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Greetings!
Get ready.
We are less than three weeks away from the National Peace Corps Association's (NPCA) 10th annual National Day of Action on February 27th.
Our outreach and calls to action will start picking up over the next 4 - 6 weeks, but with your involvement and support we can move a number of Peace Corps related issues forward.
Get ready. We need you.
Here's your February monthly update - our Day of Action special edition!
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 Capitol Hill Advocate? Please Register by February 23rd
Our National Day of Action will be anchored by a strong February 27th presence on Capitol Hill. Can you join us?
Please note that the deadline for registering for Capitol Hill Advocacy is Sunday, February 23rd. Sign up today by contacting us at advocacy@peacecorpsconnect.org.
Currently, 75 advocates from 18 states and the District of Columbia are registered, including this month's featured advocate!
Help us reach our goal of 100 Capitol Hill advocates! We especially need participants who are registered to vote in the following states: GA, IL, IN, MI, NH, OH, PA, SC, TX and VT.
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 Crowdrise: Adopt a Capitol Hill Advocate!
We are so very grateful for the many contributions made by so many to advance NPCA advocacy.
This includes your critical financial support. A growing number of contributors have donated nearly $4,000 so far to the Day of Action. By our calculations, that's enough to "adopt" about 25 of our Capitol Hill advocates and support the planning and material costs for their day on the Hill! But with 75 already registered and more signing up, we still have a way to go to make the day sustainable.
Please help us with this effort by teaming up with NPCA through Crowdrise. Our thanks to NPCA's Advocacy and Business and Development Committees for assisting with this effort. This includes people like NPCA Board member Sharon Keld (above, during an earlier Day of Action meeting with Congressman Tim Bishop) who helped set up our Crowdrise event and has joined Team NPCA!
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 Gearing Up on the Home Front
We're hearing rumblings across the country:
Maine: Along with a small group of constituents coming to Capitol Hill on February 27th, Maine advocates are planning some concurrent, district office meetings with lawmakers back home.
New Jersey: Special publicity and mobilization for the Day of Action is being promoted through the networks of the New Jersey RPCVs.
Florida: Advocacy leaders are at work identifying point people in each of the state's 27 congressional districts, in preparation for the Day of Action.
The Day of Action is a nationwide mobilization of the Peace Corps community. We hope everyone will plan to take ten minutes on February 27th (or 28th) to be part of the effort. And, if you can give us a little more time on the home front, check out the link below for some additional ideas on how you can help.
Photo: Members of the Georgia Peace Corps community held a state-based meeting last month with Congressman Jack Kingston. |
 Updated State Resources Now Posted!
One big part of our planning and preparation? Providing you with updated state-based resources.
Has your Congressman/woman supported past Peace Corps funding initiatives? Is your Senator a co-sponsor of the Peace Corps Equity Act? Does your lawmaker serve on any key committees? And, how many volunteers from your state are currently serving in the Peace Corps?
All this and more can be found in our updated state resources, now available on the NPCA website to help you become an even better, more informed advocate!
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 Peace Corps Funding Highlights Day of Action Agenda
From the halls of Capitol Hill to the comfort of your home, we are planning a targeted, coordinated message to maximize our Day of Action impact.
In both the Senate and the House we will urge strong support for Peace Corps funding, and lay the groundwork for upcoming action. In March we anticipate actions urging lawmakers to sign Peace Corps funding "Dear Colleague" letters.
In the House only, we will ask members to join the Peace Corps Caucus and co-sponsor H.R. 1573, the Respect for Peace Corps Volunteers Act.
In the Senate only, we will ask members to co-sponsor the Peace Corps Equity Act and (if not yet complete) conduct the final vote to confirm Carrie Hessler - Radelet as the next Peace Corps Director.
Photo Above: El Salvador RPCVs meet one of their most famous alums, California Congressman Mike Honda, during the 2013 Day of Action.
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 Join February 21st Day of Action Twitter Chat
If you are a Twitter aficionado, you will want to hook up to the NPCA!
It's often the very first place we post breaking Peace Corps related advocacy news (such as last month's final passage of Peace Corps Commemorative legislation). It's also a gathering place for the Peace Corps community during our regular Twitter Chats. Held for an hour on Fridays (starting at 12 Noon Eastern) the chats focus on a key topic or highlight a featured guest. Past guests include Acting Peace Corps Director Carrie Hessler-Radelet, Mark Shriver and RPCV Congressman Sam Farr.
Join the conversation about the National Day of Action on Friday, February 21st, featuring NPCA Advocacy Chair Kristina Owens, Advocacy Director Jonathan Pearson and Communications Director Erica Burman.
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 Featured Advocate: Mary O'Connor
She's a three-time Peace Corps Volunteer. She's a Day of Action Team Member on Crowdrise (you can be too!). And she's coming to Capitol Hill on February 27th.
Back in December, when Mary O'Connor of Akron, Ohio became one of the early registrants for the Capitol Hill Day of Action activities, we knew we wanted to feature her. Find out why.
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5 TO 10 MINUTES
That's all we will need. Bookmark our Day of Action page, then visit it on February 27th for a special action alert.
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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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"There is no such thing as a small (financial) contribution. Every contribution is made according to what is appropriate to an individual's circumstance and all contributions at every level are valued.
"It's about how much you value NPCA's work and also knowing the impact your contribution helps make possible. Then you stretch to do the most you can."
Priscilla Goldfarb
Uganda 1965-67
PC Response (Katrina) 2005
2014 Day of Action Registrant
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SUBSCRIBE TO NPCA
ADVOCACY NEWS
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This Month's Featured Advocate...
Mary O'Connor
Macedonia 2006-08
Peace Corps Response 2012
Philippines 2009-10
Akron, OH
Read More Below
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THREE MONTHS SINCE THIS...
Read NPCA's letter this week to Senate leaders urging final action on the nomination of Carrie Hessler-Radelet to be the next Peace Corps Director.
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Show Your Peace Corps Pride!
Waaa-hoo! That last Facebook post about Peace Corps swag went viral!
You'll want to check out our online store and load up on Peace Corps and NPCA merchandise.
Not only that...A portion of your purchase supports the efforts of the National Peace Corps Association. Thank you!
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VICTORY!
President signs Peace Corps Commemorative legislation!
Big, big thanks to everyone who helped make this happen!
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