February 1, 2006: Headlines: Local Groups: PCOL Exclusive: Maryland Returned Volunteers: Oklahoma

Peace Corps Online: State: Maryland : Messages for Maryland Returned Peace corps Volunteers and Friends of Peace Corps Maryland: February 1, 2006: Headlines: Local Groups: PCOL Exclusive: Maryland Returned Volunteers: Oklahoma
By Admin1 (admin) (adsl-70-240-139-65.dsl.okcyok.swbell.net - 70.240.139.65) on Thursday, February 02, 2006 - 9:07 am: Edit Post

Maryland Returned Volunteers: Oklahoma

Maryland Returned Volunteers: Oklahoma

"Just as a 12 year old boy grew up in a community on the Great Plains of America's Heartland and dreamed of a larger world, now an older and perhaps wiser man returns with his lifetime companion in search of new challenges on a different stage. 'We have to go away and ... and dream it all up again.'"

Maryland Returned Volunteers: Oklahoma

Oklahoma

Thanks everybody for the many emails we received with your own thoughts about our message Thanks for the Memories that we published two weeks ago. We have had a number of inquiries about what Sunday and I have planned for the future, so at the risk of self indulgence, I thought I would share our thoughts with you.

Many people don't know that neither Sunday or I are native Marylanders. Sunday was born in North Philadelphia and I was born in a community in Oklahoma. When John F. Kennedy announced the formation of the Peace Corps in 1961, I was twelve years old, and I resolved then that I would one day join the Peace Corps and serve my country as a volunteer.

I left Ponca City when I was 18 and started a new stage in my life. I served three years as a volunteer in Huancayo, Peru and for the next 12 years worked as an engineer on development projects in South America, the Middle East, and Far East.

Meanwhile Sunday was on her own journey that took her to Temple University, the District of Columbia as a teacher, and finally to the University of Maryland Medical School where she graduated as a Falk Fellow with a specialty in Psychiatry.

I returned to America in 1984, Sunday and I met and married, and for the past twenty years we have made our home in Reservoir Hill in Baltimore. But now our lives are coming full circle as we return from "whence we came." Last year Sunday and I bought a home in Ponca City and started making plans for our eventual "retirement" to a less complicated life in a smaller community surrounded by Family and Friends I have known over the course of 50 years.

Sunday has her own roots in Oklahoma because her grandfather's first job after graduation from Cornell in 1904 was as Professor of Agriculture at Langston College, an all-Black college in what was then "Indian Territory." Sunday's mother was born in Langston, so in a sense Sunday is coming home to Oklahoma herself.

Sunday and I will always treasure the years we spent in Maryland and especially the many friends we made and experiences we had as part of the Maryland Returned Voluteers. But now, this truly is our last message to you, as we pull up stakes, make our new home in the mid-west and make plans for the future.

Just as a 12 year old boy grew up in a community on the Great Plains of America's Heartland and dreamed of a larger world, now an older and perhaps wiser man returns with his lifetime companion in search of new challenges on a different stage. "We have to go away and ... and dream it all up again."

Thanks to all of you for sharing the vision over the past four years of a group of Returned Volunteers dedicated to the study of the History and Scholarship of the Peace Corps. We're in Oklahoma right now but if you want to say good-bye to us before we leave permanently, Sunday and I are sponsoring another ethnic dinner on February 17 at one of our favorite restaurants in Baltimore that we would like to invite you to. Details about the event are below.

It's been a great life in Maryland. Our best wishes and again Thanks for the Memories.



Peace Corps Online

Best Wishes Forever,


Hugh and Sunday Pickens

P.S. Congratulations in advance to our new officers. Ballots will be going out in the mail to paid-up members of the group this month. We'll see you on the 17th at the Cazuela in Fell's Point.







Upcoming Events on our Calendar





February 2 - Meeting of Board of Directors and Planning Meeting

Peace Corps Online

The planning meeting and a meeting of the Board of Directors will take place at the Shriver Center at 6 pm on Thursday, February 2. For detailed directions click here for directions to the UMBC Campus under "Directions and Parking." Then click here for a map of the campus. We will be meeting in Room 107 of the Shriver Center (called Public Policy Building or Building 28 on the map). Park in the commons garage.

We had a very productive Planning Meeting on Sunday, December 4 and decided to break into committees to do the detailed planning for our events for 2006. A meeting of the Board of Directors and our planning meeting will take place at the Shriver Center on Thursday, February 2. The Board of Directors will meet from 6 pm to 7 pm. The Planning Committee will meet from 7 pm to 8 pm to work on the schedule of events for 2006. Both these meetings are open to all members of the Maryland Returned Volunteers. The committee chairs for the planning meeting are:

Committee on Ethnic Dinners and for our "Peace Corps Week" Event - Russell Faust, Chair

Committee on Service Projects - Joby Taylor, Chair

Committee on Happy Hours - Chris Seremet, Chair

Committee on Book Clubs - Betsy Bucks, Chair

Committee on Camping Trip - Bronwyn Mitchell, Chair

Committee on Budget - Joanna Allen, Chair






February 17 - Sunday and Hugh Pickens are sponsoring an Ethnic Dinner at the Cazuela Ecuadorian Restaurant at 1718 Eastern Ave in Fells Point on Friday, February 17 at 7 pm. This will be our last event before we leave for Oklahoma permanently so come to this event if you want to say good-bye. We already have 25 RSVPs and only have 5 seats left. You must RSVP if you plan to attend.

Peace Corps Online

Caption: Sunday Pickens enjoys manzana, mote sucio, plantain, and chorizo at the Cazuela restaurant in Fell's Point.

If you have served in Chile, Ecuador, or Peru, then you know what cebiche is. One of our favorite restaurants is in Fells Point and they make one of the most most delicious cebiches we have ever eaten so we are sponsoring a fixed price Ecuadorian Dinner at the Cazuela in Fells Point on Friday February 17 at 7 pm. The cost of the meal will be $25 including tip. The meal will include plantain, cebiche, tostada, arroz con pollo, tres leches for desert, and cafe con leche.

In addition we will have several RPCVs attending who have served in Andean countries who will talk about their countries of service.

The Cazuela can only accomodate 30 persons and we have already had 25 people RSVP. Those who are on the RSVP list will be guaranteed a seat and the meal at the $25 price fix. Send an email reply now if you are going to attend. Include the the names in your party and how many are going to attend. See you there.





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


Contact PCOLBulletin BoardRegisterSearch PCOLWhat's New?

Peace Corps Online The Independent News Forum serving Returned Peace Corps Volunteers
Top Stories and Breaking News PCOL Magazine Peace Corps Library RPCV Directory Sign Up

Top Stories: January 3, 2006 Date: January 3 2006 No: 772 Top Stories: January 3, 2006
Tony Hall leaving ambassador's post 8 Dec
Military aims to bolster language skills 2 Jan
Isaiah Zagar rescuing Magic Garden 1 Jan
Taylor Hackford won't produce J Lo in Carmen 31 Dec
Rupert writes on militants' aid in Quake Zone 29 Dec
Toledo bows on Military Human Rights Violations 29 Dec
Tim Shriver supports movie "The Ringer" 26 Dec
Josh Busby writes: How Healthy is the NPCA? 24 Dec
Congressional Victory on Peace Corps/Military Option 22 Dec
PC Fellows Nursing Program doubles at JHU 19 Dec
PCVs team with Mexican scientists on water quality 17 Dec
Farr denounces Pentagon spying at UCSC 17 Dec
Jack Anderson dies at 83 17 Dec
Theroux criticizes rock star badgering on Africa 15 Dec
James Walsh opposes Maoist revolution in Nepal 15 Dec
Scott Stossel appointed acting editor of "The Atlantic" 15 Dec
Oklahoma has highest percentage increase in PCVs 15 Dec
Sargent Shriver honored at JFK Library 13 Dec
Blackwill says torture may be appropriate 13 Dec
Bill Moyers for President? 13 Dec
Kinky Friedman files papers to run for governor 8 Dec

Military Option sparks concerns Date: January 3 2006 No: 773 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

Why blurring the lines puts PCVs in danger Date: October 22 2005 No: 738 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.

PC establishes awards for top Volunteers Date: November 9 2005 No: 749 PC establishes awards for top Volunteers
Gaddi H. Vasquez has established the Kennedy Service Awards to honor the hard work and service of two current Peace Corps Volunteers, two returned Peace Corps Volunteers, and two Peace Corps staff members. The award to currently serving volunteers will be based on a demonstration of impact, sustainability, creativity, and catalytic effect. Submit your nominations by December 9.

Robert F. Kennedy - 80th anniversary of his birth Date: November 26 2005 No: 757 Robert F. Kennedy - 80th anniversary of his birth
"Few men are willing to brave the disapproval of their fellows, the censure of their colleagues, the wrath of their society. Moral courage is a rarer commodity than bravery in battle or great intelligence. Yet it is the one essential, vital quality for those who seek to change the world which yields most painfully to change."

Peace Corps at highest Census in 30 years Date: October 22 2005 No: 745 Peace Corps at highest Census in 30 years
Congratulations to the Peace Corps for the highest number of volunteers in 30 years with 7,810 volunteers serving in 71 posts across the globe. Of course, the President's proposal to double the Peace Corps to 15,000 volunteers made in his State of the Union Address in 2002 is now a long forgotten dream. With deficits in federal spending stretching far off into the future, any substantive increase in the number of volunteers will have to wait for new approaches to funding and for a new administration. Choose your candidate and start working for him or her now.

'Celebration of Service' a major success Date: October 10 2005 No: 730 'Celebration of Service' a major success
The Peace Corps Fund's 'Celebration of Service' on September 29 in New York City was a major success raising approximately $100,000 for third goal activities. In the photo are Maureen Orth (Colombia); John Coyne (Ethiopia) Co-founder of the Peace Corps Fund; Caroline Kennedy; Barbara Anne Ferris (Morocco) Co-founder; Former Senator Harris Wofford, member of the Advisory Board. Read the story here.

PC apologizes for the "Kasama incident" Date: October 13 2005 No: 737 PC apologizes for the "Kasama incident"
The District Commissioner for the Kasama District in Zambia issued a statement banning Peace Corps activities for ‘grave’ social misconduct and unruly behavior for an incident that occurred on September 24 involving 13 PCVs. Peace Corps said that some of the information put out about the incident was "inflammatory and false." On October 12, Country Director Davy Morris met with community leaders and apologized for the incident. All PCVs involved have been reprimanded, three are returning home, and a ban in the district has since been lifted.

The Peace Corps Library Date: March 27 2005 No: 536 The Peace Corps Library
Peace Corps Online is proud to announce that the Peace Corps Library is now available online. With over 30,000 index entries in 500 categories, this is the largest collection of Peace Corps related stories in the world. From Acting to Zucchini, you can find hundreds of stories about what RPCVs with your same interests or from your Country of Service are doing today. If you have a web site, support the "Peace Corps Library" and link to it today.

Friends of the Peace Corps 170,000  strong Date: April 2 2005 No: 543 Friends of the Peace Corps 170,000 strong
170,000 is a very special number for the RPCV community - it's the number of Volunteers who have served in the Peace Corps since 1961. It's also a number that is very special to us because March is the first month since our founding in January, 2001 that our readership has exceeded 170,000. And while we know that not everyone who comes to this site is an RPCV, they are all "Friends of the Peace Corps." Thanks everybody for making PCOL your source of news for the Returned Volunteer community.


Read the stories and leave your comments.






Some postings on Peace Corps Online are provided to the individual members of this group without permission of the copyright owner for the non-profit purposes of criticism, comment, education, scholarship, and research under the "Fair Use" provisions of U.S. Government copyright laws and they may not be distributed further without permission of the copyright owner. Peace Corps Online does not vouch for the accuracy of the content of the postings, which is the sole responsibility of the copyright holder.

Story Source: PCOL Exclusive

This story has been posted in the following forums: : Headlines; Local Groups

PCOL25031
38

By Joe Veneklase (c-24-56-214-142.chrlmi.cablespeed.com - 24.56.214.142) on Wednesday, March 01, 2006 - 4:12 pm: Edit Post

LETTER TO THE EDITOR (printed in the Grand Rapids Press, 12/05)


“A FEW MORE CLUES”


Not so long ago, I spoke with a German agricultural student that had just spent the summer with an Iowa soybean farmer. The student and I met in the Philippines where I had returned after graduate school to visit friends I had made while serving in the Peace Corps.

My first question was his impression of the United States. He replied, "No one knows more about soybeans than an American soybean farmer, but after that, he hasn't got a clue!” I suspect that would apply to most Americans. As we decline as a world power, and the quality of life improves for relatively few families, both here and internationally, we need at least our young people to have a real understanding of other cultures, perspectives and economies.

Tragically, America's largest international relations program involves college-age students patrolling streets with machine guns and rocket launchers. What if we had a national student exchange program that required living in another culture for six months to obtain a college degree? Money? Let’s classify it as a military defense program so it’ll be assured of increased and continued funding. Maybe we would have sewn the seeds for democracy in many more countries without the bloodshed, and provided a new generation with a few more “clues”.

Joe Veneklase, Philippines '80-82

By SHAIFUL YAZAN BIN ROSE (tm.net.my - 219.95.101.228) on Monday, March 13, 2006 - 7:36 pm: Edit Post

I WOULD LIKE TO TRACE BACK MY FORMER PEACE CORP TEACHER, MISS IRIS A PALM WHOSE LAST ADDRESS OAK PARK ILLINOIS. I WAS IN STANDARD FOUR WHEN I CAME TO MET HER IN 1964 AT SUNGAI LAYAR ENGLISH SCHOOL, SG.PETANI, KEDAH, WEST MALAYSIA. HOPE WITH YOUR KIND HELP, PLEASE SEND ME HER LATEST ADDRESS. IT WAS QUIET A LONG TIME SINCE WE LAST MET IN 1965.

By RobertMeyerson (user-0vvd80k.cable.mindspring.com - 63.246.160.20) on Thursday, June 29, 2006 - 9:14 am: Edit Post

Looking for email address of Javier Garza, the current director of Peace Corps in Dominican Republic. Please sent it to my email address if a reader of this message has it. Thanks

By Rev Gabriel Ombok Yala (212.49.92.133) on Thursday, March 15, 2007 - 7:38 am: Edit Post

Dear Peace Corps Kenya Rep.
This is certify that the Bible Mission Africa in connection World Computer Exchange USA has entered into A partnership for Computer Assistance Program to help the less fortunate Church Youths within the Slums dwellings of Korogocho, Mathare as well as other Slums Surrounding the vicinity of Nairobi.This is one way of reaching the Youths within the above mentioned locations within with Access to Internet and as well as reducing Computer illiteracy within the Capital City.
We are in the process of Receiving Computer Consignment of About 200 to 400 used Pieces as well as Printers as well as laptops and other Computer related gadgets from WCE within few months as from now at the port of Mombasa However TBM Africa is unable to cover the Shipping Cost at the moment we do Kindly Appeal to your Organization to kindly help us cover this cost.
We look forward to your favorable reply
Yours Sincerely
Rev Gabriel

By Frank G Anderson (adsl-pool-222.123.76-185.tttmaxnet.com - 222.123.76.185) on Sunday, March 25, 2007 - 1:24 am: Edit Post

25 March 2007

Only RPCV charged with lese majesty

In March 2005, a Thai community radio personality, defending the abbot of a local temple, filed charges of lese majesty against me with Nakhonratchasima provincial police. Charges were fabricated, but because of what had happened to the two Far Eastern Economic Review writers Crispin and Tasker, I was alarmed. I made a call to a fellow RCPV in Bangkok who advised me to pack and leave.
However, I stayed behind. Eventually the fabricated charge was referred to Bangkok authorities who determined that insufficient evidence existed to prosecute.
A word to the wise current Peace Corps volunteers serving especially in Thailand: if you ever have a confrontation, especially one with someone that involves members of the Sangha or monarchy, keep copious notes and file them away where you can find them - just in case. Also remain aware that it is standard practice in Thailand to counter-sue once you are sued - criminal or civil.

By tikwiza mwafulilwa (193.219.230.166) on Friday, October 05, 2007 - 7:03 am: Edit Post

THE MAN WHO SAW GOD HALF A DOZEN TIMES GIVES REVELATION ON OSAMA BIN LADEN's LOCATION & Other end time mysteries Apostle TIKWIZA PATRICK MWAFulilwa call me +260978519676
For the honourable President G.W. Bush

1) Osama Bin laden fakes spanish terrorist retirement after landing in spain
2)James Kennedy of coral ridge florida preacher is the antichrist
3) versace clothing bears mark of the beast
4) Warning from God to white house and all nations supprot israeli resettlement schemes
5) question spirutality of simon cowell and tom cruise scientology whether scientology manufactures the mark of the beast to prevent eternal life by distributing it to church of satan

By joe bridges (75.40.14.219) on Thursday, October 15, 2009 - 8:25 pm: Edit Post

Why is my address available from Peace Corps to hookers? I guess this is what is on this person's mind. This is a copy of her persistant emails restating she found my "profile" through Peace Corps.
Suggestions?
Joe Bridges, Botswana, 1975-1977

helloţ
From: Lillian Dagba (chukwudi_scanty@yahoo.com)
You may not know this sender.Mark as safe|Mark as junk
Sent: Mon 10/12/09 8:26 PM
To: lilliandagba@ymail.com

hello
My name is Lillian saw your profile today in(www.peacecorpsonline.org) and became intrested in you,i will also like to know you the more,and i want you to send an email to my email address so i can give you my picture for you to know whom i am. Here is my email address (lilliandagba@ymail.com) Ibelieve we can move from here!(Remember the distance or colour does not matter but our good heart and sincerity matters allot in life ).here is my email address(lilliandagba@ymail.com)
I am waiting for your mail to my email address above.
Miss Lillian


Add a Message


This is a public posting area. Enter your username and password if you have an account. Otherwise, enter your full name as your username and leave the password blank. Your e-mail address is optional.
Username:  
Password:
E-mail: