2007.07.27: July 27, 2007: Headlines: Congress: Legislation: Speaking Out: PCOL Exclusive: 05. Testimony of Chuck Ludlam and Paula Hirschoff on S. 732: The Peace Corps Volunteer Empowerment Act: Empowering Volunteers to Participate in the Legislative Process for S. 732
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2007.07.27: July 27, 2007: Headlines: Congress: Legislation: Speaking Out: PCOL Exclusive: 05. Testimony of Chuck Ludlam and Paula Hirschoff on S. 732: The Peace Corps Volunteer Empowerment Act: Empowering Volunteers to Participate in the Legislative Process for S. 732
05. Testimony of Chuck Ludlam and Paula Hirschoff on S. 732: The Peace Corps Volunteer Empowerment Act: Empowering Volunteers to Participate in the Legislative Process for S. 732
It's common knowledge that management and labor often have different points of view. We believe that Peace Corps management and Volunteers also have very different perspectives. We have clearly stated our perspective on this difference, but it's easy for the Committee to determine through a survey of the Volunteers if our view is typical.
05. Testimony of Chuck Ludlam and Paula Hirschoff on S. 732: The Peace Corps Volunteer Empowerment Act: Empowering Volunteers to Participate in the Legislative Process for S. 732
Empowering Volunteers to Participate in the
Legislative Process for S. 732
One option for the Committee is to empower current Volunteers to participate in the legislation process for S. 732 through a survey. We suggest this approach only if it's needed to overcome opposition to the legislation. If the legislation is strongly supported, as we hope it will be, such a survey will not be needed.
We do not believe such a survey is imperative. We believe we have sufficient evidence on hand to enact this legislation into law. We are simply saying that such a survey is an option.
Our main concern about a survey is that it might delay the enactment of this legislation. To expedite such a survey, we'd need a need a quick agreement for cooperation between the Peace Corps and the Committee and a quick agreement on the survey instrument. We understand that next year there is a Presidential election, so it's critical that this bill pass at least the Senate this year.
It's common knowledge that management and labor often have different points of view. We believe that Peace Corps management and Volunteers also have very different perspectives. We have clearly stated our perspective on this difference, but it's easy for the Committee to determine through a survey of the Volunteers if our view is typical.
As Volunteers in Senegal, we have filled out several Peace Corps surveys that were sent worldwide, including a survey of older Volunteers (see Appendix F). None of these surveys addressed the issues in the legislation. These worldwide Volunteer surveys provide ample precedent for the Committee to conduct a survey of Volunteer views of the legislation. Every Country Director maintains and often uses a list of Volunteer email addresses in country. The Committee could easily survey the 8,000 current Volunteers regarding the legislation.
One argument against such a survey is that we already have in hand impressive results from a survey conducted by the National Peace Corps Association (NPCA) in March and April of this year regarding S. 732. (See Appendix C for the survey instrument.) The survey, which was divided into sections that roughly paralleled sections of the legislation, asked individuals to indicate if they agreed or disagreed with key proposals. A total of 433 individuals took part in the survey, representing at least 41 states and the District of Columbia. Survey respondents served (or now serve) in at least 80 Peace Corps countries. For those who provided information, nearly half (44%) have served since 2000. Twenty percent served in the 1960’s, 15% in the 1990’s, 11% in the 1970’s and 10% in the 1980’s.
The survey reported overwhelming support for the legislation. We will report more details at the appropriate points in our testimony, but here is a summary of the key findings:
Seed funding: 84% in favor
Fundraising: 82% in favor
Third Goal: 84% in favor
Recruiting experienced Volunteers: 79% in favor
Removing disincentives for service by experienced Volunteers: 93% in favor
Digital Peace Corps: 89% in favor
Volunteers review of Senior Staff and Programs: 94% and 95% in favor
Volunteer Advisory Committees: 85% in favor
Reform of the medical screening process: 96% in favor
Health care benefits of retirees: 91% in favor
Equal tax benefits for Volunteers who own homes: 90% in favor
Protecting rights of Volunteers: 96% in favor
While the survey was based on a small sample, the results were impressive. The need to determine whether the Volunteers currently serving agree with this sample might prompt a second, Committee-sponsored survey. We believe that the same overwhelming enthusiasm for the legislation would emerge in a survey of Volunteers worldwide, but until we ask, we won't know for sure.
If the Committee determines that another survey would be useful, the Senate Computer Center could set up an online survey that automatically tabulates answers to the "yes" and "no" questions and collates responses to open-ended questions. The Center could code the responses according to Volunteer country of service, age, sex, etc. to note any demographic differences.13
The Volunteers could be asked to complete the survey using computers in Peace Corps offices or regional houses, rather than paying for internet time in cyber cafes. They could do so in conjunction with Pre-service or In-Service training or Close of Service conferences.
This is one section from the testimony read into the record on the Peace Corps Volunteer Empowerment Act by Chuck Ludlam and Paula Hirschoff, two RPCVs who are now serving their second tour in Senegal. The rest of the sections can be found by following this link. Their entire report in MS Word format can be downloaded by following this link.
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Headlines: July, 2007; Congress; Legislation; Speaking Out; Peace Corps Library; Peace Corps Directory; Peace Corps History; Peace Corps Message Board; Recent Peace Corps News
When this story was posted in July 2007, this was on the front page of PCOL:




Peace Corps Online The Independent News Forum serving Returned Peace Corps Volunteers
 | Senator Dodd's Peace Corps Hearings Read PCOL's executive summary of Senator Chris Dodd's hearings on July 25 on the Peace Corps Volunteer Empowerment Act and why Peace Corps Director Ron Tschetter does not believe the bill would contribute to an improved Peace Corps while four other RPCV witnesses do. Highlights of the hearings included Dodd's questioning of Tschetter on political meetings at Peace Corps Headquarters and the Inspector General's testimony on the re-opening of the Walter Poirier III investigation. |
 | Dodd issues call for National Service Standing on the steps of the Nashua City Hall where JFK kicked off his campaign in 1960, Presidential Candidate Chris Dodd issued a call for National Service. "Like thousands of others, I heard President Kennedy's words and a short time later joined the Peace Corps." Dodd said his goal is to see 40 million people volunteering in some form or another by 2020. "We have an appetite for service. We like to be asked to roll up our sleeves and make a contribution," he said. "We haven't been asked in a long time." |
 | Public diplomacy rests on sound public policy When President Kennedy spoke of "a long twilight struggle," and challenged the country to "ask not," he signaled that the Cold War was the challenge and framework defining US foreign policy. The current challenge is not a struggle against a totalitarian foe. It is not a battle against an enemy called "Islamofascism." From these false assumptions flow false choices, including the false choice between law enforcement and war. Instead, law enforcement and military force both must be essential instruments, along with diplomacy, including public diplomacy. But public diplomacy rests on policy, and to begin with, the policy must be sound. Read more. |
 | Ambassador revokes clearance for PC Director A post made on PCOL from volunteers in Tanzania alleges that Ambassador Retzer has acted improperly in revoking the country clearance of Country Director Christine Djondo. A statement from Peace Corps' Press Office says that the Peace Corps strongly disagrees with the ambassador’s decision. On June 8 the White House announced that Retzer is being replaced as Ambassador. Latest: Senator Dodd has placed a hold on Mark Green's nomination to be Ambassador to Tanzania. |
 | Peace Corps Funnies A PCV writing home? Our editor hard at work? Take a look at our Peace Corps Funnies and Peace Corps Cartoons and see why Peace Corps Volunteers say that sometimes a touch of levity can be one of the best ways of dealing with frustrations in the field. Read what RPCVs say about the lighter side of life in the Peace Corps and see why irreverent observations can often contain more than a grain of truth. We'll supply the photos. You supply the captions. |
 | PCOL serves half million PCOL's readership for April exceeded 525,000 visitors - a 50% increase over last year. This year also saw the advent of a new web site: Peace Corps News that together with the Peace Corps Library and History of the Peace Corps serve 17,000 RPCVs, Staff, and Friends of the Peace Corps every day. Thanks for making PCOL your source of news for the Peace Corps community. Read more. |
 | Suspect confesses in murder of PCV Search parties in the Philippines discovered the body of Peace Corps Volunteer Julia Campbell near Barangay Batad, Banaue town on April 17. Director Tschetter expressed his sorrow at learning the news. “Julia was a proud member of the Peace Corps family, and she contributed greatly to the lives of Filipino citizens in Donsol, Sorsogon, where she served,” he said. Latest: Suspect Juan Duntugan admits to killing Campbell. Leave your thoughts and condolences . |
 | Warren Wiggins: Architect of the Peace Corps Warren Wiggins, who died at 84 on April 13, became one of the architects of the Peace Corps in 1961 when his paper, "A Towering Task," landed in the lap of Sargent Shriver, just as Shriver was trying to figure out how to turn the Peace Corps into a working federal department. Shriver was electrified by the treatise, which urged the agency to act boldly. Read Mr. Wiggins' obituary and biography, take an opportunity to read the original document that shaped the Peace Corps' mission, and read John Coyne's special issue commemorating "A Towering Task." |
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 | He served with honor One year ago, Staff Sgt. Robert J. Paul (RPCV Kenya) carried on an ongoing dialog on this website on the military and the peace corps and his role as a member of a Civil Affairs Team in Iraq and Afghanistan. We have just received a report that Sargeant Paul has been killed by a car bomb in Kabul. Words cannot express our feeling of loss for this tremendous injury to the entire RPCV community. Most of us didn't know him personally but we knew him from his words. Our thoughts go out to his family and friends. He was one of ours and he served with honor. |
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