JUNE 2008
Corps to respond to the more than 20
Celebrating RPCVw and Peace Corps
Partnerships!
RPCVw Peace Corps Partnership
Reception
Date: Thursday, June 26 from 6-9pm
Location: TORO Mata — The Art of Peru,
2410 18th Street NW, Washington, DC
20009
You are invited to a special celebration of
Partnerships. As a Board, we decided that
we wanted to incorporate the idea of a
"Partnership Reception" to be about all kinds
of RPCVw Partnerships: Our organization's
support of a Peace Corps Project as well as a
venue to gather with other groups in the area
with which we can form partnerships.
This year we are supporting a volunteer,
Sarah Mendelsohn, who is helping her
village in Cape Verde to build solar panels
for a community center. More information
about Sarah's project can be found on the
RPCVw website. We are asking you to
donate what you can to help with this great
project. See below for a special message
from Sarah.
countries that have requested programs for
which there are insufficient funds. Come
and learn more about this exciting advocacy
initiative and learn how you can become
involved.
We extend a special invitation to all of the
"Friends of" Groups in the area to come to
this year's Partnership Reception. Come
and introduce yourself to our members,
taking this opportunity to informally discuss
our mutual goals and events for the coming
year.
All of the donations that you can give at the
Partnership Reception and through our
website will go to support Sarah's project in
Cape Verde. We hope that you will give
generously.
Please check out our website and list serve
for more details — we look forward to
seeing you there!
Best regards,
Jim Gore, President
Molly Mattessich, Vice-President
 Returned Peace Corps Volunteers of
Washington Annual Picnic!
Where: The Capital Yacht Club : 1000 Water
Street, SW Washington, D.C., 20024
When: Saturday, July 12, 2008
1:00 p.m. - 4:00 p.m.
Please join us for this fun, family-friendly event at
the DC waterfront. This will be the last
opportunity to meet and vote for the candidates
for next year's RPCV/W board. Don't miss out!
Chef Kyle will once again be dazzling our palates
with treats from the grill and our friends at
Professionals for Non Profits will be picking up
the drinks and offering their career services.
Tickets are $15 for members of RPCV/W, $20 for
nonmembers and $5 for kids under 10 years old.
Tickets will be available for purchase on
www.rpcvw.org in the next week. Hope to see
you all there!
Please contact specialevents@rpcvw.org with
any questions.
Words From Returned Volunteer Services
A few things from Peace Corps and the
Office of Domestic Programs with
information of interest to RPCVs
The Peace Corps recently welcomed the University
of Maryland, College Park as its newest
Fellows/USA partner school. The campus joins
more than 45 other institutions in offering the
Fellows/USA option to returned Peace Corps
Volunteers. College Park’s program, housed in the
Maryland School of Public Policy, will grant
successful Fellows master’s degrees in either
public policy or publicmanagement. Volunteers
who have satisfactorily completed their Peace
Corps service will be eligible for the program
which, besides class work towards the degree, will
include work with high-needs populations in and
around the College Park area. Work placements
will be coordinated in concert with the Community
Partners Program of the Engaged University.
Fellows will receive a half graduate assistantship
which carries a yearly stipend of $6,350 and five
credits of tuition remission per semester. All other
credits will be charged in-state tuition rates.
Fellows/USA participants will also be eligible for
other merit-based assistantships. More information
can be found at
http://www.peacecorps.gov/index.cfm?shell=resour
ces.media.press.view&news_id=1345.
The Peace Corps Master’s International program
combines graduate school with Peace Corps
service. Typically, students complete one year of
graduate school and then serve 27 months in
the Peace Corps, after which they return to the
university to complete any remaining degree
requirements. More than 50 universities currently
partner with the program. Among these are six in
the greater Washington DC area: American
University, George Mason, George Washington,
University of Maryland College Park, University of
Maryland Baltimore County, and Johns Hopkins
University. Virginia Tech is also a participating
school.
In many of these MI schools, RPCVs play an
important role in attracting students to the
school’s program as well as in retaining their
interest in the Peace Corps while they are taking
courses prior to going overseas. If you are
interested in being a part of this in any way, please
contact Eric Goldman at 202-692-1896 or at
egoldman@peacecorps.gov.
Chris Gilson became the Regional Office
Manager of Peace Corps’ Mid-Atlantic Regional
Recruiting Office in April 2008, overseeing
recruitment, management and outreach activities for
Washington, DC, Maryland, Virginia, West Virginia,
Delaware and North Carolina. He served as a
Volunteer in Ecuador from 1984-1986, working on
water and sanitation projects. Following that he
attended graduate school and then worked for
Catholic Relief Services for over 14 years. Chris
warmly welcomes the support and
collaboration of the Returned Peace Corps
Volunteers of Washington, DC and invites
RPCVs in the area to: 1) take advantage of the
career development resources located in the
Rosslyn office; and 2) to help support
recruiting efforts in the region. Please contact
him at 202-692-1040 for further details.
Robert Michon
Assistant Director
Office of Domestic Programs
Returned Volunteer Services
and Peace Corps Week
202-692-1441
 A Recap of the RPCVw Annual RPCVw Cinco de Mayo Style
Cherry Blossom Potluck Picnic By: Lesley Pories
By: Corey Taylor
Over 30 RPCVs and friends celebrated Cinco
de Mayo in style with a cooking class led by
RPCVw's favorite chef, Kyle Vermeulen.
Margaritas and Mexican beer flowed as Kyle
instructed the group on the art of preparing a
Although the actual number of attendees was lower number of tasty dishes, from a yummy goat
than in previous years, RPCVW’s Annual Cherry
Blossom Potluck Picnic was formidable in terms of
cheese/crab/avocado dip, mango salsa to
pure entertainment and interesting new friendships shrimp quesadillas, tortilla soup and a mango
made. rice pudding.
On the afternoon of Saturday March 29th,
approximately 17 RPCVs arrived at the Jefferson
Memorial and partook in cheeses, fruit salads,
beverages and Safeway sandwiches that would have
proven massive even for Dagwood Bumstead. The
surrounding cherry blossoms
enshrined each tree like droplets of pearls and "It was great," said Julia Strange (Uzbekistan
rubies, while tourists clicked away with their cameras 03-05). "I love getting the chance to cook new
and recording devices to preserve the images of flora
dishes, and I think I'll be able to do some of
beyond their brief annual appearance. The wave of
pedestrians made it somewhat difficult for us to find these at home. We should do this again."
each other initially, but after a period of time we
managed to rely on the instinctual tracking skills (cell Cooking itself was a shared experience under
phones) that permit folks of our legion to find each Vermeulen's skillful guidance. Faced with a
other in a public space of hundreds.
large group, relatively limited space and no
Providing informal entertainment for our picnicking prep time, the chef managed everything to
crew were members of the self-declared Lost Tribe of everyone's complete satisfaction. Not a RPCV
Israel, a religious commune of young men and women himself, Kyle still fits in well with a crowd that
from Virginia, whose Earthy and gregarious nature is used to making the most of any
harked back to a time when their beards and long hair
circumstance.
would have linked hand and hand to 1960s peace and
flower power. The Lost Tribe were a festive clan,
expressing themselves through jam sessions of "I like challenges," he explained. "They keep
circular group dancing, banjo & guitar playing, and a me on my toes."
healthy helping of bass drums. They were setting up
their instruments next to our picnic blankets and This probably explains why Vermeulen has
kindly asked if they could perform next to us – we
informed them that it wouldn’t be an issue. catered the Annual Holiday Party and Annual
Picnic for several years running, and still likes
After several renditions of “Hava Nagila,” the to work with us.
members of the Lost Tribe shared their herbal tea with
us — the brew was made of flowers and plants well
beyond the conventional Celestial Seasoning products
found in the supermarket. Despite the strong
aftertaste, a few of us had more than one cup. We, in
turn, shared the customary delicacy of RPCVs —
store bought fruit salad. Afterwards, several of us
traversed through the adoring blossoms groupies,
snapping pictures of our own and still savoring the Not a soul left the class on an empty stomach,
aftertaste of flowered tea and commune musicians. and some carried tupperware with leftover
food back home.

If we're lucky, this event will happen again

next year.
 5k Run for Julia
On Thursday April 24, 2008 over 200 people
crossed the finish line at the Run for Julia 5K
at Bluemont Park in Arlington, VA. The
race honors Julia Campbell who was
tragically killed on April 8, 2007, while
serving in Peace Corps Philippines.
Julia grew up in Fairfax, VA where she was
an avid runner. The race is sponsored by the
Northern Virginia Running Club (NOVA)
and they hope to host it every April in her
memory. NOVA reported that many family
members and friends of Julia participated,
including her parents, siblings, and many
RPCVs. At the pre-race gathering and post-
race picnic, photos of Julia's life and work
were on display. Find out more about the
foundation created in Julia's name
at http://www.jcmf.org/ .
Photos and mementos of Julia
was tasked with raising money toward their
fundraising goal of $1,000. Team RPCV/W
met that goal and then some by handing over
$2,218 to Greater DC Cares. Much of that
success is thanks to Trish Calamari who
single-handedly raised $1,153 by hitting up her
friends, family, and co-workers for donations.
Way to go, Trish! Other fundraising standouts
included Sara Mayer, Leigh Ann Evanson,
Amanda Putnam, and Aaron Sabino.
Each year in the spring, Servathon mobilizes
thousands of volunteers to complete more than
11,000 hours of service in one marathon day of
service. Besides choosing worthy recipients of
all that human muscle and good intentions,
Servathon helps to raise awareness of the
importance of volunteerism in Washington,
DC. Thank you so much to all those RPCV/W
members and donors who helped us to exceed
our goal this year!

Not Your Typical Saturday Morning

By: Amy Kunz

On the morning of Saturday May 3, 2008 a

team of 16 RPCV/W members rolled out of
bed early to don old clothes and wield paint
brushes in an effort to spruce up the
cafeteria, restrooms, hallways, and even the
principal's office of Sousa Middle School in
SE Washington, DC as part of Greater DC
Cares' annual Servathon event
(http://www.servathon.org ).

The team's efforts actually began several

weeks before that day. Each team member
BE ON THE 2009 RPCVw BOARD
RPCVw is currently accepting nominations
for next year's Board of Directors. Being a
member of the Board requires commitment
and a passion for service. Each board
member is expected to participate in the
annual planning retreat in August, attend
monthly meetings, lead a committee or task,
conduct outreach, and be committed to
RPCVw's mission. Positions are elected
annually, and Board members are expected
to serve for one year starting after the
Annual Picnic in July.
Interested? Email
communityservice@rpcvw.org if you are
interested in nominating yourself for a
position, or if you have questions about
certain board positions, time commitment,
etc. We hope to have a great, energetic 2008-
2009 RPCVw board!!!!!!!!!
BOARD DESCRIPTIONS:
PRESIDENT: Direct strategic planning and
ensure that the board is taking action to meet
goals and that all activities support
RPCV/W's mission and vision. Preside over
meetings, plan board retreats, engage in
fundraising, respond to general inquiries, and
represent RPCV/W to media and other
organizations.
VICE PRESIDENT: Lead board in the
absence of the president. Develop and
monitor compliance with event protocol and
surveys. Maintain and report on event
tracker. Coordinate annual Peace Corps
Partnership donation as well as Reception.
SECRETARY: Record and distribute meeting
minutes. Lead annual elections of new
officers and coordinate annual report.
Maintain archives.
TREASURER: Make budget
recommendations. Produce monthly financial
reports on revenue, expenses, and cash flow
trends. Maintain financial records; prepare
deposits of member dues; oversee financial
matters related to events and activities; and
ensure financial compliance with any tax
laws.
WEB DIRECTOR: Produce the bimonthly
newsletter; maintain the RPCV/W website; and
work with Communications Director to
develop ways of conveying the overall image
and mission of RPCV/W.
COMMUNICATIONS DIRECTOR: Keeps
members informed of RPCV events. Serve as
first point of contact for people who have
general comments or questions. Write and edit
content for newsletter. Work with other
members in ways of conveying overall image
and mission of RPCVw.
PROGRAMS DIRECTOR: Organize
educational events, such as author readings,
film events, and lectures on a variety of topics
including women in development, cross-
cultural issues, and the environment. Gather
and share information on similar opportunities
in the region.
DEVELOPMENT DIRECTOR: Direct
development efforts, including fundraising
efforts such as raffles and the Holiday Party
Auction. Research potential partnerships with
businesses, including advertising sales and
member benefits.
SOCIAL ACTIVITIES DIRECTOR: Organize
social events such as potlucks and monthly
happy hours. Work with membership and new
member chairs in recruiting new members.
SPECIAL EVENTS DIRECTOR: Coordinate
special events such as Annual Holiday Party,
Cherry Blossom Picnic, and Annual Picnic.
MEMBERSHIP DIRECTOR: Maintain the
membership database; coordinate renewal
notices; produce monthly reports on
membership levels, including new, lapsed, and
renewed members. Produce membership lists
as needed for event organizers. Coordinate
recruitment efforts with New Member
Director.
 NEW MEMBER DIRECTOR: Connect and
develop relationships with new members and
potential members. Support new members
with events (such as welcome brunches) and
information for transitioning to living and
working in the D.C. area. Develop ways to
and help ensure that all events attract new
members.

COMMUNITY SERVICES DIRECTOR:

Develop community service opportunities for
members. Gather and share information on
volunteer and speaking opportunities in the
area, including opportunities with partner
organizations and members needing
volunteers. Coordinate annual wreath-laying
event at JFK memorial.
Wreath Laying Ceremony to Honor JFK
May 15, 6:00 p.m.
Arlington National Cemetary
Every year near the anniversary of his birthday
in May, RPCVw honors President John F.
Kennedy, who helped to promote the creation of
the Peace Corps and called the citizens of this
country into public service. Placing a wreath at
his gravesite in Arlington National Cemetery,
provides an opportunity for former volunteers of
all ages as well as their family and friends to
hear how his dream of international service and
cultural exchange lives on.

This year, we teamed up with the Peace Corps

Office of Returned Volunteers Services and also
recognized RPCVs who served in the 13 original
countries. We were especially honored that
Peace Corps Director Ron Tschetter who was
accompanied by his wife Nancy — both who
were among some of the first volunteers sent to
India in the 1960s — was able to speak to
attendees.

Peace Corps Director Ron Tschetter addresses the crowd.

 The Journey Back to the Beginning:
Bolivia Then and Now
By: Jeff Lovelace
In his autobiography A Long Walk to Freedom,
Nelson Mandela writes, “There is nothing like
returning to a place that remains unchanged, to find
the ways in which you yourself have altered.”
Well it was with this motto in my head that I
returned to Bolivia last week…wondering what
would be different, would I see myself different,
would I see the Bolivians in a different light, would
they see me differently? Would the wisdom of
Nelson Mandela’s sentence ring true to me?
Flying into El Alto — altitude 13,323 feet —
always leaves one feeling breathless. It may be for
the lack of oxygen (or actually lack of atmospheric
pressure), it may be the sheer clarity and deep blue
of the sky, or perhaps seeing Lake Titicaca, with
depths of over 900 feet, or it may be seeing the
Andes Mountains, snowcapped year round in this
age of warming, with peaks that tower over 20,000
feet. Or perhaps that breathlessness is when you
step into the street and realize that yes, this is the
second poorest country in the Americas and while
they are trying to remove all the diesel consuming
vehicles, there is still an incredible amount of
pollution that spews black as night from the
exhausts of buses and trucks. The type that makes
you wonder if you should stop in the nearest
Farmacia and pick up a “surgical mask.”
After a week of trekking with friends in the
Peruvian highlands on the Inca Trail to Macchu
Picchu, I figured this would make for perfect
acclimatization. From Cuzco at 10,800 feet to La
Paz at 13,323 it would be a piece of cake and what
better time than to return to Bolivia, La Paz, and
Chuñavi (my site for two years) and home of the
freeze-dried potato, or el chuño. So I called family,
friends and relatives, only three had e-mail and two
cell phones, to let them know of my imminent
arrival and that I was back in Bolivia — like no
time had passed at all!
What amazed me was how familiar it all was. The
friendly faces, the invitations to partake, the “we
have missed you, it has been so long, but yet we
feel as if you were just here yesterday,” remarks. I
do not remember the first day, except for being
stuffed. For six bolivianos or approximately 83
cents you get a FULL meal of an overflowing bowl
of soup, perhaps quinoa, pasta, chicken, chuño etc.
While it may not be “stocked-full” of meats and
vegetables like Campbell Soups — it is filling, then
after soup comes the main dish which is a plate heaping
with rice, salad, chuños and chicken or beef. I was full
after the soup. All polished off with a Fruit Zumo — or
natural fruit juice.
What also struck me was the independence of the
children. Anna, a little three-year old that will figure
prominently later on, was always just walking about —
into and out of the restaurant, into and out of the street.
Parents here would probably be charged with child
neglect, but in Bolivia this was how children learn the
ways of the world. There was a story of how at two and
a half, she got out of bed, left the house, crossed a
major road, walked three blocks to find her mother to
tell her that it was time to come home and go back to
bed. Mom was out celebrating.
And no sooner that night did I find myself celebrating.
Toasting to the Pacha Mama, to Bolivia, to el chuño to
la hoja sagrada — coca, and playing many games of
cacho — the Bolivian Dice game. I think that when the
night ended there was more than one empty caja (box)
of cerveza. But somehow the next morning the effects
of sharing and draining more than 16 one liter cervezas
did not come to haunt me…it must have been the
blessings of the Pacha Mama welcoming me back to
Bolivia.
After a few days in El Alto it was time to make the
journey back in time to Chuñavi, where 11 years ago
there was a small community of 600 inhabitants, no
public transportation, one church, a three-room
schoolhouse, two “mini” stores, no restaurants and no
electricity, because the townspeople wanted to live “off-
the-grid” and get “free” electricity via hydropower — it
might seem romantic, but the project never got off the
ground, so Chuñavi was sans luz for four years, two of
which were during my stay. In that time I had
developed some lasting friendships and was blessed
with two godchildren.
So after packing my gifts from the United States
(crayons, coloring pads, etc), buying 25 oranges (the
children never seem to get enough fruit) and packing
extra layers for warmth the three of us set out (myself,
my comadre and her son). The first was task was
finding the correct Toyota mini-van that went in the
direction of my site. Well they used to stop
here…and so we waited…but perhaps we should
try another place, so trusting local knowledge we
moved up…further down the road to major
intersection. Aha — here were all the mini-vans.
All we had to do was to look for the ones with the
luggage racks on top — those where the long-haul
ones we would need. But we wanted to find one
that was almost full, if we got on an empty one, we
would have to wait and wait while it filled up…
So on we got and down the PanAmerican Highway
(read two-lane road) we set off.
Nos Quedamos (we’re getting off) I had to shout as
I realized that we were passing our destination. And
off we tumbled with our over-stuffed bags of
clothes and food and prepared for the 30-minute
hike to town. Well, it used to be 30 minutes, when I
was practiced and in shape — but now it seemed to
take a bit longer (like and extra 15), but still the
path was the same. It wound in and out of papa
fields, quinoa and barley fields. There was the
occasional cow — “they are so skinny” pointed out
Francisco, a youth of 10 from el Alto. Yup — not
much to eat out here, pretty dry and barren.
After a number of breaks to drink water and find a
bathroom, Francisco was looking for a proper
toilet…we told him he was in the countryside and
“anyplace” would do, we made it to the school and
the bridge to nowhere. A bridge! There was a
bridge, there never used to be a bridge in Chuñavi.
It does not even look as if cars use it and the bridge
terminates at a wall of rocks. Strange, perhaps a
misguided project — we thought. The school —
there was the school — but in the past 11 years it
had doubled in size. The old three-room classroom
had more than tripled with the addition of a middle
school, offices for teachers as well as wash and
bathrooms for the children. And even the old Mapa
Del Mundo that was done with the schoolchildren
was still there — a bit faded and deteriorated. Wow
progress had come to Chuñavi. We even learned
that the bridge was for the cows, so that they could
cross the river in the rainy season without fear of
being swept away.
As we wandered through Chuñavi it was amazing to
remember the familiar faces and good times that we
had. My godchild, now 13 was huge. But mom
and dad were grateful for the visit, gifts and oranges.
They invited us in, shared soda, bread, while we shared
coca with them. They told us how the town had grown
to over 1,000 and of the new church that was built, how
they now had electricity, a new middle school, and even
taxi service from the main road.
Unfortunately Emiterio had passed away, but Fernando
was still around, we heard how Amaya lost his bus (of
44 passengers) over the embankment on the way back
to town from market, but fortunately most everyone
was okay. But sadly there were injuries and some that
did not survive and the trip had been planned specially
for a celebration of Chuñavi.
As we left Chuñavi, in the back of a truck, I reflected
that we had all changed. My comadre, godchild, myself
had all become older…but the important bonds of
friendship were there as strong as before. The ride back
in the truck was cold, but we watched as the sun set, the
crescent moon appear and the Southern Cross
brightened in the southern sky.
Ohh — I almost forgot about little Anna. Well on that
same day as the visit to Chuñavi, as I am about to go to
sleep at 9 p.m., exhausted and preparing for an early
departure the following morning at 4:30 a.m…there is a
knock on the door and in waltzes Anna. Estas
dormiendo, tienes que tomar cerveza. (are you sleeping,
you have to drink cerveza) — she says. Well Anna’s
mom had prepared a little surprise…and she walked in
with her eldest daughter Paola, six one-liter bottles and
a statement followed by a simple question. The gist of
which was — you remember Paola from when she was
a little girl…you see there was a favorite bar of the
PCVs of Bolivia — a place for us to relax and get
together…and Paola was one of the little children that
seemed to always gravitate to us. And we got to know
her mom and friends as well. Well Paola had now
grown up and was about to graduate high-school…and
mom was looking for a godfather for her. Of course a
huge honor, but also a huge challenge in that I was not
in Bolivia and would not be able to complete many of
the “traditional” roles of the compadre or godfather. Six
hours later, countless cervezas later and many blessings,
ch’allas, coca and dancing we all toasted to her new
godfather/padrino.
And I left Bolivia a few hours later, surely bedraggled
and not placing a good name for the gringo to the flight
attendants on American Airlines, but I was richer in
experience and family. The next journey will be in
December for her Baptism.