Archive - July 15, 2010

These are the events–in short form–that the University of Michigan is staging this coming October and November.[ The Peace Corps is not involved in these events, nor is the NPCA.] The University of Michigan is doing these celebrations for  its students and RPCV alums.] In the next few days, I’ll give out more details of what U-M has planned for the fall. October 11-21 “As I See It” Photo Competition October 13 National Symposium: The Future of International Service Paul Theroux: How the Peace Corps Changed My Life October 13/14 Challenges and Opportunities of International Service: A Student Symposium October 14 First Ceremony on Michigan Union steps Second Ceremony on Michigan Union steps Spending Your Days in Ghana: Responding to JFK’s Challenge Reception for U-M Returned Peace Corps Volunteers (RPCVs) October 15 History of the Peace Corps: From the Michigan Union Steps to the Present Peace Corps Authors Happy Hour . . .

Bob Gale was six foot two, blue eyed, and owned a big personality. People who didn’t like Bob Gale eventually ended up, if not liking  him, appreciating what he did for the Peace Corps. He was another academic, like Babbitt, coming to the Peace Corps from being the  vice president for development at Carlton College in Northfield, Minnesota, and a Humphrey supporter. He had decided he wanted to go to Washington with the New Frontier and work for the Peace Corps and got in touch with Hubert Humphrey, who he knew, and a meeting was arranged with Bill Haddad (another early Mad Man) who was already working at the agency. William F. Haddad was the Associate Director for the Office of Planning and Evaluation. (I’ve written about him before, how at the age of 14 in post-Pearl Harbor, he had enlisted in the Army Air Corps pilot training program and advanced to cadet squadron commander when . . .