Peace Corps Online: September 27, 2005: PCOL Magazine: PCOL Exclusive: Year 05 Issue 10: Peace Corps Online: RPCVs respond to Hurricane Katrina

September 27, 2005: PCOL Magazine: PCOL Exclusive: Year 05 Issue 10: Peace Corps Online: RPCVs respond to Hurricane Katrina

Peace Corps Online: Peace Corps News: PCOL Magazine: September 27, 2005: PCOL Magazine: PCOL Exclusive: Year 05 Issue 10: Peace Corps Online: RPCVs respond to Hurricane Katrina

By Admin1 (admin) (pool-151-196-44-58.balt.east.verizon.net - 151.196.44.58) on Friday, September 23, 2005 - 5:55 pm: Edit Post

Peace Corps Online: RPCVs respond to Hurricane Katrina

Peace Corps Online: RPCVs respond to Hurricane Katrina

FEMA has requested RPCVs to assist in recovery efforts through the Crisis Corps and the Peace Corps hopes to send 400 RPCVs to the Gulf Coast for short term assignments to assist victims with their applications for federal aid. Read more in this issue of "Peace Corps Online" with our coverage of RPCVs' response to Hurricane Katrina.

Peace Corps Online: RPCVs respond to Hurricane Katrina

In this Issue

1. Peace Corps provides Crisis Corps Volunteers for Hurricane Relief efforts

2. Caroline Kennedy to present "Living a Life of Service" Award for Peace Corps Fund

3. Congressman John Kline Introduces Legislation to Separate Military Service, Peace Corps

4. Christopher R. Hill Puts Best Face Forward for U.S.

5. The Peace Corps President

1. Peace Corps provides Crisis Corps Volunteers for Hurricane Relief efforts

Peace Corps Online

The Crisis Corps Office emailed over 2400 returned Peace Corps Volunteers to gauge their interest in volunteering for the recovery efforts. Over 400 responses were received from that initial email. The first group of Crisis Corps Volunteers has traveled to the FEMA staging area in Orlando, Florida where they received training and their assignments. It is anticipated that Peace Corps will send additional groups daily over the next several weeks. After training in Orlando with FEMA, the Crisis Corps Volunteers will be deployed to the affected areas around the Gulf Coast to assist victims with their applications for federal aid.

Read the story and leave your comments at:

http://peacecorpsonline.org/messages/messages/2629/2035789.html

How you can apply to the Crisis Corps

Thanks to RPCVs' remarkable willingness to serve in hurricane response positions, the Peace Corps has met FEMA's immediate request for volunteers and are currently assessing additional volunteer opportunities with FEMA and other organizations. As new positions open, candidates will be prioritized according to their application status and date of availability. Those who already have been interviewed will be considered first, based on their availability and skills.

If you would like to apply and are an RPCV who has completed at least one year of Peace Corps service, please do not leave a message. Instead, send an email to crisiscorps@peacecorps.gov with the earliest date you are able to depart in the subject line. If you do not indicate your earliest available departure date, you will not be considered.

In the body of the email please include the following: Your current email address and phone number, the length of time you are available to serve, a brief summary of your skills. There is no need to send a cover letter, but please attach your current resume, even if you believe we may have one on file, as we are unable to pull your documents at this time. Please be ready to provide three available references.

For more information visit the Peace Corps web site at:

http://peacecorps.gov/index.cfm?shell=resources.former.crisiscorps.katrina

2. Caroline Kennedy to present "Living a Life of Service" Award for Peace Corps Fund

Peace Corps Online

The Peace Corps Fund will honor 5 New York City Public School teachers who served as Peace Corps Volunteers. The occasion: Its first annual "Celebration of Service" fundraiser on Thursday, September 29, at Manhattan's historic Puck Building. Caroline Kennedy, the Honorary Chair of "A Celebration of Service", has supported the mission of the Peace Corps Fund since its inception and will present the awards.

A non-profit organization, the Peace Corps Fund was established to support programs, projects and activities conducted by Returned Peace Corps Volunteers (RPCVs) to educate Americans about the people and places where volunteers served and implements the Third Goal of the Peace Corps Act of 1961.

Read the story and leave your comments at:

http://peacecorpsonline.org/messages/messages/2629/2035968.html

Get your tickets now for the September 29 event

There is still time for you to get tickets to the event to be held on Thursday, September 29, at Manhattan's historic Puck Building. For ticket information go to:

http://peacecorpsfund.org/

3. Congressman John Kline Introduces Legislation to Separate Military Service, Peace Corps

Peace Corps Online

Caption: Congressman John Kline (center) meeting with Colonel James Muscatell, Staff Sergeant Jason Tacheny, Major Tim Wollmuth and Major Kurt Rosselit of the 934th Airlift Wing, to discuss issues of troop rotation and reservists employment issues on August 12th, 2004.

Congressman John Kline, a member of the House Armed Services committee, introduced legislation to alter the National Call to Service Program to remove the Peace Corps as an option for completing an individual’s military enlistment requirement . “Thousands of military veterans have served honorably in the Peace Corps following their military careers and will continue to do so,” said Kline. “The goal of this legislation is to ensure the independence of the Peace Corps and the safety of their volunteers.” Congressman Kline served for 25 years in the United States Marine Corps and retired with the rank of Colonel. He served as a military aide to both Presidents Carter and Reagan.

http://peacecorpsonline.org/messages/messages/2629/2035812.html

Why blurring the lines puts PCVs in danger

Read our continuing coverage of the Peace Corps Military option. Last month Joanne Marie Roll wrote an op-ed on Why blurring the lines puts PCVs in danger. This month read her dialog with RPCV and civil affairs specialist Bob Paul that discusses these ideas in more detail at:

http://peacecorpsonline.org/messages/messages/2629/2034986.html

4. Christopher R. Hill Puts Best Face Forward for U.S.

Peace Corps Online

The unexpected agreement by North Korea to abandon its nuclear weapons program, announced this week in Beijing, followed decisions by both the Pyongyang government and the Bush administration to compromise on positions they had clung to during nearly three years of crisis over North Korea's nuclear ambitions.

The document signed by North Korea, the United States and the other participants in the six-party nuclear disarmament talks opened the way for what all sides say will be lengthy negotiations on the actual dismantling of North Korea's nuclear weapons program.

The chief U.S. negotiator for the agreement with North Korea on ending its nuclear programs is RPCV Christopher R. Hill, Assistant Secretary of State for East Asian and Pacific Affairs and former U.S. ambassador to South Korea. Former U.N. ambassador Richard C. Holbrooke, who describes Hill as "brilliant, fearless and argumentative" says that Hill manages to be both "very cool and very passionate." This unique combination, he said, enhances Hill's "extremely good negotiating skills." Hill served as a Peace Corps Volunteer in Cameroon.

Read more about RPCV Christopher R. Hill and leave your comments at:

http://peacecorpsonline.org/messages/messages/467/2035997.html

5. The Peace Corps President

Peace Corps Online

Nancy Meister and her ex-husband, Joel, may be among the most successful Peace Corps volunteers in the agency's history. Were it not for them, Alejandro Toledo would never have been elected president of Peru in 2001. Says David Arnold, editor of the magazine published by the National Peace Corps Association: "I cannot think of anyone whose personal friendship and long-time support for an individual has had such a profound influence as Nancy and Joel Meister, not only on an individual career but on the leadership of a nation."

Read the story and leave your comments at:

http://peacecorpsonline.org/messages/messages/467/2035998.html

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When this story was posted in September 2005, this was on the front page of PCOL:

Peace Corps Online The Independent News Forum serving Returned Peace Corps Volunteers
Returned Volunteers respond to Hurricane Katrina
First and foremost, Give. Carol Bellamy says "In situations such as this one, money is needed the most" and added that Hurricane Katrina's impact on New Orleans is comparable to last year's tsunami. Thailand RPCV Thomas Tighe's Direct Relief International has committed an initial $250,000 in cash to assist hurricane victims. Mayor Tom Murphy (RPCV Paraguay) says Pittsburgh is ready to embrace refugees from devastated areas. Mark Shriver of Save the Children says it will assist rural communities it serves in rebuilding. Brazil RPCV Robert Backus is among the first Vermont doctors to volunteer to travel to Louisiana to treat victims. Ohio Governor Bob Taft (RPCV Tanzania) says students displaced by "Katrina" can enroll in Ohio Colleges and Wisconsin Governor Jim Doyle (RPCV Tunisia) is sending soldiers to help residents of Louisiana. Do you know what it means to lose New Orleans? Contact your local Red Cross to Volunteer.

Military Option sparks concerns
The U.S. military, struggling to fill its voluntary ranks, is allowing recruits to meet part of their reserve military obligations after active duty by serving in the Peace Corps. Read why there is opposition to the program among RPCVs. Director Vasquez says the agency has a long history of accepting qualified applicants who are in inactive military status. John Coyne says "Not only no, but hell no!" and RPCV Chris Matthews leads the debate on "Hardball." Latest: Avi Spiegel says Peace Corps is not the place for soldiers while Coleman McCarthy says to Welcome Soldiers to the Peace Corps. RPCVs: Read our poll results.
Why blurring the lines puts PCVs in danger
When the National Call to Service legislation was amended to include Peace Corps in December of 2002, this country had not yet invaded Iraq and was not in prolonged military engagement in the Middle East, as it is now. Read the story of how one volunteer spent three years in captivity from 1976 to 1980 as the hostage of a insurrection group in Colombia in Joanne Marie Roll's op-ed on why this legislation may put soldier/PCVs in the same kind of danger.
Upcoming Events: Peace Corps Fund in NYC
Peace Corps Fund announces Sept 29 Fund Raiser in NYC
High Atlas Foundation Hosts a Reception in NYC on Sept 15
Jody Olsen to address Maryland RPCVs at Sept 17 picnic
"Artists and Patrons in Traditional African Cultures" in NY thru Sept 30
See RPCV Musical "Doing Good" in CA through Sept
"Iowa in Ghana" at "The Octogan" in Ames through October 7
RPCV Film Festival in DC in October
RPCV's exhibit at Museum of Man in San Diego thru May 2006
Top Stories: August 20, 2005
Jack Crandall writes "Memories relished by WWII Generation"
Cris Groenendaal plays Phantom of Opera on Broadway 19 Aug
Peace Corps Director Travels to Madagascar 19 Aug
RPCV presents "Artists and Patrons in Traditional African Cultures" 19 Aug
Robert Brown to head Southeast Asian Studies at UCLA 19 Aug
Peter McPherson to head national university association 19 Aug
Len Flier says US has lose-lose scenario in Iraq 18 Aug
Ruth DeMaio sends aid to Niger 18 Aug
Bob Taft pleads no contest to ethics law violation 18 Aug
Antoinette Allen is Field Hockey coach at Hun School 16 Aug
Tony Hall Avoids Mugabe on Zimbabwe trip 14 Aug
Peace Corps Receives 2005 Medgar Evers Award 10 Aug
Jeff Wray is filming "The Soul Searchers" 10 Aug
40th anniversary of Shriver's Foster Grandparent Program 9 Aug
Tom Petri writes "It's not just about highways" 9 Aug
Terry Dougherty brings students from Afghanistan to US 8 Aug
Chris Newhall is leading volcano scientist 5 Aug
Douglas Biklen appointed dean at Syracuse University 5 Aug
Greg Kovalchuk and Mike Kelly Find Rare Fossil 4 Aug
Edward O'Toole salvages furniture for schools in Honduras 3 Aug
Gary Mount is Apple Grower Of The Year 1 Aug
The Peace Corps Library
Peace Corps Online is proud to announce that the Peace Corps Library is now available online. With over 30,000 index entries in 500 categories, this is the largest collection of Peace Corps related stories in the world. From Acting to Zucchini, you can find hundreds of stories about what RPCVs with your same interests or from your Country of Service are doing today. If you have a web site, support the "Peace Corps Library" and link to it today.
Friends of the Peace Corps 170,000 strong
170,000 is a very special number for the RPCV community - it's the number of Volunteers who have served in the Peace Corps since 1961. It's also a number that is very special to us because March is the first month since our founding in January, 2001 that our readership has exceeded 170,000. And while we know that not everyone who comes to this site is an RPCV, they are all "Friends of the Peace Corps." Thanks everybody for making PCOL your source of news for the Returned Volunteer community.

Read the stories and leave your comments.

Some postings on Peace Corps Online are provided to the individual members of this group without permission of the copyright owner for the non-profit purposes of criticism, comment, education, scholarship, and research under the "Fair Use" provisions of U.S. Government copyright laws and they may not be distributed further without permission of the copyright owner. Peace Corps Online does not vouch for the accuracy of the content of the postings, which is the sole responsibility of the copyright holder.

Story Source: PCOL Exclusive: Year 05 Issue 10

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