Peace Corps Polyglot

Maine and Connecticut Advocates are Perfect!

While everyone who helped build support for Peace Corps funding through urging lawmakers to support March Dear Colleague letters made a significant contribution, advocates in two New England states achieved the first-ever distinction of having all members of their congressional delegation sign the letters!

The state of Maine demonstrated great bi-partisanship as the two Republican Senators (Snowe and Collins) and both Democratic Representatives (Michaud and Pingree) signed respective Peace Corps letters.  Swanville resident and Korea RPCV Richard McIntyre (above, standing) met with three of those offices during the Day of Action and helped coordinate outreach and mobilization to other Maine RPCVs.  "I would like all RPCVs to know that this was not difficult...what it took was to briefly meet with a staffer or the congressperson and share my interest in securing their signature.  Congressional staffers have told me that they could make it happen if at least a few of their constituents requested their endorsement."

In Connecticut, the Connecticut RPCVs launched a two week phone call/email campaign and worked right up to the deadline to secure the signatures of all lawmakers.  This included relentless outreach by group leader Maureen Shanley (Colombia 77-79), whose advocacy ended up having an added benefit beyond the success of the signatures.  "My nephew was checking my caller ID and he asked me why I had incoming calls from the US Senate and the US Congress.  I was able to teach a quick lesson on civics while impressing my nephew because he all of a sudden realized that one person's voice can make a difference."

Congratulations to all advocates in Connecticut and Maine for their special achievement!

 

Take Action on Education for All Act

Urge Your Representative to Become a Co-sponsor of House Bill 5117,The Education for All Act of 2010

 

Congresswoman Nita Lowey (D-NY) recently reintroduced the Education for All Act in the House of Representatives. 

 

This bill aims to ensure that the United States will provide leadership and resources in the international effort to provide all children with a quality basic education by 2015, one of the key Millennium Development Goals. The bill also supports the following: a multilateral initiative to provide better funding for universal basic education; increased access to education, especially for children in marginalized or vulnerable groups; improving the quality of basic education around the globe, and much more.   

 

It is important that we support this bill so that global leaders can give children around the world the foundation they need to help themselves and their families rise out of poverty and assist in effective community development.  

 

 

If you are represented by Congresswoman Lowey, call or write her to say thank you for her leadership on the Education for All Act. 

 

Take Action Now:

 -House of Representatives Action Only-

 

Call Your Representative

• Call the Capitol Hill Switchboard (877-851-6437) and ask to be connected to the office of your Representative. 
• Leave this message. "I am calling to ask Congressman/woman _____ to co-sponsor H.R. 5117, the Education for All Act of 2010, which will ensure that the United States takes a leading role in the international effort to provide all children with a quality basic education by 2015."

Senate Committee Approves Dodd Legislation, Peace Corps Deputy Director

The Senate Foreign Relations Committee had Peace Corps on the agenda at today's business meeting.

The Committee gave its approval to Senate Bill 1382, the Peace Corps Improvement and Expansion Act.  Authored by RPCV Senator Chris Dodd, the legislation calls upon the agency to conduct an assessment of 18 issues identified as key to the improvement and expansion of Peace Corps operations, and provide a strategic plan that includes one and five year goals and benchmarks to measure progress.

The Bill was passed with a manager's amendment, which eliminated the funding levels specified in the original text. A member of Senator Dodd's staff commented that this will allow for more focus on improving and reforming the Peace Corps.

The Committee also approved the nomination of former NPCA Board Member Carrie Hessler-Radelet to become the next Deputy Director of the Peace Corps. 

With today's votes by the committee, both the legislation and the Hessler-Radelet nomination go to the full Senate for final approval.

Former NPCA Advocate Making Her Mark in Uganda

 

We first met Nicole Fiol about three years ago.

Nicole connected with us as we were preparing for an NPCA Advocacy Day on Capitol Hill.  While most of the participants were returned Peace Corps volunteers or former Peace Corps staff, Nicole's interest in participating was driven by her passion as a Peace Corps applicant.

Nicole impressed us in many ways.  Her positive energy, her vibrant personality and her ability to get result!  In the picture above, Nicole met with staff of then Congressman Luis Fortuno of Puerto Rico, who subsequently signed onto a Peace Corps funding Dear Colleague letter.

We also took note of Nicole's story of the time and financial challenges she faced as a Peace Corps applicant from Puerto Rico.  Because of this, we asked her to share her story with Congress by testifying at a Senate hearing on Peace Corps legislation.

The qualities of patience and perseverance that are essential to a good advocate are also important traits for Peace Corps applicants such as Nicole. It eventually worked out as Nicole was assigned to a post in eastern Uganda.

Earlier this month, as mudslides devastated Uganda's Bududa region, Nicole was the first volunteer to arrive and begin providing disaster assistance.  Your can follow this link to read more about the work of Nicole and her Peace Corps colleagues - inspiring global engagement that continues to make us proud.  

NPCA Honors Senate Peace Corps Champions

The annual Capitol Hill gathering of NPCA's Director's Circle provided an opportunity to recognize two retiring Senators who have been strong voices for the importance of the Peace Corps.

NPCA recognized Missouri Senator Kit Bond (above, standing) for his strong support for increased Peace Corps funding as an important element of "smart power" in our outreach to the world. During the program, we read a letter of congratulations sent by the St. Louis Peace Corps Association which said in part, "We thank Senator Bond for his persistence in calling for an expansion of the Peace Corps to put greater numbers of Americans into vitally important countries around the world, changing minds about America one small village at a time."

 We also recognized Connecticut Senator and Dominican Republic RPCV Chris Dodd (above, center) for his lifetime commitment to service and his many contributions to the Peace Corps community. In presenting an award to Senator Dodd, former  Senator Harris Wofford (above, left) said "We have been made richer for the so many things you have done. The loss to the Senate will be a gain to the whole citizen sector of this republic." 

Final Days for Action on Peace Corps Funding Letters

 
During the March 2nd National Day of Action, former NPCA intern Rachel Shattuck of Dundee, Illinois met with her Congressman, Bill Foster to make the case for increased Peace Corps funding.  Last week, Congressman Foster signed onto the House Dear Colleague letter for the first time!

Are you the next Rachel Shattuck?  Is your Senator or Congressman the next Representative Foster?

There's still time for lawmakers to take action, but time is running out:

In the House of Representatives, 99 lawmakers have signed the Farr-Honda-Petri-Driehaus-Garamendi Dear Colleague letter urging $465 million for Peace Corps in Fiscal Year 2011.  Tuesday morning is the deadline for signing onto the letter.  Follow this link to see which Congressmen/women have already signed onto the letter.

In the Senate, 14 Senators have signed onto the Dodd-Corker Dear Colleague letter urging robust funding for the Peace Corps.  Tuesday evening is the deadline for signing onto this letter.  Follow this link to see which Senators have already signed onto the letter.

Please go to www.morepeacecorps.org follow the link to your state, and follow the instructions to take action.

(Photo above: l to r, Illinois RPCV Rob Marshall, former NPCA intern Rachel Shattuck, Congressman Bill Foster and RPCV Mike Wood during the March 2nd National Day of Action)

The Day is Over...But the Action is Just Getting Started!

As people from across the nation were making phone calls, sending faxes and churning out email messages to lawmakers on Capitol Hill, 46 volunteer advocates walked the halls of Congress during the March 2nd National Day of Action in Support of the Peace Corps.

Combined with other citizen advocates who arrived in town later in the week, a total of 55 individuals participated in 112 face-to-face meetings with Senators, Congressmen and/or their staff.  In addition to that, they helped deliver packets to all other congressional offices, holding informal meetings with staff in a number of instances.

The message?  To thank Congress for its outstanding support of the Peace Corps during last year's appropriations process, and to urge continued support as work begins on the Fiscal Year 2011 budget.

The advocates focused on so-called "Dear Colleague" letters urging the key appropriations subcommittee to support robust funding for the Peace Corps.  As of 3 PM on March 8th, 59 Congressmen/women and seven Senators had signed onto these letters.

We Need YOU to Take Action:  Even though NPCA's National Day of Action is over, a critical period of follow-up is underway.  Senators have until March 16th to add their name to the Senate letter.  The House letter has a March 15th deadline.  Taking effective action is as easy as 1, 2, 3:

STEP ONE:  Visit www.morepeacecorps.org and click on your state.

STEP TWO:  Scroll down to your Senators or Congressman/woman to see if they have already signed onto the Senate (or House) letter.  If they have, contact them and say thank you!  If they have not, go to the top of your state page for simple instructions on how to take action by phone or email.

STEP THREE:  Please contact five other people you know - they don't have to be RPCVs or former Peace Corps staff - provide them with the action link and ask them to take action today!  

Thanks to all our advocates who generated such a strong and vibrant Peace Corps presence on Capitol Hill.    Contact us at [email protected] to find out how you can help! 

Visit www.facebook.com/peacecorpsconnect for more photographs from the Day of Action.

And be on the lookout for more updates and action appeals over the next ten days.

   

 

It's Here! National Day of Action Takes Aim at Capitol Hill

There are many ways to mark Peace Corps week.  One of the most important is to be an advocate for a bigger, better and bolder Peace Corps.  That's why the National Peace Corps Association launched a National Day of Action six years ago.

Today's the day!  Follow this link and then go to your state for specific actions you can take to be an effective advocate.  It only takes a few moments to make a phone call, just a little more time to send an email or fax.  And when you take that action today you will be joined by thousands of others from all around the nation!

That's not all.  Your National Day of Action efforts on the home front are being backed up today by nearly 50 volunteers who are on Capitol Hill, holding meetings, delivering information, making the case for Peace Corps and urging lawmakers to sign Senate and House "Dear Colleague" letters supporting robust Peace Corps funding for Fiscal Year 2011.  More than 90 meetings are scheduled, and these volunteer advocates are hoping to drop off information to nearly all of the 535 congressional offices.

Look for updates on twitter, Facebook and other networks.  And please spread the word!  Anyone who cares about the Peace Corps can participate.  Thank you!

Just Less than 50...Just More than 80

 
As we move into the final hours before NPCA's 6th Annual National Day of Action in Support of the Peace Corps, nearly 50 members of the Peace Corps community are scheduled to be on Capitol Hill for meetings and information distribution as you email, phone and fax from all around the country.

More than 80 formal meetings with congressional offices are scheduled, and we expect that number to continue to climb.  Where we don't have meetings, we will be dropping off information packets making the case for a bigger, better and bolder Peace Corps.

Please consider "adopting" one of our Capitol Hill advocates: As the National Day of Action has no dedicated revenue source at this time, we rely on your generosity to help cover the costs of everything from materials for the congressional packets the volunteers will be delivering, to a pre-event conference call/orientation, to "MorePeaceCorps" canvas bags and buttons to wear on the Hill.  And, let's not forget some lunch money to keep these hard working volunteers energized!  We have about half of our advocates adopted (at an estimated cost of $50 per advocate).  To fully (or partially) adopt one of these volunteers, please follow this link and select "Advocacy/MorePeaceCorps" to make your donation!

Visit www.morepeacecorps.org starting on March 2nd to take part in the National Day of Action!

(Photo:  Mariko Huges, who experienced the impacts of stagnant Peace Corps funding during her recent service in Azerbaijan, is among the nearly 50 volunteers who will be on Capitol Hill supporting your efforts during the National Day of Action)

We’re getting Ready for the March 2 National Day of Action!

Volunteers like Richard MacIntyre (Korea 67-69) and NPCA interns like Jillian Klarman are uploading information, preparing support materials and getting us ready for March 2nd - Our sixth annual National Day of Action in Support of the Peace Corps.

State Resources Available: Go to the state pages of the MorePeaceCorps site for lots of information ranging from background materials to promotional flyers to ideas on important actions you can take right from home!

Group Leader Letter Writing Packet: For NPCA Member group leaders, we have a toolkit for a special letter writing action you can take on behalf of your groups.

National Conference Calls: Check out the calendar of events on Connected Peace Corps for remaining national conference calls to help you prepare.

Still Accepting Capitol Hill Volunteers: We are closing in on our goal of having forty volunteers walking the halls of Capitol Hill and meeting with lawmakers and staff, as you are sending thousands of phone calls, emails and faxes.  If you want to assist on Capitol Hill, contact us at [email protected].