I got “official word” that the NPCA is hosting a “Promise of the Peace Corps” Gala on Saturday, September 24, from 7:00 pm to 10:00 pm. Tickets are $300 if you aren’t a member of the National Peace Corps Association; $250 if you are. So, if you and your ’significant other’ are going, you need to pony up another $500 to $600 for this weekend.
However, this event, which is in the Ronald Reagan Building is being Emceed by Chris Matthews. The NPCA also says that they have a “verbal commitment from a well-known female artist” to perform.
Oh, I forgot to mention. It is Black tie, or you can wear your host country of service dress, if you can still fit into it.
Now, if you are a member of the Director’s Circle (that costs, I think, another $1,000) you can also attend a VIP Reception because you are a Very Important Person!
Remember how that non-RPCV running the 50th celebration told Marian Beil it would be “un-Peace Corps” for the agency to have a party with a bunch of RPCVs standing around “drinking white wine.”
Well, luckily the Peace Corps isn’t support this event. The NPCA is, and they know how to spend money, or, at least, spend your money.
At this event a Distinguished Humanitarian Award will also be given out (by the way, you didn’t get it!) and dinner will include a first course, a dessert, plus wine!
I realize that this event isn’t for everyone, given the costs, so Peace Corps Writers will find a local bar where we can gather on Saturday night, and you can buy your own beer and meet Peace Corps writers and other RPCVs who are in DC but lack the deep pockets and tux to attend the NPCA Gala. I know you’ll miss your chance to meet Chris Matthews, but hey, who said being an RPCV would be easy?
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I think we need to ask the local DC folk for the name of a bar that features the longest list of international beers. Or maybe we should start with a list of the beers we most enjoyed in country and find a bar that serves them. Kingfisher (in a 650ml bottle) was our beer of choice in Hindustan. Deshi booze was a killer, and ganja was, of course, illegal for PCVs. (Never mind that it was sold in the local government convenience store in states wherever it was legal to drink Kingfisher beer. Go figure.) So, John, what was the beer of choice in Ethiopia?
This is going to be so much fun.
Jane
I was in DC a couple of weeks ago for an NEA conference, (and to sell my book, of course) and I rambled on over to 18th Street to the Meskarem one night for a good home-cooked dinner. They were serving Harar beer. Never heard of it back in Ethiopia, but there it was, and it was good. I mean good. So there’s a start!
Dan
Make that a short list since at my age I cannot try more than 50 at a time.
First of all, John, thank you so much. i could not believe the Gala nonsense..
Here from their website is one place that we visited….with our son, who tells us he knows beer. It is not very big and could be expensive…but it is in an area with a lot of other bars/restraurants…..
Birch & Barley is a ground-breaking Washington DC restaurant dedicated to an unparalleled collection of 555 artisanal beers.
Located on 14th Street near Logan Circle
http://www.birchandbarley.com/
Yet another indication of how things have changed. In 1961. we would have gone downstairs to the Hot Shoppe to celebrate…
I’ll join everyone in not attending. Even if I owned a tux, I would prefer a San Miquel in some noisy and ‘with it’ bar rather than take advantage of a dress up opportunity @ $300 a head!.
OK. So far we have Kingfisher, Harar, San Miquel. Cheers!
Jane
Suggestion to pass on to the organizers: invite the participants to donate to Peace Corps Volunteers’ Projects. The so-called rich have deeper pockets than others of us. Descriptive Peace Coors Partnership brochures would be tucked under plates or left at a display without being pushy.
Hey. What’s the big deal? I’m a curmudgeon (curmudgienne?) too but even I can see what a great job NPCA staff are doing to provide a framework of opportunities to help our diverse PC family celebrate the 50th. I’m going to participate in events that interest me and also help organize a country of service event during the DC festivities. Really proud to be a member of NPCA as it takes advantage of this anniversary to bring visibility to the cause of peace through service, a cause I embrace and also to raise funds to further that goal through tangible programs and projects, an approach I endorse. It’s a new world out there. Let’s ask ourselves how we can help build it — and then pitch in. We can still kick back over a Star or Tusker.
PS - to find out what’s happening and see who has already signed up, check out http://www.peacecorpsconnect.org/resources/peace-corps-50th-anniversary/september-events/
I agree that $250 is a hefty price-tag for the Gala, I gulped when I heard it. Then I learned that it is the only event of the 5-days of activities in September for which I’ll pay. The rest of the activities are free to participants.
This really is pretty astonishing when one considers the cost of renting space, paying for security, hiring AV technicians and equipment, catering food, etc. etc. etc. Conferences such as these have huge price-tags and the Gala is one way that attendees can help pay. The rest of the money is being raised by NPCA staff and members who are soliciting donations from extra-generous individuals and organizations.
Three cheers to Peace Corps, NPCA, RPCV/Washington, Friends of…. Groups, John Coyne and everyone who is planning events for the celebrating RPCVs, Peace Corps staff and friends in September. Let’s join together in support of all the events, whether we pay or not, And if you can make any form of contribution, please contact the National Peace Corps Association about a tax-deductable donation.
Star, Tusker, Kingfisher, Harar, San Miquel. It is a most excellent thing to live where we can disagree and then go out for a beer.
Jane
This is a fine time for me to salute the RPCVs of Colorado and their President as well as the RPCV Community of the University of Denver for their great celebration of the 50th. The panels were all manned by RPCVs. This quickly turned into audience participation and shared experiences. Next time, and I hope there is a next time, we advocated for round table discussions. The synergy was wonderful. RPCVs from the sixties and seventies were connecting with the newly arrived about countries and ongoing projects. There was a Gala, at $45 really too expensive for many. But, the proceeds, after expenses, went to suppport “Trees, water, and people.”…..an important organization working in Central America and involving RPCVs. Those are the elements I think a real celebration needs.
I wish that a university in the DC area had been willing to sponsor such an reunion/celebration/anniversary.
I want to be supportive of the NPCA, but I find that I am just not in “sync.” I paid to renew my membership last Fall and still have not received an acknowledgement or WorldView. I have not had any luck with contacting the organization. Except, I was asked to complete a questionnaire. NPCA had contracted with some company to do it.
That must have cost a lot. I have no idea what its purpose was.
I am grateful that there will be a time and place to meet and renew, but this feels like a sales convention.
Ditto on the salute to Arianne Burger and the RPCVs of Colorado. The University of Denver is also a very special institution. Because I live in Fort Collins (home to Trees, Water and People, check it out at http://www.treeswaterpeople.org/) it’s a bit of a trip to get to Denver events. But I go to as many as I can because they are always interesting and well organized. Bravo to a group that without fanfare does a splendid job.
Jane
OK, what’s the band gonna be?
I hope Gogol Bordello plays!
Mavis Staples?
A 50th year celebration partyt desereves something memorable.
We need an alternative for those without deep pockets.