August 1st Meeting Notes/ DOS ,CCAI (Lonley? "Hold a Meeting") just joking!

The meeting was led by Michael Valverde, CIS-Chief of the Children's Issues Branch, International Operations, Michelle Bond, Dos- Deputy Assistant Secretary for Overseas Citizens Services Carrie Rankin, CIS- Presidential Management Fellow, Children's Issues Branch, International
Operations, and Gerry Fuller, DoS- Unit Chief for Adoptions. There was "standing room only, two people deep" and though it was scheduled to last 1 hour in total, to
cover Ethiopia, Guatemala and Vietnam, 1 1/4 hours were consumed by discussion of Vietnam. DoS members in DC seemed "compassionate" and "get it".

2. DoS appeared "shocked" by the overwhelming turnout and "'intensity" of the crowd.

3.One of the staffers attending (no name available) is himself attempting to adopt from Vietnam.

4.
DoS "painted a stark picture of how difficult it has been to work with
the Vietnamese government." The frustration is that there not a
central authority from which to obtain information. DoS is currently
waiting for a response from the Vietnamese government on the following:
- how many of the 1,729 applicants are waiting to be matched

-what are Vietnam's intentions regarding PAP who are not matched by
Sept. 1, Could those families not matched by Sept. 1 be placed first in
line for upcoming referrals? Could children be matched prior to birth?

5.
DoS has received authorization to permanently double its staff size in
Vietnam in anticipation of an potential flurry of referrals by the end
of August.

6.DoS will enhance communication on all levels via
the internet, possibly establishing a specific website for Vietnam
adoption.

7. CCAI is following up on this meeting by writing an other letter to the Vietnamese government addressing the concerns brought up at today's meeting.

8.DoS, again, voiced concern about using its limited time for answering questions versus processing adoptions.