Returned Peace Corps Volunteer Stephen R. Smith can be contacted at ssmith335apeoplepcdcom
Country of Service: India
Training Group: 28
Cities you served in: Reddiwaripalli, Chandragiri, Patancheru
Arrival Year: 1966
Departure Year: 1968
Work Description:
Poultry Production, Applied Nutrition
Bring us up to date on your life after the peace corps:
Worked in Thailand and Vietnam for Bank of America, then on to audit work in Europe ('72). Spent next 25 years in internal auditing and quality management; contracted the HIV virus and was forced into medical retirement in 1995. Have been active in HIV work since, as a volunteer, speaker and board member of HIV Alliance, Eugene (Board President, 2003). Currently am on the board of Eugene City Club, chair of Program Committee that does the heavy lifting for weekly presentations at our local Hilton hotel. This is typical of a lot of city clubs around the country; ours has a probably liberal slant, but is very open to all ideas/ideologies.
Any thoughts you have now looking back on peace corps days?:
I wish I had been more involved than I was. I got upset by all the chicanery of the politicians, and let it impede a lot of things I could have done outside the confines of my assigned areas.
Anyone you are looking for or would like to hear from?:
I'm happy to hear from anyone who was in India 28, even those with whom I had, shall we say, disagreements.
Any message for returned volunteers?:
Stay involved with volunteerism. There's no equal to the rewards one gets from it.
Originally posted: February 19, 2005
