Dominican Republic rpcvs plan in-country reunion for Feb, 2002

40TH ANNIVERSARY PC IN THE DR CONFERENCE & REUNION

15-18 February 2002 Melia Santo Domingo Hotel, Santo Domingo, DR

"Four decades helping to make a difference ... Peace Corps past, present and future"

A 4 day celebration/program will show why the Peace Corps rates the Dominican Republic program as a 40-year success --- one of the best in the world!

INVITATION TO ATTEND

Dear RPCV, former Staff Member, and/or Dominican friend:

Come back to the DR over the 2002 President's 3-day holiday weekend for our own reunion and conference. Celebrate 40 years of Peace Corps service. See the PC today. Reunite with PCV friends and staff. Revisit your site. Reconnect with Dominican friends. Plan for the future.

Over 3,800 of us have served in the DR and all RPCVs, former Dominican and American staff, and guests are invited to attend. We are also inviting former Dominican Presidents of the DR. We may even have a reception with the recently elected Dominican President Hipolito Mejia.

Join an early morning bird watching trek through the National Botanical Garden with internationally recognized birder and RPCV Kate Wallace. Join your own group for dinner together at a favorite restaurant [if you can find it]. Walk the streets of the historic old Santo Domingo and marvel at the restorations. Be amazed by the high-rise buildings, construction and growth in Santo Domingo.

Plan to arrive a few days early and/or to stay extra days to revisit your work site. You will be surprised how many of your counterparts, neighbors and friends are still. It is surprising just what they remember about each of us. Take the time to experience this, and you just may return home with plans for follow-up.

And remember just how beautiful the Dominican climate is in February. Warm but not sticky hot. Everything is green from heavy showers. Come on back to swim on a white beach, hike a mountain trail, join a whale watch in Samaná Bay, eat tostones, drink Presidente bien frio, white water raft the Yaque del Norte, visit the archaeological dig at La Isabela, and much more. February is Carnival month and the best show is every Sunday afternoon in La Vega.

You owe it to yourself to return. Please contact other members of your group to see if they've received this invitation, and feel free to photocopy this and send if they have not. Join us 15-18 February 2002.

Hasta muy pronto,

Neil Ross

President

Friends of the Dominican Republic

CONFERENCE CO SPONSORS

Friends of the Dominican Republic Inc

Fondo Quisqueya Inc

Andres S. Hernandez Foundation Inc

Peace Corps/Dominican Republic

FDR is the general program sponsor coordinating arrangements and registration.

Conference Fee - $80 per person; please pay by check payable to Friends of the Dominican Republic.

Fee includes registration materials, planning costs, coffee breaks, Saturday buffet lunch, and PC reception. Special events and Sunday tour options at extra cost will be available at conference - TBA

To register and pay by mail with check made to ³Friends of the Dominican Republic² send to: John Evans, FDR Treasurer, 4512 Park Rd, Alexandria, VA 22312 or email to John Evans</a>.

Hotel Reservation - Meliá Santo Domingo [formerly Sheraton SD] - $107 deluxe single/double room, includes breakfast and 22% tax. $20 extra for third occupant. Upgrade to Royal Service floor for $27 extra. All rooms have view of the Caribbean Sea; located on Malecon near Colonial Zone.

Reservations must be made directly with the hotel for the Peace Corps Conference, attn: Sheylla Lugo / Sales Department, phone: (809) 730-6631,fax: (809) 686-0711 or by email: grupos.ventas.melia.santo.domingo@solmelia.com

Plane Tickets - Look for special airline rates with advance purchase for daily flights to the DR with the big three: American, Continental, USAirways, plus some charter flights to Punta Cana resorts on the eastern and Casa del Campo [use airport codes: Santo Domingo = SDQ, Puerto Plata = POP, Punta Cana = PUJ, Casa del Campo/La Romana = LRM]. USAirways is the newest to open flights to SDQ, and they offer discounts plus $10 off when booking online. Also keep an eye out for any round about deals through San Juan, PR [= SJU] with TWA and Delta. Unfortunately February is high season so booking ahead can save. Look for low fairs at each airline¹s web site and at www.travelocity.com/, www.cheaptickets.com/, and other discount sites. If you find a good deal, please let us all know.

By Stephen Pilkenton on Wednesday, January 30, 2002 - 8:38 am: Edit Post

Tony & Cindy Burton, How is everything? Let me know... :-)

Stephen