September 13 - NPCA Position on Vasquez Nomination

Peace Corps Online: Peace Corps News: Directors of the Peace Corps: Peace Corps Director Gaddi Vasquez: The Gaddi Vasquez Nomination to Peace Corps Director: SPECIAL REPORT: Bush's Choice to Lead the Peace Corps. Is he Qualified?: What Returned Volunteer Organizations say about the Nomination: September 13 - NPCA Position on Vasquez Nomination
By Admin1 (admin) on Thursday, September 13, 2001 - 10:10 am: Edit Post

The following email was received on September 13 with the NPCA Position on Gaddi Vasquez

NPCA Position on the Intent to Nominate
Gaddi Vasquez as Peace Corps Director

--The NPCA President wrote to the Transition Team in January 2001 and the Board Chair to the White House in February urging the Administration to appoint an RPCV as Peace Corps Director. We presented a list of qualified Republicans. Some of these individuals were interviewed for the job. The NPCA is very disappointed that the Bush Administration did not accept this counsel.

--The NPCA encourages Mr. Vasquez to meet with RPCVs informally in advance of the hearings on his nomination to indicate what his qualifications are for the Director job and what directions he intends to take the Agency, if confirmed. (At this time the nomination of Mr. Vasquez is not yet formally before the Senate.) The NPCA National Conference September 20-23 provides an important opportunity for such an informal exchange, and Mr. Vasquez has indicated an interest in coming to the Conference.

--The NPCA encourages its members to give Mr. Vasquez a fair hearing, keeping in mind that that several non-RPCVs have been competent directors of the Peace Corps and that some were strongly criticized in advance as not having good qualifications for the job.

--The NPCA encourages its members - and indeed all RPCVs -- to express their views on the nomination of Gaddi Vasquez both to the NPCA staff and other members, including affiliate groups, to their representatives in Congress and to members of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, which will examine the qualifications of the candidate.

--The NPCA strongly urges that the Deputy Director and a substantial majority of senior staff at the Peace Corps be chosen from the ranks of RPCVs. Competent RPCVs have an understanding of the context in which Volunteers work and of their needs, an understanding which is critically important to the successful management of the agency.

-- If he is confirmed by the Senate, the NPCA is prepared to work with the new Director to strengthen Peace Corps programs and operations.
DRAFT

9/13/01


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