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October 9, 2009                                                                 www.peacecorpsconnect.org
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Dear NPCA Advocates,
 
Opportunities for action are as plentiful as fall pumpkins!  Take our better, bolder Peace Corps survey.  Share your thoughts on 2010 advocacy priorities.  Get connected to climate change actions later this month.  Take a stand against poverty.  Ask your Senators to support the Peace Corps.
 
It's all here in your October advocacy update.
 

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A Better, Bolder Peace Corps?
 
Take Our Survey


 
Perhaps you are among the nearly 2,500 members of the Peace Corps community who already took part in the better, bolder Peace Corps survey that is now circulating.
 
If you have not responded to the survey please do so over the weekend!  Plan on blocking off up to 20 minutes to take the survey.  Don't delay too long, as the deadline for participating is Thursday, October 22nd.
 
IMPORTANT NOTE: The survey requires you to rank and prioritize items in nine selected categories ranging from Peace Corps recruitment to RPCV services.  Thus, in each section, you will only be able to give one item a ranking of "1", one item a ranking of "two" and so on.  While all of the many ideas included in the survey have merit, we want to see if any issues or categories have particular resonance, and ask you to make some tough choices on what you think needs the most attention.
 
The results of the survey will be published in the winter edition of WorldView magazine and shared with key decision makers who similarly face tough choices on how to use finite resources to advance a bigger, better and bolder Peace Corps.
 


US Capitol

 
Co-sponsor Numbers of Dodd Legislation Begin to Climb


 
The number of co-sponsors of RPCV Senator Chris Dodd's "Peace Corps Improvement and Expansion Act" (S. 1382) has started to climb.  But we need your continued assistance to build further support.
 
Nine Senators have officially co-sponsored the legislation at this time, while several other offices have indicated a willingness to join on.  Along with the recently deceased Ted Kennedy, other current co-sponsors are Senators Mark Begich (AK), Richard Durbin (IL), Kirsten Gillibrand (NY), Tim Johnson (SD), Edward Kaufman (DE), Harry Reid (NV), Jay Rockefeller (WV) and Tom Udall (NM).
 
If you are represented by the Senators above, call them to say thank you and urge their continued support to re-invigorate the Peace Corps.  You can call the Capitol toll free at 877-851-6437 to be connected to your Senator's office.
 
If your Senator is not yet a co-sponsor, please take action.  It is especially important to reach out to your Senator if s/he is a member of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, which has jurisdiction over the legislation.
 



Advocacy 2006 Cong Farr

And in the House?:  Bi-Partisan Letter Urges $450 Million for Peace Corps


Thanks to the continued leadership of RPCV Congressman Sam Farr (D-CA) a bi-partisan group of 28 House Representatives - many who serve on the important Appropriations Committee - sent a letter to the Senate Subcommittee for State/Foreign Operations, urging support for $450 million for Peace Corps in Fiscal Year 2010.
 
Final resolution remains between the higher House recommendation and the $373.4 million recommendation of the Senate Appropriations Committee back in July.  In its letter, House members highlighted the recent confirmation of new Peace Corps Director Aaron Williams, stating "As a proven leader, (Williams) has told Members that he has met that he will guide the agency through a process of innovation and renewed dynamism.  It is incumbent upon Congress to do its best to match resources to the vital mission of the Peace Corps."
 
The three other House RPCVs - Honda (D-CA), Petri (R-WI) and Driehaus (D-OH) signed the letter as did these other representatives: Blumenauer (D-OR), Crenshaw (R-FL), Crowley (D-NY), DeFazio (D-OR), DeLauro (D-CT), Edwards (D-TX), Emerson (R-MO), Eshoo (D-CA), Fattah (D-PA), Hinchey (D-NY), Hoyer (D-MD), Jackson (D-IL), Kaptur (D-OH), LaTourette (R-OH), McCollum (D-MN), Miller (D-CA), Olver (D-MA), Price (D-NC), Rangel (D-NY), Rehberg (R-MT), Schiff (D-CA), Serrano (D-NY), Wamp (R-TN) and Woolsey (D-CA).
 
If your representative signed onto this letter, please thank him/her for their continued leadership in support of the Peace Corps.
 
Washington DC Rally Highlights
International Day of Climate Action 

Oregon RPCV Blake Howell Schmidt (Mozambique 01-03) said it as well as anyone when he recently posted this message to several groups on Connected Peace Corps"Please join or create 350.org actions wherever you are on October 24th.  This is part of a global push to force world leaders to attend the Climate Conference in Copenhagen in December and set us on a course for a healthy and sustainable future." 

 
One of the big events has a big RPCV connection.  Mike Tidwell's (Zaire 85-87) Chesapeake Climate Action Network is taking a lead role in organizing a rally and march in Washington DCIf you want to participate in an RPCV contingent for the DC march, contact us at advocacy@peacecorpsconnect.org.
 
Don't be intimidated by the photo above!  While some planned actions are elaborate, activities will come in all shapes and sizes.  Follow this link to see if there is a planned activity near you.  And, don't forget to keep sending us your RPCV climate testimonies!
 
Stand Up Logo 
 


 

 On October 16-18, Join the Global Movement to End Poverty
 
 
 
Stand Up and Take Action is the 4th annual mobilization jointly coordinated by the Millenium Campaign and Global Call to Action Against Poverty (GCAP) to coincide with the International Day for the Eradication of Poverty on October 17th.  The purpose of these days of action is to stand up against poverty and take action on the Millenium Development Goals. 
 
The Millenium Development Goals have a stated deadline of 2015.  Although progress has been made, action has been much too slow to meet the deadline. You can attend an event that is already extablished or set up your own event. 
 
Last year more than 116 million people particpated in these actions worldwide.
 
Help Us Choose 2010 Advocacy Priorities
 

The NPCA Board of Director's Standing Committee on Policy and Advocacy seeks your input on advocacy priorities for 2010.
 
Submit your recommendations for priorities pertaining to the Peace Corps and other issues of global concern, including reasons for making your recommendation.  Then, look for a future survey to provide further input on final priority selections.

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(Jayne Booker, second from left, joins other RPCVs at district meeting with staff of Congresswoman Barbara Lee)
 
Featured Advocate:  
Jayne Booker - Aptos, CA 
  
 
Jayne Booker is no stranger to challenges.  Serving as a Peace Corps volunteer in Benin (73-75) opened the door to a world of possibilities.  After completing service, Jayne went on to work for a non-profit organization specializing in socially responsible investment by US companies overseas.  After earning an MBA she continued to work on economic development issues from the Eastern Caribbean to southern Africa.
 
More recently, Jayne took on a different challenge as California coordinator of the MorePeaceCorps Campaign.  It started last year when she helped coordinate a MorePeaceCorps house party.  "It was such an exhilarating experience to track down RPCVs in the area, to summon them to a gathering where we shared the importance of our Peace Corps experiences." 
 
Jayne traveled to Washington in January to march with RPCVs in the inaugural parade.  She returned in March to take part in the MorePeaceCorps National Day of Action.  And she has continued to reach out and connect with advocates from across the state to take meaningful action.  "There are so many RPCV member groups...an on-going advocacy effort could be permanently imbedded in these networks in the context of achieving Peace Corps' Third Goal of bringing the Peace Corps experience back to the U.S."
 
Our thanks to Jayne for her continued commitment to the Peace Corps community. 
IN THIS ISSUE
Take Our Survey!

Peace Corps Improvement and Expansion Act Update

House Letter on Peace Corps Funding

International Day of Climate Action

Stand Up Against Poverty

What's Your Advocacy Priority?

Featured Advocate: Jayne Booker

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This Month's Featured Advocate:

Jayne Booker
(Benin 73-75)
Aptos, CA
 
Read More Below! 

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What Should Be NPCA's 2010 Advocacy Priorities?

 
 
 
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NPCA LINKS
 
Join NPCA
 
 

MorePeaceCorps Campaign 
 
 
Peace Corps Community News
 
 
Peace Corps Polyglot - NPCA Blog
 
 
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The Building Bridges Coalition is a lead sponsor of a Higher Education and International Service Conference 
 
 
Washington DC
November 12-13
 
 

 
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KEY ADVOCACY LINKS
 
White House
 
United States Senate
 
 
 
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 Support the Peace Corps
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Support the Environment
 
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Use a Re-usable canvas Peace Corps tote.
 
Visit NPCA's
 
 
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ORGANIZATIONS REFERENCED IN THIS MONTH'S ADVOCACY NEWS
 
 

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 Africa Rural Connect Logo

ARC Announces Second  Round Winners!

 

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Climate Change, Trade Justice, Peace Corps Retirement Credit and More!


These are some of the advocacy related topics in which RPCVs are coming together on Connected Peace Corps, the social networking site for the Peace Corps community.
 
 
Join more than 16,000 individuals who are already signed up.
 
 
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