Is Gaddi Leaving? Rumors are swirling that Peace Corps Director Vasquez may be leaving the administration. We think Director Vasquez has been doing a good job and if he decides to stay to the end of the administration, he could possibly have the same sort of impact as a Loret Ruppe Miller. If Vasquez has decided to leave, then Bob Taft, Peter McPherson, Chris Shays, or Jody Olsen would be good candidates to run the agency. Latest: For the record, Peace Corps has no comment on the rumors.

Governer Taft was a volunteer in Tanzania



Governer Taft was a volunteer in Tanzania

TAFT JOINS PEACE CORPS VOLUNTEERS IN CELEBRATION

Participates in Procession, Praises Volunteers for Service

COLUMBUS (May 4, 2001) — Governor Bob Taft today joined former and future Peace Corps volunteers in a procession and ceremony at The Ohio State University celebrating the corps’ 40th anniversary.

Taft, a former Peace Corps volunteer, served as a teacher in Tanzania, Africa from 1963-65. Taft joined Peace Corps Acting Director, Charles Baquet III, and volunteers in a procession that began at the Wexner Center of the Arts, traveled through the Oval on campus and ended at the Frank W. Hale Black Culture Center. In the “Parade of Nations,” participants carried 134 flags representing all of the nations the Peace Corps has served.

After the parade, Taft delivered remarks on the Peace Corps, reminiscing about his own experience and praising volunteers for their service. Taft also presented a resolution to Director Baquet, who is also a former Peace Corps volunteer (Somalia 1965-67).

“My teaching experience in the Peace Corps has helped me immensely in my role as Governor,” Taft said. “My top priority is to enable every child to succeed, and education is the only way to accomplish this goal. Being a teacher helped me to better understand the importance and power of education.”

Since its establishment in 1961, thousands of Ohioans have served as volunteers in the Peace Corps:

* Ohio ranks sixth in the nation for the number of volunteers currently serving in the Peace Corps;

* There are presently 278 Ohio residents serving in the Peace Corps;

* Nearly 30 graduates from The Ohio State University are preparing to join the Peace Corps this summer; and

* A total of 5,434 Ohio residents have served as Peace Corps volunteers.

In 2001, more than 7,300 volunteers are working in 76 countries around the world to help teach children, fight hunger, bring clean water to communities, help start new small businesses and stop the spread of AIDS. Since 1961, the Peace Corps has sent more than 162,000 trained volunteers to 134 countries.

When this story was posted in November 2004, this was on the front page of PCOL:

The Birth of the Peace Corps UMBC's Shriver Center and the Maryland Returned Volunteers hosted Scott Stossel, biographer of Sargent Shriver, who spoke on the Birth of the Peace Corps. This is the second annual Peace Corps History series - last year's speaker was Peace Corps Director Jack Vaughn.

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Vote "Yes" on NPCA's bylaw changes Take our new poll. NPCA members begin voting this week on bylaw changes to streamline NPCA's Board of Directors. NPCA Chair Ken Hill, the President's Forum and other RPCVs endorse the changes. Mail in your ballot or vote online (after Dec 1), then see on how RPCVs are voting.

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November 27, 2004: This Week's Top Stories RPCV reaches out after Soccer attack 27 Nov Tony Hall serves cold rice to embassy guests 27 Nov Hope calms injured volunteer's family 26 Nov Journalist Russell Carollo plans book on Peace Corps 25 Nov Moyers says next 4 years will be golden age for reporters 24 Nov RPCV is new president of the Hawaii bar association 23 Nov Mark Gearan confirmed by Senate for CNS Board 23 Nov Chris Shays fits in the other Republican Party 22 Nov DC job a possibility for McPherson 22 Nov Sentence reduced for man who raped PCV in Vanuatu 21 Nov Frist criticizes provision in Omnibus Spending Bill 21 Nov Peace Corps to be funded at $320 million 19 Nov more top stories...

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Charges possible in 1976 PCV slaying Congressman Norm Dicks has asked the U.S. attorney in Seattle to consider pursuing charges against Dennis Priven, the man accused of killing Peace Corps Volunteer Deborah Gardner on the South Pacific island of Tonga 28 years ago. Background on this story here and here.

Your vote makes a difference Make a difference on November 2 - Vote. Then take our RPCV exit poll. See how RPCV's are voting and take a look at the RPCV voter demographic. Finally leave a message on why you voted for John Kerry or for George Bush. Previous poll results here.

Kerry reaches out to Returned Volunteers The Kerry campaign wants the RPCV vote. Read our interview with Dave Magnani, Massachusetts State Senator and Founder of "RPCVs for Kerry," and his answers to our questions about Kerry's plan to triple the size of the Peace Corps, should the next PC Director be an RPCV, and Safety and Security issues. Then read the "RPCVs for Kerry" statement of support and statements by Dr. Robert Pastor, Ambassador Parker Borg, and Paul Oostburg Sanz made at the "RPCVs for Kerry" Press Conference. RPCV Carl Pope says the key to winning this election is not swaying undecided voters, but persuading those already willing to vote for your candidate to actually go to the polls. Take our poll and tell us what you are doing to support your candidate. Finally read our wrap-up of the eight RPCVs in Senate and House races around the country and where the candidates are in their races.

Director Gaddi Vasquez: The PCOL Interview PCOL sits down for an extended interview with Peace Corps Director Gaddi Vasquez. Read the entire interview from start to finish and we promise you will learn something about the Peace Corps you didn't know before. Plus the debate continues over Safety and Security.

Read the stories and leave your comments.