Greetings!
The Peace Corps community joins the nation in mourning the loss of an RPCV who led U.S. diplomacy efforts in Libya.
NPCA Advocates used their voice in August to support a stronger Peace Corps with lawmakers back home.
And, a group voicing concerns about support for RPCVs debilitated by serious illness or injury have a survey and seek your assistance.
Here is your September monthly update.
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RPCV Survey Focuses on Illness/Injury
It is probably safe to say that no one serves in the Peace Corps without experiencing some type of illness or injury. While the vast majority recover quickly, for some the resulting circumstances prove to be debilitating for years or even decades.
The National Peace Corps Association is teaming up with the recently formed group Health Justice for Peace Corps Volunteers, in circulating a brief survey that all are asked to fill out and share with other RPCVs. The survey seeks to further assess the scope of debilitating injury or or illness over the years, and challenges Returned Peace Corps Volunteers have faced and continue to face in receiving the care, attention and support they need and deserve.
Follow this link to take the survey.
Read more about one of the leaders in this effort - this month's Featured Advocate - at the bottom of this newsletter.
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Ambassador Killed in Libya Served in Peace Corps
In announcing the death of U.S. Ambassador to Libya J. Christopher Stevens Wednesday morning, Secretary of State Hilary Clinton noted that "Chris Stevens fell in love with the Middle East as a Peace Corps Volunteer in Morocco...The world needs more Chris Stevens' "
Ambassador Stevens was one of four U.S. citizens killed Tuesday during a violent attack at the U.S. Consulate in Benghazi.
Ambassador Stevens served as an English teacher in Morocco between 1983 and 1985, and was active with the Friends of Morocco.
You can visit the website Legacy.com to leave a message of condolence.
Follow this link to read the statement of Peace Corps Director Aaron Williams on the death of Ambassador Stevens.
(Photo above from U.S. State Department website)
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Election Season Advocacy
With a very close race for president, there will be a great deal of campaigning in the next two months, especially in battleground states.
Congressional elections will bring at least 50 new lawmakers to Capitol Hill...with the possibility that number could rise to 100 or more.
While advocacy as a member of the National Peace Corps Association is a strictly non-partisan undertaking, you can use the final stretch of the campaign season to raise the issue of the Peace Corps and other issues of global concern. By asking for candidate positions on these issues with a campaign canvasser, a volunteer phone caller, or the candidate directly, you are beginning the education process for potential new members of Congress and raising awareness for all candidates that there is a constituency for a just and humane foreign policy.
Get Started Now: The ONE Campaign is collecting petition signatures asking the candidates for President to outline their plans to address global poverty and preventable diseases.
Contact us to share your stories about efforts to raise Peace Corps and other global issues with your local candidates.
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August District Meetings Include Offices of Key Lawmakers While advocacy activity in Washington has been pretty quiet the last month, that hasn't been the case around the country, thanks to the efforts of some great NPCA citizen advocates!
While all the results aren't in and more activity is expected during the campaign season, we can confirm more than 30 meetings with the offices of Senators and Congressmen/women all around the country. These included:
- In Fort Worth Texas, local RPCVs met with staff of Congresswoman Kay Granger (Chair of the House Appropriations State/Foreign Operations Subcommittee) to share their Peace Corps experiences.
- In Miami Florida, constituents of Congressman Mario Diaz-Balart met with staff to discuss Peace Corps issues and delivered a letter of support from the South Florida RPCVs which included information on the group's ongoing commitment to service.
- In Morristown, New Jersey, local RPCVs meeting with Congressman Rodney Frelinghuysen were informed of his plans to co-sponsor Peace Corps commemorative legislation. That's also the case in eastern Tennessee, where Congressman Phil Roe has also become a bill co-sponsor.
Congratulations and thanks to all who participated in this year's August District Advocacy Days!
(Photo Above: Chicago Peace Corps Association President Kathy Kacen, Board member John Beasley and Advocacy Chair Leslie Piotrowski meet with district office staff of Senator Mark Kirk)
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NPCA Joins InterAction, Others Urging Congress to Support Strong International Affairs Budget
Congress is back in session for at least two weeks. One decision required before the month is out involves the Fiscal Year 2013 federal budget.
Congress is required by October 1st to either finalize a spending plan or (more likely) pass a continuing resolution to keep the government operating and allow more time to finalize funding decisions.
This month, the National Peace Corps Association joined InterAction and 165 other international development and humanitarian assistance organizations in urging support for funding levels recommended by the Senate for international affairs programs.
The letter states that "The Senate's funding levels for the International Affairs Budget and its poverty-focused accounts, forged under the bipartisan leadership of Senators Patrick Leahy and Lindsey Graham, recognize current fiscal limitations while enabling continued investments that save lives, increase our national security, and spur economic development both at home and around the world."
Along with various other programs, the Senate recommendation for Peace Corps funding is $25 million higher than the House recommendation, and return Peace Corps funding to its high water mark two years ago.
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Meet Up With NPCA's Advocacy Director in Rhode Island, New Jersey
Special thanks to Maine Advocacy Coordinator Richard MacIntyre for coordinating an August gathering of RPCVs in Brunswick (photo right), and to New York representatives of the NPCA Board of Directors (led by Teresa Devore) for hosting an advocacy gathering in the Big Apple.
NPCA Advocacy Director Jonathan Pearson has a couple of stops on his itinerary in the next two months and he wants to meet you!
First up, Jonathan will be attending a September 22nd gathering of the Peace Corps community in Providence Rhode Island. If you're going, please connect up to say hello.
On October 20th, there will be two advocacy workshops planned in Princeton and Morristown New Jersey. Rescheduled from August, these gatherings have been organized by Barbara Kelly, Advocacy Coordinator for the RPCVs of New Jersey.
Contact us for more details.
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Thanks to Summer NPCA Contributors! Not only did Kay and Kevin Dixon (Colombia 62-64) of Washington state (pictured last September with their Congresswoman Cathy McMorris Rodgers) make an extra donation to the NPCA in July, they designated it to support our advocacy efforts. Same goes for Jensy Richards (Kenya 78-80) of Virginia, Frank Yates (Ghana 73-76) of Missiouri and our own Anne Baker (Fiji 85-87) of Virginia!
Our deepest appreciation to all members of our advocacy network who financially supported the NPCA in July and August. A small portion of those membership dollars and general donations help to keep our advocacy programs operating so we can keep connecting with you.
Make plans to be listed on our September Honor Roll.
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Featured Advocate: Nancy Tongue Attention and support for some members of the Peace Corps community whose service resulted in serious injury or long-term debilitating illness has been a long time passion of this month's featured advocate, Nancy Tongue (Chile 80-82) of New York City.
It's a concern she knows all to well.
Participating in the injury/illness survey and sharing your experiences is a first step RPCVs can take in supporting the efforts of Health Justice for Peace Corps Volunteers, a group Nancy helped found earlier this year.
Follow the link below to learn more about Nancy's efforts, which span over three decades. |
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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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DC AREA ADVOCATES:
WE NEED VOLUNTEERS
If you live in the Washington D.C. area, we are in need of volunteers to help our advocacy program, especially over the next six months.
The aftermath of November elections will require a lot of updating of our state-specific resources, as we prepare for our 9th Annual National Day of Action next March.
Additionally, we are getting some great response with lots of updated information through our Find the 250K Campaign. We could use some extra hands to help us work through and update all this new data.
Can you help us out? Please contact us today.
Thanks!
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This Month's Featured Advocate...
Nancy Tongue
Chile
1980- 1982
New York, NY
Read More Below
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SUBSCRIBE TO NPCA ADVOCACY NEWS
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IS THERE A SEPTEMBER GLOBAL HOUSE PARTY NEAR YOU?
We are closing in on 100 global house parties on or about September 22nd, the 51st anniversary of the signing of the Peace Corps Act.
From Huntsville, Alabama to Sierra Vista, Arizona to Lagos, Nigeria, these celebratory gatherings are popping up all over
Follow this link to see if there is a house party near you!
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SEEKING VOLUNTEER ADVOCACY COORDINATORS AROUND THE COUNTRY
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.
Read this profile about one of our newest coordinators.
Contact Advocacy Director Jonathan Pearson for an overview of this important position within our advocacy network.
[email protected]
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An Appropriate Cap to Wear for the WORLD Series! 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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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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