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Dear NPCA Advocates,
As we ask you to help us select our 2010 advocacy priorities, we celebrate a great advocacy victory of one of our member groups and welcome a new RPCV to Congress.
All this and a whole lot more in our November advocacy update. |
Help Us Choose NPCA's 2010 Advocacy Priorities
Thanks to those who offered recommendations to the NPCA Board of Director's Standing Committee on Policy and Advocacy for 2010 advocacy priorities.
Give us your thoughts as we finalize our decision. Take our five-minute, three question survey to provide input on what should be the Peace Corps issue and global issue to prioritize during our advocacy efforts next year.
You have until Sunday, November 22nd to take the survey.
Final decisions on our 2010 advocacy priorities will be made in December.
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Better, Bolder Peace Corps Survey:
Initial Results
Our thanks to the more than 4,500 individuals who took part in our Better, Bolder Peace Corps survey.
While a full report will be issued in December, initial results from the survey indicate that among the many ideas on how to improve and embolden the Peace Corps, issues related to strengthening development work and programming resonated especially high among survey respondents.
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Peace Corps Funding Decisions on Hold...Dodd Bill Co-sponsors Reach Eleven
Congress recently voted to extend its continuing resolution on final spending decisions for Fiscal Year 2010 to December 18th. This means that decisions on funding levels for the State/Foreign Operations portion of the budget (including Peace Corps) may not be finalized until that time. There is growing speculation that portions of the budget that have not been completed may be bundled together, making it less likely for changes once proposals go to the Senate and House for final consideration.
In the Senate, we continue to make the case for a $450 million funding level for Peace Corps by urging co-sponsorship of RPCV Senator Chris Dodd's "Peace Corps Improvement and Expansion Act" (S. 1382). Pennsylvania native Jennifer Bert (Jamaica 06-08), pictured above with staff of Senator Arlen Specter, is one of the most recent examples of advocates making the case for robust Peace Corps funding.
Senators Patty Murray (WA) and Bernie Sanders (VT) are the most recent co-sponsors of the legislation. 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.
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RPCV Congressman Garamendi Begins Work on Capitol Hill
There are now six RPCVs in the United States Congress.
John Garamendi (Ethiopia 66-68) was sworn in on Thursday after defeating several challengers Tuesday in a special election to finish the term of former Representative Ellen Tauscher in the 10th Congressional District (which includes Antioch, Fairfield and Walnut Creek).
While his work representing the district began immediately, election night did provide an opportunity to celebrate. Garamendi and wife Patti (Ethiopia 66-68) enjoyed the election victory with many supporters and friends, including former NPCA Board members Pete Johnson (India 67-69) and Susan Neyer (Philippines 62-65).
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RPCVs Rally During
International Day of Climate Action
Heavy, heavy rain did little to dampen the spirit and resolve of hundreds of climate activists who gathered in Washington on the October 24th International Day of Climate Action for a rally and march to the White House to demand global action to address the climate crisis.
A great contingent of RPCVs participated. The NPCA banner was a magnet, attracting the attention of about 30 individuals at various stages of their Peace Corps experience.
"In addition to hearing good music and inspiring speeches, I talked to RPCVs, Peace Corps applicants and supporters", said Kristina Owens (Bolivia 00-02) one of the RPCVs who helped organize an NPCA presence at the rally. "RPCVs had stories about their service and how climate change is affecting their countries."
Be on the lookout for upcoming video of those RPCV testimonies. In the meantime, follow this link to check out images of climate rallies held in current and past Peace Corps countries all around the world. Share your stories about events you attended on Connected Peace Corps. And, learn more below from November's featured advocate.
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Congratulations to Friends of Sierra Leone: Peace Corps Announces Return of Volunteers!
Two of the most important attributes in successful advocacy are patience and persistence. Victories don't often come right away, but can be acheived with strong organization, good facts and a stick-to-it attitude.
Within the Peace Corps community, these traits have been exemplified by the Friends of Sierra Leone (FoSL). Their steady advocacy to make the case for Peace Corps' return to the west African nation and efforts to work with and bring key officials together has finally paid off.
Congratulations to FoSL President Peggy Murrah, members of the FoSL Advocacy Committee and the entire FoSL community for this fantastic victory.
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Featured Advocate:
Blake Howell Schmidt - Portland, OR
Among the more than 5,000 events held in 181 countries to mark the October 24th International Day of Climate Action was a colorful, rousing rally in Portland, Oregon. Blake Howell Schmidt (Mozambique 01-03) promoted the event in person and online and assisted the group 350.org with outreach and promotion of similar gatherings in Portugal and Portuguese speaking countries in Africa.
Schmidt says he was both amazed and inspired in reviewing many of the images that were collected to mark the day. "It is great that over 2,000 actions took place in the US, but to me the strongest message was from people in some of the poorest countries in the world - many of whom are already feeling the effects of climate change and who will continue to be 'canaries in the coal mine' if we don't change our actions."
Schmidt has seen the impacts of climate change in his studies, travel and work overseas. One such instance was in the Brazilian Atlantic Rainforest where he worked with a small NGO called Iracambi on community organizing and alternative economic development to protect the local environment. "I learned that weather patterns were changing, with more rain in times when it was traditionally dry and vice versa. This in turn affected crop growth, the forest's health, people's access to water for daily needs and more."
As the world's nations prepare to gather in Copenhagen to consider a global climate treaty, Schmidt says "our leaders need to sign a climate deal that is ambitious, fair and binding." That was the common message that came from the recent rally in Portland and in many, many other gatherings around the world.
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This Month's Featured Advocate:
Blake Howell Schmidt
Portland, OR
Read More Below!
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Please Support NPCA through the Combined Federal Campaign
Our CFC#
11708
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On Your Mark...
Get Set...
Believe it or not, work on the Fiscal Year 2011 federal budget is beginning.
Be on the lookout for an upcoming action alert.
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If there should be a chill in the air...
...keep nice and warm with some Peace Corps flair!
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ARC Announces Third Round Winners!
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ORGANIZATIONS REFERENCED IN THIS MONTH'S ADVOCACY NEWS |
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More than 16,000 members of the Peace Corps community are meeting up on Connected Peace Corps
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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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