PC changes "cash in lieu" travel policy Read and comment on this memo from Peace Corps' General Counsel that explains the new policy for paying "cash in lieu" to Volunteers at their Completion of Service (COS). New RPCVs can still take the long way home, though they will likely have less money in their pockets because of the new policy. Peace Corps received $30 million more this year than in FY03 but is there a budget crunch now at Peace Corps? What do you think of the new policy?

• Strange Wednesday, August 18, 2004 - 6:52 pm [1]

• July 4, 2004: Headlines: Budget: Recruitment: Spokesman-Review: Booker T. Stallworth says recently my placement into the Peace Corps was cancelled because of funding cuts, which hundreds of other potential volunteers experienced  Friday, August 13, 2004 - 6:49 pm [1]

• June 28, 2004: Headlines: Travel: Policy: Peace Corps: Peace Corps changes policy for paying "cash in lieu" to Volunteers at their Completion of Service (COS)  Thursday, September 16, 2004 - 8:12 am [5]

• May 11, 2004: Headlines: Budget Cuts: Oregon State Daily Barometer: Due to budget cuts, Oregon State University's Peace Corps representative office will close on June 11  Friday, November 03, 2006 - 3:43 pm [7]

• January 22, 2004 - US Senate: Senate finally passes HR 2673 on January 22 with $325M for Peace Corps  Monday, February 02, 2004 - 12:45 pm [3]

Having been through a number of policy and budget decision during my stay in Romania from 2002 to 2004, I found that both are determined without input from volunteers. In many ways volunteers are "taxed without representation." Decisons are made without true consultation as to how they will affect the volunteers life or conditions while serving. The one major perk that volunteers looked forward to was the "cash in lieu" and the "government" has now taken that back. A Peace Corps volunteer is often nothing more than a plantation servant whose opinions are not valid while they reap the fields for the benefit of those who are sustained by the public relations emanating from the real accomplishments of Peace Corps' indentured.

PS Yes, there are the token committees made up of volunteers who are supposed to provide input and information to PC administrative staff; but they are ignored on anything resembling major policy or budget concerns.