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July 11, 2012                                                                                                                      www.PeaceCorpsConnect.org

Greetings! 

 

As August approaches, momentum is building for district advocacy meetings.

 

NPCA joined leading Non-Governmental organizations in urging continued support for international food assistance.  Find out how you can help.

 

Live in New England, New York or New Jersey?  We may be coming your way!

 

Here is your July monthly update.

50th District Meeting Corker

Congressional District Meeting Numbers Growing

 

Thanks to the great leadership of many advocates from around the country (including this month's featured advocate), we're gearing up for an August filled with congressional district meetings from Alabama to California, from Missouri to Massachusetts.

At present, 26 advocates from 13 states are in the process of organizing district meetings with the offices of 37 members of Congress.

Follow this link to our August District Advocacy page.  See if meetings are being organized with your lawmakers, and find links to the meeting organizer so you can get connected and involved.

Are no meetings with your reps are being organized? Contact us at [email protected] today if you are willing to organize a meeting.  

 
Next Stops for NPCA Advocacy include Cape Cod, Boston and Central Maine 

Want to hear the latest about the National Peace Corps Association and its advocacy program?  Are you interested in advocacy but not sure how to get started?  

 

NPCA Advocacy Director Jonathan Pearson will be heading north shortly, and has some stops on his itinerary to connect with you!

 

The first stop comes this Friday, July 13th, when Jonathan will be in Orleans, Massachusetts for an informal get-together between 3 PM and 5 PM at the Hot Chocolate Sparrow coffee shop.

 

An advocacy workshop is planned for Boston on July 27th.  An informal get-together in St. Johnsbury Vermont is slated for July 29th, and a stop in central Maine is scheduled for August 10th.  To top things off, visits to New York City and northern New Jersey are also in the works.

 

Be on the lookout for upcoming details or contact us if you have questions. 

Advocacy WorkshopAdvocacy Workshop at Minneapolis Gathering


It was great to meet up with a number of excellent advocates at NPCA's recent Annual Gathering in Minneapolis.

A good number of attendees took part in an advocacy workshop facilitated by a Niger RPCV who is at work every day addressing policies aimed at improving global health initiatives and combating the devastating impacts of global poverty.

If you weren't able to attend, no problem!  Follow the link below to read more about the workshop and its outcomes.  And, mark your calendar for next July 28th and 29th, when the next Annual Gathering will be held in Boston.
 
PC headquartersPeace Corps Employment Related Policies Under Review


One of the benefits a Peace Corps Volunteer receives upon the successful completion of service is one year of Non-Competitive Eligibility (NCE) when seeking federal employment.  Over the years, concerns have been raised about the efficacy of this benefit, in terms of both its limited time frame and recognition by all federal agencies.

Peace Corps has been making some advances in improving inter-agency recognition of the NCE.  Meanwhile, two appropriations bills that are working their way through Congress call for further consideration of this benefit.  

Another long discussed and debated policy - this one involving Peace Corps staff - pertains to the so-called Five-Year Rule for Peace Corps employment. Included as one of the items in the agency's Comprehensive Assessment, conducted two years ago, a consulting team is expected to deliver recommendations to Peace Corps leadership in the next few weeks.  This also follows a recent report by the Peace Corps Office of Inspector General which was highly critical of the Five-Year Rule.
ARC Selling groundnuts
NPCA Joins Other Organizations Urging Support for U.S. Food Assistance

  
 

While Fiscal Year 2013 spending for the Peace Corps is currently looking favorable, there is concern from international development NGO's about projected spending levels for international food assistance.

 

Led by Mercy Corps, NPCA joined nearly 30 other leading organizations in a letter to Congress asking for stable funding for international food aid programs that are included in agriculture appropriations accounts.

 

"By slashing international food aid programs, not only are we putting millions of lives in the balance, we are abdicating long-standing U.S. political and moral leadership of efforts to combat global hunger." 

 

>>Read the Letter and Take Action 

 

Hill sign during NDA
Get Connected:
Help Us Find the 250K 

 
For far too many in our advocacy network, our only connection to you is an email address.  Help us remedy that by taking part in the National Peace Corps Association's multi-year campaign to seek out every member of the Peace Corps community.

From an advocacy standpoint, your email is important, but so is your address.  We can alert you when we are visiting your region, or contact you if there is a specific, targeted action geared toward your lawmaker.

Not only that, you never know when that little connection has big, inspirational meaning.  Follow this link for just one such example.

In our increasingly interconnected world, don't you want to be more fully connected to those who like you answered the Peace Corps call?  If the answer is yes, don't be left behind.  Follow the link below and take action!

 
 
Featured Advocate: Nisha Beharie


Meet Nisha Beharie, a Dominican Republic RPCV (1999-2001) and doctoral candidate in the Doctorate of Public Health at the City University of New York (CUNY). 

Nisha's experience in the Peace Corps allowed her to gain a greater respect for how
public health efforts can empower people in the community to care for themselves and prevent the spread of diseases.  

 

This August, for the second year in a row, she is planning to bring her message of the importance of the Peace Corps to her elected representatives.

 
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IN THIS ISSUE
August District Advocacy Meetings

Hitting the Road!

Advocacy in Minneapolis

NCE and the Five Year Rule

Support Global Food Assistance

Project 250K

Featured Advocate: Nisha Beharie

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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 June!

HIGH ADVOCACY HONORS

The following advocates went beyond their general membership, and provided an additional general donation in June, part of which benefits our advocacy program:  

Michelle Bashaw-Lewis NY John H. Clark-Dover DE
William A. Collier-Ivoryton CT
Priscilla Goldfarb-Garrison NY Janet and Wylie Greig-
Palo Alto CA
Kathleen Harnig-New York NY Diane Hibino-Bethesda MD Khalisa Jacobs-Silver Spring MD
Darryl Johnson-Seattle WA Sharon Keld-Sands Point NY Sarah Moffett-Guice-Sharpsburg MD
Alan Olson-Fairfield PA
Kevin Quigley-Arlington VA


ADVOCACY HONORS

as we recognize and thank those members of our advocacy network who in June renewed their NPCA membership or became first time members.  A small portion of your
annual membership helps our advocacy efforts.  Thank you!


 

This Month's Featured Advocate...        

   

 

 Nisha Beharie

Dominican Republic 

1999- 2001 

 

Mount Vernon, NY  

   


Read More Below 

 
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 Charity Navigator

 

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.

 [email protected]


 

KEY ADVOCACY LINKS  

 

Peace Corps Fast Facts

 

NPCA State Resources

 

White House 

  

United States Senate  

 

Contact Information for Senators

 

United States House

 

E-Mail Your Congressman/woman

  

Congressional Legislation

 

  

  

  

  

  Congressional Record

  

  

  

  

  

 

 

State Department

 

 

 

 

 


 
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Beat the Heat
   this Summer!
  
 
NPCA Store      

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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GROUPS REFERENCED IN THIS MONTH'S ADVOCACY NEWS

RESULTS





 
 
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