Peace Corps Polyglot

Peace Corps in the 2009 Inaugural Parade - Another Perspective

While we were all a-freezin' and a-marchin', Peace Corps Inaugural Parade marcher Audrey Scott's husband, Dan Noll, was having a completely different Inagural experience. 

As soon as NPCA found out that the Peace Corps Community would be participating in the parade, we filed for press credentials.  We wanted to take advantage of the anticipated hours of waiting and have someone take photos of our colorful group and do some interviews.  Audrey (Estonia 98-00) offered us Dan's servicies.  The two of them have been traveling around the world for the past two years, supporting themselves with their freelance writing and photography.

Alas, when the press pass arrived it was for a spot on the parade route (appreciated, but I was fairly certain that somehow we would get shots of us marching) and not the staging area.  Audrey and Dan stopped by the offices on the preceding Friday, I handed over the pass and what instructions I had.  I had no idea what the day would hold.

A few days after the Inauguration I got this message from Audrey:

I hope you have rested up from all the inauguration craziness and fun! It was a wonderful day. Thanks so much for your help in organizing and applying for the press pass for Dan. He had quite an adventure that day as well : )

And what an adventure it was!  You can read all about it on their blog, Uncornered Market.  But here's an excerpt:

“So who are you shooting for,” one of the guys asked as we all shuffled our feet to stave off hypothermia.

“I’m a freelancer, but I’m taking photos for the Peace Corps. My wife is marching with them in the parade.”

“Oh, that’s great!”

Then a pause. “What’s Peace Corps?”

And so it went.  Be sure to read the full account of his day.

RPCV Climate Leader Hits the Hill: Help Raise Her Voice

RPCV Key Chatterjee (Morocco 98-00) is among the panelists scheduled to appear at a Capitol Hill Briefing this Thursday entitled “A Call for Leadership: How Congress Can Enable a Global Deal on Climate Change.” Chatterjee, Deputy Director on Climate Change for the World Wildlife Fund – US, will be on a panel that will include leaders of the international development and environment NGO’s, including InterAction, Oxfam America, and the National Wildlife Federation.

Even though you can’t be there, you can help support this briefing by contacting the offices of your Senators and asking key staff to attend. All you need to do is call the toll-free number for the Capitol (1-877-851-6437) and ask to be connected to the office of your Senator.  Once connected, identify yourself by name and community, ask to speak to the staff responsible for climate change and leave this basic message: “I’m calling to ask you to attend an important briefing on the issue of climate change and international development. 

The briefing will be held on Thursday, January 29^th at 11 AM, in Room SC-4 of the Capitol. Here’s what InterAction says about the briefing: 

“The time has come for Congress to lead by guiding climate policy at home while directing and supporting efforts to confront climate change abroad.  Experts representing a diverse coalition of the international development, faith and environmental communities will brief lawmakers on the current state of the international climate debate, actions being taken by developing countries and emerging economies, and steps that Congress needs to take in preparation for upcoming negotiations in the fall of 2009 to finalize a new global agreement to tackle climate change.”

(Part 2) Behind the Scenes: Peace Corps Community at the Inaugural Parade

While we were stalled on Constitution Avenue we did our best to distract ourselves from the cold.  We stamped our feet.  We traded cheers of "Yes! Yes! Yes, we do!  We've got the spirit, what about you?!" with the marching band from Maine in front of us.  We responded to shouted requests from two Argentinian tourists who wanted to take pictures of the marcher holding their flag. We gathered in a "penguin huddle"--it really did help keep us warm!

And we were heartened when Sen. Harris Wofford and his two grandsons joined us.  Sen. Wofford--"there at the creation" of Peace Corps, first Ethiopia Country Director, early Obama supporter and adviser on national service issues--had been at the Capitol Hill luncheon where Senators Kennedy and Byrd were stricken and persevered through numerous layers of security to join us.  He chatted with RPCVs and did a little dance when the Maine band struck up a tune.  I worried that he was seriously underdressed for the cold, but NPCA Vice President Anne Baker was at least able to gave him some of those chemical handwarmers.

The sun was starting to hang low in the west.  Would we end up marching in the dark?  Faintly, then more strongly, we picked up the roar of the crowds a few blocks away.  The Presidential motorcade was finally inching down Pennsylvania Avenue, which meant we would soon be underway.  Hoards of people, defeated by the cold, were streaming away from the parade route.  We got the signal!  Time to march!

Re-energized (and just happy to be moving!) we held our flags high.  Law enforcement officers from all over the U.S. lined the way to the starting point of the parade, and many smiled and took photos of our group.  People yelled and waved at us from behind fences on the Mall.  We walked between the National Gallery of Art and the East Wing of the National Gallery and finally, we were at the official starting point.  We were marching!

The rest is kind of a blur.  We were giddy with excitement, smiling and waving as people shouted out to us from the sidewalks, from the now sparsely populated bleachers--even from the rooftops.  "Woohoo Peace Corps!"  "Go Peace Corps!"  I kept looking back at the beautiful, inspiring sea of flags held by generations of RPCVs--and even two serving volunteers!--capturing the diversity of the Peace Corps Community.  We looked fabulous.

At several points in the parade, we heard an announcer proclaim:

"Also marching is the Peace Corps Community, which includes members who have served with the Corps from the 1960s to the present. The marchers are carrying the flags of the 139 countries where Peace Corps Volunteers have served during the 48-year history of the program.  Many marchers are also wearing the national dress of those host countries.  The Peace Corps Community marched in President Bill Clinton’s Inaugural Parades in 1993 and 1997.  They are led by Kevin F.F. Quigley, President of the National Peace Corps Association and Jim Gore, President of Returned Peace Corps Volunteers of Washington, DC, and are marching under the motto, 'Life is Calling, How Far Will You Go?'"

Midway through the parade, Tim Shriver, son of Peace Corps founder Sargent Shriver jogged back to  join us briefly, greeting Harris and others.  He and his brother Mark were marching with the Special Olympics, two parade "elements" in front of us. 

Up ahead, lit like a Hollywood soundstage, was the presidential reviewing box in front of the White House.  And then we were there.  On the left, at street level but behind glass, were the Obamas, the Bidens and others--but of course we only had eyes for the President and First Lady.  They were *that* close.  We had put the Kenya and Indonesia flags--both countries with Obama connections--in the first row, far left, so that the President would be sure to see them.  When the President and Vice President saw that Harris was marching with us, they smiled widely, pointed at him and continued to wave and smile at our motley procession, pointing out flags, making eye contact with the joyful marchers.  It was grand.  You can see us at the 37 minute, 44 second mark on C-SPAN.  A YouTube clip of us marching, (lower quality) can be seen here.

We continued for several blocks along a comparatively darkened Pennsylvania Avenue.  It seemed there were more onlookers than along the official parade route, and all were still wildly enthusiastic...shouting to us, giving us the "thumbs up" and "peace" signs.  Tim and Mark Shriver, clad in their bright yellow Special Olympic jackets, had peeled off from the parade, but stood on the sidelines yelling loudly and waving their arms.  "Go Peace Corps!  Go Peace Corps!" 

It was truly an amazing day on so many levels.  The parade itself was only 30 minutes, but the symbolism of those flags, of marchers representing almost 50 years of service to others overseas, sent a powerful message of hope and new beginnings around the world. 

******

Many volunteers have already written about their experience marching.  Here are a few links:

Rajeev Goyal (Nepal) Huffington Post - Kennedy's Kids Then, Obama's Kids Now
Audrey Scott (Estonia) Uncornered Market - Inauguration Day, She Said: Peace Corps on Parade
Peggy Murrah (Sierra Leone) Cocorioko - Peace Corps Volunteer Marches in Inaugural Parade
Jackie Spurlock (Iran) Iranian.com -  Flying It High!

To see photos of the day, visit our Flickr set.

(The photo of the Peace Corps Community passing the reviewing stand is courtesy of the Washington Post and can be purchased here.)

Behind the Scenes: Peace Corps Community at the Inaugural Parade

Back in November when the National Peace Corps Association (NPCA) and Returned Peace Corps Volunteers of Washington DC (RPCVW) submitted an application for the Peace Corps Community to participate in the Inaugural Parade, I don't think anyone anticipated all that would be involved. 

The application itself was daunting, and once we got word that we had been accepted, we had one week to submit 200 names, social security numbers, place and dates of birth, etc. for the marchers--and one week to submit still more forms (information for the parade script and media guide, Weapons Security Certificiation Form, Equestrian Element information....) to the "PIC" or Presidential Inaugural Committee.

Meanwhile, RPCVW inaugural task force volunteers were busy securing a source for the flags (Peace Corps headquarters kindly lent us theirs) and a means for their transport, working with a designer on the banner (design services also kindly donated), ordering commemorative polarfleece scarves embroidered with the Peace Corps logo so that there would be a common element to our motley crew, and arranging for 4 buses to transport us to the Pentagon. 

Originally we had envisioned that in true Peace Corps fashion we would all just show up on the Metro.  But no, these are post-9/11 days, and all parade "elements" were required to secure buses for the day.  Not an easy task, given that millions of people were expected to descend on Washington for the swearing in and buses in short supply.  In the end we scored buses, but at the not insubstantial cost of $10,000. (If you'd like to make a donation to help defray this unexpected cost, you can use RPCVW's secure Paypal site or, if you prefer, send a check to: NPCA, 1900 L Street NW, Suite 404, Washington, DC 20036 - note "inaugural parade" in the memo line)

Marchers were told to assemble in front of the Pentagon City mall by 7:15 a.m.  Many were anxious that they wouldn't be able to arrive by car, taxi or Metro because of travel restrictions and made elaborate plans to ensure they'd be on time (your correspondent slept in the NPCA offices).  But just about everyone made it.  Once on the buses, RPCVW "bus captains" distributed special parade IDs and contact phone numbers should a marcher get lost or have to drop out of the parade midway.  We drove a few short blocks to the Pentagon parking lot for our airport-style security screening and distribution of boxed breakfast and lunch.  Everyone and everything had to come off of the buses and we mingled with Inuit dancers, marching band members and Marines in dress uniform.  Back on the bus there was more waiting, but it also provided a time to get to know our fellow marchers, who represented all eras of Peace Corps service.

Excitement built as we drove across the Memorial Bridge to the Ellipse staging area in front of the White House.  It was our first glimpse of the crowds that had gathered.  Amazing. People as far as the eye could see, pressed close, straining against the temporary fences.  Some waved when they saw the "Peace Corps" sign in the window of the bus.

We unloaded the flags, sorted and assigned them, and went into a large warming tent where we could watch--or at least hear--the swearing in.  Our military escort gave us the 15-minute warning and we  started to assemble.  Getting Peace Corps people to stand in even rows of nine, with flags in rough alphabetical order.... Well, it was a little like herding cats. But we did it.  In the most prominent position--front row, left side--were the flags of Kenya and Indonesia.

There were cheers from our group as finally we got underway.  We were quite a dramatic sight--the colorful flags whipping high in the wind, with many RPCVs wearing mementos of their Peace Corps countries.  There were fabulous fur hats (revenge of the Eastern Europe/Russia/"stan" volunteers), beaded shell necklaces, flag pins, leg rattles....and even someone wearing a sari (brrr!).   We crept along Constitution Avenue....and then were stalled (due, we later learned, to Sen. Kennedy's collapse).  So we waited.  And waited.  The temperature dropped.  Soon even those chemical hand warmers weren't doing much good.  We stamped our feet.  We watched the band members in front of us try in vain to stay warm (three were taken away for hypothermia). 

Finally RPCVW Parade Task Force Organizer Extraordinaire, Corey Taylor, called for a huddle.  Everyone pressed in close, "March of the Penguins"-style.  And it actually worked!  Everyone felt a little warmer.

...To be continued.

For a full album of Parade photos, click here.

Obama References Peace Corps at "Be the Change" Inaugural Ball

At MTV's "Be the Change Inaugural Ball," newly inaugurated President Barack H. Obama and First Lady Michelle Obama walked out the tune of “Hail to the Chief” and were greeted with chants of “O-ba-ma” from a crowded ballroom of young men and women [7,000 strong] hoping to get a glimpse of their president.

President Obama’s every word was greeted with cheers, chants, screams and whistles. He opened “how’s everybody doing tonight?” and “I have been looking for the ball for quite sometime [cheers] because when you look at the history of this campaign, [cheers] what started out as an improbable journey, when nobody gave us a chance [cheers] was carried forward, was inspired by, was driven by, was energized by young people all across America” [crowd chants: yes we can repeatedly].

He went on to say:

“I can’t tell you how many people has come up to Michelle and myself and said ‘I was a kinda skeptical but then my daughter, she wouldn’t budge: she just told me I needed to vote for Obama.’ Or ‘suddenly I saw my son, he was out volunteering and traveling and knocking on doors and getting involved like never before and so a new generation inspires previous generations, and that’s how change happens in America.

It doesn’t just happen in elections and campaigns, it’s happened in service all across America. Young people getting involved in Teach for America and Americorps, people teaching in schools and working in community organizations [pause] joining the Peace Corps! And as this is broadcast all around the world, we know that young people everywhere are in the process of imagining something different that what has come before. Where there is war they imagine peace, where there is hunger they imagine people being able to feed themselves. Where there is disease they imagine a public health system that works for everybody. Where there is bigotry they imagine togetherness. The future will be in your hands if you are able to sustain the kind of energy and focus you showed on this campaign. I promise you, that America will get stronger and more united, more prosperous, more secure. You are going to make it happen and Michelle and I thank you from the bottom of our hearts.

God bless you and God bless the United States of America.”

(President and Mrs. Obama dance at the Inaugural Youth Ball Photo: Mark Wilson/Getty Images)

Peace Corps in the Inaugural Parade - See Us, Watch Us!

 

What a day.   Yesterday the Peace Corps Community had the huge honor of participating in the inaugural parade of President Barack Obama.

Following are some links where you can catch us marching.

• NBC Today Show (on Hulu) - January 21, 2009.  (Snippet at approx minute 1:54)
• C-SPAN (scroll to minute 5:30) 
• NewsHour with Jim Lehrer - YouTube version.  Higher Quality PBS - "Barack Obama Sworn in as President" January 20, 2009 (minute 18:21)

Photos have also been uploaded to our Flickr account.

And most are now available on Facebook here and here.

The Washington Post featured a very large photo of us passing the Presidential reviewing stand in Section A13.  We were the sole illustration for their story on the parade and you can purchase the photo from the Washington Post directly.

And of course there is this little video we put together (thanks Clare!).

If you learn of any other mentions, please post them to our new social networking website! You can photos, post videos.  Add comments too.

More about the day coming soon.

  

Hello from Returned Peace Corps Volunteers!

The Transition at Peace Corps

The Peace Corps transition team of Returned Peace Corps Volunteer C.D. Glin (South Africa 97-99) and former Peace Corps Country Director David Valenzuela is completing its work.  Reportedly they are recommending a robust plan for Peace Corps expansion and enhancement.

Effective 5 p.m. today, Deputy Director Jody Olsen will become Acting Director as the rest of the leadership team at Peace Corps resigns.  She will be Acting Director until the new Director is confirmed by the Senate.  There are some rumors that the announcement of the next Director is imminent, but confirmation by the Senate is probably some months away.

UPDATE:  Peace Corps has just announced that Jody Olsen will be acting Peace Corps Director:

If You'll be in DC and Plan to Watch the Inaugural Parade...

To all RPCVs interested in watching the inaugural parade in DC:

Upon further consideration, RPCVw has decided to move the Peace Corps Community's inaugural parade viewing location.

The new location will be on the north side of the intersection at 12th St. NW and Pennsylvania Avenue. 

The closest metro is Federal Triangle, however, according to the PIC, the fastest and most sanity-saving mode of transportation will be your own two feet.  The closest security checkpoint is at 12th St. NW and E St. 

We are still looking for volunteers willing to arrive early in the morning with homemade "Peace Corps" signs (no sticks and they can't be too large).  If you're interested, please contact communications@rpcvw.org.  Otherwise, please just show up at 12th and Pennsylvania wearing as much Peace Corps garb as you can muster and look for others doing the same.  The crowds are expected to be large and wait-times at checkpoints will probably be long, so you should plan to arrive well before the parade's estimated start time of 2:30pm. 

Thank you for supporting the RPCVw and NPCA's efforts to represent Peace Corps in the parade honoring the inauguration of Barack Obama.  See you on Tuesday!

NPCA's Manager for the New Peace Corps Connect

We are very pleased to introduce Molly Mattessich as the General Manager for Peace Corps Connect, our new online community.   Molly joins our staff tomorrow.  You may recognize her name already.   She has a long history of involvement with the RPCV community and with NPCA Groups, as you will read below.

Welcome, Molly!!

From Molly:

I could not be more delighted to be joining NPCA as General Manager for the Peace Corps Connect Online Community.  This position integrates my most salient skills including marketing and web development, my passion for community development, and my enthusiasm for making Peace Corps Connect a success for years to come.
 
I have served as a Group Leader for the Returned Peace Corps Volunteers of Washington, DC for the past several years as Vice-President, Special Events Director, and New Members Director, and have been involved with various NPCA activities since I moved to DC after my Peace Corps service in Mali from 2002-2004.  My family is a Peace Corps one, since right after I served in Mali from 2002-2004, my sister and brother-in-law were inspired to serve in Thailand for the following two years.

I look forward to working with you and encourage you to take advantage of the unique social networking site that we are creating.  It's your online community and I will always welcome your questions and comments to make it more valuable and useful to you. 
 
Regards,
 
Molly Mattessich
General Manager, Peace Corps Connect
molly@rpcv.org
202-293-7728, ext. 24