinn names Boggs McDonald to Clark County COMMISSION
CARSON CITY - Gov. Kenny Guinn today appointed Lynette Boggs McDonald to the Clark County Commission to fill the vacant position in District F left by the resignation of Mark James.
"Because Lynette is currently an elected official and working directly on many of the most pressing issues facing Southern Nevada, I believe she will be able to hit the ground running on the Clark County Commission," Gov. Kenny Guinn said. ��This commission is far too important to appoint a caretaker. Having an experienced person who intends to run for the post in the fall election was also very important in my decision. Lynette gives us the best chance to retain District F as a Republican seat.
"I would also like to thank everyone who expressed an interest in serving District F as a replacement for commissioner James."
Boggs McDonald will step down from Las Vegas City Council Ward 2, effective April 20, the same day she is scheduled to take her commission post. She is the first woman to lead a Las Vegas City Council ward. She was appointed on June 28, 1999 and was elected outright on April 3, 2001, receiving 70 percent of the vote in the primary election.
The Councilwoman also announced that she has stepped down from the board of directors at Station Casinos Inc.
"I resigned immediately from Stations Casinos because the Governor and I didn��t want any appearance of impropriety or conflict of interest," Boggs McDonald said. "I am honored to be chosen by Gov. Guinn to serve on the County Commission. I am looking forward to working on the issues that face the residents of Clark County and my constituents in District F."
Boggs McDonald serves on the Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department Fiscal Affairs Committee, the Clark County Debt Management Commission, and the Regional Jail Commission. She is the immediate past president of the Nevada League of Cities and Municipalities and currently serves on the National League of Cities Homelessness Task Force and the Community and Economic Development Steering Committee. She serves on the State of Nevada Commission on Aging and is a trustee of Catholic Charities of Southern Nevada.
Boggs McDonald is a business graduate of the University of Notre Dame, attended the University of Oregon Graduate School of Journalism and received a Master's of Public Administration degree from the University of Nevada, Las Vegas.
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Office of the Governor Grant Sawyer State Office Building
101 North Carson Street 555 East Washington, Suite 5100
Carson City, NV 89701 Las Vegas, NV 89101
Fax: 775-684-7198 Fax: 702-486-2505
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References
*1. Packer, Adrienne. 'No favorites, official promises,' "Las Vegas Review-Journal," (April 1, 2004), Las Vegas, Nevada: Las Vegas Review-Journal.
*2. Officice of the Governor. 'Gov. Guinn names Boggs McDonald to Clark County COMMISSION --- A Press Release from Governor Kenny C. Guinn on March 31, 2004,' "An e-mail to Dr. Tony Lei from the Office of Governor Kenny Guinn," (March 31, 2004), Carson, Nevada: Ofiice of Governor Kenny Guinn.
*3. Packer, Adrienne. Ibid.
*4. Packer, Adrienne; and Squires,
Michael. 'Guinn may fill spot today,'"Las Vegas Review-Journal," (March 31, 2004), Las Vegas, Nevada: Las Vegas Review-Journal.
*5. Ibid.
*6. Editorials. 'Appointments good news --- Both Douglas and Boggs McDonald are highly qualified for new posts,' "Las Vegas Review-Journal," (April 1, 2004), Las Vegas, Nevada: Las Vegas Review-Journal.
*7. Ibid.

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