May 23, 2003 - Washington Post: No Mixed Signals, No Mixed Drinks at Peace Corps Affair

Peace Corps Online: Peace Corps News: Headlines: Peace Corps Headlines - 2003: May 2003 Peace Corps Headlines: May 23, 2003 - Washington Post: No Mixed Signals, No Mixed Drinks at Peace Corps Affair

By Admin1 (admin) on Friday, May 23, 2003 - 10:18 am: Edit Post

No Mixed Signals, No Mixed Drinks at Peace Corps Affair





Read and comment on this story from the Washington Post on the the San Francisco Peace Corps recruiting office's original plans to invite volunteers, staff and prospective volunteers to a party at the Gordon Biersch Brewery that was changed to the World Affairs Council building with munchies and nonalcoholic beverages at:

No Mixed Signals, No Mixed Drinks*

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



No Mixed Signals, No Mixed Drinks

Sometimes it's hard to stay on message. The Peace Corps' Eastern Mediterranean and Asia region has banned alcohol when headquarters staff are meeting with volunteers. But the San Francisco Peace Corps recruiting office has invited former volunteers, staff and prospective volunteers to a party Tuesday at the Gordon Biersch Brewery.

"Please join the San Francisco regional office and Peace Corps director Gaddi Vasquez as we recognize the next generation of Peace Corps Volunteers," the invitation said. The event, from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m., includes a cash bar and "hors d'oeuvres will be served (So Get There Early!)."

So a regional director thinks alcohol and business don't mix but Vasquez is going to be tipping a few brewskis with future volunteers?

Well, no. After hearing about our May 14 report about the alcohol ban, the San Francisco folks said they decided to abandon the brewery. "We didn't want to send mixed signals," said office spokesman Dennis McMahon. "We're looking to hold it at the World Affairs Council building in downtown," he said, with munchies and nonalcoholic beverages. An e-mail went out alerting people to the change, though not the reasons why. McMahon insisted the decision was made with no input from Washington.

We deeply regret the column item and take this opportunity to apologize to the San Francisco-area past and future volunteers for depriving them of some fine beer. We called the council to try to rent a room for a Loop cash bar near the Peace Corps event. Turns out the room costs only $80 an hour. Unfortunately, they were booked that evening.

© 2003 The Washington Post Company



Peace Corps on the wagon in Eastern Mediterranean and Asia region





Read and comment on this story from the Washington Post on May 14 on a new Peace Corps directive forbidding alcohol use by headquarters staff in the Peace Corps' Eastern Mediterranean and Asia region whenever volunteers or trainees are around. Read the story at:

On the Wagon*

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



On the Wagon

By Al Kamen

Robert Reid, chief of operations for the Peace Corps' Eastern Mediterranean and Asia region, raised some eyebrows in a May 1 e-mail forbidding alcohol use by headquarters staff whenever volunteers or trainees are around.

Reid, whose region includes Morocco, Ukraine, Armenia and five other countries, said the "alcohol guideline" was needed because "use and abuse of alcohol by our volunteers and trainees is a huge issue, and is often related to safety and security concerns. In order not to give our [volunteers and trainees] a mixed message," Reid said, "from now on we request that EMA (HQ) staff never drink alcohol with volunteers or trainees, neither in the US (at stagings, in Washington, DC or elsewhere) nor at [overseas] posts."

Despite the courteous "request" about this "guideline," Reid said "adherence to this guideline is mandatory, and violation of it could result in disciplinary action."

Then, on May 5, came another e-mail, this one to country directors and other staff in the region. "Colleagues, please note the new guideline regarding alcohol use that EMA has established for our headquarters staff. We encourage you to set the same guideline at your posts, while we consider establishing a more encompassing one for all EMA operations. Please let me know if you have any questions."

"A more encompassing one?" What could this be? Maybe no alcohol, period? No smoking? No caffeinated beverages? Separate tables for staff and volunteers if someone orders a drink?

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