Our Thoughts Are with Haiti
Like so many of you, we here at NPCA have been overwhelmed by the scope of suffering in Haiti.
On Tuesday our thoughts turned to our friend and former colleague, Matt Marek (Haiti 00-02, pictured above, left). Matt was the NPCA Operations Manager for two years and most recently has been working as Head of Programs for Haiti American Red Cross International Services. We were relieved to hear that he is all right and are very proud of the work he is doing. (Read more about Matt here.) On a sad note however, we learned that a friend of NPCA's Molly Mattessich, Brendan Beck (Mali 03-05), is still missing in Haiti.
To allow members and friends of the Peace Corps community to express their condolences to the people of Haiti, NPCA has created an online petition. We will be collecting the messages through Monday, February 15th and will deliver them to
the Haitian Embassy in Washington shortly thereafter. Please take a
moment to add your name, provide your message and forward the link to
others.
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RPCV Groups Rally Around Haiti
Not surprisingly, when a disaster strikes in one of our former host countries, the Peace Corps community comes together.
Two days after the quake, the Returned Peace Corps Volunteers of Washington, DC turned their previously scheduled happy hour into an impromptu fundraiser for Haiti. They "passed the hat" and raised over $1,000. (Pictured above are Haiti RPCVs Bryan Schaaf and Lenny Teh at the event.) In addition, the New Mexico Peace Corps Association, Connecticut RPCVs and RPCVs of New Jersey report having made donations in the days following the disaster to relief and development NGOs working in Haiti.
For its part, the National Peace Corps Association has connected with the Haiti Returned Volunteers and is receiving updates about the situation on the ground. This coming Tuesday three Haiti RPCVs will be taking part in an NPCA-hosted webinar for our member group leaders. The webinar, "Supporting Haiti: Going Beyond Fundraisers," will be an opportunity for creative discussion about ways - both short and long term - that the Peace Corps community can mobilize to support relief and rebuilding efforts in Haiti.
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NPCA is the Place for Your Peace Corps Haiti News
NPCA is using its online tools to share Haiti information of interest to the Peace Corps community.
In addition to the Haiti Disaster Response Discussion forum on the social networking portion of our website, NPCA has also created a public landing page, where you can find a growing compendium of information on Haiti, including the latest on Peace Corps Response, news stories about Haiti RPCVs, advocacy, advice on donating and more.
We also are regularly updating our NPCA Facebook fanpage and putting out up-to-the-minute updates on Twitter. Stay connected with NPCA!
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Get Ready for the March 2 National Day of Action!
Joan McKniff (Colombia 63-65) traveled from Sarasota, Florida to participate in last year's National Day of Action
The first week of March - Peace Corps Week - marks the signing of a presidential executive order creating the Peace Corps. It is also the one time each year when we mobilize the community to take collective action to support a bigger, better and bolder Peace Corps.
For the sixth consecutive year, we are organizing a "National Day of Action" in support of the Peace Corps.
Please mark your calendars as Tuesday, March 2nd, will be this year's Day of Action. We hope everyone will set aside five minutes on that day to make a phone call, send an email or send a fax to their representatives in Congress urging continued support for the Peace Corps.
We Need Volunteers:
For those living in or near Washington DC, we need volunteers to help prepare for the Day of Action and participate in March 2nd activities on Capitol Hill.
If you live elsewhere, please start reaching out to friends, family and other members of the Peace Corps community to let them know about the Day of Action. |
Dodd Retirement Will Leave Senate Without RPCV Voice
Connecticut Senator Christopher Dodd, a returned Peace Corps volunteer who served in the Dominican Republic from 1966-68, will not to seek re-election this November.
Dodd has been the leading voice in the Senate on Peace Corps issues. He is the author of Peace Corps legislation including the Peace Corps Improvement and Expansion Act, and has led the annual effort to secure signatures on a Senate Dear Colleague letter urging robust funding for Peace Corps. Last year, Senator Dodd. as Chair of the Foreign Relations Peace Corps Subcommittee, convened the confirmation hearing for Director Aaron Williams and expedited Senate confirmation of the new director. Senator Dodd is the only RPCV serving in the Senate. There are five RPCVs currently serving in the House of Representatives.
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NPCA Releases Better, Bolder Peace Corps Survey Results
This fall more than 4,500 people participated in our MorePeaceCorps Better, Bolder Peace Corps Survey. On December 21, 2009, the National Peace Corps Association issued its final report.
A central message of the survey results: The need to improve volunteer projects and programming.
"The recent announcements of Peace Corps' intention to return to Indonesia and Sierra Leone and the continued growth of applications from volunteers are exciting indicators of the opportunities to expand the number of volunteers in the field", said NPCA President Kevin Quigley. "As we begin to grow Peace Corps once again, it is particularly important that the growth of volunteers is coupled with plans to improve the quality of the Peace Corps experience, enhance its impact and develop ways to engage fellow global citizens all around the world."
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Global Connections Update
As we move into the second half of the school year, the Global Connections program is continuing to make strides in its mission to improve the "global literacy" of students.
Teachers can still sign up for Global Connections and take advantage of this free resource for the remainder of the school year. Each week, you'll receive new articles featuring a particular person, country, and current issues that are significant to the subject of globalization.
Over the coming months, a team of 'Master Teachers' will work on providing educators with frameworks for using Global Connections materials in the classroom. We are also setting up a social networking space where participants can share their ideas.
For more information about the Global Connections program or to sign up, visit our website or email teachnet@peacecorpsconnect.org. |
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RPCV MENTORING
Sometimes the hardest thing about Peace Corps is adjusting to life back home. It can feel like being a fish out of water.
That's why the NPCA, in conjunction with the Peace Corps, created this unique program to help returning Volunteers link up with RPCV mentors.
For more information or to apply for the program, click here.
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WHAT IS EVERYONE TALKING ABOUT?
Curious about what's on the mind of the Peace Corps Community?
Wonder no more. Check out Connected Peace Corps...the social networking area on our website.
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