Archive - 2022

Thanks for the ‘heads up’ from Arthur K. Weinstein (Malawi 1964-67) The Passing of Dr. Lee H. Ellison, Peace Corps Physician Dr. Lee Hayes Ellison, as a Staff Physician, created Malawi’s first country-wide baby clinic project, a groundbreaking Peace Corps initiative in the newly-independent country of Malawi, in southwest Africa.  The goal of the project was to combat childhood diseases, infant mortality and malnutrition. From 1965 to 1967, Dr. Ellison drove countless hours all over the country in a Land Rover, usually on unpaved, washboard dirt roads, pockmarked with potholes, and washed out by floods, supervising the work of the “Malawi XI” Under-Fives’ Baby Clinic Project (1966-1968). Dr. Ellison helped his young Bachelor of Arts degree Volunteers throughout the country to set up clinics in which they administered immunizations for childhood diseases, weighed babies, checked for growth and developmental delays, and conducted health education at rural health centers and villages, . . .

LATEST LIST OF RPCV AMBASSADORS—8/20/2018 Gina Abercrombie-Winstanley, U.S. Ambassador to Malta (2012-16); (PCV Oman 1980-82) Charles C. Adams Jr., U.S. Ambassador to Finland (2015-2017); (PCV Kenya 1968-70) Frank Almaguer,U. S. Ambassador to Honduras (1999 to 2002); (PCV Belize 1967–69) & (PC/CD Honduras 1976-79) Larry E. André, Jr, U.S. Ambassador to Somalia  February 2022-present; to Djibouti from 2018 to 2021, and to Mauritania from 2014 to 2017 Michael R. Arietti, U.S. Ambassador to Rwanda (2005-2008); (PCV India 1969-71) Charles R. Baquet III, U.S. Ambassador to Republic of Djibouti (1991-93); (PCV Somalia 1965-67) Robert Blackwill, U. S. Ambassador to India (2001-03); (PCV Malawi 1964-66) Donald T. Bliss, U.S. Ambassador to the International Civil Aviation Organization (Montreal) 2006-09; PCV Micronesia 1966-68 Julia Chang Bloch, U.S. Ambassador to Nepal (1989-1993); (PCV Malaysia 1964-66) Parker Borg, U.S. Ambassador to Mali (1981-1984) & Iceland (1993-1996); (PCV Philippines 1961-63) Richard Boucher, Deputy Secretary-General of the Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) (2009-2013), (PCV . . .

Event 8pm ET / 5pm PT Marian Haley Beil talks about her work The Ethiopia & Eritrea Returned Peace Corps Volunteer Board invite you to our September Virtual Event featuring Marian Haley Beil (Ethiopia 1962-64), one of the first Volunteers in Ethiopia. Time: Sep 14, 2022 08:00 PM Eastern Time / 05:00 PM Pacific Time Zoom Meeting Link: https://us02web.zoom.us/j/88412702135?pwd=S3NncjJKUjNHWHJaMVZqVGJVMVpQUT09 Meeting ID: 884 1270 2135 Passcode: 595459 One tap mobile: +12532158782,,88412702135#,,,,*595459# US (Tacoma) +13462487799,,88412702135#,,,,*595459# US (Houston) Dial by your location: +1 253 215 8782 US (Tacoma) +1 346 248 7799 US (Houston) +1 669 444 9171 US +1 669 900 9128 US (San Jose) +1 719 359 4580 US +1 646 558 8656 US (New York) +1 646 931 3860 US +1 301 715 8592 US (Washington DC) +1 309 205 3325 US +1 312 626 6799 US (Chicago) +1 386 347 5053 US +1 564 217 2000 US Find your local number: https://us02web.zoom.us/u/kbgCVI0yEz We . . .

Perception and Deception: A Mind-Opening Journey Across Cultures by Joe Lurie (Kenya 1967-68) Published by Nipporica Associates 262 pages June 2018 (2nd edition) $9.95 (Kindle); $16.95 (Paperback)  Reviewed by Mark D. Walker (Guatemala 1971-73  The eye sees only what the mind is prepared to comprehend. — Henri Bergson  I learned of Joe’s work and book from an interview on the Global TV Talk Show—whose host, Ed Cohen, asked many revealing questions. I learned that Joe and I are contemporaries—he was in Kenya with the Peace Corps when I was in Guatemala, but he took his knowledge of cross-cultural communications to new levels, and we have a more tolerant world as a result—at least among those who have read his book or participated in one of his classes/courses. I contacted Joe through the host of Global TV Talk Show, and he sent me a copy of his book. Although the book . . .

Thanks for the ‘heads up’ from Dale Gilles (Liberia 1964-67) Former Trump White House advisor Peter Navarro (Thailand 1973-76) suffered a setback Monday ahead of his November trial on contempt of Congress charges, as a federal judge rejected his bid to pursue government records that he claimed would show political influence behind his criminal prosecution. In a 13-page opinion, Judge Amit Mehta forcefully denied Navarro’s request to seek records to prove that political animus motivated his prosecution on charges he defied the House committee investigating the January 6, 2021, attack on the Capitol. Navarro had argued that he was facing a selective prosecution, but Mehta — an Obama appointee confirmed in 2014 — on Monday said the evidence raised by the former White House trade advisor “falls well short of prying open the door to discovery.” A grand jury indicted Navarro in early June on a pair of contempt of Congress . . .

Following Resignation of Joyce Jacobsen, Gearan Returns as President   Five years after leaving HWS for Harvard, President Emeritus Mark D. Gearan L.H.D. ’17, P’21 returns to HWS   The Hobart and William Smith Colleges Board of Trustees has announced the selection of President Emeritus Mark D. Gearan L.H.D. ’17, P’21 as the 30th president of Hobart and the 19th of William Smith. Gearan takes on the role following the resignation of President Joyce P. Jacobsen who presided over HWS from 2019-2022, engineering a period of exceptional innovation at the Colleges. Jacobsen will join the faculty at HWS as professor of economics.Gearan previously was president of Hobart and William Smith from 1999-2017 and during that time the Colleges’ endowment doubled as he oversaw a capital campaign that raised $205 million to support facilities and annual giving, established 168 new scholarships, and completed 80 significant capital projects. During his first presidency, Gearan made . . .

  Sabra Ayres (Ukraine 1995-97) is a journalist with extensive experience in Ukraine, Russia and Eastern Europe. She comes to the position with a rich portfolio spanning nearly two decades and multiple continents, having worked in Ukraine, Russia, Afghanistan, Europe and India. Her coverage of Ukraine includes coverage of the 2004 Orange Revolution, the 2014 Maidan protests and their impact on Ukrainian politics and civil society, the Russian annexation of Crimea and Russian aggression in eastern Ukraine since 2014. She was a PCV in Ukraine from 1995 to 1997. The Associated Press is one of the world’s largest and largest US news agencies. Founded in 1846. Headquartered in New York.

Join fellow members of the Peace Corps community for a special game as the Washington Nationals host the Baltimore Orioles at Nationals Park on September 13. Opening ceremonies start at 6:10 p.m. Eastern. Festivities include the Peace Corps Parade of Nations, featuring flags from around the world. Friends and family are welcome and encouraged to attend, so please spread the word about this exciting Peace Corps event. Pre-Game Parade of Nations | 6:30 – 7:00 p.m. Eastern (check back for exact time) Game Start | 7:05 p.m. EasternDiscounted seating and pricing are available for sections in Outfield Reserved or Scoreboard Pavilion. Purchase tickets here.

To Preserve and to Learn One Morning in September by Edwin Jorge (Jamaica 1979–81)   Edwin Jorge was the Regional Manager of the New York Peace Corps Office and was at work in Building # 6 of the World Trade Center on September 11, 2001. The building was destroyed when the North Tower collapsed. At a  commemoration service held at Headquarters in Peace Corps/Washington a year after the attack, Edwin spoke about what happened to the Peace Corps Office. His comments follow. ONE YEAR AGO TODAY, on the morning of September 11, 2001, I sat down at my office desk and turned on my computer. As the computer booted to life, I glanced up and looked out of the windows of my office on the sixth floor of the Customs House in the heart of the financial district of New York. From where I sat, I could see the corner . . .

  Europe was slowly transitioning from the worst effects of COVID-19 in spring 2022. The Mediterranean region is stunning in spring, and author Steve Kaffen felt that by exercising reasonable precautions, he could create and execute a memorable trip. “Courageous!” was the reaction of family and friends. The better word was probably “escape,” critical rejuvenation after spending much of the prior two years indoors and glued to the never-ending stream of COVID news. The travel and the timing turned out to be ideal, with uncrowded trains and buses, immediate seating in restaurants, hotel upgades upon request, and half-full cruise ships with unusually personalized service. Join the author on two unique cruises in “the Med,” visit its ports and islands, and engage with other “courageous” travelers. As with many of his books, the author uses a combination of extensive photos plus narrative and explanations, to present the story of grand travel . . .