Let's have an organized effort by the RPCV community to respond to the true national emergency now unfolding in the Gulf of Mexico.

Many of us have life skills and professional backgrounds which will be important in the coming months. Many of us are retired or near it, many others are in a position to freely dispose of their time.

It is clear to me that the onshore response must be augmented in a very big way if anything effective is to be done here, regardless of whatever happens offshore. So it doesn't matter if you think your skill set will be useful or not. If you are willing to go there and volunteer your time and experience, or even just clean the marshes and the beaches, your time will be well spent and you will be joining in an effort that will bring us all together.

I welcome your comments and hope this same Peace Corps community will generate whatever coordination and record-keeping way be necessary. For the moment, we have this internet forum, and of course the individual determinations of each of us.

Best wishes to all,

Peter Wadsworth
Chile XX, 1966-68