Summer Grill and Get Together

Upcoming Events:

Summer Recruitment Picnic Social – Contact Greg. Saturday, August 8th, 1pm 1731 Eastbrook, Grand Rapids MI 49508. Bring a dish to share with others. Newly Returned RPCV’s are especially invited. There will be some brats and hamburgers on the grill. Swimming is optional.

Annual Meeting and Potluck Dinner – Contact Mark. Saturday, December 5, 5:30 pm at 601 Kent Hills Rd NE for the annual meeting and holiday potluck. Bring a dish to pass and a beverage of choice. 361-6529 We will review the year’s events, elect officers and set the calendar and goals for 2010.

Also, news of note:

We recently had a chance to meet Nate and Anita Engle. As you recall, his wife is from Madagascar where they met during Nate’s Peace Corps tour with agriculture extension on the island. They were our speakers at the International Potluck this year. Nate is returning to Africa. Here is his note:

Hi Mark,

Wanted to touch base with you and let you know that I’ve accepted a position in Sudan, to set up and run a livelihoods program dealing with agricultural extension. I’m planning to probably leave in late July (Anita will come slightly later). We’ll be just north of the Ugandan border, about 30km.

Nate

We wish them well. Thanks for both of you being part of our RPCV world here in West Michigan.

National Spotlight:
Please visit the new Peace Corps Connect Website at:
http://community.peacecorpsconnect.org/group/rpcvwestmichigan

I encourage you to participate with the NPCA as well as with our local group. We have begun a presence there and I encourage you to connect with us this way, too. News of the 50th Anniversary and country specific items are all at the updated website.

Micro Project Support

We are looking at supporting up to 4 projects in an ongoing manner through this site with some modest goals of giving. We have in mind to choose one in each of education, health, business and general need. We would like them to be in countries where Peace Corps volunteers may be helping, but this is not a requirement.

Our goal would be $100 per organization and help raise that amount in small donations rather than a large appeal.

We have suggestions for Kiva.org, Heifer, CARE, Doctors Without Borders, Habitat or Humanity among others. What micro projects do you feel have a great need?

Spring Work Opportunity

I have updated information from Ken to share about our upcoming work days.

Ken sent word earlier that we were not able to count on our work days with ICCF this time around due to a number of issues.

However, after looking at many alternatives, Ken has made contact with Habitat for Humanity and we have set a work date for that. Here is the information you need:

April 18 – Cancelled

May 2 – Habitat has scheduled a group of 6 of us for 8:00 am – noon at 2865 Dawes Ct. (behind the Christian Reformed Church headquarters at 28th & Kalamazoo). The coordinator made it clear that all are welcome. The job is to do framing at the Condos. There will be supervision. Details are sent on our listserv.

Either Ken, or I, can send you the specifics. Let us know

Local Work Project

What ideas do you have for a local work project?

Our current plans have been put on hold so we are looking for other opportunities in the meantime.

Day of Action

I want to take a moment to thank Nate (and Ben, too) for presenting and sharing photos about their recent experiences in Madagascar at our last gathering – the annual International Dinner. Thanks to all those who braved the snow to make it out, too. We all understand that the weather was a factor, once again, for keeping some of you away. Don’t worry, we will get caught up soon enough.

The group decided to support the Three Cups of Tea program in Afghanistan founded by Greg Mortenson. We will help in the teacher training area. https://www.ikat.org/projects/cai-programs/
Thanks to Ken for doing the preliminary review of possible projects for our financial help and to all for your favorable comments for this project. The need for teachers in the area is great.

This week is the national Peace Corps awareness campaign. I thank anyone who has volunteered to help out and speak or, at least, pass on the message of Peace Corps. We all appreciate your voices.

You can best stay connected with the larger PC community at http://www.peacecorpsconnect.org/ where we have started a presence in addition to our own web pages. Take a look.

If anyone in the group is especially interested in helping connect with the 50th anniversary events, let me know. We would like to participate in a regional way to unite all rpcv’s in the area. http://www.peacecorpsconnect.org/content/50th-anniversary-campaign

More information on the specific local work projects will be sent out soon. The dates are posted, but times and places will be forthcoming from Ken.

Thanks to all for your national renewals.

Take care, think Spring

09 International Potluck

Put February 21st on your calendar for our annual International Potluck Dinner. This is the time to pull out your best host country recipes to share. This is the best event of the year. We will have speakers as part of this evening’s event. We will catch up on news, decide on International projects and get an update on local projects and activism. See you there.

Date: February 21st
Time: 5:30 pm
Location: Our Savior’s Lutheran, 2900 Burton St SE (near Zagman’s)
Speaker: We will have two recent returnees from Madagascar share their experiences and fotos.
What to Bring: An Internationally inspired dish to share, table service and a beverage (please no alcohol due to the location). See you there.
Questions? Call Greg at 245-6793.

View Larger Map

PeaceCorpsInauguration2009 – 028

PeaceCorpsInauguration2009 – 028

Originally uploaded by npcanews1

…and our very own Vickie in the background getting ready for her role in the parade.

PeaceCorpsInauguration2009 – 093

PeaceCorpsInauguration2009 – 093

Originally uploaded by npcanews1

Getting ready for the parade at the Inauguration. NPCA credit via Flickr.

Peace Corps Community in Inaugural Parade 1.20.09

Connecting Medicine and Peace Corps

How great to hear from a RPCV who is seeking to make a big difference in our world!  Andrew Dykens (RPCV Mauritania 97-99)asked that I relay the message below to our FriendsofBenin2 Yahoo Group:

Greetings,
 
Please consider posting the following to your RPCV group page and or sending this via email to all members of your group/ organization.  THANK YOU!
——-
 
Please consider Voting for a project to improve Global Health.
 
Peace Care would connect the Peace Corps with physicians and health specialists. The project is currently in an online contest on Change.Org  of ideas that will be presented to the Obama Administration on Inauguration Day!!!!  This could bring significant press to Peace Corps and Global Health Issues.
 
Voting occurs from January 5 through January 15. Please visitwww.peacecare.org  to learn how to vote and read more about the project.
Summary descriptions are posted in English, French, Spanish, and Arabic. So, please pass this along to your friends, colleagues, and connections around the globe!!!
 
All we need are votes — but we will need a great number.  Please unite for this cause.  Together we can make a World of a Difference!
 
Sincerely,  
Andrew Dykens (RPCV Mauritania 97-99)

– 
Andrew Dykens MD, MPH
University of Illinois–Chicago
Dept of Family Medicine
www.peacecare.org