FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: October 5, 2005
CONTACT: Steve George, Dir. of Communications (775) 684-5668

LAS VEGAS � Gov. Kenny Guinn announced at a news conference in Las Vegas today that Nevada citizens will receive their tax surplus rebate checks in the next few days. Guinn said the checks were mailed out today from various post offices throughout the state.

�This is a historic day in Nevada; the first time the state has returned surplus tax money to its rightful owners, the people,� Gov. Guinn said. �I want to thank the Legislature for agreeing with me that after meeting the basic financial needs of the state, additional tax revenues should be returned to our citizens, who can best decide how that money should be spent.�

Gov. Guinn said that close to 1.9 million checks totaling nearly $272 million are being sent to Nevadans. Checks will range from a minimum of $75 to a maximum of $275 per vehicle, based on the 2004 registration fee paid. Persons over the age of 65 as of January 1, 2005, who did not register a vehicle but do have a Nevada identification card issued by the Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV) will also receive a check for $75. Those over the age of 65 as of January 1, 2005, who possess a valid Nevada driver�s license but did not register a vehicle in 2004 are also eligible to receive a refund of $75, but those checks will not be mailed out until later this year, probably in December.

Nevadans looking for information about their rebate amount can go to www.dmvnv.com, enter their name and license plate number and view the exact amount being refunded. Several phone numbers are also available: Las Vegas 702-486-2339; Reno/Carson City 775-684-4948; and for all other areas 1-800-951-1874. An email address, rebate@dmv.state.nv.us, is also available.

Office of the Governor
101 North Carson Street
Carson City, NV 89701
Fax: 775-684-7198

Grant Sawyer State Office Building
555 East Washington, Suite 5100 Las Vegas, NV 89101
Fax: 702-486-2505

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: October 4, 2005

CONTACT: Rebecca Wagner (775) 684-5680; (775) 720-0395 � cell

CARSON CITY, NV� The Nevada State Office of Energy (�NSOE�) and the Nevada Housing Division (�NHD�) are joining forces to promote Energy Awareness Month throughout October by issuing weekly conservation and energy efficiency tips and other information to help consumers combat rising energy costs.

This year�s theme, Not In Use? Turn Off the Juice, promotes smart energy choices, reminding Nevadans to switch off unnecessary lights, unplug electrical drains, and use efficient ENERGY STAR� products. Additional energy conservation events will be announced throughout the month.

�As energy costs continue to rise, I am deeply concerned about the impact on Nevadans,� said Rebecca Wagner, Energy Advisor to Gov. Guinn and Director of the Nevada State Office of Energy. �The goal of Energy Awareness Month is to provide information to consumers so they can make smart energy choices.�

The NSOE is responsible for updating and implementing the Governor�s Comprehensive Energy Plan. One of the primary objectives of the Plan is to support and encourage the efficient use of energy. Additionally, the NSOE is the point of contact for Nevada for federal energy grants to support a variety of energy programs throughout the state.

The focus of the Nevada Housing Division�s Weatherization Program is to assist Nevada�s low income persons reduce their utility bills by providing for energy conservation improvements to their residences. Assistance is provided free of charge to homeowners or renters who reside in single-family homes, in apartment buildings, or in manufactured housing and whose annual gross incomes are at or below 150 percent of the federal poverty income guidelines.

�For the low-income family, a significant amount of their total monthly income goes towards meeting the cost of rising utility bills. The Division�s sub grantees inspect applicant�s homes, and, after determining the applicant�s eligibility, inspect their residence for housing improvements needed for energy conservation,� said Charles L. Horsey, Administrator, Nevada Housing Division.

This week�s conservation tips are easy, no cost measures that can reduce monthly bills. By merely turning off lights, we can have a significant impact on our energy consumption.

ENERGY TIPS FOR THE WEEK OF OCTOBER 3:

The No-Brainers: No Cost Tips to Save Energy

Turn off lights and appliances when not in use. Utilize the �sleep� setting on your computer as it can use as much energy as a refrigerator.

Set your thermostat to 68 degrees when home and set back to 60 degrees while sleeping or away from home for more than four hours.

Open window coverings on the sunny side of your home to take advantage of the sun. Be sure to close the coverings as the sun goes down.

Set your water heater to 120 degrees.

Keep your freezer as full as possible. Use plastic bottles with water to fill in the empty spaces.

Make sure food is cool and covered before it goes into the refrigerator.

Run full loads in your washer and dryer.

Vacuum your refrigerator coils and keep lights and lighting fixtures clean.

Unplug your televisions/DVD player/VCR when you�re on vacation.

Office of the Governor
101 North Carson Street
Carson City, NV 89701
Fax: 775-684-7198

Grant Sawyer State Office Building
555 East Washington, Suite 5100 Las Vegas, NV 89101
Fax: 702-486-2505

Oct. 03, 2005
Copyright @ Las Vegas Review-Journal

POLITICAL NOTEBOOK: Early poll encourages Titus supporters
Democrats asked about governor's race before Perkins' withdrawal
By ERIN NEFF
REVIEW-JOURNAL

[[[State Senate Minority Leader Dina Titus is seeking the Democratic nomination for governor along with Henderson Mayor Jim Gibson.
Photo by John Gurzinski.]]]

A poll of Democratic voters suggests next year's primary for governor will be a tight race.

Southwest Strategies conducted the poll of 600 Democrats who voted in the 2002 or 2004 primary and considered themselves likely to vote next year. It was taken Sept. 18 to 20 -- before Assembly Speaker Richard Perkins dropped out of the race -- and has a margin of error of plus or minus 4 percentage points.

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Senate Minority Leader Dina Titus of Las Vegas got 30 percent support, compared to 20 percent support for Henderson Mayor Jim Gibson and just 7 percent for Perkins.

Voters were then "informed" about some of the candidates' "positive" accomplishments. Southwest Strategies boss Billy Rogers declined to release the wording of the questions.

After the positive information, 38 percent of the voters said they were still more likely to vote for Titus. But Gibson closed ranks at 33 percent. Perkins still got nowhere at 10 percent.

Then Southwest shared some negatives about each candidate.

"It's just the stuff that's been in the press," Rogers said. "We didn't do any (opposition) research."

At that point, Gibson took the lead, 37 percent to Titus' 33 percent. Perkins wallowed at 9 percent.

"There was always some resistance to Perkins," Rogers said. "He just doesn't move, even with the positives."

Rogers said the poll was conducted for a third-party group not associated with any of the candidates. He wouldn't name his client.

Regardless, it's the first Democratic-only poll done in the nascent race, and the remaining candidates began the spin.

"We are absolutely delighted," said Titus campaign manager David Barnhart. "This is the sixth straight individual poll that shows Dina Titus with a lead in this race."

Barnhart was referring to polls that showed Titus was the Democrat performing the best. Those polls had her the closest to Republican Rep. Jim Gibbons, the favorite to win the GOP primary.

Gibson's campaign spokesman, Greg Bortolin, said the poll suggests "the mayor is leading."

Both Bortolin and Barnhart were hesitant to go any further, since neither were privy to the questions, and since the poll tested a race that doesn't exist anymore.

Democrats link Porter, DeLay

Democrats wasted no time last week criticizing Jon Porter for his ties to indicted GOP Rep. Tom DeLay of Texas.

Porter, R-Nev., received $25,000 from DeLay's political action committee and has also given $5,000 to DeLay's legal defense fund.

The state Democratic party, hoping to entice one of their own to take on Porter in congressional District 3 next year, was almost too happy to report Porter's connections to DeLay.

An initial press release included a typo ranked Porter eighth out of 434 members of Congress for being nailed to the Hammer. He's actually ranked 18th by the Public Campaign Action Fund, a non-partisan group that studies the campaign finance laws DeLay is accused of breaking.

State Sen. Dina Titus extended the Porter-DeLay connections a bit further in her bid to be Nevada's next governor.

Both Jim Gibson, the Henderson mayor, and Jim Gibbons, the congressman, gave money to Porter.

Gibson, a Democrat, gave $1,000 to Porter for his 2004 race against Democrat Tom Gallagher. Gibbons, R-Nev., has donated to each of Porter's races over the years.

"Will Tom DeLay campaign for Mayor Gibson in the Democratic primary?" asked David Barnhart, Titus's campaign manager.

Coalition honors Adelson

Las Vegas Sands Chairman Sheldon Adelson received top honors at a Republican Jewish Coalition gala late last month in Washington, D.C.

More than 600 guests were on hand to hear President Bush address the grass-roots organization on its 20th anniversary.

Adelson has been a top donor to President Bush. He also gave $250,000 for the Bush inaugural. His Venetian hotel-casino also hosts events for the Las Vegas chapter of the coalition.

In addition to Adelson, Republican National Committee Chairman Ken Mehlman and Home Depot co-founder Bernie Marcus were honored.

Ensign's hair, tan pleases fan

Sen. John Ensign, R-Nev., drew some flattering -- if somewhat embarrassing -- attention last week.

On a recent flight from Las Vegas to Washington, the 47-year-old senator unknowingly obtained a secret admirer -- a Democrat no less.

"His hair looked great. He has the BEST hair," the 32-year-old female consultant gushed to the "Heard on the Hill" gossip column in the Capitol Hill newspaper Roll Call.

"And he has the best tan," she swooned. "I've always thought so."

For obvious reasons, the woman asked the Roll Call columnist not to use her name.

"He's very attractive," she continued. "He looked really good when he got off the plane, and it's a long ride from Las Vegas. A four-hour ride and he barely looked rumpled."

The woman did not stop until she announced she was nominating Ensign for a "best hair and best tan award."

That prompted Heard on the Hill to establish impromptu contests for "Best Hair" and "Best Tan" on Capitol Hill.

On Thursday, Ensign blushed when Sen. Harry Reid teased him by reading the item for dozens of visiting Nevadans at a breakfast event.

This attention, of course, is nothing new for Ensign. In 1997, he was "Mr. April" in a "Hunks of the House" pinup calendar printed by female lawmakers.

Stephens Washington Bureau writer Tony Batt contributed to this report. Contact political reporter Erin Neff at 387-2906 or ENeff@reviewjournal.com.

Oct. 03, 2005
Copyright @ Las Vegas Review-Journal

Titus shows punch
Gubernatorial hopeful sticks to her stances
By ERIN NEFF
REVIEW-JOURNAL

[[[State Sen. Dina Titus at a Starbucks last week in Las Vegas talks about her bid in the 2006 governor's race.
Photo by John Gurzinski.]]]

Dina Titus smiles last week as she tours a home in Green Valley that generates its own power through solar panels. Titus' net metering legislation allows Steve and Marsala Rypka to sell unused energy the house generates back to the power company.
Photo by John Gurzinski.

It began the way her speeches often do.

The words rolled off her tongue before the thought was finished, her drawl stretching out the vowels as if buying time while her mind searched for the best punch.

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"Since George Bush has been president, lives have been lost, opportunities have been lost, the surplus has been lost, jobs have been lost, allies have been lost.

"Let's tell George Bush to get lost."

Though the partisan crowd was there for challenger John Kerry's speech that Feb. 13, 2004, night at Valley High School, it was the stemwinder from a girl raised in the South that was being repeated by attendees afterward in the parking lot.

Dina Titus doesn't just have the most distinctive accent in Nevada politics; hers is arguably its most unique voice.

In the race for governor, she is not just the last liberal standing, she is standing up to the established voices who say she can't win.

"She speaks her mind and she follows through," said fellow Senate Democrat Maggie Carlton. "You can't tell her it can't be done. Just like with this race, she'll do it anyway."

Titus is not as tidy as her labels suggest: Democratic national committeewoman, Senate minority leader, university professor.

She is a high school dropout with a doctorate, a big-city liberal courting rural conservatives, a woman in a good old boy's network. Unmistakably Georgian, she hopes to be Nevada's first female governor, and a Democratic one in a red state to boot.

"You can't be too far out there and get elected in Nevada," said Titus, adding she has been facing voters for 18 years. "Saving Red Rock, that's not some kind of liberal issue. A property tax freeze is not liberal. Protecting people from sex offenders is not out there."

Alice Constandina Titus was born in Thomasville, Ga., in 1950. She grew up in Tifton, a southern Georgia agricultural town bypassed by the interstate.

Titus was raised to be her Greek family's Southern belle, with tap dance recitals, cheerleading and helping in the kitchen at her grandfather's restaurant.

But her "traditional Southern family" also dabbled in politics, with a great-grandfather who served in Congress, an uncle in the Georgia Legislature and a father who made a run for mayor of Tifton.

"I grew up in the tradition of Southern Democrats," Titus said. "That's not like a Massachusetts Democrat. I own a gun."

It's a .32-caliber Smith & Wesson, and she is happy to show you her registration card.

Titus said she got "tired of" high school but had the test scores and grades to get into the College of William and Mary without her diploma. She earned a bachelor's degree in government, followed by a master's degree from the University of Georgia and a doctorate in political science from Florida State University.

She came to Las Vegas in 1977 to teach at the University of Nevada, Las Vegas. Titus is a tenured political science professor and the author of two nonfiction books about nuclear waste politics and federal-state conflict in Nevada.

At UNLV, she met Tom Wright, a history professor. They have been married now 25 years.

A faculty stint in U.S. Sen. Howard Cannon's Washington office piqued Titus' interest in Democratic politics. In 1988, she filed to run for the state Senate and won.

"I decided I teach it, I study it, I love politics. I think I can bring common sense to the job."

She feels the same today, but the job is bigger than toiling in the minority in one house of the Legislature.

At times the strain of this race can be seen in her 55-year-old eyes, the weight of the challenge seeming too much for her slender frame.

On March 31, after a draining 11-10 defeat of her property tax freeze, Titus slumped over her desk as she reviewed notes in her second-floor Carson City office long after her staff and the daylight had gone.

"Is anybody going out for a drink?" she asked a reporter while removing her glasses. "I could use one."

Uninvited to that night's capital bar scene, she also was unwelcome in the governor's race by the same cadre of lobbyists and consultants. It's not a new obstacle for Titus.

In 2001, she considered running for Congress, but Sen. Harry Reid backed County Commissioner Dario Herrera. Then she considered the Clark County Commission, but Reid's son Rory was out raising money and freezing others out of the race.

On the eve of the general election in 2002, Titus said she would run for governor four years out regardless of -- and, in fact, because of -- the other Democrats who said they would run: Assembly Speaker Richard Perkins and Henderson Mayor Jim Gibson.

"I've been waiting for this for 18 years," she said. "I'm more than ready."

Perkins had the right connections to inspire fear in another candidate: support from gaming and help from campaign powerhouse R&R Partners. He was following the anointment model used by both Gov. Kenny Guinn and Bob Miller in which donors would fail to support the other candidates.

But a funny thing happened on the way to freezing Titus out of the race this time. She kept campaigning, her polls started improving, and the money started coming.

"She's been running in front," said Michael Green, a history professor at the Community College of Southern Nevada. "She's been out there when Perkins, at the time, and Gibson have been getting it together."

Perkins dropped out of the race last month and said a three-way primary was impossible to win with enough resources left to take on Congressman Jim Gibbons, the Republican candidate with the best poll numbers and biggest war chest.

"I think with Perkins' decision not to run, she clearly has been in the race and would have to be seen as a front-runner on the Democratic side," said Fred Lokken, a political science professor at Truckee-Meadows Community College.

In Titus' mind, she will start to raise credible cash thanks to small donations coming in through her Web site and from a recent endorsement by pro-choice group, EMILY's List.

Because money begets money, she also thinks she will have enough money left to take on Gibbons after the primary.

Several political observers said the primary is hers to lose.

"As much as I admire Jim Gibson, I don't see how he can get out of the primary," said consultant Terry Murphy, a friend and business colleague of the mayor. "The people who will vote in a Democratic primary in the middle of August are not likely to vote for him unless he can establish some real Democratic bona fides."

Democratic consultant Dan Hart said that if Titus were not running, Democrats and moderate Republicans would "flock to Gibson."

Though Titus will have a core constituency in the primary, Hart said, it will be interesting to see whether Gibson can make up ground running as the one in a better position to defeat Gibbons, the congressman.

Gibson has yet to announce his bid formally and has not stated any positions on statewide issues. But several factors give Democrats pause: his stance on abortion and donations he gave to ballot Question 2, the initiative that amended the state's constitution to ban gay marriage.

Assemblywoman Sheila Leslie, D-Reno, was a Perkins supporter. She is interested in learning more about Gibson but said she does not think he will do very well among Washoe County primary voters.

"The average northern Democrat will not vote in a primary for an anti-choice, anti-gay candidate," Leslie said. "Democrats up here are very pro-choice and equal-rights oriented. I don't care how much money they throw at Democrats up here. He can buy name recognition, but he's a negative to a lot of things that Democrats care about as their core values."

Titus is trying to define Gibson for voters before he announces. Last week at a labor convention in Reno, she said little distinguishes Gibson from Gibbons.

"With all due respect, Jim Gibson represents politics as usual. I do not believe you can beat Gibbons with Gibbons lite," she told the Nevada AFL-CIO.

"As Harry Truman once said, if you give people a real Republican and a fake Republican, they'll choose the real Republican every time," she added.

Greg Bortolin, the Gibson campaign spokesman, downplayed the criticism.

"That's indicative of someone who's not been able to get her party out of the minority," Bortolin said. "Richard Perkins and (Senate Majority Leader) Bill Raggio were the two leaders of the Legislature. If you're not in charge, you can't claim accomplishments as a leader."

Gibbons' spokesman, Robert Uithoven, said Titus "is certainly more liberal than mainstream voters in the state are."

He said she will have to address past votes and statements.

In her first legislative session in 1989, Titus became a leading supporter for Clark County's position in the fair-share debate. Before she went to Carson City, she said she wanted to take on the "Comstock Lode mentality."

During debate on a bill to divvy up tax revenues that had gone to Washoe County erroneously, she said: "For years, Washoe County has been a sponge just soaking up the income that's been earned by the blood and sweat of miners, gamblers, ranchers throughout the rest of the state. They don't want taxes. They don't want growth. They just want a handout."

At the time, Raggio, the Senate Republican leader, warned the statement would come back to haunt someone who wanted to seek statewide office.

"I was fighting for my constituents, and I will fight just as hard for the whole state," Titus said last week in an interview.

She describes her legislative agenda -- proposing the "ring around the valley" to limit growth and strengthening development standards in the Red Rock National Recreation Area -- as appealing to northern voters, who tend to be more concerned about the environment.

Titus is convinced she will win the primary and will have momentum to take on Gibbons, who in her scenario survives a contentious primary with state Sen. Bob Beers and Lt. Gov. Lorraine Hunt.

Democratic consultant Billy Vassiliadis, who had been advising Perkins, said he can see Titus' scenario but thinks Gibson could have a better chance of beating Gibbons.

"I think the 'I'm the guy to beat Jim Gibbons' is one message that could work," Vassiliadis said. "Philosophically, partisan pure governor candidates aren't typically the ones who win here."

That has been the case for more than 20 years.

Guinn, who is term-limited, is a moderate Republican who proposed $1 billion in taxes. Former Gov. Miller was a pro-life Democrat. And former Gov. Richard Bryan was considered a moderate Democrat, but when he went to Congress, he voted against President Clinton's tax increases.

Democratic consultant Mike Sullivan said such examples make it hard for him to see how Titus can win the general election.

"I think Dina's very, very good, but I'm just not sure how she beats Jim Gibbons," said Sullivan, a former Perkins aide. "I'm not going to say she can't, but I don't see how she brings the kind of Democrat who will vote for George Bush to the table."

Titus thinks she knows how. She is campaigning like crazy throughout rural Nevada and not just during the Labor Day weekend festival circuit.

Though the state is evenly split between Republican and Democratic voters, rural Nevada's 145,000 voters decided the presidential election. Besides being markedly different from Clark and Washoe, the state's remaining 15 counties have the greatest concentration of Republicans, more than 75,000 of them.

And although her accent might remind people she is not a native, as Gibson and Gibbons are, she contends it helps her in Winnemucca and Ely and with the 50 people she met in the far corner of Nye County in a place called Railroad Valley.

"It disarms the notion that I'm from Las Vegas, that I'm from the ivory tower," she said. "I'm just one of the folks."

She is talking the right lingo: the language of water, of limiting government intrusion and of renewable energy for economic development.

Rural Nevada is concerned not just about Las Vegas taking their water but about their lifestyle changing as communities such as Fernley and Minden -- where Titus announced her candidacy -- grow out of their beginnings.

Titus is eyeing the Democratic women who have won in red states, Janet Napolitano in Arizona and Kathleen Sebelius in Kansas.

"They didn't win by trying to be like their Republican opponent," Titus said. "They won by giving the people something new and exciting that they could grab a hold of.

"If you put Gibbons and Gibson on the same stage and have them debate, people can't even say their names without stumbling. They look alike, they sound alike, they think alike. How's that going to look?"

Two weekends ago, Titus was in Pioche on a Saturday. She changed her clothes in the car on the way back to Las Vegas for an education awards dinner. The next morning she hit the black churches in the urban Las Vegas core and then flew to Reno for the AFL-CIO reception. She spoke to the union's convention Monday, met with the Hispanic Chamber of Commerce in Reno, raised money in Lake Tahoe and flew home to teach her two classes on Tuesday.

"A moving target's harder to hit, y'know."

Oct. 02, 2005
Copyright @ Las Vegas Review-Journal

WASHINGTON DIGEST: Senate confirms Roberts to be court's chief justice

Bush nominee garners support of 78 senators

By ALISON VEKSHIN and ELIZABETH PIET
STEPHENS WASHINGTON BUREAU

WASHINGTON -- The Senate last week confirmed appeals court judge John Roberts to become the 17th chief justice of the Supreme Court.

All vote was 78-22, with all 55 of the Senate's Republicans and half of the Democrats voting in favor of Roberts, who will succeed the late William Rehnquist. Independent James Jeffords of Vermont also voted for Roberts.

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Roberts' supporters lauded his legal background and his ability to fairly interpret the law and the Constitution.

"I believe he is temperamentally and intellectually inclined to stick to the facts and the law in cases that will come before him on the high court, and that he will refrain from attempting to legislate from the bench," said Sen. Wayne Allard, R-Colo.

Opponents questioned Roberts' record on civil rights and maintained he was not forthcoming about his views during confirmation hearings.

Sen. John Ensign, R-Nev., voted to confirm Roberts. Sen. Harry Reid, D-Nev., voted against the nominee.

As Dr. Tony Lei inspires us that the four precious and valuable properties owned by the United States of America are Freedom, Democracy, judicial ruling, and Entrepreneurship, our Graduate School of Business and Public Administration (GSBPA) is promoting the cooperation and development of international tourism, business, education, and culture. To contribute to the Asian countries with the spirit of innovation and entrpreneurship, we need to emphasize our programs with our global e-business technology managemnt. We are surrounded by lots of e-business entreprises in this 21th Century era of businees world. An e-busineess entreprise is a business that uses the Internet, intranets, extranets, and other computer networks to support electronic business process, decision making, and team and workgroup collaboration within the enterprise and among its customers, suppliers, and other business partners.

One of our purposes is to strengthen our business prgrams with the emphasis of e-business technology management. We will encourage the management of information technology in our international e-business entreprises by three functions. We expect our e-business entriprises will make their managing information technologies effective by : (1)the joint development and implementation of e-business and Information Technology ( IT ) strategies by business and IT executives, (2)managing the research and implementation of new information technologies and the development of e-business applications, and (3)managing IT processes, professionals, and subunits within company's IT organization and Information System (IS) function.*2

Computer and technology are as natural as the air for the people in today's workplace which is teeming wih individuals who have terrific idea and a great deal to contribute. "In 'WinningWays,' Dick Lyles gives us four very powerful strategies that all of us can use to improve our relatioships with others and increase our own level of success. These are the best guidelines I've seen to help you unleash your power and reach your maximum potential," wrote Dr. Ken Blanchard.*3 The four powerful strtegies for the secret of winning ways are: (1). Make people feel stronger rather than weaker as a result of your interactions wih them. (2). Camels are Okay. In fact, today's camel builders will be tommorrow's leaders. (3). Avoid two-valued thinking traps, because very few decisions are choices between right and wrong or good and bad. (4). Influence for the future, rather than the present or the past.

"Lee Iacocca told us that management is nothing more than motivating other people. I agree with U. S. Congresswoman Shelley Berkley that once she said, 'The knowledge delivered by the publications of Washington Business and Technology Institute (WBTI) through its multimedia inspire us with a positive thinking to love our people, community, professionalism, and country.' I'm impressed that the Graduate School of Business and Public Administration (GSBPA) of WBTI quoted again lots of valuable words of positive thinking," said Judge Nancy Saitta, District Judge of Nevada. She likes to read the WBTI website (http://communitylink.reviewjournal.com/lvrj/wbti) with colorful and creative design. Even as the number 53,477th [on 5/5/2004 (now at the number of 102,671 on September 30, 2005)} visitor of the website, she is proud to be on the list. We express regret for that the numbers of this website are limited because of its contends by nature of the academic and professioal features. Intelletuals may ask that "How many people could and should be the readers of the book written by our famous scientist Albert Einstein?"

You may never know! By adding the number of visitors who access it from the search engines leading giants such as Google.com, Google.cn, AOL.com, WebCrawler.com, Infoseek.com, among others, the number of visitors to WBTI website are numerous.

We are quite encouraged through the commends of their visiting either by President Dr. Andrew Benton of Pepperdine University, U. S. Senators Harry Reid and John Ensign, Chancellor Dr. Charles Runnels of Pepperdine University, U. S. Congresswoman Shelley Berkley, Justice of the Supreme Court Michael Douglas, District Judge Jessie Walsh, Clark County Commissioner Lynette McDonald, Judge Betsy Kolkoski, Sherrif Bill Young, District Court Judge Cheryl Moss, among others, or by their Secretaries. And thus, we try to offer you the following inspiration of the golden words of wisdom:

"A word aptly spoken is like apple of gold in settings of silver." --- Proverbs 25 : 11
"Be devoted to one another in brotherly love. Honor one another above yourselves." Romans 12 : 10
"Perfume and incense bring joy to the heart, and the pleasantness of one's friend spring from his earnest counsel." --- Proverbs 27 : 9
"Plans fail for lack of counsel, but with many advisers they succeed."
--- Proverbs 15 : 22
"The time to repair the roof is when the sun is shining." --- John F. Kennedy
"Seven days without laughter makes one weak." --- Joel Goodman
"Today, more than ever before, every person is a potential user of computers." --- Marilyn Bohl, in her Preface of "Information Processing," 3rd Ed., 1980.
"To be a college or graduate student at this new era, especially in the field of business, she or he should owns four kinds of ability in computing: (1) Word processing, (2) Electronic spreadsheets, (3) Data base management, and (4) Statistical analysis and Charts. As a modern manager and any professionl in business, she or he is more productive in work performance with her or his good talent in computers. --- Tony Tung-tien Lei, M. B. A.; in his Preface of "Mangement Information," 1st Ed. Dec. 1987.
"Commit to the Lord whatever you do, and your plans will succeed."
--- Proverbs 16 : 3
"He who loves a pure heart and whose speech is gracious will have the king for his friend." --- Proverbs 22 : 11
"All hard work brings a profit." --- Proverbs 14 : 23
"The plans of the diligent lead to profit as surely as haste leads to poverty." --- Proverbs 21 : 5
"The reward for work done is the opportunity to do more." --- Jonas Salk, MD
"I think the next best thing to solving a problem is finding some humor in it." --- Frank A. Clark
"Freedom is the oxygen of the soul." --- Moshe Dayan
"With sincere love, it's like living in Heaven. On the other hand, with cruel hate, it's like living in Hell. Fighting and malice for selfish gain belong to Hell. Cooperation and encouragement to promote quality of life are attitudes of Heaven." --- Tony T. Lei, Ed. D.
"Do to others as you would have them do to you." --- Luke 6 : 31
"A man finds joy in giving an apt reply --- and how good is a timely word!" --- Proverbs 15 : 23
"One man gives freely, yet gains even more; another withholds unduly, but comes to poverty." --- Proverbs 11 : 24
"The great Winston Churchill said, 'We all make a living by what we get, but we make a life by what we give.' Tony, I know that you like to exemplify this inspiration same as it's my driving force by which I start out each day." --- Natalie L. Tyrrell
"Freedom, Democracy, Judicial ruling, and Entrepreneurship are the best four treasures of the United States of America." --- Dr. Tony T. Lei
"What would life be if we had no courage to attempt anything?" --- Vincent Van Gogh
"Nothing great was ever done without much enduring." --- St. Catherine of Siena
"Anthing you're good at contributes to happiness." --- Bertrand Russell
"To a friend's house the road is never long." --- Anonymous
"The secret of joy in work is contained in one word --- excellence. To know how to do something well is to enjoy it." --- Pearl Buck
"The paralleled practice of both the positive thinking and love in action through the skills with good personal traits such as enthusiam, belief, intellegence, creativity, judgement, liveliness, vision, courage, desire to excel, and persistence, will help people pursue a rich , happier , and successful life." --- Tony T. Lei, Ed. D.

With the above words of wisdom, we are glad to have our leaders's inspiration and encouragement for the cooperation and development on tourism and business among international countries with Nevada:

Governor Kenny Guinn of Nevada reminds us that tourism is the bedrock of Nevada's economy. To expand and diversify our domestic and international markets are absolutely essential to our long-term economic growth and stability.*4

Governor Kenny Guinn and Lt. Govenor Lorraine Hunt said that Nevada's tourism industry must continue to expand its offerings and reach out to diverse markets that range from outdoor enthusiasts to residents of the world's most populous nation. Speaking at the general session of the Governor's Conference on Tourism at Caesars Palace, he and she each praised Nevada's continuing efforts to supplement its gaming-based core with non-gaming amenities such as shopping, dinning, and outdoor recreation.*5

Governor Guinn expresses that he can not overemphasize the significance and importance of bringing attention to all the attractions to Nevada at a time when it faces unprecedented competition for gaming customers. He believes that we are wise to expand our marketing efforts and focus on developing markets in places such as Asia. It is significant for him to point out that in addition to gaming, Nevada has phenomenal cultural, historic, and recreational resources that we must continue to promote. The Governor emphasizes that for our state's economy to thrive, all of the Silver State's tourism opportunities must be effectively marketed to both domestic and international visitors.*6

The modern and creative philosophy of management is advanced on the following words of wisdom, among others:*7

***"The trees that are slow to grow bear the best fruit." --- Moliere
***"Luck is a matter of preparation meeting opportunity." --- Oprah Winfrey
***"The secret of joy in work is contained in one word -- excellence. To know how to do something well is to enjoy it." --- Pearl Buck
***"Plans fail for lack of counsel, but with many advisers they succeed." --- Proverbs 15 : 22 "Bible"

"As a bridge between the business and university, the integrity of community service and academic research of Washington Business and Technology Institute (WBTI) will help Nevada go advance for the cooperation and development in education, business, and culture among international countries. As an Adjunct Associate Professor of the Graduate School of Business and Public Administration (GSBPA) of WBTI, it's my pleasure to extend my knowledge, experience, and professionalism in public service for community and education at the adjunct capacity," said Jackie Glass, District Judge of Nevada, at the event and dinner party by Unity Council of Nevada in Lindo Michoacan Mexican Restaurant on April 28, 2004 in Las Vegas.*8

--------------------
References

*1. GSBPA of WBTI is the initial of the Graduate School of Business and Public Administration of Washington Business and Technology Institute.
*2. O'Brien, James A.. (2003) "Introduction to Information Systems," Boston, N. Y.: McGraw-Hill Irwin.
*3. Lyles, Dick. (2000) "Winning Ways," New York: G. P. Putnam's Sons.
*4. Chang, Tiffany. 'Tourism development and prosperity for Nevada inspired and encouraged by Governor Kenny Guinn and Lt. Governor Lorraine Hunt,' "PPAA18 of WBTI," Las Vegas, Nevada: WBTI.
*5. Ibid.
*6. Ibid.
*7. Chang, Tiffany. 'Some good personal traits for an individual to be successful in business and some golden words of wisdom for positive thinking,' "Newsbrief of WBTI," (April 8, 2004), Las Vegas, Nevada: WBTI.
*8. Glass, Jackie. "A writing paragraph with signature on my appointment by Washington Business and Technology Institute," (April 28, 2004), Las Vegas, Nevada: WBTI.

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: September 30, 2005 Contact: Steve George
(775) 684-5668

Carson City � Gov. Kenny Guinn today announced the appointment of Charles �Chuck� Ruthe of Las Vegas as the Governor�s appointment to the Tahoe Regional Planning Agency Governing Board. He fills the seat being vacated by Drake DeLanoy.

�I am very pleased Chuck has agreed to serve as a member of this agency that is tasked with the protection of Lake Tahoe,� Gov. Guinn said. �His vast business knowledge and commitment to service in the community will be a great attribute to the TRPA.�

Ruthe, 71, is owner of Charles L. Ruthe & Associates Inc. Realtors in Las Vegas. He previously served as president of Boyd Gaming and Boyd Development Corporation. He is affiliated with numerous service organizations in Las Vegas and has served on many boards of directors in Southern Nevada.

�I want to thank Gov. Guinn for this great opportunity and I look forward to serving the people of the Lake Tahoe basin and the state in this position,� Ruthe said.

The TRPA Governing Board consists of members appointed by local, state and federal government entities from Nevada and California. Ruthe is Gov. Guinn�s one appointee to the agency, although the Governor does have the option of appointing the at-large member from Nevada if four of the six other Nevada members of the agency are unable to agree upon the selection of the seventh member within 30 days of a vacancy.

Office of the Governor
101 North Carson Street
Carson City, NV 89701
Fax: 775-684-7198

Grant Sawyer State Office Building
555 East Washington, Suite 5100 Las Vegas, NV 89101
Fax: 702-486-2505

Sep. 29, 2005
Copyright @ Las Vegas Review-Journal

Ensign says National Guard will aid animal rescue crews
By SAMANTHA YOUNG
STEPHENS WASHINGTON BUREAU

WASHINGTON -- The National Guard will begin escorting animal rescue crews into abandoned homes to retrieve pets left behind by people who evacuated from Gulf Coast hurricanes, Sen. John Ensign said Wednesday after returning from the region.

The Nevada Republican, a licensed veterinarian, said he secured the arrangement while visiting Louisiana and meeting with rescue leaders.

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Coast Guard Vice Admiral Thad Allen, head of the hurricane recovery efforts, plans to name a point person this week to coordinate animal rescue efforts, Ensign said.

"There has not been somebody to coordinate the effort to go in and get the animals," he said.

Ensign met with Allen and also toured an emergency animal shelter set up by Louisiana State University.

Animal welfare groups estimate thousands of pets remain locked in homes. At least 3,500 pet owners have asked for help finding their animals, Ensign said.

In many cases, Louisianans refused to heed evacuation orders because pets were not allowed in shelters. Ensign said local and federal governments should change their policy to prevent widespread disease among animals left behind.

"While I think the animals are important, there's a public health concern as well," Ensign said.

Aside from animal care efforts, Ensign toured parts of Louisiana on a Cessna plane owned by the state of Louisiana. He flew over coastal towns demolished by hurricanes Katrina and Rita.

"There was one little beach town and all that was left were concrete pads," Ensign said.

After meeting with disaster response personnel whom he declined to identify citing privacy reasons, the Nevadan said many workers are concerned about how the Federal Emergency Management Agency is spending money.

Ensign said he learned that "there's a huge amount of money and very little accounting." He plans to raise the issue at Senate hearings.

Ensign said he chartered a corporate jet to fly him and several members of his staff to New Orleans. He said he paid for the trip from his congressional account because Senate rules prevented him from accepting a free flight.

Ensign's staff did not immediately respond to queries about the cost of the trip and the identity of the jet's owner.

International Cities Business Council (ICBC) strives to build a bridge among important cities nationally and internationally. ICBC has set the following goals: (1) Mutual cooperation and development of business, trade, and tourism; (2) Public relations among businesses and professionals; and (3) Social and dinner events within the community with a friendly atmosphere.

Justice of the Supreme Court Michael Douglas, District Judge Jessie Walsh, Clark County Commissioner Lynette McDonald, Nevada Assemblywoman Valerie Weber, Clark County Sherriff Bill Young, business executives and owners, multimedia publishers and Editors-in-Chief, organizational and community leaders, and other VIPs co-sponsored the initial establishment of the Intercity Business Council of Nevada (also known as the "International Cities Business Council") of Washington Business and Technology Institute (WBTI) . The historical event took place on December 16, 2004 in Las Vegas, Nevada, U. S. A.*1

The Directors of the International Cities Business Council (ICBC) at the present time are: Honorable Han Zheng, Mayor of the City of Shanghai, China, Honorable Jim Gibson, Mayor of the City of Henderson, Nevada, Honorable Michael L. Montandon, Mayor of the City of North Las Vegas, Nevada, Dr. Stuart Mann, Dean of the William F. Harrah College of Hotel Administration, University of Nevada Las Vegas (UNLV), Honorable Feng Wei Lai, County Governor of Penghu, Taiwan, Honorable Changping Zhang, Mayor of Xiamen, China, and the Honorable Tommy Hu, CEO (Mayor) of Xiang Fan, Hubei, China, CEO of United Commercial Bank, notably among others.*2

Lt. Governor of Nevada Lorraine Hunt was invited to be the Honorary Chairperson of the International Cities Business Council (ICBC). President Dr. Carol C. Harter of UNLV and Nevada Assemblywoman Valerie Weber were selected as Advisors. Miss Charlyne Chen was promoted to Chairperson of ICBC by President Dr. Tony Lei of WBTI on August 15, 2005.

A formal dinner party was held by Charlyne Chen, Chairperson of the International Cities Business Council, celebrating the establishment of ICBC at the skyroom restaurant of Stratosphere Casino and Hotel on September 5, 2005 in Las Vegas, Nevada.

Honorable Michael L. Montandon, Mayor of North Las Vegas, Nevada was introduced by Miss Charlyne Chen and announced as the newest ICBC Director.

The following information about the Mayor are posted through the courtesy of the City of North Las Vegas, Nevada:

Michael L. Montandon has been a resident of Southern Nevada since 1992. He served as President of the Hidden Canyon Homeowners Association from August 1995 until June 1997. He was first elected Mayor of North Las Vegas in July 1997 and began his second four-year term as Mayor on July 1, 2001.*3

Mayor Montandon is also presently employed in the construction management industry. Prior to coming to Southern Nevada, Mayor Montandon worked in commercial appraisal and land planning in Phoenix, Arizona. He served as the Treasurer of the Las Vegas Chapter of the Appraisal Institute in 1995 and 1996.

In North Las Vegas, prior to becoming mayor, Michael served on the Mayor's Task Force for Wages, Benefits, and Finance. The task force studied fiscal responsibility in City Management and the work force.

Some of the many boards and committees Mayor Montandon served in included: Clark County Debt Management, Civilian Military Council, Deferred Compensation Advisory Board, Board Member of North Vista Hospital - ex-officio, North Las Vegas Housing Authority, North Las Vegas Library District Board of Trustees, Southern Nevada Strategic Planning Authority, Southern Nevada Enterprise Community Program, and the Southern Nevada Regional Planning Coalition Federal Lands Subcommittee.

Mayor Montandon graduated from Arizona State University with a Bachelor of Science degree in Finance and in July 2000, he completed the Harvard University Program for Senior Executives at the John F. Kennedy School of Government.

Mayor Montandon is married to Antoinette and has five children. Besides spending time with his family, he includes dirt bike riding and racquetball as his hobbies.*4

"Perfume and incense bring joy to the heart, and the pleasantness of one's friend springs from his earnest counsel," Proverbs 27:9.

"He who loves a pure heart and whose speech is gracious will have the king for his friend," Proverbs 22:11.*5

"Mayor Michael Montandon has been one of our Advisors of the Pan Pacific and Asian American Forum of WBTI since 2002. It's our pleasure and honor to have Michael again as one of our Directors for the ICBC. We're expecting more city mayors will also join him as Directors as evidenced by his popularlity, integrity, and professionalism," said the Founder of ICBC, Dr. Tony Lei.

---------------------------------------------
References

*1. Weber, Valerie; and Kung, Jennifer. 'A welcome and celebration dinner party held by Chairperson Charlyne Chen of International Cities Business Council in Las Vegas,' "A search of 'International Cities Business Council' on the Google.com," (September 24, 2005), Mountainview, California: Google.com.
*2. Ibid.
*3. The City of North Las Vegas. 'A profile of the Mayor,' "A search of 'Mayor Michael Montandon' on the Google.com," (September 24, 2005), Mountainview, California: Google.com.
*4. Ibid.
*5. Office of Congresswoman Shelley Berkley. 'U. S. Congresswoman Shelley Berkley Succeeds in Adding Land Transfer for New Southern Nevada VA Medical Complex to Omnibus Spending Bill,' "Section 'Business & Administration' of WBTI on 12/22/04," (September 17, 2005), Las Vegas, Nevada: WBTI.

Monday, September 26, 2005
Copyright # Las Vegas Review-Journal

POLITICAL NOTEBOOK: Democrats unite as Republicans scramble
Assembly majority leader attracts generous crowd to fundraiser ahead of possibly becoming Nevada's first female speaker
By ERIN NEFF
REVIEW-JOURNAL

[[[Majority Leader Barbara Buckley talks with other Assembly members in June in Carson City. While Democrats learned last week Assembly Speaker Richard Perkins would not seek re-election, they were bolstered by the thought of Buckley becoming Nevada's first female speaker.
Photo by John Locher.]]]

Yvonne Atkinson Gates and her husband recently built the home above in Summerlin, which is outside her County Commission district. Gates is married to District Judge Lee Gates, who last year disqualified Mark DeStefano from a Board of Regents election because he didn't live in the 13th district. DeStefano had claimed his house on Mount Charleston, below, was his residence. Atkinson Gates says she's renting an apartment in her district.
Photo by ISAAC BREKKEN/REVIEW-JOURNAL

Photo by John Locher.

It was the best of times and the worst of times last week in the Assembly's two very different political caucuses.

Even as Democrats learned their speaker, Richard Perkins, was not seeking re-election, they were bolstered by the thought of Majority Leader Barbara Buckley becoming the first female speaker.

Buckley spoke Wednesday at a Democratic Legislative Caucus event at Terrazza Lounge, poolside at Caesars Palace, with a who's who of lobbyists and politicos in the house.

Even the Las Vegas Chamber of Commerce, which typically supports the other party, was well represented at the event, which raised $150,000.

Across the aisle, things are not as rosy.

A power vacuum is sucking the life out of the 16 Assembly Republicans, with three members vying to replace their leader, Lynn Hettrick, even though Hettrick hasn't definitively said he's retiring.

Hettrick, R-Gardnerville, has said he is thinking about ending his legislative service after 12 years.

That was enough for Heidi Gansert, Garn Mabey and Bob Seale. All three have been soliciting support from within the caucus to take over.

Mabey, R-Las Vegas, is the assistant minority leader, a post he won over Seale during a caucus vote after the 2004 elections.

Mabey earned his bona fides being part of the "Mean 15" in the the taxing 2003 legislative session. But he's also been criticized within his caucus for making anti-gaming statements that may make it harder for the caucus to raise money from the state's leading industry.

Then there's Dr. Mabey's gynecological practice, which took him away from Carson City on more than a few Fridays this year, earning him the derisive moniker "Absentee Leader" within the caucus.

Seale, R-Henderson, is a former two-term state treasurer, so he's not viewed as the freshman he is. But he is seen as a moderate, and that hurts him among the rural members who banded together in 2003 as a voting bloc of 15 to successfully scuttle several tax votes.

Gansert, R-Reno, is a freshman hoping she can win the leadership post by encouraging the northern and rural members to side with her.

She's pushing for Hettrick to step down and is calling for a caucus vote to replace him, perhaps as soon as next month.

An early vote would help her, because Seale will likely help get several Republicans elected, shoring up support from them if the vote for leadership is held, as it traditionally is, after the even-year's elections.

Already down 10 seats to the Democrats in the lower house, the Republicans will be losing several of their members. John Marvel of Battle Mountain may retire, four-termer Sharron Angle of Reno is running for Congress, and sophomore Rod Sherer of Pahrump has resigned and is moving out of state.

Changes for Democrats

Clark County Democrats elected a new slate of leaders last week amid the party's biggest central committee turnout in recent memory.

Attorney Liz Foley took 93 percent of the vote to serve as county chairman, besting activist Debbie Springer with "several hundred" Democrats in attendance.

Foley said she envisions turning the county party into a "big city party," organized by wards, not smaller precincts, and which will coordinate better with individual Democratic organizations.

"Right now, we're like a one-story rancher. We need to become a three-story office building," said Foley, who took over as chairwoman when Charlie Waterman retired after 25 years at the helm.

Foley said the wards will mirror the geographic city wards and will be created along township lines in unincorporated areas of the county.

The biggest change will occur at next February's precinct caucuses. For the past several years, all precincts met at one location for party elections. Last year, more than 10,000 showed up at Chaparral High School amid presidential year mania.

Next February, the party will hold caucuses in Henderson, Las Vegas and North Las Vegas, all on the same day.

Other leaders elected last week are: Justin Gilbert, first vice chairman; Jerry Johnson, second vice chairman; and Roger Moore, third vice chairman.

Gilbert was the party's youth chairman in the past. Johnson will help organize the senior vote. Moore was the volunteer coordinator for John Kerry's presidential campaign last year.

Dian Guinn and Jan Churchill stay on as secretary and treasurer, respectively.

Resident judge

Here's a dose of irony.

Mark DeStefano won a Board of Regents primary last year but was disqualified from the general election ballot by District Judge Lee Gates, who ruled he didn't live in the 13th district and, as a result, didn't meet residency requirements.

Gates is married to Clark County Commissioner Yvonne Atkinson Gates. The Gates family built a new home in Summerlin, which is outside of Atkinson Gates' commission district.

Atkinson Gates says she's renting an apartment in her district, whose address she would not disclose, with her daughter.

Judge Gates moved into the Summerlin home.

Atkinson Gates has three years left on her term and may seek re-election in 2008.

DeStefano, now a Republican candidate for state treasurer, doesn't have to worry about residency issues anymore. He does live in Nevada.

Contact political reporter Erin Neff at 387-2906 or ENeff@reviewjournal.com.

Sunday, September 25, 2005
Copyright @ Las Vegas Review-Journal

JOHN L. SMITH: Perkins has taken one for the team, and he's the one-man team

And you thought the wheels came off the Las Vegas Monorail fast. That's nothing compared to the flimsy Firestones that just shot off the soapbox racer known as the Richard Perkins-for-Governor campaign.

Talk about a laydown -- on the eve of his campaign kickoff. Seldom in the history of Nevada politics has a man with so much juice done so little with it.

Guys who quit this abruptly usually do so just ahead of the law, but Perkins is a police officer. From the looks of things, he didn't want to get his nose bloody in a fight he was likely to lose in the primary.

Either that, or you can believe him when he intimated he was taking one for the team in an effort to prevent a Republican victory in 2006.

Team? What team? Where are all the "team pictures" of Perkins with Democratic challenger Dina Titus or expected candidate Jim Gibson? They don't exist. Perkins' political career has been very much about Perkins.

Here's a little secret: It still is.

Perkins told reporters he believed he could win a hard-fought Democratic primary, but just wouldn't have enough money to beat Republican front-runner Jim Gibbons in a general election. Even his top adviser, Billy Vassiliadis, read from that tepid "Seinfeld" script.

Perkins has floated his interest in the governor's office for years. He raised respectable money in recent months and had the backing of Vassiliadis, Pete Ernaut and the R&R Partners image experts with all their connections to big cash on the Strip.

And they say he still couldn't compete because of money?

Obviously, they missed their calling.

They should have been comedians.

The only bigger laugh is the one about how Perkins, despite enjoying the support of two of Nevada's biggest campaign mechanics, was somehow not a creation of the state's political machine.

Cut from the Guinn-Miller DNA strand, Perkins billed himself as a conservative Democrat, but rode shotgun for Gaming Inc., pushed for big tax increases and didn't bother to hide his immense ambition. The thought that a young man with so much political drive would quit this race for the greater Democratic good is nonsense.

He had a mixed bag of success at the Legislature, and at 43 he's no scandal; but the fact is it's hard to win a governor's race after a lengthy stay in Carson City, where issues make enemies. It's something Titus and state Sen. Bob Beers, another gubernatorial hopeful, surely know.

As it is, Perkins is in position to continue in his executive post at the Henderson Police Department or accept some no-in-basket homeland security spot now that he won't be challenging Mayor Gibson in the governor's race.

Nobody's poll, not even his own, had Perkins reasonably certain of getting out of the primary, much less beating Gibbons even if he had the keys to the U.S. Mint. Vassiliadis designed a survey that took positive and negative points of each candidate and weighed the public's opinion. Perkins pushed for the largest tax increase in Nevada history and was accused of double dipping.

It's not the negatives, but a lack of positives that doomed Perkins in a competitive field. Other than wanting the job, can anyone give a reason why he deserved it?

No one can blame him for believing he could be governor. After all, he had all the right friends and was fiercely aware of how Nevada's campaign game usually works.

In a year in which a campaign could be rigged like a Tijuana dog race, Perkins could have conceivably placed first. But this season finds Sig Rogich and Jim Denton backing Gibbons, Beers rattling Republican cages, Lorraine Hunt extremely popular, Gibson showing a pulse, and Titus refusing to buckle to the well-connected men's club.

Nevada has the makings of a real race instead of a machine-bred show pony exhibition with rocking horses for competition.

No one will mistake Perkins for a "Fear Factor" finalist, but simply calling him a coward isn't accurate. In politics, discretion is the better part of survival, and valor is a photo opportunity. Perkins is a politician.

So forget about the team.

This is about Richard Perkins living to race another day on a track where he might be competitive.

John L. Smith's column appears Tuesday, Wednesday, Friday and Sunday. E-mail him at Smith@reviewjournal.com or call 383-0295.

Friday, September 23, 2005
Copyright @ Las Vegas Review-Journal

GOVERNOR'S RACE: National group gets behind Titus
EMILY's List a strong fundraising force
By ERIN NEFF
REVIEW-JOURNAL

[[[Dina Titus
Lawmaker faces Henderson Mayor Jim Gibson in Democratic field]]]

Senate Minority Leader Dina Titus is hoping that a national group's endorsement will help her follow in the footsteps of eight other Democratic women who have won governorships with help from EMILY's List.

The 20-year-old organization, which supports pro-choice Democratic female candidates, has endorsed Titus, D-Las Vegas, in her quest to become Nevada's first female governor.

"They've got several thousand members in the state, and having their help and support is going to help in this race," Titus said.

There is no specific "Emily" behind the list, just an "Early Money Is Like Yeast" mantra that Titus hopes will help her raise campaign dough from women nationwide and, with it, increase her profile in the state she hopes to govern.

"Dina Titus is an enormously effective state senator, with a record of achievement that has improved the lives of Nevadans," said Ellen Malcolm, president of EMILY's List, in a news release announcing the endorsement.

The group's Web site features incumbent politicians such as Kansas Gov. Kathleen Sebelius and Washington Sen. Maria Cantwell, and urges those who support their pro-choice beliefs to donate to their recommended candidates.

Carrie Giddins, deputy communications director for the group, said Titus will have "the full array" of EMILY's List services at her disposal for the race.

In the 2003-04 election cycle, EMILY's List members donated more than $10.7 million to candidates nationwide.

Rep. Shelley Berkley, D-Nev., has received EMILY's List's endorsement in past races and said the group's fundraising potential is "awesome." She said she believes the small EMILY's List contributions from around the country amounted to $100,000 in each of her two past races.

"First of all, it was early, and of course those early endorsements are important because you are developing a momentum and proving that you're viable," Berkley said. "(EMILY's List) is like a business; if they like the product, they'll put their money into it, but you have to provide a good deal of information before they endorse you."

Titus said EMILY's List does not just "find women and help them win."

"They find women who are viable and put them over the top," Titus said. "They like to water the green spots. We are going to be competitive, and this will help."

David Damore, a political science professor at the University of Nevada, Las Vegas, said that although the EMILY's List endorsement will not mean much to voters in the state, it will help Titus get funding from outside Nevada.

"It usually opens up their fundraising network, and EMILY's List has helped raise lots and lots of money for candidates," Damore said. "Obviously, she's going to need as much money as she can get her hands on."

Rep. Jim Gibbons, a Republican, has nearly $2 million for the race.

Damore said he thinks Wednesday's announcement by Assembly Speaker Richard Perkins that he wasn't seeking the Democratic nomination for governor hurts Titus. If Titus had been in a primary with both Perkins and Henderson Mayor Jim Gibson, the two men would have split their traditional base of support and led Titus to a victory, he said.

"Now I think she may have to run a little more toward the base in the primary," Damore said. "The EMILY's List endorsement speaks to that core Democratic base."

Titus is but one of several gubernatorial candidates who support abortion rights.

Lt. Gov. Lorraine Hunt, a Republican, said that as a Catholic she is personally anti-abortion, but she believes "women have a right to choose." Gibbons also supports a woman's right to abortion. State Sen. Bob Beers, the third Republican candidate, describes himself as pro-life.

Gibson, a Mormon, supports abortion in cases or rape, incest or the mother's life.

Abortion is unlikely to become a major issue in the governor's race. Even if the U.S. Supreme Court overturns Roe v. Wade and sends the issue back to individual states, Nevada voters already have passed an initiative requiring a vote of the people in order for the state to overturn Roe v. Wade.

Strengthened by faith in God and family, we knew in our hearts that with hard work, perseverance, and the help of newly found neighbors and friends, we could indeed achieve the American dream. ---U. S. Secretary of Labor Elaine Chao*2

"It gives me great pleasure to welcome you to Las Vegas for the 28th Annual Convention of the Taiwan Benevolent Association of America. I hope that, during your time here, you will be able to experience some of the many attractions that our beautiful city has to offer. .....," wrote U. S. Senator John Ensign to Taiwan Benevolent Association of America.*3

The grand opening of the 28th Annual Convention of Taiwan Benevolent Association of America (TBAA) was held by its Chairperson Wendy Yu-ping Wu*4 at the Paris Hotel on July 30, 2005 in Las Vegas, Nevada. The Concode C Room was full with participants from all around the world. Dr. Fu-Mei Chang, Overseas Chinese Affair Commission of the Republic of China; Ssu-yin Ho, Kuomintang Oversea Director; Mark W. P. Liao, Director General of the Taipei Economic and Cultural Office in San Francisco; Lagislators of ROC S. C. Ting, Y. Y. Wu, S. H. Chou, W. C. Shieh, J. L Lin, among others presented at the Conference. Justice of the Supreme Court of Nevada Michael Douglas and Nevada Asemblywoman Valerie Weber each dilivered a nice and significant welcome speech. Greeting Letters and Cetificates were presented by Mr. Matthew McBride (for U. S. Senator John Ensign), Ms. Judith Ray (for U. S. Congressman James Gibbons), Ms. Gerri Schroder (for U. S. Congresswoman Shelley Berkley), Councilwoman Lois Tarkanian (for Las Vegas City Mayor and Council), Councilwoman Stephanie S. Smith (for the North Las Vegas City Mayor and Council).

A Welcome Party and Preliminary 28th Board Directors and Advisors Meeting were held on July 29, 2005 at the Paris Hotel in Las Vegas, Nevada. To pay a special tribute to his great contribution to the 28th Convention and TBAA, Dr. Tony Tung-tien Lei was nominated by Chairperson Wendy Wu of TBAA as an Advisor of Taiwan Benevolent Association of America. The nomination was seconded and unanimously voted by all the presented Directors and Advisors. The Declaration of the 28th Conference of TBAA was written by five members. The five members, including Kent Wang, De-yu Lang, Dr. Tony Tung-tien Lei, Dr. Wayne J. Horng, and Leo Huang, were all elected by the Board Directors and Advisors. The theme of the Declaration was how to strengthen the unity and harmony of Chinese in America. During the meeting, Miss Sue Phelps was elected as the Vice Chairperson of TBAA.

"It is a pleasure and privilege to welcome the Taiwan Benevolent Association of America and its international convention to Las Vegas and the Paris Hotel. .....Please let us know if there is anything we can do to help make your visit a more pleasant and productive experience. .....," wrote U. S. Congressman James Gibbons to TBAA.*5

The "Fomosa Night" was held at a grand ballroom in Paris Hotel on July 30, 2005 in Las Vegas, Nevada. Lt. Governor delivered a welcome speech to the crowded attendents in the Hall. She wishes Navada be the great door opened for the international business and trade between the silver state and Asian countries. A Letter of Greeting was granted by her to TBAA.

President Dr. Tony Tung-tien Lei presented the Certificates of Recognition from Nevada Governor Kenny Guinn and U. S. Congressman Jon Porter and Greeting Letters of U. S. Senator John Ensign and U. S. Congressman James Gibbons to the Chairperson of TBAA Wendy Yu-ping Wu.

"The State of Nevada congratulates you on your extensive assistance to the Taiwan Benevolent Association of America, and commends you for your dedicated service to the citizens of our Silver State," Nevada Governor Kenny Guinn granted a Certificate of Recognition to Wendy Wu dated May 23, 2005.*6

United States Congressman Jon C. Porter granted a Certificate of Recognition to
recognize and honor Wendy Wu, "FOR YOUR DEDICATED SERVICE AND PROFOUND COMMITMENT TO THE COMMUNITY AND TO THE TAIWAN BENEVOLENT ASSOCIATION OF AMERICA."*7

Dr. Lei presented also a Certificate of Recognition from U. S. Congressman Jon Porter to the President of Taiwan Benevolent Association of Las Vegas Sue Phelps. Sixteen original hard copeis of the RC 25 Resolution by Nevada Assembly and Senate were presented by Dr. Tony Lei to each president of the 16 Chapters of TBAA through their Chaiperson Wendy Wu.

Proclamations from the Board Commissioners of Clark County of Nevada and the State of Nevada (through Assemblywoman Valerie Weber) were presented to Washington Business and Technology Institute (WBTI) and Dr. Tony Tung-tien Lei by both of the parties on July 30, 2005 in Las Vegas, Nevada.*8

Ms. Wendy Yu-ping Wu completed successfully her term as the Chairperson of TBAA in the evening of July 30, 2005. The Chairmanship was transfered by her to Mr. I-Ta Liang at the "Fomosa Night" in Las Vegas, Nevda. Mr. Liang is now the 28th Chairman of TBAA. The �Formosa Night?featured a delegation of 28 people from Taiwan and a chorus from New York City. It was a great performance with dance troupe of Taiwan Culture Delegation.

One of the earliest attendants of the convention this year was the Representative of Taipei Economic and Cultural Representative Office in the United States David Tawei Lee on July 28, 2005.

Mr. Lo-Yu Sun, Board Advisor of Taiwan Benevolent Association of America (TBAA), held and host a farewell lunch party for the 28th Annual Confernce of TBAA at the Harbor Palace Seafood Restaurant on August 1, 2005 in Las Vegas.*9 Jennifer Lin, President of Taiwan Benevolent Association of New Jersey, welcomed everybody and their friends to attend the convention next year held in New jersey. President of Taiwan Benevolent Association of California Amber Sun spoke for the main association to thank Mr. Lo-Yu Sun's generosity for hosting the dinner party.

"In righteousness we shall be established. In this 21th Century new era and society, we need economic growth, but we also need to establish and promote creativity, fairness and Justice, serve and love, educational knowledge, and spirit engineering. We wish that a pure spring may prosper and enrich our splendid and golden country through: the elegant properties of freedom, democracy, entrepreneurship, and justice; the power of public service that based on 'knowledge is the power of righteouness,'; the advancement of technology, innovation, and civilization; and the spirit that 'knowledge calls, ultimately, for a life of service'. We believe that a thing of beauty is a joy forever. With the effort and participation of many intellectuals, leaders, officials, among others through benevolent spirit and brotherly love, the 28th Convention of TBAA is really marvelous," points out President Dr. Tony Lei of Washington Business and Technology Institute.*10

[***Welcome to the section of "Photos & Pictures"! (at http://communitylink.reviewjournal.com/lvrj/wbti)
We offered there with lots of photos and pictures about Taiwan Benevolent Association of America.]

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References

*1. Michael Douglas is a distingueshed Justice of the Supreme Court of Nevada. Valerie Weber is a famous and achieved Assemblywoman of Nevada.
*2. Bush, George; Chao, Elaine; and
The New York Times. 'Elaine Chao believes deeply in the American dream; Section of #U. S. Secretary Elaine Chao on WBTI at 04/26/05,' "A search of 'Chairperson Elaine Chao' on the Google.com," (September 22, 2005), Mountain View, California: Google.com.
3. Ensign, John. 'Greeting from Office of Senator John Ensign,' "The 'Letter of Greeting to Taiwan Benevolent Association of America and Wendy Yu-ping Wu' sent by U. S. Senator John Ensign to President Dr. Tony Tung-tien Lei of Washington Business and Technology Institute (WBTI)," (May 27, 2005), Las Vegas, Nevada: Office of Senator John Ensign.
*4. Douglas, Michael; Weber, Valerie; Moss, Cheryl; and Chang, Tiffany. 'Wendy Wu has been appointed Assistant Fellow of Public Administration Institution of WBTI,' "A search of 'wendy yu-ping wu' on the Google.com," (August 3, 2005), U. S. A.: Google.com.
*5. Gibbons, James. 'Greeting from Office of Congressman James Gibbons,' "The 'Letter of Greeting to Taiwan Benevolent Association of America and Wendy Yu-ping Wu' sent by U. S. Congressman James Gibbons to President Dr. Tony Tung-tien Lei of Washington Business and Technology Institute (WBTI)," (July 10, 2005), Washington, D. C.: Office of Congressman James Gibbons.
*6. Guinn, Kenny. 'Certificate of Recognition from Office of the Governor,' "The 'Certificate of Recognition to Wendy Yu-Ping Wu' sent by Nevada Governor Kenny C. Guinn to President Dr. Tony Tung-tien Lei of Washington Business and Technology Institute (WBTI)," (May 24, 2005), Las Vegas, Nevada: Office of the Governor.
*7. Porter, Jon. 'Certificate of Recognition from Office of Congressman Jon Porter,' "The 'Certificate of Recognition to Taiwan Benevolent Association of America and Wendy Yu-ping Wu' sent by U. S. Congressman Jon C. Porter to President Dr. Tony Tung-tien Lei of Washington Business and Technology Institute (WBTI)," (June 29, 2005), Las Vegas, Nevada: Office of Congressman Jon Porter.
*8. Denton, Mark; Walsh, Jessie; Moss, Cheryl; and Chang, Tiffany. 'Our mutual cooperation and development between the officials and people will bring us a peaceful, happy, and healthy community,' "Newsbrief of WBTI," (February 7, 2004), Las Vegas, Nevada: WBTI.
*9. PAI of WBTI, 'An invitation e-mail to U. S. Senator John Ensign,' "A search of 'U. S. Senator John Ensign' on Google.com," (August 4, 2005), U. S. A.: Google.com.
*10. Reid, Rory; Denton, Mark; and Glass, Jackie. 'Profiles on a thing of beauty is a joy forever,' "A search of 'business - WBTI' on the Google.com," (August 10, 2005), U. S. A.: Google.com.

Thursday, September 22, 2005
Copyright @ Las Vegas Review-Journal

2006 CAMPAIGN: Perkins exits race for governor
Assemblyman says three-way primary would hurt Democrats
By ERIN NEFF
REVIEW-JOURNAL

[[[Assembly Speaker Richard Perkins, with his wife, Terri, at a news conference Wednesday, announces he will not seek the Democratic nomination for governor next year.
Photo by Craig L. Moran.]]]

Assembly Speaker Richard Perkins did a political about-face Wednesday, dropping out of the governor's race on the eve of what was to be his formal entrance.

Perkins said he reached his decision Tuesday afternoon after consulting his family and advisers and determining he could not win the general election in 2006 after a contentious and expensive three-way primary.

"I've come to the conclusion that a very competitive three-way Democratic primary leaves nobody in a position to win the general election," Perkins said at party headquarters with his wife, Terri, and four daughters at his side.

"And I feel very, very strongly that the congressman (Republican Jim Gibbons) should not be the governor of this state, that he would roll back the clock on all of our accomplishments."

Perkins, a Henderson deputy police chief, has served in the Assembly since 1993 and as speaker since 2001.

He also announced Wednesday he would not seek re-election and would work to make Majority Leader Barbara Buckley the state's first female speaker.

Perkins' statement suggested he was taking one for the team, and he said: "My taking myself out of my race, you have only two people in it, and the Democratic resources are less diluted."

Democratic strategist Billy Vassiliadis agreed with Perkins' conclusion that he could have won a primary race against Sen. Dina Titus and Henderson Mayor Jim Gibson but would have had a hard time winning the general election.

"He would have exhausted all of his resources to win the primary," Vassiliadis said. "Then Gibbons, the day after the primary, starts attacking him, and he has no money left to respond."

Perkins' campaign had raised close to $700,000, and staff members who had been preparing for this week's formal announcement appeared stunned at the news. One staff member, who just arrived from Oregon, sent his first and last campaign news release Wednesday, advising the media of a "major announcement."

Advisers, lobbyists and other elected Democrats arrived at party headquarters like a family whose members gather for support shortly after receiving news of a loved one's death.

Vassiliadis said that to assert who would emerge from a two-way primary would be premature.

He suggested Gibson could win Democratic support as the best candidate to defeat Gibbons, whom many assume will handle easily his three-way Republican primary. Vassiliadis also said Titus could energize the Democratic base and come out the victor.

Titus said she believes she is the best candidate to defeat Gibbons, a five-term Congressman whose aggressive fund-raising is moving his campaign close to the $2 million mark.

"I think that the base of the Democratic Party will see me as the candidate because of who turns out in a Democratic primary," Titus said, referring to women, environmentalists and "hard-core" Democrats. "I have been to every (Democratic Party) meeting in the past 18 years, and I haven't seen Jim Gibson at one of them."

Gibson's campaign spokesman, Greg Bortolin, announced the hiring of a nationally respected pollster, Fred Yang of Garin-Hart-Yang Research, and said the mayor plans to announce his bid in about three to four weeks.

"Whether Richard Perkins was in or not, Mayor Gibson is putting his team together and does expect to be a candidate for governor," Bortolin said. "He is finalizing his campaign team and working on the issues and his vision for the state."

Perkins refrained from endorsing either Titus or Gibson and called them both top-tier candidates. His criticism was aimed at Gibbons.

"It's more important for Jim Gibbons not to be governor, than for Richard Perkins to be governor," he said.

"I've served (in the Legislature) with Jim Gibbons," Perkins said. "This state needs somebody who's serious about the problems in our state and not the king of the one-minute speeches."

But Gibbons' campaign spokesman, Robert Uithoven, recalled Perkins' low recognition factor in several statewide polls conducted this year.

"I don't think this is terribly significant today because I don't think Richard Perkins was planning a very significant role in the governor's race anyway," Uithoven said.

In addition to low voter recognition, Perkins struggled over the past three years to fight a decision by the federal Office of Special Counsel that said he was violating the Hatch Act through his dual roles as police official and partisan politician.

Last week, a judge determined Perkins had not violated the act, clearing the way for his candidacy.

Perkins was criticized last week by Desert Springs Hospital officials during a dispute over nurses' attempts to unionize. When Perkins visited workers at the hospital, he was accused of grandstanding and "endangering patients' lives."

Perkins ran into trouble in the 2005 legislative session with his backing of a bill that sought restrictions on neighborhood casinos, leaving him pitted between gaming interests and labor. He had yet to repair the rift with labor, a core component of the Democratic base.

The following letter was sent by President Dr. Andrew K Benton of Pepperdine University to President Dr. Tony Tung-tien Lei of Washington Business and Technology Institute (WBTI) on August 30, 2005 from Pepperdine University in Malibu, California:

Dr. Tony Tung-tien Lei
President
Washington Business & Tech. Institute
2245 Homeland St.
Las Vegas, NV 89128-6792

Dear Tony,

I'm watching from my window today--from an office situated in a fouth-floor corner of Thornton Administrative Center--and see the future arriving, car by car. This is indeed a strategic vantage point, for from it I witness a pride-filled pilgrimage as parents bring their children to campus, their dreams packed in overstuffed duffels; a few telltale signs of trepidation on their faces. Image with me that in four years, these students will join YOUR ranks...as Pepperdine alumni.*1

This is a favorite season for me, and I write you to share a slice of the excitement we feel on the eve of a new academic year. It's my sith as president, and there is much for which I am thankful. As one of our more than 70,000 living graduates, you represent a distinguished "point of pride" that sets us apart and in many cases lifts Pepperdine into the upper echelon of America's best independent universities.*2
...........................................

Dr. Andrew K. Benton has served in higher education for nearly 30 years. He planned for a career as an attorney or probate judge in his hometown, and focused his education toward those interests. The desire to work with young people in their own pursuit of higher education was strong and he, instead, followed a career path that led to his current role as the seventh president of Pepperdine University. He assumed that position on June 16, 2000.

Benton received his bachelor of science in American Studies from Oklahoma Christian University and went on to earn the juris doctor degree from Oklahoma City University School of Law. He was admitted to the Oklahoma State Bar in 1979 and later to practice before Federal Courts. For ten years, Benton served in various administrative roles at his undergraduate alma mater. From 1979 until 1983 he also maintained a private law practice in the State of Oklahoma.*3

The letter is in full of the recent accomplishments of Pepperdine and Andrew's close concern to the alumni of Pepperdine. President Benton concluded the letter that "Meanwhile, will I see you at the Hollywood Bowl on September 23 for our Alumni Picnic and Concert? Please let me greet you and your family. The SPRIT OF PLACE that abides at Pepperdine remains a beacon from this campus to our alumni around the world. The stream of arriving students continues outside my window. And YOU, as the foundation of the future of this precious place called PEPPERDINE, remain in my prayers."

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References

*1. Benton, Andrew. 'President Andrew Benton: You represent a distinguished "point of pride",' "A letter from President Dr. Andrew K. Benton of Pepperdine University to President Dr. Tony Tung-tien Lei of Washington Business and Technology Institute," (August 30, 2005), Malibu, California: Pepperdine University.
*2. Ibid.
*3. Pepperdine University. 'A profile of Andrew K. Benton,' "A search of 'President Andrew Benton' on the Google.com," (September 21, 2005), Mountainview, California: Google.com.

Sep. 20, 2005
Copyright @ Las Vegas Review-Journal

Exec says LV's tourism model should be emulated elsewhere
By CHRIS JONES
GAMING WIRE

As safety concerns and rising anti-Americanism reduce the number of foreign visitors to the United States, a travel expert said Monday more U.S. destinations should adopt a Las Vegas-style model that blends widespread security measures with a welcoming attitude.

Roger Dow, president and chief executive officer of the Washington-based Travel Industry Association of America, told 225 attendees at this year's International Tourism Safety and Security Conference at the Flamingo that the nation's nearly $600 billion per year travel industry remains susceptible to threats including terror attacks and natural disasters.

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To help stabilize the flow of inbound visitors and foster international goodwill, American businesses and law enforcement agencies must work together to project a safe and friendly image to would-be travelers, he said.

"When we don't have people coming here, then we fall victim to the media, to the mullahs and the people saying, 'They're the bad guys,'" said Dow, a 34-year veteran of Marriott International who took over the association on Jan. 1.

"(But) if someone comes to the United States ... their perception about the U.S. is much more positive, by about 15 percent, than someone who hasn't visited. ... If they visit three times, they become an advocate," Dow added, citing data from Washington's Pew Research Center.

Approximately 51.2 million foreigners visited the United States in 2000, according to the U.S. Department of Commerce's Office of Travel & Tourism Industries. The following year, traveler fears in the wake of the Sept. 11 terror attacks resulted in only 46.9 million foreign visitors, the department reported.

Last year, that total again exceeded 46 million, but Dow said his association was projecting international travel would top 2000's total this year. After Hurricane Katrina, he no longer expects foreign visitation will top 51 million in 2005, thanks largely to negative media coverage overseas.

"I think that disaster set us back 10 to 15 years in global perceptions about our country," Dow said. "Al-Jazeera, French TV, German TV and media around the world were not showing pictures of a young Coast Guard person who went into the water for the 42nd time so he could pull out one more person. They were showing pictures of downtrodden people ... with guns roaming down the street."

Expedia.com research showed a 15 percent dip in foreign bookings in the days immediately following Katrina, Dow said. He also questioned whether strict new visa policies, including required fingerprints, have told foreign travelers they're not wanted in the United States.

Sheriff Bill Young agreed with Dow's assertion that travel destinations must convey a safe image. But law enforcement and resort representatives must also avoid taking things too far and scaring people away, he added.

To promote safety without resembling a police state, Las Vegas police are encouraged to interact with tourists they encounter when on patrol, Young said.

"I think Las Vegas has struck a pretty good balance. ... There are eyes watching you, but not in an intrusive or some type of negative way," said Young, whose Metropolitan Police Department partnered the 14th annual conference along with the Las Vegas Convention and Visitors Authority and the Nevada Tourist Safety Association.

To aid travel industry workers recover from Katrina, the Travel Industry Association launched a Web site, www.katrinajobs.org, that lists jobs in other parts of the country. Harrah's Entertainment, Las Vegas Sands Corp. and MGM Mirage are among participants, Dow said.

About 260,000 travel industry positions were lost in the 50 Gulf Coast counties and parishes most affected by Hurricane Katrina, Dow said. In addition, the ongoing lack of visitors to the once-popular region has already reduced domestic travel spending by approximately $50 million per day, he added.

The following letter and invitation card were sent by the Graduate School of Education and Psychology of Pepperdine University to President Dr. Tony Tung-tien Lei of Washington Business and Technology Institute:

Thank you for partnering with the Graduate School of Education and Psychology to support students of diverse cultures and perspectives in their efforts to attain academic excellence, social purpose, meaningful service, and personal fulfillment.*1

Your commitment to helping GSEP students reach their goals extends beyond their academic accomplishments and into the communities where they will be creating positive change.

Please continue to encourag GSEP students by recognixing their achievements with your presence at the 4th Annual Scholarship Recognition Dinner, and by sponsoring a table.

You are cordially invited to a reception and dinner honoring the 2005-2006 student scholarship recipients at the 4TH ANNUAL SCHOLARSHIP RECOGNITION DINNER on Tuesday, September 27, 2005 at the Raisson Hotel - Los Angeles Westside.*2

On September 17, 2005, Dr. Tony Lei received the Fall issue of 2005 of "Pepperdine People" from Pepperdine University in Malibu, California:

"Though I am deeply involved in the University on a daily basis, I nevertheless am dazzled at the diversity of people and accomplishments assembled in each issue of our magazine. Taken together, the stories paint an exquisite picture of a dynamic and dedicated University that we cannot take for granted. Many of us see the hand of Providence on Pepperdine University, and we thank you for your continued interest and involvement in this distinctive institution,"
wrote Andrew K. Benton, Preident of Pepperdine University.*3

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References

*1. GSEP of Pepperdine University. 'You are cordially invited to a reception and dinner,' "A letter to President Dr. Tony Tung-tien Lei of Washington Business and Technology Institute from Pepperdine University," (September 15, 2005), West Los Angeles, California: GSEP, Pepperdine University.
*2. Ibid.
*3. Benton, Andrew. 'Message from the President,' "Pepperdine People," (Fall, 2005), Malibu, California: Pepperdine University.