October 2005 • Returned Peace Corps Volunteers of Washington DC

THE PRESIDENT’S CORNER SAVE the DATE

Annual RPCV/W Holiday Party

Dear RPCV/W members,
When: Friday, December 2, 2005
Almost 200 of you celebrated summer and the close of another year of 6:30pm to 9:30pm
RPCV/W at the Annual picnic in July where the new Board of Directors
was announced. Sure to be the biggest and best event of the
year! Join us for music, food, and dancing.
Not long after the picnic, the newly elected president and vice president Details to follow....
stepped down. So we re-shuffled and added two new members to fill the
vacancies. I’m happy to be serving as the new president, along with Mattie A silent auction will be held during this event,
Harms (Niger 65-67) as vice president. We look forward to working with and RPCV/W will be seeking donations for
the rest of the board to bring you an enriching and fun year. the auction. If you cannot attend the function,
but would like to donate, we can arrange a
At the end of August, the new board spent a weekend together for team- pick-up of the item. For more information
building and strategic planning. Dick Wall, a professional facilitator or to arrange a pickup, contact Itzel Fairlie at
and Tunisia RPCV, donated his time and talent to guide us through development@rpcvw.org or at 202-230-4183.
the weekend. Thanks to Dick, we dramatically improved our ability to
implement the RPCV/W programs you expect.
SEPTEMBER HAPPY HOUR
During the retreat, we focused on ways to serve you and enhance the value
of belonging to RPCV/W, a group with a strong tradition of blending
fun, service, and personal development. We explored several ideas,
including changing how we communicate with you. We plan to test drive
an electronic version of the newsletter, and we’ll be looking for ways to
upgrade the RPCV/W Web site. We’ll be looking for feedback, too. So
please feel free to share comments and suggestions with me or other board
members.

Finally, I would like to acknowledge the service of the outgoing Board

of Directors, and especially Lisa Martin, who dedicated three years
to serving as president of RPCV/W. Luckily, Lisa can still be seen at On Friday, September 16th,
RPCV/W events. We’re also lucky that several board members returned to RPCV/W closed out the summer
serve again this year. And together with new board members and several with another fabulous happy
other volunteers, we’re dedicated to providing value for your RPCV/W hour at RFD Washington.
membership.

Cheers,

Alan Smith
Tonga 99-01

VOLUNTEER OPPORTUNITY
Volunteers mingled while
Do you want to learn more about charitable organizations, private enjoying a wide-range of beers
foundations, and corporate giving programs? Do you want the from all around the globe.
opportunity to meet senior-level professionals who are working in the
non-profit sector?
The 25th Anniversary Independent Sector Annual Conference is being
held here in Washington, DC, at the JW Marriott Hotel, October 23-25.
Independent Sector is a nonpartisan coalition of over 500 philanthropic
organizations.
As a volunteer you’ll have the chance to work with Independent Sector
staff and meet 1,000 senior-level professionals from across the non-profit The RPCV/W Board picked
world. up some ideas from those in
To learn more about Independent Sector, the Annual Conference, and to attendance on activities for the
sign-up, go to www.independentsector.org. For more information contact coming year.
KC Dallia at 202-467-6130 or kc@independentsector.org. Visit us on the web at
www.rpcvw.org
Please mention that you heard about this conference from RPCV/W.
 2005 - 2006 RPCV/W BOARD of DIRECTORS

PRESIDENT MEMBERSHIP CHAIR NEW MEMBER CHAIR

Alan Smith Joe Ford Molly Mattessich
Tonga (99-01) Zambia (94–96) Mali (02-04)
president@rpcvw.org membership@rpcvw.org newmember@rpcvw.org

VICE PRESIDENT SPEAKERS BUREAU CHAIR PROGRAMS CO-CHAIR

Mattie Harms Amy Kunz Michelle Ghiselli
Niger (65-67) Guatemala (95-97) Morocco (93-96)
vicepresident@rpcvw.org speakersbureau@rpcvw.org Cote d’Ivoire (97)
programs@rpcvw.org
TREASURER SOCIAL CO-CHAIR
Jeffery Lovelace PROGRAMS CO-CHAIR
Jodi Hammer Marisa Larson
Bolivia (95-97) Ecuador (94-97)
treasurer@rpcvw.org Morocco (95-97)
social@rpcvw.org programs@rpcvw.org
SECRETARY SOCIAL CO-CHAIR DEVELOPMENT CHAIR
Dawn Citrin Corey Taylor Itzel Fairlie
Malawi (98-00) Benin (97-99) Morocco (01-03)
secretary@rpcvw.org social@rpcvw.org development@rpcvw.org

COMMUNICATIONS CHAIR NPCA LIAISON

COMMUNITY SERVICE CHAIR Ken Hill
James “Jaime” Critchfield Erica Navarro
Bolivia (95-97) Turkey (65–67)
Nicaragua (01-03) npcarep@rpcvw.org
communications@rpcvw.org communityservice@rpcvw.org

FIRST CLASS
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34748
PO Box 66101
Washington D.C. 20035

This newsletter is printed on 30% recycled paper.

To renew your RPCV/W membership, please visit our website at www.rpcvw.org and download a membership form.

October Happy Hour RPCV Film Festival

UPCOMING EVENTS www.rpcvw.org

In the spirit of Halloween, wear your favorite country of
service head costume! Between 6-8:00pm RPCV/W will
earn 5% of net sales when you order from the 2nd floor bar.
When: Friday, October 21, 2005
Where: The Reef (Adams Morgan)
2446 18th St. NW, Washington, DC 20009
How: Metro Red Line - Woodley Park-Zoo/Adams Morgan
East on Calvert, South on 18th
Phone: 202-518-3800
Growing Native
Come one, come all, and bring the kids! Collect acorns,
walnuts, and other native hardwood tree seeds with fellow
RPCVs. Seeds will be donated to State nurseries and used
to create streamside forests for healthy waters. A perennial
favorite with families!
When: Saturday, October 22 at 1:00 pm
Where: Arlington Cemetery - Meet at the Visitor’s Center
Parking $1.25 for first 3 hours
How: Metro Blue Line - Arlington Cemetery - Exit south
side, walk west on Memorial Drive to the Visitor Center
RSVP: communityservice@rpcvw.org
Explore cultures and celebrate diversity at the second
annual RPCV Film Festival. A range of work from
documentaries to fiction films, 15 to 90-minutes long will
be represented. All films are made by PCVs or RPCVs,
and film topics revolve around the Peace Corps ethos.
When: October 28, 4:30-9:30 p.m. and October 29, 2-8 p.m.
Where: 1725 Eye St. NW, Washington, DC 20006
How: Metro Blue/Orange Line - Farragut West
Metro Red Line - Farragut North
Online: http://www.rpcvfilms.com
New Members Brunch
The New Member Brunch is coming to a restaurant near
you! Grow your network of friends while enjoying a lavish
buffet. Who needs an excuse to eat?
When: Sunday, November 6th from 10:30am - 1:00pm
Where: Holiday Inn - Rosslyn (Parking Available)
1900 North Fort Myer Drive, Arlington, VA 22209
How: Metro Blue/Orange Line - Rosslyn
North on Moore Drive, Left/West on 19th 1 block
Cost: $10 per person - RSVP by October 28th
RSVP: newmember@rpcvw.org