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Greetings!
Summer's heating up and so are we!
Project 250K is gaining some June momentum...
We'll be on the road in June and July...
We're counting on you to organize district advocacy meetings in August!
And we can't do any of the above without help from people like this month's featured advocate.
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Register now for August District Advocacy Meetings
It's the next big advocacy thing. And you don't have to travel to Washington to take part.
For the second year in a row, we are coordinating a nationwide effort to hold advocacy meetings with members of Congress in their district offices.
Last year we know of at least 25 great meetings held in 14 states.
This year, we are upping the ante...how about 100 meetings around the country?
We can do it, but not without your involvement. The first step is for you to contact us and express your willingness to coordinate one (or more) meetings between August 6th and August 31st.
No previous advocacy experience is required, and we will assist with background information and materials for your meetings, as well as the recruitment of other constituents to join you at your meetings.
Please contact us at advocacy@peacecorpsconnect.org today to sign up for this effort.
Photo above: Pennsylvania Congressman Jim Gerlach (c) meets with RPCVs Dan Luckey and Tom McMahon during last year's August District Advocacy initiative. Follow this link to see other 2011 photos from other meetings around the country.
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 NPCA Advocacy On the Road to Minneapolis, Nashville and ???
Now is not the time to procrastinate. Rates for the NPCA Annual Gathering in Minneapolis (June 29 - July 1) will go up on June 18th. RPCV Ken Patterson of RESULTS will lead an advocacy session on Saturday. Designed to be interactive, Ken will lead a discussion on advocacy, after which the audience will divide into small groups and work as a group to meet a challenge offered by Ken. The end result will be a short white paper available to the entire Peace Corps community. NPCA Advocacy Director Jonathan Pearson looks forward to meeting and hearing from you throughout the Minneapolis weekend! Jonathan will also be in Nashville on June 23rd, for a Third Goal Expo, organized in conjunction with the Peace Corps and the Tennessee RPCVs. And, with some personal plans that will be taking him from DC to Maine in late July and early August, Jonathan would love to connect and conduct some advocacy workshops along the way. Contact Jonathan if you are interested in helping to coordinate a stop. |
Increased Funding for the Peace Corps?
The chance of returning Peace Corps funding to its high-water mark over two years ago remains in play. While the House Appropriations Committee is proposing $375 million for the Peace Corps in Fiscal Year 2013, the Senate Appropriations Committee is recommending $400 million in funding. While much remains to be decided, there is a good possibility that Peace Corps will receive no worse than level funding for the fiscal year that begins October 1st. Leading organizations that support strong funding for our entire international affairs programs also praised the action in the Senate. Read these statements from the U.S. Global Leadership Coalition and InterAction. If your lawmaker is a member of the Senate Appropriations Committee, thank them for supporting a strong international affairs budget, including $400 million for the Peace Corps.
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 Peace Corps Commemorative Update
As advocates know, success often requires a mixture of patience and persistence.
When Florida RPCVs participated in last September's 50th anniversary advocacy day, one of their requests was for lawmakers to co-sponsor Peace Corps Commemorative legislation.
They've kept at it, and the effort has paid off again, as Senator Bill Nelson (D-FL) recently became the 21st member of the U.S. Senate to co-sponsor commemorative legislation.
Persistence is the key over patience as we move into the summer. With a dwindling legislative calendar that will be lessened by the upcoming elections, time is of the essence to press the House of Representatives and Senate to finalize passage of this bi-partisan legislation.
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 Strength in our Numbers:
Project 250K
Because the National Peace Corps Association is a non-profit, non-governmental organization, we don't automatically receive information about all Peace Corps alumni. While more than 16,000 individuals are signed up to our advocacy network, we're still only scratching the surface.
Earlier this year, NPCA launched Project 250K, a multi-year effort to seek out and connect with all returned volunteers and former Peace Corps staff. Strengthening our numbers will also strengthen our advocacy on Peace Corps issues, and allow us to connect and engage a broader base of our community on issues of global concern.
Since the year began, we have added more than 2,500 to our general ranks. And, some of our most recent work relates back to last year's Smithsonian Folklife Festival.
If you live in the Washington area, we need volunteers to help us with outreach as well as the collection and organizing of alumni data.
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RPCVs Front and Center on Sustainable Climate Activism
Climate Change advocacy groups have held some high profile events in the past month. Not surprisingly, Returned Peace Corps Volunteers have been actively engaged.
Eight intrepid RPCVs connected with each other during this year's Climate Ride, a 300 mile fundraising bike ride from New York City to Washington DC. Read more about just how deep their Peace Corps connection went.
No doubt many RPCVs also participated in the Climate Impacts Day organized by the group 350.org. Read one story from Madison Wisconsin, courtesy of Belize RPCV Harry Bennet.
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 Featured Advocate: Ravi Shah
Meet Ravi Shah, a Ukraine RPCV (2007-2009) who recently graduated with a masters of Public Administration from the University of Southern California.
Ravi is a former intern for the NPCA, and has included advocacy in his ongoing service.
No only does Ravi give his time to our advocacy efforts, he's helping us keep the lights on too!
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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.
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ADVOCACY HONOR ROLL
Were it not for the financial support of individuals - in part through NPCA membership or general contributions, or in full through dedicated gifts to our program - there would be no national advocacy program of the Peace Corps community.
Please consider a financial contribution today.
Our thanks to the following advocates, who are among those who stepped up to support the NPCA during the month of May! |
HIGH ADVOCACY HONORS
The following advocates went beyond their general membership, and provided an additional general donation in May, part of which benefits our advocacy program:
Bruce Anderson-Charlotte NC
Virginia L Coon-Amherst NY
Suzannah Crandall-
Drummond WI
John Gausman-Custer SD
Geraldine Gillio-Wayne NJ Michael Learned-
San Franciso CA
Sharon Lease-
Oklahoma City OK
Linnea Olesen-Sarona WI Kristina Owens-Laurel MD
Ravi Shah-Chino Hills CA Karen Steele-Astoria NY Regina Stevenson-
Vandergrift PA
Barbara Straub-Tucson AZ Joby Taylor-Baltimore MD
Melvin Thompson-
Bethesda MD
ADVOCACY HONORS
as we recognize and thank more than 200 members of our advocacy network who in May renewed their NPCA membership or became first time members. A small portion of your annual membership helps our advocacy efforts. Thank you!
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This Month's Featured Advocate...
Ravi Shah
(Ukraine 2007- 2009)
Los Angeles, CA
Read More Below
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SUBSCRIBE TO NPCA
ADVOCACY NEWS
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The National Peace Corps Association is recognized by Charity Navigator as a Four Star Charity, the highest rating given by this independent evaluator which analyses the financial health and efficiencies of non-profit organizations.
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SEEKING VOLUNTEER ADVOCACY COORDINATORS
Ready to take your NPCA advocacy to the next level? We are seeking committed volunteers to help with further outreach and coordination of NPCA advocacy issues at a state or regional level.
Contact Advocacy Director Jonathan Pearson for an overview of this important position within our advocacy network.
jonathan@peacecorpsconnect.org
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Summertime.
T-Shirt time!
Check out our online store ! We offer a wide selection of Peace Corps and NPCA logo merchandise--from t-shirts and coffee mugs, to pins and license plate frames.
A portion of your purchase supports the efforts of the National Peace Corps Association. Thank you!
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