Nigeria RPCV Bert Meltzer is executive director of Operation Breakthrough drug and alcohol treatment facility in Big Bear California



Meltzer's own battle is the war on drugs. He brings a fresh and unique view to substance abuse due to his extended time living outside the country, he said. “In America there is a pill for everything. A pill to make you be like your image of yourself,” Meltzer said. Americans take pills to cover up what the real problems are, Meltzer said. Substance abuse as a whole is ingrained into the culture, he said. The world traveler has found a new home, a place with quiet and peace.

Nigeria RPCV Bert Meltzer is executive director of Operation Breakthrough drug and alcohol treatment facility in Big Bear California

From the West Bank to the West Coast
By BRIAN CHARLES

The clap of thunder is about the loudest thing you hear around Big Bear. For many new residents the sound of silence can be deafening. Bert Meltzer is not one of them. Meltzer's last address was a farm in Israel.

Meltzer's story has taken him from the hardscrabble streets of Brooklyn, to the plains of Africa, all the way to a kibbutz in Israel and eventually to Big Bear. He is the new executive director of Operation Breakthrough drug and alcohol treatment facility in Big Bear.

In December 2005, during one of his frequent trips to the United States, Meltzer visited his brother who lives in Big Bear. Needing a break, he submitted his resume for the position of executive director of Operation Breakthrough after his brother told him of the job opening. Meltzer was offered the job and moved half way around the world again landing in Big Bear Feb. 27.

With him Meltzer brings a wealth of knowledge on mental health. The man who often thinks outside the box developed a therapy technique that is in a box literally.

Sandplay is a technique that allows trauma victims to communicate by setting up scenes with toys in a sandbox, Meltzer said. The nonverbal expressive therapy technique is useful with children and adults alike. Meltzer developed the technique in 1983 while working for Hebrew University in Israel, he said.

Meltzer describes himself as someone who was an ideological youth. The Brooklyn native attended Tufts University in Massachusetts where he played football and lacrosse. After graduation, in 1965, Meltzer became a right-fighter championing the struggle of those less fortunate. He enrolled in the Peace Corps and was assigned to Nigeria.

“I left my ivory tower,” Meltzer said recounting the stark contrast between life here and Nigeria, which was in the midst of a bloody civil war. Meltzer witnessed extreme brutality as tribal wars waged over Nigeria's newly found oil deposits.

Meltzer returned to the United States and earned his doctorate at Clark University in Massachusetts. After working briefly in Boston, he headed west to California landing in San Mateo County. California was the mecca of clinical psychology and family therapy development, he said.

Meltzer was involved in the Phase Five drug program, which reformed hardcore drug abusers and employed them as para-professionals to reach out to other drug abusers.

Following Ronald Reagan's election to governor of California in 1972, the mental health industry was transformed from a progressive field into custodial care, effectively killing the Phase Five drug treatment program, Meltzer said. He quit in protest.

After two years of traveling, Meltzer landed in a kibbutz in 1974 falling in love with the spirit of work and cooperation, he said. Kibbutzes are traditional Jewish communal villages where everything is shared. His three children were born and raised on a kibbutz.

Meltzer spent more than 20 years on the kibbutz before moving on. The values of the kibbutz changed. Greed and rivalry replaced sharing and caring. “It became an imitation of the worst values of America,” he said.

Meltzer joined a moshav where he independently owned 20 acres of land and worked communal land with the other members of the community. Meltzer still owns his land on the moshav, where one of his sons and a partner grow Paulownia trees, he said. The trees are coveted in Israel. The Paulownia tree is one of the fastest growing trees in the world.

Another of Meltzer's sons serves in the Israeli Army, bringing the tensions in the Middle East home for the Big Bear resident. To Meltzer's relief his son is stationed on the Egyptian-Israeli border instead of the Lebanese-Israeli border where the Army is battling Hezbollah.

Meltzer's own battle is the war on drugs. He brings a fresh and unique view to substance abuse due to his extended time living outside the country, he said. “In America there is a pill for everything. A pill to make you be like your image of yourself,” Meltzer said.

Americans take pills to cover up what the real problems are, Meltzer said. Substance abuse as a whole is ingrained into the culture, he said. The world traveler has found a new home, a place with quiet and peace.

Contact reporter Brian Charles at 909-866-3456, ext. 134 or by e-mail at briancharles@bigbeargrizzly.net.

When this story was posted in August 2006, this was on the front page of PCOL:




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Peace Corps' Screening and Medical Clearance The purpose of Peace Corps' screening and medical clearance process is to ensure safe accommodation for applicants and minimize undue risk exposure for volunteers to allow PCVS to complete their service without compromising their entry health status. To further these goals, PCOL has obtained a copy of the Peace Corps Screening Guidelines Manual through the Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) and has posted it in the "Peace Corps Library." Applicants and Medical Professionals (especially those who have already served as volunteers) are urged to review the guidelines and leave their comments and suggestions. Then read the story of one RPCV's journey through medical screening and his suggestions for changes to the process.

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Gates charity races to spend billions Warren E. Buffett’s gift of $31 billion to the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation means that for tax reasons, starting in 2009, the foundation must distribute $3 billion annually, or a little more than twice what it distributed last year. PCOL Comment: The Foundation says that "preventing the spread of HIV is the most durable long-term solution to the AIDS epidemic, and a top priority for the foundation." Peace Corps Volunteers and Returned Volunteers have been doing just that in AIDS Education for the past 15 years. Why not consider a $100M annual contribution to the Peace Corps to put 2,500 additional volunteers in the field to expand AIDS education worldwide?

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RPCV Ron Tschetter to head Peace Corps President Bush has nominated Ron Tschetter to serve as Director of the Peace Corps. Tschetter, 64, is the president of an investment firm based in Montana. He volunteered with his wife to work as family planning advisers in India and is a former Chairman of the National Peace Corps Association. PCOL Comment: Congratulations to the Bush administration for an inspired choice for Peace Corps Director. Ron Tschetter is not only an RPCV but was Chairman of the NPCA. Best wishes to Mr. Tschetter on his future tenure as Director of the Peace Corps. Latest: How Ron Tschetter was selected as Peace Corps Director.

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The Peace Corps is "fashionable" again The LA Times says that "the Peace Corps is booming again and "It's hard to know exactly what's behind the resurgence." PCOL Comment: Since the founding of the Peace Corps 45 years ago, Americans have answered Kennedy's call: "Ask not what your country can do for you--ask what you can do for your country. My fellow citizens of the world: ask not what America will do for you, but what together we can do for the freedom of man." Over 182,000 have served. Another 200,000 have applied and been unable to serve because of lack of Congressional funding. The Peace Corps has never gone out of fashion. It's Congress that hasn't been keeping pace.

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Support the US-Peruvian Trade Pact Peruvian President Alejandro Toledo, the Peace Corps President, has been lobbying both Democratic and Republican legislators to support the US-Peruvian trade pact before July 28, when his term ends and a US congressional recess begins. If President Bush fails to get approval before Congress goes on recess, it will be a case study proving that the United States does not reward its friends. Please call your representatives.

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July 20, 2006: This Week's Top Stories Friedman win could create new coalition 14 July Bellamy writes: G8 summit lacks results 19 July Peace Corps Fund Raiser in NYC on July 25 19 July Hodding Carter writes "Flushed" on plumbing 18 July Doyle places Peace Corps ad 18 July Matt Taylor releases CD "Subject to the Wind" 16 July Matthew Orosz builds reflective parabolic troughs 14 July RPCVs run organic HERB FARMacy 13 July Jerome Miliszkiewicz discusses Chavez in Venezuela 12 July Ric Haas founded the Fistula Foundation 11 July Susan Deller Ross helps women's equal rights 11 July Mark Maxam installs solar lighting in Kenya 11 July Eunice Kennedy Shriver at White House for 85th 11 July Hastings gives $1 million for charter schools 11 July Alejandro Toledo meets Bush in final days 11 July Hill is hopes to reconvene Korea talks 10 July "My World" takes Tanzanian children to Kilimanjaro 9 July Bob Watada supports his son in court-martial 8 July James Brunton Jr. builds boat for Embera Indians 8 July Tim Wilson sews the Seeds of Peace 8 July Petri says Guantanamo prisoners should 'face accusers' 7 Jul Tom Murphy cuts deal with feds 3 July

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Changing the Face of Hunger In his new book, Former Congressman Tony Hall (RPCV Thailand) says humanitarian aid is the most potent weapon the United States can deploy against terrorism. An evangelical Christian, he is a big believer in faith-based organizations in the fight against hunger. Members of Congress have recently recommended that Hall be appointed special envoy to Sudan to focus on ending the genocide in Darfur.

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PC will not return to East Timor in 2006 Volunteers serving in East Timor have safely left the country as a result of the recent civil unrest and government instability. Latest: The Peace Corps has informed us that at this time, the Peace Corps has no plans to re-enter the country in 2006. The Peace Corps recently sent a letter offering eligible volunteers the opportunity to reinstate their service in another country.

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Chris Dodd considers run for the White House Senator Chris Dodd plans to spend the next six to eight months raising money and reaching out to Democrats around the country to gauge his viability as a candidate. Just how far Dodd can go depends largely on his ability to reach Democrats looking for an alternative to Hillary Clinton. PCOL Comment: Dodd served as a Volunteer in the Dominican Republic and has been one of the strongest supporters of the Peace Corps in Congress.

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The RPCV who wrote about Ben Hogan Probably no RPCV has done more to further the Third Goal of the Peace Corps than John Coyne with the Peace Corps Writers web site and newsletter that he and Marian Haley Beil have produced since 1989. Now John returns to writing about his first love - golf in "The Caddie who knew Ben Hogan." Read an excerpt from his novel, an interview with the author and a schedule of his book readings in Maryland and DC this week.

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Vasquez testifies before Senate Committee Director Vasquez testifies before the Senate Foreign Relations Committee on his nomination as the new Representative to the United Nations Agencies for Food and Agriculture replacing Tony Hall. He has been the third longest serving Peace Corps Director after Loret Ruppe Miller and Sargent Shriver. PCOL Comment: Read our thanks to Director Vasquez for his service to the Peace Corps.

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First Amendment Watch Maine Web Report hit with Federal Lawsuit Website wins trademark suit against Jerry Falwell

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Peace Corps stonewalls on FOIA request The Ashland Daily Tidings reports that Peace Corps has blocked their request for information on the Volkart case. "After the Tidings requested information pertaining to why Volkart was denied the position — on March 2 — the newspaper received a letter from the Peace Corps FOIA officer stating the requested information was protected under an exemption of the act." The Dayton Daily News had similar problems with FOIA requests for their award winning series on Volunteer Safety and Security.

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PCOL readership increases 100% Monthly readership on "Peace Corps Online" has increased in the past twelve months to 350,000 visitors - over eleven thousand every day - a 100% increase since this time last year. Thanks again, RPCVs and Friends of the Peace Corps, for making PCOL your source of information for the Peace Corps community. And thanks for supporting the Peace Corps Library and History of the Peace Corps. Stay tuned, the best is yet to come.

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History of the Peace Corps PCOL is proud to announce that Phase One of the "History of the Peace Corps" is now available online. This installment includes over 5,000 pages of primary source documents from the archives of the Peace Corps including every issue of "Peace Corps News," "Peace Corps Times," "Peace Corps Volunteer," "Action Update," and every annual report of the Peace Corps to Congress since 1961. "Ask Not" is an ongoing project. Read how you can help.

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RPCV admits to abuse while in Peace Corps Timothy Ronald Obert has pleaded guilty to sexually abusing a minor in Costa Rica while serving there as a Peace Corps volunteer. "The Peace Corps has a zero tolerance policy for misconduct that violates the law or standards of conduct established by the Peace Corps," said Peace Corps Director Gaddi H. Vasquez. Could inadequate screening have been partly to blame? Mr. Obert's resume, which he had submitted to the Peace Corps in support of his application to become a Peace Corps Volunteer, showed that he had repeatedly sought and obtained positions working with underprivileged children. Read what RPCVs have to say about this case.

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Military Option sparks concerns The U.S. military, struggling to fill its voluntary ranks, is allowing recruits to meet part of their reserve military obligations after active duty by serving in the Peace Corps. Read why there is opposition to the program among RPCVs. Director Vasquez says the agency has a long history of accepting qualified applicants who are in inactive military status. John Coyne says "Not only no, but hell no!" and RPCV Chris Matthews leads the debate on "Hardball." Avi Spiegel says Peace Corps is not the place for soldiers while Coleman McCarthy says to Welcome Soldiers to the Peace Corps. Read our poll results. Latest: Congress passed a bill on December 22 including language to remove Peace Corps from the National Call to Service (NCS) military recruitment program

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Why blurring the lines puts PCVs in danger When the National Call to Service legislation was amended to include Peace Corps in December of 2002, this country had not yet invaded Iraq and was not in prolonged military engagement in the Middle East, as it is now. Read the story of how one volunteer spent three years in captivity from 1976 to 1980 as the hostage of a insurrection group in Colombia in Joanne Marie Roll's op-ed on why this legislation may put soldier/PCVs in the same kind of danger. Latest: Read the ongoing dialog on the subject.

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