The Peace Corps

To further fulfill its goals to encourage, recognize and promote Peace Corps writers, RPCV Writers & Readers, the newsletter that was the precursor of PeaceCorpsWriters.org and PeaceCorpsWorldwide.org, presented its first annual awards for outstanding writing in 1990. A total of 143 awards have been given since that time. Winner of the 2017 Award for Best Short Story Collection Spectators (Flash fiction — stories) by Rob Davidson (Grenada 1990–92) Five Oaks Press May 2017 $16.00 (paperback) Reviewed by D.W. Jefferson El Salvador (1974-6) & Costa Rica (1976-77). This is a slender volume of only 56 pages, but, unlike a novel of similar length, it should not be a quick read. These essays deserve re-reading and study. Ultimately this book is about the compulsion to write or engage in other artistic endeavor, the need to give meaning to life by expressing oneself. For that which one cannot help but do becomes that which one . . .

To further fulfill its goals to encourage, recognize and promote Peace Corps writers, RPCV Writers & Readers, the newsletter that was the precursor of PeaceCorpsWriters.org and PeaceCorpsWorldwide.org, presented its first annual awards for outstanding writing in 1990. A total of 143 awards have been given since that time. Winner of the 2017 Moritz Thomsen Award for Memoir  Walled In Walled Out by Mary Dana Marks (Iran 1964–66) Peace Corps Writers Books 348 pages April 2017 Reviewed by John Krauskopf (Iran 1965–67) WALLED IN WALLED OUT IS A CAPTIVATING MEMOIR.  The Kennedy-era idealism lured young Mary Beckett Marks into the Peace Corps to serve for two years in conservative Kerman, Iran. This sojourn forced the author to struggle to adjust to the Kermani culture and to mature many of the ideas that have guided her life since. The memoir traces Mary’s emotional reaction to the culture, her feelings, frustrations and adjustments. During a . . .

Leafing through Unhinged An Insider’s Account of the Trump White House by Omarosa Manigault Newman that was published a week or so ago by  Gallery Books, an Imprint of Simon and Schuster, I checked out the ‘Acknowledgements’ (page 332) as I often do to see if there is anyone I might know. Omarosa signals out to thank, Valerie Frankel, a well respected freelance writer in New York City who obviously did the ghost writing of this book. Omarosa writes to Valerie, “Thanks again for helping me share my memories and make happy new ones.” She then goes onto to thank her fact-checkers and writes, “Without researchers like Beatrice Hogan….this book would not have been possible.” Beatrice Hogan (Uzbekistan 1992-94) is a well respected freelance researcher for magazines and books in New York City. RPCVs are everywhere! (But, thankfully, not in the White House.)

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); (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 (Djibouti November 2017 to present) & (Mauritania 2014-2017); (PCV Senegal 1983-85) 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 (1991-94); (PCV Somalia 1965-67) Robert Blackwill, U. S. Ambassador to India (2001-03); (PCV Malawi 1964-66) Julia Chang Bloch, U.S. Ambassador to Nepal (1989-1993); (PCV Malaysia 1964-66) Parker Borg, U.S. Ambassador to Mail (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 Senegal 1973–75) Peter Burleigh, U.S. Ambassador to Sri Lanka (1995-1997); (PCV Nepal 1963-65) Katherine Hubay Canavan (formerly Peterson), U.S. . . .

To further fulfill its goals to encourage, recognize and promote Peace Corps writers, RPCV Writers & Readers, the newsletter that was the precursor of PeaceCorpsWriters.org and PeaceCorpsWorldwide.org, presented its first annual awards for outstanding writing in 1990. A total of 143 awards have been given since that time. Winner of the 2017 Paul Cowan Non-Fiction Award Bobby Kennedy: A Raging Spirit By Chris Matthews (Swaziland 1968-70) Simon & Schuster October 2017 426 pages Hardback $16.41, paperback $14.54, Kindle $14.99 Reviewed by David Arnold (Ethiopia 1964-66) Chris Matthews (Swaziland 1968-70) was in Canada when he heard the news of Robert F. Kennedy’s 1968 assassination at a Los Angeles hotel just hours after the 42-year-old candidate won California’s Democratic primary. Matthews had gone to Canada for a few days with a graduate school friend who was looking for a job and a way to avoid the draft. Matthews’ own options weren’t looking so . . .

The documentary, Mining Phosphorus   http://www.mining-p.com produced by RPCV Alan Toth (South Africa 2010-2012) is a finalist for the Student Academy Awards.  Rising Dust by RPCV Lauren Schwartzman, (Panama 2013-215) is also a finalist for the prestigious award. Alan Toth has also produced a feature documentary about the modern Peace Corps Experience in South Africa.  Lauren Schwartzman is a member of the team. See the website to learn more:  Posh Corps http://www.poshcorps.com   Here is the ACADEMY AWARDS Announcement: http://www.oscars.org/news/meet-2018-student-academy-awards-finalists Documentary (Domestic Film Schools) Veronica Wangshen, “1,500 Miles 23 Days,” New York University Mathieu Faure, “An Edited Life,” New York University Lauren Schwartzman, “Dust Rising,” University of California –  Berkeley Jiayan “Jenny” Shi, “Finding Yingying,” Northwestern University Grace Oyenubi and Nani Sahra Walker, “Forced,” University of California – Berkeley Yiying Nikki Li, “Love & Loss,” University of Southern California Alan Toth, “Mining Phosphorus,” University of California – Berkeley Congratulations to Alan Toth and Lauren Schwartzman and Good Luck!

The official Peace Corps web site especially for RPCVs has now posted news of a RPCV Author appearing in Raleigh, NC.  RPCVs might want to check out this new webpage addition to the Peace Corps Office of the Third Goal at https://www.peacecorps.gov/returned-volunteers/ Here is the announcement “Meet an RPCV Author Aug. 22, 2018 07:00 PM – 09:00 PM Finlator Hall, Pullen Memorial Baptist Church 1801 Hillsborough Street Raleigh, North Carolina 27605 United States Hosted by North Carolina Peace Corps Association (NCPCA) Disclaimer: This RPCV event is listed here for your information. This event is hosted or sponsored by an RPCV group or Peace Corps Coverdell Fellows partner. Even though these events support the Third Goal of the Peace Corps, they are not sponsored, funded, endorsed, or hosted by the Peace Corps. When Lesotho RPCV Madeline Uraneck said hello to the Tibetan woman cleaning her office cubicle, she never imagined the moment . . .

  Thanks for the heads-up from Dale Gilles (Liberia 1964–67) — • — from www.phnompenhpost.com/international   US President Donald Trump on Friday appointed W Patrick Murphy as the new US Ambassador to Cambodia, replacing incumbent William A Heidt. A press release posted on the White House’s website said nominee W Patrick Murphy is currently acting principal deputy assistant secretary at the Bureau of East Asian and Pacific Affairs at the US State Department. He has served over 25 years in senior positions in the Foreign Service, including as deputy assistant secretary in the Bureau of East Asian and Pacific Affairs since 2016. Murphy has also worked as Deputy Chief of Mission and Chargé d’Affaires in Bangkok, Thailand, from 2013 to 2016 and as acting special representative and policy coordinator for Myanmar from 2012 to 2013. US Embassy spokesman in Phnom Penh Arend Zwartjes said he has not been informed of . . .

Peace Corps Press Release Today,(08-09-2018) Peace Corps/Sri Lanka Country Director Kris Besch and Sri Lankan Secretary to the Ministry of Education Sunil Hettiarachchi announced a new Memorandum of Understanding to formalize efforts to develop an English education sector. Chargé d’Affaires to Sri Lanka and Maldives Robert Hilton and Minister of Education Akila Viraj Kariyawasam witnessed the signing at the Ministry of Education. “The Peace Corps has a long history of partnership with the people of Sri Lanka, and I am honored to be here today to formally confirm our commitment,” said Besch. “I look forward to collaboration with the Ministry of Education, local schools and community partners as we develop our program, create new success stories and strengthen our long history of respect, partnership and friendship.” The event was attended by leaders in the education sector, government officials and community members. An oil lamp was lit to formally commence the signing . . .

  Update August 12, 2018:  Jonathan Pearson, NPCA Advocate writes:  We continue to encourage people to reach out to Congress to promote passage of the House version of the legislation (H.R. 2259), especially Senators. People can take action on the issue by sending messages using this link  https://advocacy.peacecorpsconnect.org/email-congress/#/40 The National Peace Corps Association joins Health Justice for Peace Corps Volunteers in urging Congress to pass legislation improving health care for both serving Volunteers and RPCVS. There are two bills.While similar in many ways, the bills are not identical and differ on some key provisions. The National Peace Corps Association is  urging support of both the House legislation, H.R.2259, the Sam Farr Peace Corps Enhancement Act, and in the Senate, S. 2286 the Nick Castle Peace Corps Reform Act of 2018. For a complete description of the  legislation and the provisions of each bill, read this June 8th update from Nancy Tongue . . .

  Thanks to the ‘heads up’ from Susan Zawalich   Dear friend, The Institute of Politics was proud to host a Summer Celebration in Washington, D.C. for students interning in public service and to welcome Harvard’s new President, Lawrence S. Bacow, for one of his first public events since assuming his duties as the 29th President of Harvard. President Bacow spoke powerfully about the importance of public service and the significant role the IOP played in his life as a joint degree student at the Kennedy School and Law School. He fondly recalled the conversations he enjoyed about politics and ideas at the IOP, and commended current Harvard undergraduates for their commitment to the public good. The special night at the National Portrait Gallery welcomed Harvard alumni serving in Congress, former IOP students and fellows, Senior Advisory Committee members and more than 300 current Harvard students interning in Washington, many . . .

The Peace Corps is a federal agency and subject to Executive Orders from the White House. There are three Executive Orders, in particular, which impact Peace Corps. They are: The Executive Order to all federal agencies to reduce staff by 20%. The Executive Order to reorganize the agency. The Executive Order to eliminate  all contracts and partnerships with any organization which works with abortion providers or counsels about abortion. Of these three, we only have specific information on the first.  FOIA 117-0166 provided the list of sunset positions and Marian Haley Beil has posted those positions.  https://peacecorpsworldwide.org/wp-content/uploads/2018/02/Peace-Corps-Sunset-Positions.pdf  FOIA 18-0053, submitted on February 27, 2018, requested a copy of the Peace Corps Reorganization Plan.    However, the release of the Reorganization plan has not yet been authorized. The FOIA Officer has sent this statement: “I am coordinating with the Office of Management and Budget to ensure they have no objection to its . . .

  A-100 is the entry level class that only Foreign Service Officers go through when they first join the State Department.They are sworn in as Foreign Service Officers at the end of this 6 week program.During this event they also find out what country they are being sent to for their first assignment.It is a big deal.Very memorable for all involved.In the last four Foreign Service classes there have been a total of 5% RPCVs. Here is the enrollments numbers of A-100 on the last four classes.          The 194th  has 5 Peace Corps Volunteers out of 82 students  (current class underway)          The 193rd  had 3 out of 41          The 192nd had 0 out of 34          The 191st   had 2 out of 45 Neither the Peace Corps or the State Department has a list of RPCVs . . .

  The National Peace Corps Association posted this news about the House of Representatives action on the Sam Farr and Nick Castle Peace Corps Reform Act of 2018.  It is good news, but the fight is not over. The Senate still has to act.  Here is NPCA’s article. https://www.peacecorpsconnect.org/articles/one-step-closer-house-passes-peace-corps-healthsafety-legislation “With praise for the mission of the Peace Corps and the work of its volunteers, and acknowledgement that more needs to be done to improve volunteer health care, safety and security, the House of Representatives unanimously passed Peace Corps health/safety legislation (H.R. 2259) late Tuesday afternoon. The revised House bill, renamed the “Sam Farr and Nick Castle Peace Corps Reform Act of 2018”, now goes back to the United States Senate for further consideration. Earlier this year, Senators unanimously passed its version of the legislation (S. 2286) introduced by Bob Corker (R-TN) and Dianne Feinstein (D-CA). The Senate can either approve the House version . . .

The paperback jacket is torn. The wrinkled pages bent and stained. Still, the cover photo of the naked Peace Corps Volunteer is crystal clear and one exposed breast is bright in the sunlight of the camera flash. Beneath the woman’s breast, as if a yellow sticker has been tapped over her belly button, is a bold declaration. A REPRINT FROM THE BEST OF OUR ADULT NOVELS WHICH MAY HAVE BEEN PREVIOUSLY PUBLISHED UNDER ONE OR MORE DIFFERENT TITLES The novel is entitled Passion Delight, written by Frances Sibley. It is, the back cover says, a Body Talk Library book, published in 1985 by American Art Enterprises of California. A quick google search found the publisher, but no mention of Passion Delight, or where one might buy a copy. Perhaps this is a new title. Nor could I find out anything about “Frances Sibley”…..was she an RPCV in Senegal who set . . .