December 3, 2003 - Washington Post: Peace Corps Chief Does About-Face

Peace Corps Online: Peace Corps News: Headlines: Peace Corps Headlines - 2003: October 2003 Peace Corps Headlines: October 24, 2003 - Orange County Register: Some suggest Vasquez is coming home to work for Schwarzenegger : December 3, 2003 - Washington Post: Peace Corps Chief Does About-Face

By Admin1 (admin) (pool-141-157-41-108.balt.east.verizon.net - 141.157.41.108) on Wednesday, December 03, 2003 - 10:12 am: Edit Post

Peace Corps Chief Does About-Face



Peace Corps Chief Does About-Face

Peace Corps Chief Does About-Face

By Al Kamen

Wednesday, December 3, 2003; Page A27

Back on Oct. 23, Peace Corps Director Gaddi H. Vasquez said he was, "with mixed emotions," stepping down as head of the agency he had run for only 20 months and heading back home to California effective Nov. 14.

The White House issued the usual statement praising his "tremendous leadership," and he told the press he wanted to tend to his parents' health and to "recharge my batteries."

But he never left. On Nov. 18, four days after he was supposed to be gone, Vasquez sent an e-mail to "All Peace Corps" saying he would be "continuing my Peace Corps service to an indeterminate date." He gave "pending initiatives and activities affecting the Peace Corps" as his reason, although it's unclear which of those initiatives or activities had not been pending when he quit. A spokesman yesterday said "a key driver" in his decision was to make sure the agency's budget is in place, but Vasquez has little to do with that.

There was some speculation that he was getting out before a Dayton Daily News investigative series hit the stands a few days later saying that assaults against volunteers had more than doubled from 1991 to 2002.

Asked about the timing, Vasquez told the newspaper he didn't know what the final stories were going to say, had made the decision to leave "some time ago" and places "family above everything else in life."

There was also talk he was heading back for a job in the new Schwarzenegger administration in Sacramento, and more chatter recently that maybe that didn't work out.

So what's going on here? In his e-mail, Vasquez said: "Over the past few days and weeks, I have received many supportive messages from staff, volunteers and [returned volunteers]. I am grateful and humbled by these words of friendship and good wishes."

So these presumably sincere notes changed his mind? In any event, Vasquez looks to be sticking around maybe into early next spring. What's that old saying? Forgotten, but not gone?




Some postings on Peace Corps Online are provided to the individual members of this group without permission of the copyright owner for the non-profit purposes of criticism, comment, education, scholarship, and research under the "Fair Use" provisions of U.S. Government copyright laws and they may not be distributed further without permission of the copyright owner. Peace Corps Online does not vouch for the accuracy of the content of the postings, which is the sole responsibility of the copyright holder.

Story Source: Washington Post

This story has been posted in the following forums: : Headlines; Peace Corps Directors - Vasquez

PCOL8753
64

.

By Kelly Moon (belvoir-sun2.iern.disa.mil - 198.26.119.86) on Tuesday, December 09, 2003 - 12:11 pm: Edit Post

I have my utmost respect for Mr. Vasquez’s leadership in his ability to give his consideration and observations to the staff, volunteers and returned volunteers for what matters the most to the Peace Corps.

It is not an easy task for a leader to change his mind on new implementations or announcements. I believe it takes true leader to change his mind. It takes courage, belief and confidence in your leadership, and care for the public to allow reconsiderations.

The one who can change what was said for the better is a true leader who we should respect and not criticize. It was Mr. Vasquez's consideration for the Returned Volunteers’ needs which re-opened the Peace Corps Career Center to all volunteers disregard to the time of COS by changing the one-year limit policy. I am certain all volunteers who use the career center regularly can attest for our gratitude to Mr. Vasquez for listening to our voice.

Kelly Moon
Western Russia, 2001-2002

By Judith Ann White (mvaserv2.mva.com - 206.146.37.2) on Tuesday, December 09, 2003 - 1:39 pm: Edit Post

Mr. Vasquez.
Leave. Soon. Thank you.

By Ken Rustad Bolivia 62-64 (1cust182.tnt2.farmington.nm.da.uu.net - 68.129.74.182) on Tuesday, December 09, 2003 - 7:10 pm: Edit Post

I would feel better about the situation at Peace Corps with Jody Olsen in charge.

By Michael Gamache (host2.rssu.org - 209.198.86.210) on Wednesday, December 10, 2003 - 2:27 pm: Edit Post

Vasquez should never have attained the position in the first place. He should have left when he said he was going to leave. I am unable to elaborate further without expressing sentiments best left out of public posting areas.


Add a Message


This is a public posting area. Enter your username and password if you have an account. Otherwise, enter your full name as your username and leave the password blank. Your e-mail address is optional.
Username:  
Password:
E-mail: