See you in Chicago - August 5 to 8 - A Photo Essay



See you in Chicago - a photo essay





Chicago Turns Out for RPCV Anniversary



The NPCA's 25th Anniversary Conference at the historic Palmer House Hilton in the heart of Chicago will focus on the legacy of Peace Corps service for families, U.S. communities and countries around the world.






The conference will feature forums on Understanding Islam, Fair Trade, Microenterprise in Developing Nations, Environmental Activism, and how former volunteers are tackling the major health crises of our day. Vice President of Afghanistan Hedayat Amin-Arsala and his wife, Betsy (RPCV Afghanistan), will talk about the lingering effects of Peace Corps pre-war work in a country emerging from decades of civil war. Former Thai Foreign Minister Surin Pitsuwan, taught by Peace Corps volunteers, represents a country with one of the longest-running relationships with the U.S. national service organization.






MSNBC "Hardball" host Chris Matthews will share how his experience in Swaziland shaped his perspective as a leading broadcast journalist.






Pete Yarrow of "Peter, Paul and Mary," a longtime fan of the Peace Corps, will be on hand to lead the celebration and to talk about how Peace Corps has influenced his organization, Operation Respect, which teaches children how to value each other.






The Muntu Dance Theatre will perform authentic and progressive interpretations of contemporary and ancient African and African-American dance, music and folklore. The Company has existed on the spirit and unbounded energies of its directors, dancers, musicians and staff since 1972 and has achieved an acclaimed reputation for making a consistent artistic statement of cultural and historical significance.






The Natya Dance Theatre will present their dance theatre that serve as agents of cultural preservation, presentation, and exchange. Artistic director Hema Rajagopalan has received seven dance choreography fellowships from the National Endowment for the Arts. Hema has produced over 100 dance dramas and has toured extensively in the United States, Europe, and India.






Ohio Governor Bob Taft will speak about how his Peace Corps service in Tanzania naturally evolved from a family whose public servants included a U.S. President, Supreme Court Chief Justice and two senators.






Wisconsin Governor Jim Doyle and his wife, Jessica, bring their service in Tunisia to the leadership of a state that has had strong ties to the Peace Corps since its beginning 43 years ago.




See you in Chicago



For program details, to register or for more information, visit www.RPCV2004.org. Special room rates at the Palmer House Hilton are available through July 15 by calling 877.865.5321. United Airlines is offering discounts of up to 10 percent at 800.521.4041 (meeting code: 516ZW). Discounted conference registration rates are in effective until July 23rd.

Follow this link to register or for more information

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More about the Conference



In its 25 years as the organization representing former volunteers and staff, who now number over 200,000, the NPCA has become a leader in teaching Americans about other countries and cultures. Its 154 affiliate groups such as the Chicago Area Peace Corps Association, support public service projects in their home communities and in countries across the world. The NPCA will present the 2004 Sargent Shriver Award for Distinguished Humanitarian Service to Dr. Kevin Denny (RPCV Malawi) and the Malawi Children's Village, for their work with an African village built for the orphans of AIDS victims. Group members volunteer to work in Malawi on the project that they have supported through fund-raising at home. The Association of Returned Peace Corps Volunteers of Hawai'i will be awarded the 2004 Loret Miller Ruppe Award for Outstanding Community Service for their cable television production Bring the World Home. Since 2002, 22 episodes of this 30-minute TV program representing 19 countries have been produced and broadcast.