2006.09.07: September 7, 2006: Headlines: Directors - Vasquez: Peace Corps: Director Vasquez bids Farewell to Washington
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2006.09.07: September 7, 2006: Headlines: Directors - Vasquez: Peace Corps: Director Vasquez bids Farewell to Washington
Director Vasquez bids Farewell to Washington
The Peace Corps Press Release states: "Over the past four years, Director Vasquez has worked diligently to expand Peace Corps' presence throughout the world. He has directed the entry or re-entry into more than 20 Peace Corps countries, including the historic establishment of a program in Mexico. Most recently, he announced the agency's newest program in Cambodia, set to open in early 2007. Taking a hands-on approach to leadership, Director Vasquez has visited 60 countries, meeting with volunteers in the field to advance the agency’s mission and goals of promoting world peace and friendship."
PCOL Comment: For another assessment of Director Vasquez's tenure read this story from the Washington Times.
Director Vasquez bids Farewell to Washington
Peace Corps Director Bids Farewell to Washington and "Ciao!" to Italy
WASHINGTON, D.C., September 7, 2006 – Gaddi H. Vasquez, the first Hispanic American to serve as director of the Peace Corps, was sworn in today by Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice as the U.S. Representative to the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations in Rome, with the rank of Ambassador during a ceremony held at the Department of State in Washington, D.C.
"It is with a heavy heart that I say goodbye to my friends at the Peace Corps today. It has been an honor and a pleasure to serve in this capacity, I wish the best for the Peace Corps — that it continues its legacy of service as it has for the past forty-five years," said Director Vasquez. "I have many fond memories of visiting volunteers at their sites, where I could see these men and women in their element, truly making a remarkable difference in the lives of the citizens of their host country."
Director Vasquez began his tenure at the Peace Corps in 2002 and was the third longest serving director in the Peace Corps' 45-year history. Under his leadership, the Peace Corps has reached a 30-year high in the number of volunteers in the field.
He placed a high priority on minority recruitment, and the increased number of diverse volunteers in the field is a testament to those outreach efforts. Of the 7,810 volunteers serving today, 16 percent are minorities — the highest percentage since the agency began collecting data on volunteer diversity.
As the first Peace Corps director to serve post 9/11, Director Vasquez significantly enhanced the safety and security systems world-wide and has overseen the largest congressional appropriations in the Peace Corps' history for four consecutive years.
Over the past four years, Director Vasquez has worked diligently to expand Peace Corps' presence throughout the world. He has directed the entry or re-entry into more than 20 Peace Corps countries, including the historic establishment of a program in Mexico. Most recently, he announced the agency's newest program in Cambodia, set to open in early 2007. Taking a hands-on approach to leadership, Director Vasquez has visited 60 countries, meeting with volunteers in the field to advance the agency’s mission and goals of promoting world peace and friendship.
Following his nomination to this new position by President George W. Bush on April 25, Director Vasquez was unanimously confirmed by the Senate on June 29. He will begin his new duties in Rome later this month.
The Peace Corps is celebrating a 45-year legacy of service at home and abroad, and a 30-year high for volunteers in the field. Since 1961, more than 182,000 volunteers have helped promote a better understanding between Americans and the people of the 138 countries where volunteers have served. Peace Corps volunteers must be U.S. citizens and at least 18 years of age. Peace Corps service is a 27-month commitment.
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When this story was posted in September 2006, this was on the front page of PCOL:
Peace Corps Online The Independent News Forum serving Returned Peace Corps Volunteers
| Chris Shays Shifts to Favor an Iraq Timetable In a policy shift, RPCV Congressman Chris Shays, long a staunch advocate of the Bush administration's position in Iraq, is now proposing a timetable for a withdrawal of American troops. How Mr. Shays came to this change of heart is, he says, a matter of a newfound substantive belief that Iraqis need to be prodded into taking greater control of their own destiny under the country’s newly formed government. As Chairman of the House Government Reform subcommittee on national security, he plans to draft a timetable for a phased withdrawal and then push for its adoption. A conscientious objector during the Vietnam War who said that if drafted he would not serve, Chris Shays has made 14 trips to Iraq and was the first Congressman to enter the country after the war - against the wishes of the Department of Defense. |
| Peace Corps' Screening and Medical Clearance The purpose of Peace Corps' screening and medical clearance process is to ensure safe accommodation for applicants and minimize undue risk exposure for volunteers to allow PCVS to complete their service without compromising their entry health status. To further these goals, PCOL has obtained a copy of the Peace Corps Screening Guidelines Manual through the Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) and has posted it in the "Peace Corps Library." Applicants and Medical Professionals (especially those who have already served as volunteers) are urged to review the guidelines and leave their comments and suggestions. Then read the story of one RPCV's journey through medical screening and his suggestions for changes to the process. |
| Gates charity races to spend billions Warren E. Buffett’s gift of $31 billion to the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation means that for tax reasons, starting in 2009, the foundation must distribute $3 billion annually, or a little more than twice what it distributed last year.
PCOL Comment: The Foundation says that "preventing the spread of HIV is the most durable long-term solution to the AIDS epidemic, and a top priority for the foundation." Peace Corps Volunteers and Returned Volunteers have been doing just that in AIDS Education for the past 15 years. Why not consider a $100M annual contribution to the Peace Corps to put 2,500 additional volunteers in the field to expand AIDS education worldwide? |
| The Peace Corps is "fashionable" again The LA Times says that "the Peace Corps is booming again and "It's hard to know exactly what's behind the resurgence." PCOL Comment: Since the founding of the Peace Corps 45 years ago, Americans have answered Kennedy's call: "Ask not what your country can do for you--ask what you can do for your country. My fellow citizens of the world: ask not what America will do for you, but what together we can do for the freedom of man." Over 182,000 have served. Another 200,000 have applied and been unable to serve because of lack of Congressional funding. The Peace Corps has never gone out of fashion. It's Congress that hasn't been keeping pace. |
| Changing the Face of Hunger In his new book, Former Congressman Tony Hall (RPCV Thailand) says humanitarian aid is the most potent weapon the United States can deploy against terrorism. An evangelical Christian, he is a big believer in faith-based organizations in the fight against hunger. Members of Congress have recently recommended that Hall be appointed special envoy to Sudan to focus on ending the genocide in Darfur. |
| PC will not return to East Timor in 2006 Volunteers serving in East Timor have safely left the country as a result of the recent civil unrest and government instability. Latest: The Peace Corps has informed us that at this time, the Peace Corps has no plans to re-enter the country in 2006. The Peace Corps recently sent a letter offering eligible volunteers the opportunity to reinstate their service in another country. |
| Chris Dodd considers run for the White House Senator Chris Dodd plans to spend the next six to eight months raising money and reaching out to Democrats around the country to gauge his viability as a candidate. Just how far Dodd can go depends largely on his ability to reach Democrats looking for an alternative to Hillary Clinton. PCOL Comment: Dodd served as a Volunteer in the Dominican Republic and has been one of the strongest supporters of the Peace Corps in Congress. |
| Peace Corps stonewalls on FOIA request The Ashland Daily Tidings reports that Peace Corps has blocked their request for information on the Volkart case. "After the Tidings requested information pertaining to why Volkart was denied the position — on March 2 — the newspaper received a letter from the Peace Corps FOIA officer stating the requested information was protected under an exemption of the act." The Dayton Daily News had similar problems with FOIA requests for their award winning series on Volunteer Safety and Security. |
| PCOL readership increases 100% Monthly readership on "Peace Corps Online" has increased in the past twelve months to 350,000 visitors - over eleven thousand every day - a 100% increase since this time last year. Thanks again, RPCVs and Friends of the Peace Corps, for making PCOL your source of information for the Peace Corps community. And thanks for supporting the Peace Corps Library and History of the Peace Corps. Stay tuned, the best is yet to come. |
| History of the Peace Corps PCOL is proud to announce that Phase One of the "History of the Peace Corps" is now available online. This installment includes over 5,000 pages of primary source documents from the archives of the Peace Corps including every issue of "Peace Corps News," "Peace Corps Times," "Peace Corps Volunteer," "Action Update," and every annual report of the Peace Corps to Congress since 1961. "Ask Not" is an ongoing project. Read how you can help. |
| RPCV admits to abuse while in Peace Corps Timothy Ronald Obert has pleaded guilty to sexually abusing a minor in Costa Rica while serving there as a Peace Corps volunteer. "The Peace Corps has a zero tolerance policy for misconduct that violates the law or standards of conduct established by the Peace Corps," said Peace Corps Director Gaddi H. Vasquez. Could inadequate screening have been partly to blame? Mr. Obert's resume, which he had submitted to the Peace Corps in support of his application to become a Peace Corps Volunteer, showed that he had repeatedly sought and obtained positions working with underprivileged children. Read what RPCVs have to say about this case. |
| 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. Latest: Read the ongoing dialog on the subject. |
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Story Source: Peace Corps Press Release
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