Author - Joanne Roll

    This is a good time to remember how very much Robert Textor contributed to the Peace Corps. He was one of the original Peace Corps staffers. He believed passionately in the Volunteer and just as importantly, the RPCV. Textor was the the author of the “In, Up, and Out” policy or as it is more commonly known, “the five year rule.” But, he insisted that tenure should be eight years, not five. He envisioned a Peace Corps agency staffed 90% by RPCVs, arguing that the cross-cultural experience of the Volunteer was transformative and should be incorporated into every function of the Peace Corps agency. In the months before his passing, he was still fighting for that vision. When the Office of the Inspector General reviewed the impact of the Five Year Rule,in 2012, the evaluator, an RPCV(!), interviewed Dr. Textor. Dr. Textor wrote an essay elaborating on the . . .

As part of its major reorganization, Peace Corps has entered into an unique partnership with Kraft Foods’ Mondelez. To read the Memorandum of Understanding, here is the text to link to: https://peacecorpsworldwide.org/wp-content/uploads/2013/06/mou_peace_corps_mondelez.pdf The Memorandum of Understanding between the Peace Corps and Kraft Foods includes the requirement that each joint activity undertaken in accord with the agreement be described.  From the MOU: Activity Descriptions will include, at minimum: (1) a description of the activity and objectives; (2) performance indicators and expected results, as appropriate; (3) a proposed timeline; (4) the amount of funding, as appropriate, that Kraft Foods agrees to transfer to the Peace Corps to support the activity described in the Activity Description; (5) a budget describing the  proposed use of those funds; (6) reporting requirements, in accordance with applicable law, regulations, and Peace Corps policies; and (7) designation of project managers from the appropriate Peace Corps and Kraft Foods . . .

The Draft Strategic Plan is  available on the Peace Corps official website. Here is the link: http://www.peacecorps.gov/about/open/plan/ The deadline for RPCVs to comment on the plan is today,  December 2nd. . Here is the email address that is still accepting comments:  copy and paste: strategicplan@peacecorps.gov However, to see how effective suggestions made in 2009, were, read the  Letters to the then new Director Aaron Williams, including that of John Coyne, in August of 2009 on Hugh Pickens‘ Peace Corps Online: The text to link to is:  http://peacecorpsonline.org/messages/messages/2629/3216275.html Peace Corps is not a public corporation, but rather a federal agency with a large number of political appointees. The 2016 may intervene with the implementation of the Strategic Plan. If the Republicans capture the White House in 2016, then their Political appointees will decide the direction for Peace Corps. The Peace Corps hierarchy is always waiting on the dock when the Ship of . . .

Here is the link to read the text of the draft Strategic Plan. http://files.peacecorps.gov/multimedia/pdf/opengov/PC_FY_2014-2018_Strategic_Plan_draft_11.8.13.pdf There are only twenty more days to give Peace Corps your opinions and suggestions after reviewing the draft plan. The government shut-down delayed the posting of the plan. Now, the holidays are fast approaching. Many of us may be preoccupied with the 50th Anniversary of the Kennedy Assassination.  Peace Corps is asking for comments from the RPCV community.  I would urge you all to review the plan and offer suggestions. Thanks to PC staffer Erin Durney for helping me negotiate the Draft FY 2014-2018 website.  There is also a direct link to the PDF form of the plan at the bottom of the webpage: www.peacecorps.gov/open/plan

Third Goal Activities and the role of RPCVs are part of the Draft Strategic Plan. I have underlined the two items that caught my attention. Rather than the all RPCV run agency that Dr. Robert Textor envisioned with his “In, Up and Out” policy”, the Peace Corps agency will “Establish a competitive internship program where exceptional RPCVs compete for year-long positions within the agency and its strategic partners.” The other interesting item is the plan to engage RPCVs in a network “similar to a college alumni model”. I found the reference to college illuminating. I am beginning to think that the institutional model that best describes the Peace Corps best is that of a university. The “traditional” Peace Corps Volunteer is the undergraduate. The RPCVs in the lower level positions are the graduate assistants, soon to be replaced by the proposed “interns.” The other employees are the adjunct professors, on . . .

Draft FY 2014-2018 Strategic Plan Over the past several months, the Peace Corps has been engaged in a comprehensive and highly inclusive process to develop a new strategic plan to guide the agency’s work over the next five years (fiscal years 2014-2018). The draft strategic plan strengthens far-reaching reforms introduced in recent years, addresses decades-old challenges, and leverages promising opportunities to increase the impact of our Volunteers and improve our operations. Please review the key components of the plan noted below and if you have any feedback or comments, let us know, We can accept comments on the draft strategic plan until December 2, 2013. Note:  The above is from the Peace Corps website. Here is the link to read the mission statement: http://www.peacecorps.gov/open/plan/ It is possible to read the specific activities projected to meet the goals as outlined.  Go to: http://www.peacecorps.gov/open/plan/ and then click on the heading written in orange.  The site will . . .

What is the Kennedy Legacy?  And, is the Peace Corps an integral part of the Kennedy Legacy or just a footnote to history? Larry J. Sabato attempts to answer the first question with this comprehensive book that begins with the Kennedy era but continues to analyze how Kennedy influenced politics and culture for the fifty years after his death. To sign up for the course, the text to link to is: https://www.coursera.org/course/kennedy The University of Virginia, where Larry J. Sabato is  the Professor of Politics, and founder and director of the Center for Politics at the University, has offered this online course based on the book and narrated by Professor Sabato. The course is free. The course is in its second week, but it is easy to go back and view the first short lectures. Sabato offers commentary, but the lectures are dominated by videos from the times. It is fabulous . . .

Who knows? Before sequestration, before Congressional gridlock, before the government shutdown, before the possibility of default, Peace Corps Washington was in the process of answering that question. The Peace Corps Annual Report for 2012 called for a Strategic Plan 2015 – 2018 to be developed. The Report further stated that input for the development of the 2015-2018 Agency Strategic Plan would be solicited from many different sources, including Returned Peace Corps Volunteers. “How could Returned Peace Corps Volunteers contribute to this plan?” I asked.  The Press Team responded: “The agency began engaging RPCVs in the development of the new strategic plan with three focused discussions with RPCVs during the career conference in February.  Moving forward, the agency will gather additional feedback on the draft strategic plan from RPCV groups in late summer and Fall 2013.  We will also be providing an email address where individual RPCVs can send their input.” . . .

The JFK Library is shut down,but its website remains operational. Many more Peace Corps items have been digitalized from the Kennedy years and can be read, heard or viewed. Among them is this gem: Kennedy speaking about the creation of the German Peace Corps. It is all the more powerful because it occurred during JFK’s trip to Europe at the height of the Cold War. Surrounded by displays of military machinery and flanked by armed soldiers, JFK spoke of Peace and how unarmed Volunteers might win it, not with  bombs, but with helping hands. To listen to the audio, here is the link http://www.jfklibrary.org/Asset-Viewer/Archives/JFKWHA-196-004.aspx Kennedy’s tour of Europe, June 23 to July 2, 1963, is captured on film and available to view. Kennedy visited Germany, Ireland, Britain and Italy. The film records his “Ich bin ein Berliner” speech. No one knew that this was to be Kennedy’s farewell tour. The . . .

Join Pat Daoust – Chief Nursing Officer for Seed Global Health, Mike Robie – a recruiter from Peace Corps Response, and currently serving Peace Corps Global Health Service Partnership (GHSP) Volunteers on Tuesday, September 17, 2013 at 12:00PM EST for a Google+ Hangout. This online conversation with GHSP Volunteers in the field is the first of its kind for Peace Corps and it is a unique opportunity for potential GHSP applicants to hear directly from those currently serving as physician or nurse educators. Share this Hangout with anyone who might be interested in serving in the GHSP or with those who would like to learn more about this new innovative program. The GHSP Hangout will be broadcast live on this event page for viewers to watch in real-time. CLICK to watch the live Google+ event. The video will connect to that event page at 12PM EST and you will be . . .

Volunteers prepare to leave for one-year assignments working as medical or nursing educators in Tanzania, Malawi and Uganda WASHINGTON, D.C. July 18, 2013 – Thirty U.S. doctors and nurses from across the country were sworn in at the White House today as the first class of Peace Corps Global Health Service Partnership volunteers. The new volunteers will leave this weekend for one-year assignments as medical or nursing educators in Tanzania, Malawi and Uganda, where they will work alongside local faculty to train the next generation of healthcare professionals. “These volunteers will soon depart for a ground-breaking adventure – an opportunity to make a real difference in communities abroad while enhancing their own skills,” Peace Corps Deputy Director Carrie Hessler-Radelet said. “The Global Health Service Partnership is an exciting continuation of the Peace Corps’ commitment to global health.” The Global Health Service Partnership – a collaboration of the Peace Corps, the . . .

In September of 1961, Colombia welcomed the first Peace Corps Volunteers to Latin America. Colombia I was the first Peace Corps group to enter training and the second group, after Ghana I, to actually arrive in-country. Peace Corps closed out Colombia in 1981 because of safety and security concerns; not to return for almost  thirty years. Ironically, Ghana is the country with the longest continuing Peace Corps presence; and,  the return of Peace Corps to Colombia bridges the longest gap  between Peace Corps programs of any country. The Office of the Peace Corps Inspector General is now charged with program evaluation. This then is their report of the  Return to Colombia of the Peace Corps. The text to link to is:http://files.peacecorps.gov/multimedia/pdf/policies/PCIG_Colombia_Evaluation_Report.pdf I especially urge Colombian RPCVS, serving Colombian Volunteers and those of you who have seen your countries close or have served in a reopened country to read this report. . . .

This is the press release from Peace Corps describing the program that was discussed in the interview John Coyne conducted with Director Carrie Hessler-Radelet.   (Correction: 6/20/20) This is an ongoing Peace Corps program.  From the Friends of Dominican Republic: Community Economic Development: Volunteers in this program partner with farmers’ associations, artisans, tourism service providers and community-based groups to improve organizational capacity, business skills and financial awareness. Those who attended the 50th Anniversary celebration and conference and took the “Tour de Chocolate” in El Seibo saw a wonderful example of successful volunteer work in this sector. Over the years volunteers have worked with a cacao cooperative and a community farm demonstration. Another project, now in its fifth year, is the national youth business plan competition called “Construye tus Sueños .” Local NGOs and private sector donors provide support for this program. Like many of the major Peace Corps projects, the Build Your Dreams . . .

This MOU represents a collaborative relationship between Kraft Foods and the Peace Corps. In the  section, III Mission, the MOU states “The purpose of Kraft Foods is to be a global snacks powerhouse with an unrivalled portfolio of brands people love. In the same section, the MOU states “The purpose of the Peace Corps is to help the people of interested countries in meeting their need for trained men and women; to help promote a a better understanding of  Americans on the part of the peoples served; and to help promote a better understanding of other peoples on the part of Americans.” Here is the link:                                 mou_peace_corps_mondelez Read and comment.

Peace Corps has three pieces of legislation pending in Congress: The Peace Corps Equity Act; The Peace Corps Budget as part of  the President’s budget; and H. R. 1573 Respect for Peace Corps Volunteers of 2013. The Equity Act and the Respect Act both address inequities that derive from the ambiguity of the legal status of the Peace Corps Volunteer: A private citizen acting in a public capacity. Attention needs to be paid to all three of these measures as their approval is by no means certain. Let’s look at each one. The Peace Corps Equity Act of 2013 was introduced by Senator Frank Lautenberg (D- NJ). His office issued a press release: here is the link: http://www.lautenberg.senate.gov/newsroom/record.cfm?id=341534& From that announcement: The “Peace Corps Equity Act of 2013” would allow the Peace Corps to provide its volunteers with health insurance coverage for abortion in cases of rape or incest, or when the life of the woman is . . .