Al Kamen writes: Under Obama's Budget the number of volunteers peaks at 11,000 by the end of 2016, short of the doubling Obama talked about by 2012



"The Obama budget is giving Peace Corps devotees major agita. Despite Obama's past boosterism, it appears that the agency's proposed budget is up only 10 percent next year and that the number of volunteers is projected to rise by 20 percent, to 9,000, by 2012. It peaks at 11,000 by the end of 2016, short of the doubling Obama talked about by 2012."

Al Kamen writes: Under Obama's Budget the number of volunteers peaks at 11,000 by the end of 2016, short of the doubling Obama talked about by 2012

From the President, Some Red Meat for a Conservative Bastion

By Al Kamen

Monday, May 11, 2009

[Excerpt]

NO PEACE AT THE CORPS

What with President Obama's emphasis on volunteerism domestically and internationally, it seemed odd that there has been no announcement of a new Peace Corps director. One name circulating as a top contender for the post is James Arena-DeRosa, now New England regional manager for the Peace Corps in Boston. Arena-DeRosa also teaches developmental research and advocacy at Brandeis University and worked with the aid organization Oxfam International.

Some folks in the returned-volunteer community, a powerful and active lobby, may be less than delighted about this. There's a strong feeling among some former volunteers -- not shared by all of us -- that service overseas is a prerequisite for the job, especially with so many former volunteers available. Arena-DeRosa reportedly enjoys strong support from Massachusetts Gov. Deval Patrick (D) and from some key players on the Hill.

Meanwhile, the Obama budget is giving Peace Corps devotees major agita. Despite Obama's past boosterism, it appears that the agency's proposed budget is up only 10 percent next year and that the number of volunteers is projected to rise by 20 percent, to 9,000, by 2012. It peaks at 11,000 by the end of 2016, short of the doubling Obama talked about by 2012.

Links to Related Topics (Tags):

Headlines: May, 2009; Presidents - Obama; Budget; Congress; Appropriations; Expansion

When this story was posted in May 2009, this was on the front page of PCOL:




Peace Corps Online The Independent News Forum serving Returned Peace Corps Volunteers

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April 19, 2009: Obama's Public Diplomacy Obama engages Students in Roundtable in Turkey 7 Apr To Rebuild US-Muslim Relations Obama Is Not Enough 26 Mar PC Model in Mexico sends Older Specialized PCVs 19 Apr Peace Corps Needs Top-Down Re-Examination 19 Apr Peace Corps Returns To Rwanda with 32 PCVs 17 Apr Read from "First Comes Love Then Comes Malaria" 16 Apr Does Mike Honda want to head Peace Corps? 15 Apr Paul Theroux promotes Responsible Tourism 3 Apr Vice President Biden Meets PCVs In Costa Rica 1 Apr Vote on Christopher R. Hill delayed by opponents 1 Apr Joseph Acaba makes First Spacewalk 31 Mar Petri Vindicated for Advocacy of Direct Loans to Students 30 Mar Mateo Paneitz devotes life to helping poor in Guatemala 29 Mar Read from "The Sultan and the Mermaid Queen" 16 Apr Drew Marinelli makes 6000-mile bicycle trip across US 28 Mar Senate votes to triple AmeriCorps' ranks 27 Mar Four Cycling RPCVs have been friends for 45 years 25 Mar Denice Traina Hopes Hives will Help Harrisburg 24 Mar "Expand the Band" brings Instruments to South Africa 24 Mar Maria Shriver testifies on her Father's Alzheimer's 24 Mar Charles R. Larson donates African collection to UT 23 Mar Read more stories from March and April 2009.

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PCOL's Candidate for Peace Corps Director Honduras RPCV Jon Carson, 33, presided over thousands of workers as national field director for the Obama campaign and said the biggest challenge -- and surprise -- was the volume of volunteer help, including more than 15,000 "super volunteers," who were a big part of what made Obama's campaign so successful. PCOL endorses Jon Carson as the man who can revitalize the Peace Corps, bring it into the internet age, and meet Obama's goal of doubling the size of the Peace Corps by 2011.

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Director Ron Tschetter: The PCOL Interview Peace Corps Director Ron Tschetter sat down for an in-depth interview to discuss the evacuation from Bolivia, political appointees at Peace Corps headquarters, the five year rule, the Peace Corps Foundation, the internet and the Peace Corps, how the transition is going, and what the prospects are for doubling the size of the Peace Corps by 2011. Read the interview and you are sure to learn something new about the Peace Corps. PCOL previously did an interview with Director Gaddi Vasquez.

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