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Greetings!
As an historic year for the Peace Corps community begins, we look back at advocacy efforts over the last twelve months, with tremendous gratitude and thanks for your contributions and assistance.
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October 14, 2010 at 2 AM
Is the Peace Corps still relevant? For nearly 1,500 individuals who stood outside the University of Michigan Union 50 years to the moment of John Kennedy's historic call to service, the answer was clear. Peace Corps is relevant. It is meaningful. It is both magical and inspiring, lifting the idealism of all who know that a single individual can have a positive impact on the lives of others.
Peace Corps pioneer Harris Wofford notes that it was not Kennedy's remarks that were important. Rather, it was the response from students who helped convert the Peace Corps from concept to reality.
With the arrival of Peace Corps' exciting 50th anniversary year, it will be up to each of us - individually and collectively - to demonstrate the relevance, the powerful impact and the need to keep moving the Peace Corps and its ideals forward.
As we prepare for 2011, here's one final look back at 2010.
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 Peace Corps Funding Challenges Ahead
2010 ended with a setback for continued progress on the Peace Corps funding front, setting the stage for potentially difficult challenges in 2011.
The year began on a relatively promising note, as President Obama recommended $446 million for the Peace Corps. While not on pace with his campaign pledge to double the size of Peace Corps by its 50th anniversary, this 11.5% increase was higher than many other parts of the President's international affairs budget and signaled a continued commitment to expand opportunities for Peace Corps service.
Peace Corps champion and RPCV Representative Sam Farr (D-CA) upped the ante early in the year. A letter circulated by Farr and the other RPCVs in the House (Mike Honda, Tom Petri, Steve Driehaus and John Garamendi) recommended $465 million for Peace Corps. 124 House colleagues signed this letter.
In the Senate, a letter co-authored by RPCV Senator Chris Dodd (D-CT) and Senator Bob Corker (R-TN) urging robust Peace Corps funding was signed by 32 Senators.
Record funding secured in 2009 yielded results as 1,000 additional volunteers were assigned to positions in the field.
Prospects for a funding increase were bolstered in the middle of the year. The House Appropriations Subcommittee for State/Foreign Operations agreed to support the President's funding request. While not as high, the Senate Appropriations Committee recommended $420 million.
Reconciliation and final approval of these appropriations bills did not proceed however, and many political leaders and commentators cited the results of this year's congressional elections as a call for reducing the federal deficit and cutting spending. At the close of the so-called "lame duck" session of Congress, lawmakers decided to pass a continuing resolution that funds government spending at current levels ($400 million for Peace Corps). That resolution runs until next March 4th - six months into Fiscal Year 2011. The possibility exists that the new Congress will press for further cuts in this spending level. Expect action opportunities on Peace Corps funding early in the new year. |
 National Day of Action
Back in March, Dave Hohl (Nepal 66-68) traveled from Pinedale Wyoming to Washington DC to participate in NPCA's sixth annual National Day of Action in Support of the Peace Corps. Dave (pictured here-left) met with Senator Mike Enzi and other Wyoming lawmakers to make the case for a bigger, better and bolder Peace Corps.
Dave wasn't alone. During the 2010 National Day of Action (and in the days that followed when members of NPCA's Directors Circle came to DC), nearly 60 advocates were on Capitol Hill. As you contacted lawmakers from home, these advocates held 112 meetings with congressional offices (53 of which were constituent meetings) and delivered Peace Corps funding materials to all 535 members of the Senate and House. This great group of advocates urged lawmakers to sign onto Senate and House letters urging increased funding for Peace Corps.
In the end, a record 156 members of Congress signed Peace Corps letters. This included a record 124 Congressmen/women (up from 89 in the previous year) and 32 Senators (slightly down from the previous year). Some key House meetings also included initial discussions on the need to pass Peace Corps commemorative legislation.
The National Day of Action is a significant endeavor, and members of our community stepped up in a big way, donating more than 500 hours of service to help in the preparation and implementation of the day. As we gear up for the 50th anniversary year, we are getting ready for our seventh annual Day of Action, planned for Thursday, March 3rd. |
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Advancing a Peace Corps Commemorative
For many in the Peace Corps community, a long-held aspiration has been the desire to see the important role of Peace Corps as part of our American story honored in our nation's capital. Significant progress to convert this aspiration into reality took place in 2010.
The Peace Corps Commemorative Foundation, formed in 2009, got to work in 2010 with one of the key early requirements to establish a commemorative near the National Mall - congressional authorization that allows the project to move forward.
That effort was led in the House of Representatives by RPCV Congressman Sam Farr (D-CA), who introduced three page legislation. Farr was buoyed by the support of the four other RPCVs in the House - Congressmen Mike Honda (D-CA), Tom Petri (R-WI), Steve Driehaus (D-OH) and John Garamendi (D-CA).
To comply with guidelines required for such commemoratives, the PCCF materials and language in the legislation specified that the commemorative would recognize the unique and lasting historical significance of the founding of the Peace Corps and the values that it represents. The legislation also specifies that no taxpayer dollars will be used for the project.
Among advocates, RPCVs Roger Lewis (Tunisia 64-66) and Bonnie Gottlieb (Cote D'Ivoire 72-74) played a critical role in preparing documents and participating in meetings on Capitol Hill. Roger was also instrumental in winning support by testifying at hearings held by the National Capital Memorial Advisory Commission and the House Natural Resources Subcommittee on National Parks.
51 representatives co-sponsored the legislation, which won committee approval in July and was later approved unanimously on the House floor. Securing full congressional passage of this legislation will be a key priority in 2011.
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 Advancing a Better and Bolder Peace Corps
Along with promotion of expanded opportunities for Peace Corps service, initiatives supporting a better and bolder Peace Corps are also part of our advocacy.
In June, Peace Corps released an agency-wide assessment and strategic plan for moving forward. Included in the assessment are overviews and recommendations on a range of issues including improvements to volunteer projects, training and programming, strategies for country review and selection, recruitment and diversity strategies, improving programs to bring the world back home and much more. You can review the 200 page assessment by clicking here.
NPCA participated in several review meetings with the work group charged with preparing the assessment. In the course of these meetings, we shared the results and community comments from our 2009 Better, Bolder Peace Corps survey.
2010 also saw progress with RPCV Senator Chris Dodd's Peace Corps Improvement and Expansion Act, which received unanimous support in the Senate Foreign Relations Committee. |
Peace Corps' RPCV Deputy Director
It took more than six months from the point of nomination - but in late June, the U.S. Senate confirmed Carrie Hessler-Radelet (Samoa 81-83) to be the next Deputy Director of the Peace Corps.
Hessler-Radelet, a former member of the Board of Directors of the National Peace Corps Association, joined fellow RPCV and Peace Corps Director Aaron Williams to lead the Peace Corps. Hessler-Radelet (as well as Williams) fulfilled 2009 guidelines offered by NPCA to the administration in the selection of Peace Corps' leadership. Follow this link to learn more about the background of Peace Corps' current Deputy Director.
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 Events Commence to Mark Peace Corps' 50th Anniversary
The latter part of 2010 marked the beginning of activities celebrating Peace Corps' 50th anniversary. Longtime NPCA supporters Angene and Jack Wilson traveled from Lexington, Kentucky to Ann Arbor, Michigan in mid-October for the first major anniversary event on the campus of the University of Michigan. Angene and Jack were in the crowd at 2 AM on the morning of October 14th to remember the speech given by candidate John Kennedy that referenced the concept of the Peace Corps.
During its celebration, the university organized a National Symposium on International Service, which was sponsored in part by the NPCA. NPCA President Kevin Quigley facilitated a panel discussion on new initiatives and policy proposals, which included a presentation on the Service Wolrd initiative and plans for international service legislation named after Peace Corps founder Sargent Shriver.
Indefatigable Peace Corps pioneer Harris Wofford was a constant presence through the celebration, and noted that the key moment at Michigan was not Kennedy's speech, but rather the action taken by student leaders who began circulating petitions and urging Kennedy and his campaign to press forward with his call for international service.
 Other activities during the anniversary celebration included a program featuring Peace Corps author Paul Theroux, addresses by Peace Corps Director Aaron Williams and former Director (and Michigan grad) Jack Vaughn, presentations by Al and Judy Guskin and other 1961 student leaders, the dedication of a new historical marker, and an amazing exhibit organized by RPCV Kay Clifford chronicling the Kennedy visit - fifty years ago. |
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Building a Broader Advocacy Voice for International Service
It's one thing for returned Peace Corps volunteers to be strong advocates for the Peace Corps. Getting other supporters to add their voice makes the message all the more powerful.
And, while we are primary advocates for the Peace Corps, other forms of international service give citizens a menu of opportunities that meet their needs while providing tremendous benefit to others.
NPCA has been at the forefront of initiatives to bring together organizations which share a passion for service - first as a founding member of the Building Bridges Coalition and more recently as a convener of the Service World initiative.
A day-long symposium on international service held in conjunction with University of Michigan 50th anniversary activities featured Peace Corps Director Aaron Williams and other leaders of the Peace Corps and international service community.
In July, Service World launched its effort to mobilize action in support of public policies for more international service. As 2011 begins, a long term hope is to pass legislation expanding opportunities and to name that legislation after Peace Corps founder Sargent Shriver. One of the first steps in building support for this is to have thousands of citizens sign onto a declaration expressing support for international service.
Thanks to those who are among the first thousand to sign the declaration. We need everyone to take two minutes to sign the declaration, indicate your Peace Corps service and explain why international service is important to our country.
Follow this link to take action and share with others!
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 Universal Basic Education
At least 72 million children of primary school age are not in school and tens of millions drop out of school annually. So reads the opening finding in legislation designed to advance quality universal basic education in countries around the world.
During 2010, NPCA increased its work on the issue of universal basic education, providing numerous opportunities for returned volunteers - many with first hand experience on the issue from their service in the Peace Corps - to add their voice to the policy debate.
We reported on a press conference in which Congresswoman Nita Lowey (D-NY) introduced the Education for All Act in the House of Representatives, and provided action opportunities to build the number of co-sponsors for the bill, as well as similar legislation introduced in the Senate by Kirsten Gillibrand (D-NY).
Congresswoman Lowey makes the case for this legislation in the new edition of WorldView magazine (coming to NPCA members in January). We signed onto several letters circulated by the Global Campaign for Education - US and promoted online petitions designed to show support for quality universal basic education.
Look for further updates and action opportunities in 2011 on this issue. |
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Advocacy and NPCA Member Groups
Individually and collectively, the more than 140 official member groups of the National Peace Corps Association play a vital role to help bring the world back home - through continued service, outreach and education, and through advocacy. From helping to coordinate our field visits, to organizing local advocacy meetings in district offices of lawmakers, to mobilizing individuals to take action when an alert goes out, we are grateful to the many contributions made by these leaders within the Peace Corps community. As 2010 comes to a close, we want to highlight just a few of those efforts during the past year.
For the second year in a row, NPCA reached out to member groups in the fall to ask them to sign a letter urging President Obama to submit a strong request for Peace Corps funding when he presents his Fiscal Year 2012 budget to Congress. The letter also urged the President to recognize the 50th anniversary of Peace Corps and the many contributions of the Peace Corps community in his annual State of the Union address.
With a strong show of support, 91 member groups signed onto this letter.
2010 marked success for the Friends of Sierra Leone and the Friends of Colombia, two groups that advocated for Peace Corps' return to their countries of service. The first group of volunteers back to Sierra Leone in 16 years returned last June, and Peace Corps announced plans to return to Colombia back in May.
Connecticut RPCVs hit a first during the 2010 National Day of Action. For the first time, every member of the congressional delegation signed onto Dear Colleague letters urging increased Peace Corps funding. Joined by Maine, this was the first time any states received a 100% positive response rate on this action.
The Central Missouri RPCVs joined in with NPCA last March as Senator Kit Bond was honored for his support of the Peace Corps. The local group sent a letter of congratulations to Senator Bond as part of a Capitol Hill ceremony honoring his service.
These examples scratch the surface of the many contributions made regularly by NPCA member groups.
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Advocacy Through Video and Other Media
Along with web pages, phone calls and emails, we continue to build our outreach through other forms of media. In a number of instances, these vehicles of communications are also used to highlight some of the great work of our advocates.
Are you following us on Twitter? Along with other NPCA updates and information, our advocacy program often uses twitter as the first place to post breaking news and other updates on Peace Corps community issues. We promise we won't tweet about what we're having for lunch!, so sign up and follow us on Twitter today.
Are you on NPCA's Ning Social Network? If you are among more than 22,000 who are, you can connect, meet, learn from other members of the Peace Corps community and take action. Are you a Friend on Facebook? Nearly 10,000 who are can find daily postings on various information including advocacy initiatives.
Judy Hale Reed (above), a member of the leadership team of the Pittsburgh Area Peace Corps Association, was one of more than 50 members of the Peace Corps community we highlighted in videos we created in the aftermath of our late summer/early fall advocacy trips. See if you know any of the people highlighted in our Pittsburgh greetings video, general greetings video, RPCVs Changing the World video, and Importance of Peace Corps video. Look for more videos in 2011 and be sure to visit our peacecorpsconnect channel on YouTube.
Every week in 2010, we provided important updates and featured advocates on our advocacy blog, found on our website.
And, we continue to provide monthly updates and action alerts through this advocacy listserve. Send this link to other potential advocates you know so they can stay informed with advocacy during the 50th anniversary year.
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2010 Travels
Back in August, we had the great fortune to join a great group of Chicago area returned volunteers and other Peace Corps supporters for a meeting with the district office of U.S. Senator Richard Durbin. A few days later, we joined a similar group of advocates in Milwaukee for a meeting with district staff of Senator Herb Kohl.
Those were just a couple of connections we made in 2010 with the Peace Corps community around the country.
The annual meeting of the Central Ohio returned volunteers in Columbus, 50th anniversary planning meetings in Versailles, Kentucky and Albany, New York. Dinners with NPCA member groups in Providence, Rhode Island and Cincinnati, Ohio. Informal get-togethers in Charleston, West Virginia, Champaign, Illinois and Livonia, Michigan.
All told, we were able to travel to 31 cities in a dozen states, directly connecting with about 600 members of the Peace Corps community. Photos on the side of this year-in-review feature many of the people we met on the road in 2010.
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Behind The Scenes: Thanks to Our Interns
They update our data files and spreadsheets. They stuff and deliver congressional information packets. They reach out to you with phone calls and emails. They help staff meetings on Capitol Hill. They help write blog posts, update advocacy webpages and create videos.
In short, NPCA's advocacy interns do a little bit of everything to keep us operating. As in previous years, 2010 brought us a great group of interns who brightened our days, helped us function smoothly, sadly departed too soon, but happily moved on to exciting futures. For some, those futures may very well include two years of service in the Peace Corps!
With tremendous gratitude and respect, we thank NPCA's 2010 advocacy interns for such a job well done: Amanda Beata, Amrita Jolly, Jillian Klarman, Sarah McIlvried, Micaela McNulty, Norah Mutuma, Marisa Shannon and Sarah Stogsdill. We could not function without you!
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 Getting Ready for the 50th
Rutgers University - the training site for the first group of Peace Corps volunteers (Colombia I) - marked this part of the Peace Corps story with the placement of an historical marker at ceremonies held in November.
In the coming weeks, the number of 50th activities will accelerate, serving as a tremendous opportunity to bring the world home. As Sue Senecah (Western Samoa 73-75) of the Northeastern New York RPCVs recently put it - "It will be great to have an excuse to celebrate all the good that (Peace Corps) has done."
There will be plenty of advocacy associated with the 50th anniversary, including: - Participating in the 50th anniversary edition of our annual National Day of Action in Support of the Peace Corps (March 3rd)
- Registering to attend our September 21st advocacy orientation and September 22nd Advocacy Day, part of our major 50th anniversary celebration in Washington
As you plan your 50th anniversary activities, please post them on our events calendar. Also, don't forget to reach out to your members of Congress and other key decision makers to invite them to your events. Finally, get ready for the next big global moment, as we ask you to join other RPCVs by organizing March 1st House Parties to mark the 50th. |
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Western Pennsylvania returned volunteers celebrated the revitalization of the Pittsburgh Area Peace Corps Association in mid-August
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You still want to make a difference.
Be a member of NPCA and continue to serve, connect with others, and support the legacy of the Peace Corps.
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Costa Rica RPCVs Carol Devine and John-Mark Hack hosted a 50th anniversary planning meeting in August with the Kentucky RPCVs
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Members of the RPCVs of Northeastern New York showed their support for NPCA and the 50th anniversary during a planning meeting in early December
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ADVOCACY NEWS
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The Runcible Spoon - a favorite gathering spot in Bloomington, Indiana - served as a great place to meet area RPCVs
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 | | In Charleston, West Virginia we met Mohammed "Mo" Khan, who was the first naturalized US citizen to serve in the Peace Corps |
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MARK YOUR CALENDARS
THURSDAY, MARCH 3, 2011
Hopefully you've heard by now that NPCA is gearing up for its seventh annual National Day of Action in Support of the Peace Corps. On that day, we want everyone who supports the Peace Corps to contact their members of Congress, as advocates here in Washington head to Capitol Hill to make the case in person.
This one-two approach comes at an important time, as a new Congress will be in the process of addressing budget matters and other key policy issues.
Be on the lookout for regular updates in the coming weeks. If you want to participate in activities on the Hill, reach out to us by contacting advocacy@peacecorpsconnect.org
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 | | The first stop on our August road trip was Gettysburg Pennsylvania, where plans are in the works to form an NPCA member group |
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RPCV Bill Byrne (l), who attended an informal get-together in Morgantown, West Virginia continues his public service as Morgantown's mayor |
 | | A visit to Livonia, Michigan brought together some great RPCVs for coffee and conversation |
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(l to r) Former and current leaders of the Milwaukee Peace Corps Association - Allegra Troiano and Katie Decker - were part of the gatherings we had in mid-August
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Group President Debbie Pidgeon addressed members of the Central Indiana Peace Corps Association at a potluck gathering
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(l to r) Susan Eyre served as hostess, while Mia Yankow represented the leadership of the Chicago Area Peace Corps Association at a gathering in Woodstock, Illinois
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The Peace Corps community in Columbus, Ohio turned out for the Annual Meeting of the Central Ohio Returned Volunteer Association
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Take Peace Corps
Wherever You Go
Our online store offers a wide selection of Peace Corps and NPCA logo merchandise--from t-shirts and coffee mugs, to pins and license place frames.
Wearing logo merchandise is a great way to spark conversations about the Peace Corps!
Your purchase supports the efforts of the National Peace Corps Association.
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 | | (l to r) Karen Dahn and Sue Boyd - leaders of the Athens, Ohio RPCVs at a late August gathering |
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Susan Robinson and Barry Adamson are two members of the leadership team of CARV - the Cincinnati Area Returned Volunteers
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October trips included a stop in Bethlehem, Pennsylvania to connect with members of the Mountain Laurel RPCVs
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We played well in Peoria! 24 members of the Peace Corps community turned out for a great gathering in downstate Illinois
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NPCA Board members and advocacy supporters Janet Greig and Pat Wand were in Ann Arbor, Michigan last October for 50th anniversary events
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A December dinner gathering in Providence with the Rhode Island RPCVs included group leaders (l to r) Peggy Benz and Katie Dyer
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Our August roadtrip included an added stop in Warren, Ohio where local RPCVs came together for Saturday morning coffee and conversation
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 | | Maryland gatherings to connect with members of the Peace Corps community included 2010 stops in Hagerstown... |
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 | | ...and Annapolis! |
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PREPARING FOR THE 50TH
Visit our calendar for the most comprehensive listing of 50th anniversary activities.
Planning an event? Be sure to invite your elected officials to join you!
Go global on the 50th by organizing a March 1st House Party to mark President Kennedy's executive order that started the Peace Corps.
Be on the lookout for nine regional NPCA/Peace Corps gatherings planned for the first part of 2011.
And...it's not too early to make plans to come to Washington for a 50th anniversary celebration in September. An anniversary that kicks off with advocacy on Capitol HIll.
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 | | Panera Bread was a common gathering point for our informal meetings with the Peace Corps community, including an August 17th get-together in Louisville, Kentucky |
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 | | The Underdog Cafe in Yellow Springs, Ohio was a great spot to meet up with members of the Southwestern Ohio Returned Volunteers |
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 | | Our last stop in 2010 was a holiday party visit with members of the Greater New York RPCVs |
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