January 9, 2003 - PCOL Exclusive: Statement of Resignation by NPCA President Dane Smith

Peace Corps Online: Peace Corps News: Headlines: Peace Corps Headlines - 2003: 01 January 2003 Peace Corps Headlines: January 9, 2003 - PCOL Exclusive: Statement of Resignation by NPCA President Dane Smith

By Admin1 (admin) on Thursday, January 09, 2003 - 2:18 pm: Edit Post

Statement of Resignation by NPCA President Dane Smith





Caption: Dane Smith, President of the National Peace Corps Association (NPCA), with his wife, Judy Smith, stand outside the US Embassy in Senegal where Dane was US Ambassador from 1996 to 1999. He and his wife began their international careers as Peace Corps Volunteers in Eritrea, (1963-1965), then part of Ethiopia.

Read and comment on the statement by Dane Smith on his resignation as President of the NPCA and the statement by NPCA Board Chairman Pat Reilly on Dane's years of service to the RPCV community at:

Dear Friends,*

* This link was active on the date it was posted. PCOL is not responsible for broken links which may have changed.



Dear Friends,

I have informed the NPCA Board that I have decided to leave my position as NPCA President in 2003. I have been honored to be at the helm of this organization for almost 3 ½ years, but I believe it is time for me to move on. It has been a privilege for me to work with the Returned Peace Corps movement. Indeed I consider it one of the great satisfactions – and challenges – of my life. And I believe we have made a great deal of progress over the past 3 ½ years. I am proud to be associated with the advances we have made in advocacy, peace-building, global education, WorldView, the Microenterprise Program, and the expansion of our affiliate groups, and to have been deeply involved with our wonderful 40+1 Anniversary Conference of last June. I have been inspired and energized by the innumerable RPCVs and former staff I have met during my tenure and by the 80 NPCA affiliate groups I have visited in 44 states. I have greatly enjoyed working with the Peace Corps in support of its critically important mission.

For me, speaking personally, the job is an all-consuming one. I have given it my very best effort. I can not continue, however, to devote as much time and energy to this work as I have in the past. And, I believe it’s time for some new blood, new leadership prepared to give the requisite time and energy. I want to be able to devote more time to my family, in particular to identifying activities that my wife Judy and I can do together, and to other personal pursuits.

I have informed the Board that am prepared to stay at least until the ending of the February 2003 Board meeting but not longer than the August 2003 Board meeting. That should give the Search Committee, which begins its work immediately, adequate time to find a replacement. In the meantime, I will be on the job. And, when I step down, I plan to remain active in the NPCA.

I would like to thank the entire NPCA Board for the consistent, strong support I have felt throughout my tenure. I would also like to thank our many NPCA affiliate group leaders and indeed the entire Returned Peace Corps movement. It has been a great pleasure and privilege to work with all of you.


Dane F. Smith
President
National Peace Corps Association
202-293-7728 x19
1900 L Street N.W. #205
Washington DC 20036
dane@rpcv.org
www.rpcv.org


Statement by NPCA Board Chairman Pat Reilly



Pat Reilly, Chair of the Board of Directors of the National Peace Corps Association (NPCA), had this to say about Dane Smith and his years of service to the RPCV community:
"We have been privileged to have Dane's strong leadership in the past three years. He has strengthened our programs, started some exciting new initiatives in peace and advocacy and kept our relationship with the Peace Corps vital and trusting through its own transition. More importantly, he has guarded the integrity of the organization in some challenging times. The board and I feel fortunate to have been able to work with such a respected and skilled leader in our term and we now accept the difficult task of finding a worthy successor."

More about Dane Smith



Read more about NPCA President Dane Smith at:

More about Dane Smith

Dane Smith assumed the Presidency of the National Peace Corps Association in August 1999, after completing a career of over 30 years in the Foreign Service. He served as U.S. Ambassador to Guinea (1990-1993), Special Presidential Envoy for Liberia (1995-96), and U.S. Ambassador to Senegal (1996-1999). He was Deputy Chief of Mission in Botswana (1984-1986) and Sudan (1986-1989). He directed the African Economic Policy Staff (1989-1990) and was Chief, Food Policy Division, in the Bureau of Economic and Business Affairs (1979-1981). He also had assignments in Pakistan and Liberia. He and his wife began their international careers as Peace Corps Volunteers in Eritrea, (1963-1965), then part of Ethiopia. A graduate of Harvard College, he earned a Ph.D. in International Relations from the Fletcher School of Law & Diplomacy.

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This story has been posted in the following forums: : Headlines; NPCA; COS - Ethiopia; COS - Eritrea

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By bankass.com on Tuesday, January 14, 2003 - 9:35 pm: Edit Post

Dane,

You always ansewered my calls, treated my concerns with value and you provided the Peace Corps with great service.

We may not have always agreed, but I respect your commitment to Peace Corps and RPCV's. I hope you and your family have some good quality time together now.

Good luck and thanks,

Daniel

By bankass.com on Saturday, February 01, 2003 - 7:42 am: Edit Post

Interim Director Pat Reilly,

I think you should call Mrs. Poirier and help her raise money to find her son in Bolivia. Peace Corps hasn't and won't do a proper investigation. They need an investigator from that country to work on the case full time. As the chairperson, you should take responsibility.

Remember, "able to respond".

If you don't want to, then hire me. The priorities of National Peace Corps Association will change then. 1. My first step would be to "get an investigator for Mrs. Poirier 2. Propose legislation that we have a lawyer working for all Return Volunteers. 3. That we propose legislation for a conflict and management center at Peace Corps to resolve the thousands of cases of unresolved problems Peace Corps created. Provide an open Amensty for all volunteers who served to have open acess to Peace Corps. This could be a grant from the Congress. 4. That we propose a division of Return Peace Corps Volunteer Services at the National Peace Corps Association called Medical, Feca and Benefits division so that Return Volunteers have an independent place to get counseling in DC about the program. Also, the Lawyer would be their to aid the volunteer too. 5. That the Career Center be moved to NPCA headquaters along with the budget for the program. This would help all former Volunteers get upwardly mobile jobs at any time in their life.

Most of all the above will help all volunteers, improve the image of the program of Peace Corps, really serve the third goal, bring a trained work force back into Peace Corps and help America see the good sides of Peace Corps service.

I know you won't hire me. The board is made up of people who would never see my perspective. However, those items above should be your priorities.


I have come to realize, I am going to have to open a 401c, to raise money for our concerns. Remember, now and in the future, I have offered my help to you and former volunteers. As I told Dane, we need justice as former volunteers.


Daniel

Daniel


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