Where Have All The Men Gone? Well, Maybe It Is A Good Thing…

Board of Directors Elections 2012

The Governance Committee of the NPCA Board of Directors announces the 2012 elections for member-elected representatives to the NPCA Board of Directors.

NOMINATIONS ARE NOW CLOSED.  Voting will take place primarily online between March 30 and April 30, 2012. All eligible voters will receive an election flyer in the mail with instructions on how to vote.

Each candidate was asked to state (in 100 words or less) “why you want to serve on the NPCA board and what you hope to accomplish as a board member.”

Voting is open to current NPCA members only.

To renew your membership and/or update your contact information, log into the NPCA membership database here.(Note the “forgotten your password” link under the login boxes, if needed.)

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The candidates up for election are as follows. Please click on the names below to read their biographies and nomination statements.  Note that you may also write in a candidate in any region.

Geographic area representatives (you must currently live in or belong to an NPCA member group in this geographic area):

Mid-Atlantic/Nationwide (District of Columbia, Maryland, Virginia, nationwide groups – voters from all states who are members of Lesbian, Gay and Bi-sexual RPCVs) – three-year term

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  • Kristina J. Owens (nominated by Returned Peace Corps Volunteers of Washington, DC)

Northeast (Connecticut, Delaware, Maine, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, Vermont) – three-year term

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  • Teresa Devore (nominated by RPCVs of Greater New York)

Upper Midwest (Colorado, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Kentucky, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, Nebraska, North Dakota, Ohio, South Dakota, Utah, Wisconsin, Wyoming) – one-year term

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  • Jane Bardon (nominated by Minnesota Returned Peace Corps Volunteers)
  • Jeanne Paul (nominated by Southeast Michigan Returned Peace Corps Volunteers)

Country of Service representative (you must have served in the Peace Corps or belong to an NPCA member group in one of the countries in the region):

Europe, North and East Africa (Albania, Bosnia, Bulgaria, Burkina Faso, Burundi, Central African Republic, Chad, Comoros, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Eritrea, Estonia, Ethiopia, Hungary, Kenya, Latvia, Libya, Lithuania, Macedonia, Madagascar, Mali, Malta, Mauritania, Mauritius, Moldova, Morocco, Mozambique, Niger, Poland, Romania, Russia, Rwanda, Seychelles, Slovak Republic, Somalia, South Sudan, Sudan, Tanzania, Tunisia, Turkey, Uganda, Ukraine) – three-year term

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  • Sharon Keld (nominated by Friends of Morocco)

The Directors, who are responsible for the policies, budget and oversight of the NPCA, meet twice a year at locations chosen by the board, plus two conference calls.  All Board members are expected to help promote NPCA membership and generate the resources required to implement programs. (See the Board of Directors webpage for more on the role and responsibilities of NPCA Board members.)  Board members are also responsible for their own expenses. The term of office is for three years, unless otherwise noted. According to the bylaws, members are eligible for re-election up to a maximum term of eight consecutive years on the board.

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Candidate profiles

Kristina Owens

Kristina J. Owens

Hometown: Laurel, MD
Nominated by:  Returned Peace Corps Volunteers of Washington, DC for the Mid-Atlantic/Nationwide region
Current member of: Returned Peace Corps Volunteers of Washington, DC
Peace Corps service:  PCV Bolivia 2000-2002
Current Employment:  USDA/Biologist
Experience on organization boards: Returned Peace Corps Volunteers of Washington, DC, 2009 – present (Treasurer, Strategic Partnership Director, 50th Anniversary Event Manager).

Statement:

As NPCA’s Mid-Atlantic/Nationwide representative, I intend to reach out to the regional and ‘friends-of’ groups in this community. I would like to work with each of the groups to strengthen their Third Goal efforts and encourage collaboration among each of the groups, so that they may reach their goals. I have served on the RPCV/W board since July 2009 in various capacities including as the 50th Anniversary Events Manager. During my tenure on the Board, I have led efforts to honor our volunteers, co-authored a comprehensive 50th anniversary report, and facilitated a Peace Corps Town Hall meeting.

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Teresa Devore

Hometown: Brooklyn, NY
Nominated by:  The Big Apple Corps for the Northeast region
Current member of: The Big Apple Corps, Friends of Ukraine
Peace Corps service:  PCV Ukraine 1998-2001
Current Employment:  New York City Dept. of Education/Teacher
Experience on organization boards: The Big Apple Corps – organizing events for the group

Statement:

I would like to serve on the NPCA board to represent the Northeast.  I plan to advocate for an expanded Peace Corps budget for current and future volunteers and seek more engagement in NPCA activities by a greater number of RPCVs.  I’d like to engage recently returned RPCVs as well as those who have not been actively involved in regional groups to connect with other RPCVs for social and cultural events and to give to the community in the spirit of Peace Corps.

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Jane Bardon

Jane Bardon

Hometown: St. Paul, MN
Nominated by:  Minnesota Returned Peace Corps Volunteers for the Upper Midwest region
Current member of: Minnesota Returned Peace Corps Volunteers, Friends of Turkmenistan
Peace Corps service:  PCV Turkmenistan 2003-2005
Current Employment:  Retired
Past Employment: University of Minnesota; Information Technology Professional in University Libraries; Bio-statistician in medical research facility.
Experience on organization boards: Minnesota Returned Peace Corps Volunteers (Editor: 2007-2008, President: 2008-2011, Communications Chair: present), Friendship Force of Minnesota – Communications Chair (2006-2011), University of Minnesota Women’s Club, Saint Paul Council of Camp Fire.

Statement:

Peace Corps service can be a “life-defining” experience at any age.  After two years in Turkmenistan, I better appreciate American freedoms. I have learned much about the world by travelling to over 100 countries with my husband. We compiled the first medical dictionary in Turkmen, Russian and English.  I was President of the Minnesota RPCVs for three years and 50th anniversary coordinator. In 2011, I developed a University of Minnesota continuing education class on the Peace Corps. Now, I hope to focus on membership and communications to strengthen the links between NPCA and RPCV groups in the Upper Midwest.

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Jeanne Paul

Hometown: Ann Arbor, MI
Nominated by:  Southeast Michigan RPCVs (SEMiRPCV) for the Upper Midwest region
Current member of: SEMiRPCV
Peace Corps service:  PCV Brazil 1964-1966; PC/Washington Staff 1966-1969
Current Employment:  Retired Psychotherapist
Previous Employment: Journalist, Book Critic, Editor, University Writing Instructor, Peace Corps Writer/Editor, Peace Corps Campus Recruiter
Experience on organization boards: SEMiRPCV – Administrator, Mentoring Program; Detroit Women Writers – Developed & Moderated Nonfiction Writing Symposium

Statement:

As Administrator of the SEMiRPCV Mentoring Program, I know the value to RPCVs of assistance with readjustment, career and graduate school brainstorming, networking, editing resumes, and more.  As one mentee said, “The program not only picked me up when I was down, but it also helped me get myself on the right track toward closing one chapter and opening a new one.”

If elected to the NPCA board, I hope to develop and expand the Mentoring Program throughout the country, adding services for Peace Corps applicants, as SEMiRPCV has done.  I would also like to work on building NPCA membership.

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Sharon Keld

Sharon Keld

Hometown: Southampton, NY
Nominated by:  Friends of Morocco for the Europe, North and East Africa region
Current member of: Friends of Morocco, RPCVs of Long Island
Peace Corps service:  PCV Morocco 2006-2008, Philippines 2009-2010, Armenia 2011
Current Employment:  Consultant/self-employed
Other Employment: Marketing & PR Strategist for major consumer product industries (1985-2005)
Experience on organization boards:  Princeton Club of Chicago, Princeton Class of 1980

Statement:

Peace Corps was transformative. I have given talks about Peace Corps and Response. I attended the NPCA 50th anniversary events and have signed up for 2012′s Advocacy Day. I am in touch with R/PCVs from three countries!!

I’ve served on alumni leadership groups, doing fundraising, programs, communications, events, service, by-laws, nominations, awards, leadership, etc. Now a Peace Corps “alumna,” I would be honored to participate in and contribute to this board. Thank you!