Largest Peace Corps Gathering in History!
We have heard SO MANY stories of Returned Peace Corps Volunteers and staff meeting new Peace Corps friends and neighbors when they attended at one (or more!) of the Global House Parties for Peace Corps on March 1.
Nearly 20,000 people attended 740 parties in 76 countries around the world. From small gatherings of friends to street festivals, there are a myriad of ways that Peace Corps Volunteers celebrated their service. See if a local newspaper wrote a story about one of the parties near you and visit the main Global House Party web page to check out the photos and more details of the global house parties around the world.
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On the Hill: Day of Action for Peace Corps
Fifty NPCA citizen advocates. 105 congressional meetings. Information distribution to more than 530 congressional offices. More than 500 volunteer hours devoted to bringing the world back home.
In this case, the world was brought to Capitol Hill during NPCA's seventh annual National Day of Action in Support of the Peace Corps. Korea RPCV Richard MacIntyre (l), meeting with his Congressman, Michael Michaud (D-ME) was part of the Hill contingent that covered all eras of Peace Corps service. Advocates made the case for continued strong support for Peace Corps funding, which is under threat as the House of Representatives has proposed a nearly $70 million cut in funding for the remainder of the fiscal year.
Click here for resources you can use to urge your Senators to maintain current Peace Corps funding levels.
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Someone From Every Country: Register for September Anniversary Events
Did you serve in one of the following countries: Argentina, Azerbaijan, Bosnia-Herzegovina, Cambodia, Cook Islands, Czech Republic, East Timor, Equitorial Guinea, Estonia, Georgia, Guinea-Bissau, Indonesia, Kazakhstan, Kiribati, Kyrgyz Republic, Latvia, Libya, Lithuania, Mauritius, Moldova, Mongolia, Niue, Republic of Congo, Sudan, Uzbekistan, Zambia, Zimbabwe?
Be the first person from your Country of Service to register for the NPCA Events in Washington, D.C. September 21-25.
Click here to see a full list of registrants-to-date plus event details. For questions about the September events please contact Khalisa Jacobs.
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House RPCVs Introduce Commemorative Legislation
Legislation to authorize the creation of a commemorative work in the nation's capital to mark the historic and enduring significance of the establishment of the Peace Corps in 1961, and the ideals on which it was founded has been re-introduced in the House of Representatives. Authored by RPCV Congressman Sam Farr (D-CA) and supported by fellow RPCVs Tom Petri (R-WI), Mike Honda (D-CA) and John Garamendi (D-CA), the bill was introduced on March 1st, the 50th anniversary of President Kennedy's executive order which established the Peace Corps. In just two weeks, the legislation has nearly 90 co-sponsors.
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50th Anniversary Around the World Expos Coming to Wisconsin, Oregon
After a successful first 50th Anniversary Regional Expo in Jacksonville, Florida, we are setting our sights on our next two regional expos being held in Madison, Wisconsin on March 27th and Portland, Oregon on April 3rd.
The Expo in Madison follows and builds on the Peace Corps and Africa conference, March 24-26, sponsored by the University of Wisconsin-Madison. Portland's Expo features a "volunteer send-off" for local invitees, put on by the Seattle Regional Recruitment Office, along with a panel discussion about how Peace Corps service shaped the lives and careers of some local RPCVs.
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Safety & Security Hearings Scheduled in the House
Family members and supporters of slain Peace Corps Volunteer Kate Puzey (Benin) held a candlelight vigil at the U.S. Capitol on Friday evening, March 11th - the second anniversary of her death. The vigil comes as the House of Representatives is expected to hold hearings later this month on safety and security issues for Peace Corps volunteers.
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NPCA Launches New, Improved Online Store
For a number of years NPCA sold logo t-shirts from a closet in our office -- not ideal. In 2006 we migrated our merchandise sales online to CafePress. However a number of you had questions about CafePress' sourcing of materials and labor practices. Additionally, the community asked for items like Peace Corps patches which could not be produced there.
NPCA listened. And we're proud to announce the new and improved NPCA online store. The new store is managed by MusicToday which also hosts stores for organizations such as Sesame Street and the ONE Campaign. The members of these organizations have similar global concerns as the Peace Corps community. We hope you'll find new and exciting items here to show your Peace Corps spirit during the 50th Anniversary.
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Coming Soon: Survey of Returned Peace Corps Volunteers
NPCA is working with the Harris Group and Civic Enterprises to conduct the first, large-scale independent survey of what happens after Peace Corps Volunteers' service. This survey hopes to learn more about how the 200,000 of us have brought the world home -- and what difference that has made. The survey results will be released during the capstone 50th anniversary events this September 22-25.
Stay tuned for an email with a link to the survey next week. Your participation will help us tell the relatively untold story about how we bring the world home.
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NPCA Board Nominations Are Open
The 2011 Board election information and nomination packet has been posted on the Board of Directors page of the NPCA website for openings in the following regions: Southern Tier, West, and Asia and the Pacific. Member-elected candidates are nominated by a member group or by petition with ten signatures. Board members must be current members of NPCA and are strongly encouraged to be active participants in NPCA programs, including fundraising campaigns Nominations are open until Apr. 15.
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The Next New Group
Elizabeth Sharp served as a teacher trainer in present-day Nicaragua. John Ward helped develop egg cooperatives during Peace Corps' early days in India. Hank Walker worked as a city planner while volunteering in Iran. And Thomas Whitaker just returned from service as a small business advisor in Senegal.
Along with their Peace Corps service, these four individuals share the bond of being among the 600 volunteers who answered the call to service from the state of West Virginia. At a March 12th 50th anniversary celebratory gathering, leaders of an emerging new member group are determined to increase those numbers....
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You still want to make a difference.
Be a member to continue serving, connect with others, and support the legacy of the Peace Corps.
JOIN TODAY!
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USE THIS BUTTON TO FORWARD TO A FRIEND!
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Is your company looking for more qualified candidates?
You should post on the National Peace Corps Association JOB CENTER to put a listing in front of job seekers who have lived overseas, speak multiple languages, are entrepreneurial leaders, and have a passion for all types of development work.
>> VISIT THE NPCA JOB CENTER TODAY
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FREE UPCOMING RPCV CAREER EVENT!
March 25, 2011
Regional Career Event:
Los Angeles
Returned Volunteer Services is returning to Los Angeles! At this FREE day-long career event, you will practice telling your professional Peace Corps story to a variety of audiences, connect with other Returned Volunteers, and explore ways to get involved in Peace Corps activities with the L.A. Regional Recruitment Office. Chat with local employers in the public, private, and nonprofit sector at the afternoon career fair.
First-year RPCVs with noncompetitive eligibility are especially encouraged to attend. Click here to register online! (Registration closes at midnight EST on Tuesday, March 21, 2011). Click here for a full listing of Office of Returned Volunteer Service events for RPCVs.
REMINDER: The Regional RPCV Career Event in Seattle, Wash. on Apr. 15, 2011. Details here. |
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50th ANNIVERSARY
CALENDAR
Want to find an event near you for the 50th Anniversary of the Peace Corps? Need people to attend your event? Visit the NPCA / Peace Corps Calendar of Events to keep track of all of the exciting, meaningful, fun celebrations happening around the world during the Peace Corps 50th Anniversary year. You can find the site here: http://events.peacecorps50.org/ Don't forget to add your own events!
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SHARE YOUR PEACE CORPS EXPERIENCE
With the Peace Corps' Speakers Match program, elementary and secondary school teachers can enhance their students' learning through classroom presentations by returned Peace Corps Volunteers. Interested classroom teachers and returned Peace Corps Volunteers can enroll in the Peace Corps' Speakers Match program by clicking here. |
ANNIVERSARY PENDANT
From War to Peace, Inc. was founded by a San Luis Obispo, California family, with multigenerational family Peace Corps Volunteers serving in the Philippines, Senegal, and Malawi from early 1962 through 2009. 20% of all necklace sales revenues will go to supporting the mission of the National Peace Corps Association, supporting returned Peace Corps volunteers. Click here to order. |
with NPCA
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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, visit RPCVMentoring.org.
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GROUPS FOR YOU
Couchsurfing / Hospitality. In Memoriam. Injured While Serving. Job Searchers of the World Unite. These are just some of the hundreds of groups you'll find on NPCA's Online Community. Groups made by the Peace Corps Community, for the Peace Corps Community.
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