A monthly newsletter of The West Cascade Peace Corps Association in Oregon's Southern Willamette Valley

July 2006

Calendar

July 9, Sunday 2:30 PM

Barbeque at home of Wayne and Rolly Thompson, Fox Hollow Farms, 30781 Fox Hollow Rd, Eugne, continuing Celebration of 45th Anniversary of the Peace Corps. Enjoy the vista and pet a lamb. Goal is to each bring a RPCV who has never been to a West Cascade event. More details later.

August 4-6

RPCV Regional Campout
Dworshak Park, Orofino, Idaho
www.crpca.org/campout.html
Meet other fellow RPCVs.
Have fun & commune with nature.

September 8-10 Friday thru Sunday

Eugene Celebration. March in the parade on Sept 9 and sit in West Cascade booth, Parade 9 AM, booth 11 AM -5 PM both Saturday and Sunday.

September 10, Sunday, 5:30 PM

Regular monthly meeting

September 15-17

Peace Corps Celebration
Washington DC. See: www.rpcv.org

October 1, Sunday, 5:30

Regular monthly meeting. Elections of West Cascade Peace Corps Association.
Calling all candidates!

Summer BBQ

Continue to celebrate the 45th Anniversary of the Peace Corps

Want a special place to sit back, relax, enjoy the view?

Wayne and Rolly Thompson at Fox Hollow Farms are extending an invitation to do just that. Come to their beautiful spread just south of Eugene and enjoy the company of RPCVs and Friends. Children welcome.

Bring a dish and a drink to share, something to BBQ over the hot coals provided. West Cascade will provide hotdogs, hamburgers and buns. If you would like other BBQ, please bring it.

Listen to the birds, commune with nature, swap exotic tales, breathe fresh air and live life to the fullest. Bring someone has who has never been to one of our gatherings - one who may want to consider the Peace Corps or one who is a RPCV but has never joined our social group.

Directions:

Go south on either Fox Hollow Rd. or Willamette Street. Check on Page 19 of the Community Pages in the DEX Eugene/Springfield phone book. See where Fox Hollow and Willamette meet near the bottom of the page.

They are on the right hand side of the road, going south, 1-1/2 miles after the junction of Fox Hollow and Willamette. 30781 Fox Hollow Rd. There will be a sign.

A Way to Broaden our Horizons

We are working with the US State Department to bring a visiting scholar to the University of Oregon under the Fulbright "Direct Access to the Muslim World" program. The program offers a unique opportunity for U.S. colleges and universities to host specialists from countries with a significant Muslim population for short-term (3 to 6 weeks) programs of intensive lecturing, public outreach, and consultation. We are looking to have someone from either Bangladesh or India come to work with our growing South Asia program next spring (2007).

It is required that we share the Fulbright Visiting Specialist with other organizations in the community that it serves. These activities will ideally also benefit the Fulbright Visiting Specialist in gaining deeper insight to the U.S. societies/cultures, by bringing him/her into contact with Americans from all sectors of society.

Terri (Monk) Gureno thought that the Peace Corp group might be interested in this opportunity to have a visitor from South Asia speak at one of your gatherings. The type of activities are completely open, but the goal is to promote understanding of Islamic civilization and the history, politics, and culture of today's Muslim world, as well as to provide the visitor an opportunity to engage with a diverse population.

Sincerely,
Lori O'Hollaren
Center for Asian and Pacific Studies
110 Gerlinger Hall
Eugene, OR 97403-1246

phone: (541) 346-1521
email: loholl@uoregon.edu

(West Cascade Peace Corps Association sent the official invitation that was required to attain one or more of the speakers. Watch for more information when they arrive.)

Alaska Wildlife Adventures

I have a program that some of the members in your Peace Corps Association might be interested in. I'm an AmeriCorps alum and current member at Northwest Service Academy's Mount Adams Center. We've created a new program that engages people in service while offering an outstanding traveling experience. We think that RPCVs would be interested in this opportunity.

This program is for Peace Corps Alumni, family, and friends to have an incredible experience, while raising funds to help support the environmental service work we do. We've teamed up with Alaska Wildland Adventures, an award-winning tour operator, for our pilot year of this program.

The program consists of a 7-day trip in and around Alaska's magnificent Kenai Peninsula for $2295. The service portion will be a day of habitat enhancement projects.

I'd like to talk about this more. My number is 509-395-2706.

Thanks,
Peter Nagy
peter.nagy@esd112.org

Changing the Face of Hunger

In his new book Tony Hall (RPCV Thailand, former member of House of Representatives, D-Ohio) says Humanitarian aid is the most potent weapon the United States can deploy against terrorism.

Providing food for one's enemies not only fulfills a basic teaching of Jesus Christ; it's also good foreign policy, said Hall, an evangelical Christian who served 12 terms in the U.S. House and recently completed a stint of a more than three years as ambassador to the United Nations Agencies for Food and Agriculture in Rome.

Hall is a big believer in faith-based organizations in the fight against hunger. "These people are amazing. They're not there to work for the dollar. They're not there because they're getting big salaries. They're there because they care. They sustain themselves through their faith. They last longer. They can continue to do it much longer, and the ones I've dealt with are very trustworthy."

Members of Congress have recently recommended that Hall be appointed special envoy to Sudan to focus on ending the genocide in Darfur.

One hundred nineteen Members of Congress have signed a letter to Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice in support of the appointment of a special envoy to Sudan to focus on ending the genocide in Darfur and ensuring that the North-South peace agreement holds, according to Rep. Frank Wolf (R-VA).

"We are concerned that there is no one single point person whose sole responsibility is to monitor the situation in Darfur and the South and answer directly to you and the president," the letter said. " . . . It is not too late for Sudan, but time is of the essence. There are clear steps that can be taken. The appointment of a special envoy with a clear mandate and authority, who has the ear of the president and the secretary of State, is past due."

Attention Intrepid Travelers!

Don't forget the NPCA Hospitality Network with approximately 400 RPCV's across the USA (and about a dozen overseas). They offer a place to stay SPECIFICALLY for traveling RPCV's. This wonderful network has been available for about 10 years. Directory can be ordered at cost ($8 to NPCA members, $12 non-members & overseas) directly from the NPCA website www.rpcv.org. Most Hosts request $0-$5 /person/night; average stay 2-3 nights, and many, many Hosts open to families and kids!!!

Alan Burrus (Tonga), New Mexico Peace Corps Association
HosNet Coordinator
burrusNMPC@aol.com

Opportunity to do some good

". . .We now have a relationship with Charles Mugasa, and his organization, Solace Uganda. He was trying to get funding for us to go there to train his staff in MPAP (Make Parenting a Pleasure). With a small private grant I was able to visithim in Kampala and he took me all over Uganda showing the need for parenting education, and what Solace Uganda is doing.

Solace Uganda helps with micro-enterprise, like teaching young men to repair refrigerators; women andmen to make crafts like baskets, jewelry, batiques, etc; and social services.

We would certainly fit Charles into a MPAP training, but I'm hoping he can get a grant that would pay for him to come. It would be best if one or more of his staff could do training at his site. Getting him support to help the many families of AIDs orphans raising their younger brothers and sisters, or uncles taking over for their brothers and sisters who have died, and families who lock up their children with disabilities, would mean so much.

If anyone knows of someone who could help Charles to get here, get some personal training from our staff would be so good. It continues to amaze me how much good our programs can do."

This note is from Birth To Three Executive Director Minalee Saks in hope that you might be able to assist helping Mr. Mugasa, who has a concern for Africans, parenting education, and AIDS orphans.

"MPAP" targets families undergoing serious stress. If anyone wants more information about MPAP go to www.birthto3.org.

Sarah Peroutka
sarahp@birthto3.org
Eugene

West Cascader in Kansas shares his thoughts...

...I won't be able to join/pitch in to WCPCA events, commitments, or fun for awhile (since living in Kansas). But the newsletter sure keeps me connected - I look forward to getting and savoring my read of each edition.

I'll write again soon when it's not so late at night, and I'll share some memories of my own PCV-related experiences sparked by both the "Ashland Volunteer Gets the Boot" editorial in the April 2006 edition and John Hofer's March 2006 report of 'fun' beginning even w/o taking bus ride from airport to Caracas for the World Social Forum.

I was filled with wonder and amazement and joy by the shared threads of those experiences they stretch all the way back and connect directly to vibrate some of my synapses first fired almost 40 years ago!

And ain't it wondrous that these are also proxies for the shared threads now among many hundreds of thousands of us around the world and across a timeframe approaching 50 years? The current state of the world notwithstanding, what a thing JFK and many others did for us personally and for the larger world we all live in!

Larry Irvin, Uganda, 1966-68

Memories sparked by the two ReConnections articles:

Even some of the now 'rich and famous' have good ole "de-selection"/'reassignment' in their histories at end of their Peace Corps training; I did my student teaching at Syracuse University with one such: the now big dude musician and writer, none other than the grandiose Mr. Kinky Friedman. They decided he was too weird to go to East Africa, but probably wouldn't cause damage or havoc by going to somewhere in the middle of the ocean in Micronesia (which he did).

My PCV housemate Ron Sutliff and I had a constantly-sliding-across-one-side-of-the-road-to-the-other bus ride experience down into and across and back up the other side of the rift valley between Kenya and Uganda on about 100 miles of tropical rainstorm slick clay washboard road, with a bus driver who was literally alternately chewing ghat and smoking Bhang, and some Balokwele ("saved ones") trying to save all our souls while swaying up and down the aisle chanting in Swahili "Where will you be when you die?" We were convinced we'd be right there right then, along with all the other people, chickens, goats, and a corpse wrapped and tied to the top of the bus...

Minutes of Western Regional RPCV Meeting, 20 May 2006

Prepared by Joana Ramos

Attendees:

WSPCA (Washington States Peace Corps Assn): Joanne Dufour, Jen Nicholas, Temma Pistrang, Joana Ramos, Scott Ramos, Jennifer Samnick, Paulette Thompson, Teresita Twiss

WSPCA-Olympia and NPCA rep: Bob Findlay

Inland Northwest (Spokane-Western Idaho): Sue Bracken, Kimberly Potter

West Cascade: Beryl Brinkman

Group Reports:

Idaho RPCVs: Paulette read the report, as Sam Greer was not able to attend.

They report having 50 new members and are looking forward to participating in an annual Boise multicultural event called International Village, sponsored by the International Community Center of Idaho on June 3. They will also be the hosts of the 2006 Western Regional RPCV campout at Dworshak State park near Orofino, August 3-6. Details of the campout may be found at : http://www.crpca.org/campout.html (website of the Columbia River group ) and on the WSPCA website: http://www.rpcv-wa.org/events.htm.

Inland NW Peace Corps Assn: (Eastern WA, Northern ID)

Kim Potter of Spokane was introduced as the new President of the Inland NW group, taking over from Sue Bracken. The group now has about 25 paid members and makes joint NPCA membership optional. Selling the Madison WI groups calendars is a major fundraiser, with proceeds going to help NGOs and projects that group members are involved with. Sue reported on recent past group activities, including 2 annual potluck dinners, hosting of regional meeting, and the 2002 regional campout . Sue is now serving as advocacy chair. She also shared her recent experiences as a Crisis Corps volunteer in the Gulf Coast after Hurricane Katrina. Kim plans to hold monthly hikes and eats-out nights, seeking to increase the membership base.

West Cascade Peace Corps Assn: (Eugene)

Beryl reported that they hold monthly potlucks with a speaker, and usually have 35-40 people in attendance. Their last gathering featured a talk on the situation in Darfur. They collaborate frequently with the Peace Corps recruiter at the University of Oregon. As a result of a recent membership drive, they now have 83 paid members, and 350 additional RPCVs on their database.

Columbia River PC Assn: (Portland)

No one was present from this group. Paulette gave a recap of the last Regional meeting that had been held in Portland in January 2006, at which various organizational issues and leadership concerns related to the national group were discussed. The Portland group will be participating in the new-PCV nom party in July. The group seems to be growing, and there has been an upsurge in attendance at their potlucks and pub nights. Some group members are involved

in ongoing work to create the Museum of the Peace Corps Experience; at present they have been able to mount temporary displays at sites in Portland are still seeking permanent home and funding for the museum.

WA State Peace Corps Assn: (Metro Seattle)

WSPCA members conducted a brief emergency business meeting due to the recent departure of group President David Bane for a 6-month Crisis Corps assignment. Jen Nicholas was voted in as the new President. Mark Rook of Tacoma was appointed as an at-large ember of the WSPCA Board. As of this month, Joana Ramos is now WSPCA's newsletter editor, and Scott Ramos is the webmaster. They have created an integrated electronic newsletter-website, with a brand-new format that will soon be enhanced by Jen's new logo design. The print newsletter, the group's major expense, has been discontinued except for those unable to read the e-version. Temma reported on results of the group's major fundraiser, calendar sales. Last year, WSPCA was able to send $1000 for the salary of a teacher in Thailand; for 2005-2006 school year, funds were earmarked to support the shipping of books to rebuild a school library in Slidell, LA that was lost to Hurricane Katrina. Joanne Dufour reported on how the project evolved, after she was alerted to the situation by both family and a teacher who is the daughter of RPCVs. Over 1000 donated books were to a special-education middle school and to a high school. Students and teachers were amazed by the caring from afar.

WSPCA- Olympia: (satellite group)

Bob Findlay reported on recent activities, noting that they are not yet formally constituted as an official group. Michelle Andrews has been active in organizing bi-monthly dinners that have had a good turnout. They are hoping to add more of an educational focus to these in the future. One accomplishment was getting Gov. Gregoire to issue a proclamation in recognition of the 45^th Anniversary of the creation of the Peace Corps.

Listen up!

Here is the website for development job consulting opportunities, long and short term. It was discussed at the meeting at my home on June 4.

www.developmentex.com - Go to "development recruiting", then "find jobs".

And for Peace Corps Writers: www.PeaceCorpsWriters.org.

Cheers,
Howard Schuman
Eugene, Oregon 97405
howardschuman@comcast.net

Recent News from

RPCV in Afghanistan

Friends of Afghanistan and Interested Ones,
Salaam Ualiekum,

I have recently returned to Kabul from a trip to the north (Samangan, Tashkurgan, Mazar, and right up to the Pul e Ayraton over the Amu Darya on the border with Uzbekistan) through the Salang Pass, where the reluctant snow pack was still effectively resisting the arrival of the month of Suratan, marking the beginning of Summer.

Although our "Old Afghanistan" can still be found far out in the rural areas, Afghan cities have become much like many other bustling South Central Asian cities. (Or, like Eastern European cities newly emerging from decades of Soviet rule.) This transition in Mazar-e-Sharif was shocking for me to see. There are tens of thousands of cars, modern entrepreneurship and a huge population increase. I saw no gaudies (horse-drawn cabs) in the city at all. In fact, with the average Mazari driver doing a slightly more aggressive impersonation of a Roman cabbie, the horses and Gaudiewans would be in great danger.

When we left Afghanistan from twenty-seven to forty+ (?) years ago, the rural areas were much as they had been for thousands of years and the cities were slowly moving into the early 20th century. Now the urban areas are sprinting into the 21st century and the rural areas are struggling to keep their identities and retain their rural culture in opposition to the global pressure to modernize. All this, is inside the context of an insurgency that has staged something of a comeback in recent months, especially in the south and east.

Samangan was essentially double the size it was during our Peace Corps years. The road from the highway into town is now littered (not an accidental word usage) with new businesses, hotels, and dukons side by side with old and new government buildings. Thousands of people have returned which compounds the problems of an exploding post- war population increase. Most of the returnees appear to cluster around Aibak, the Capital of Samangan Province, adding to what was the central theme of concern and complaint form the people, the need for clean, safe- drinking water. I would personally welcome any suggestions related to finding US or European companies or charities that can help provide reliable sources of potable water for this parched town. To give a quick snapshot view of provincial demographics. There were four high schools and seven middle schools in the province during Peace Corps years. Two days ago the Mudir of Taleem u Tarbia (Education Superintendent of the Province) told me that there are now seventeen high schools and one hundred fifty eight middle schools. Even assuming an improved cultural approval for the concept of education this strongly suggests a significant population increase. Most astounding is the student population of Ajani Maleka High School that is working in triple sessions and offering educational opportunity for 3,800 girls. Lysee Ajani is one of four Samangan schools rebuilt by "Help The Afghan Children" with funds from the Oprah Winfrey Foundation.

If you can offer a room and support, please contact samangan72@aol.com.

It's impossible to move through Kabul without seeing weapons, a sharpshooter on top of a wire fence guarding official buildings, military vehicles driving at top speed through the city with heavily armed soldiers on "lock & load" alert, IASF troops near banks, plus dozens* of armed private security guards everywhere. In the capital nobody takes security lightly. This is far more evident than during my 2003 visit. The almost 3,000 foreign residents* are advised not to go out on the streets after dark although some of us who are more intrepid (or foolish) still occasionally venture out to experience the new restaurants or a favorite Kebab shop.

Kabul has been identified as an island of calm in the midst of a country immersed in a rising trend of violence. There have been roughly 1,000 people killed in Afghanistan so far this year including insurgents, government forces and foreign troops.

The May 29 riots in which 20 people lost their lives in the capital showed that there's no place in the country that is totally immune to this violence. During the serious protests, which erupted after a U.S. military truck hit and killed several civilians, enraged rioters attacked embassies, foreigners' houses and the luxurious Serena Hotel opened in November, the only five-star establishment in the country. The hotel, which cost more than $35 million, is near the Presidential Palace, it is the most well-guarded private building in the country and is owned by Agha Khan, whose foundation has numerous reconstruction projects in the works around Afghanistan.

Tony Agnello, Friends of Afghanistan
Director, Schools and Futures, Inc.
Advisor, Western New York
Sister School Coalition
Peace Corps, Afghanistan 1972-75

The Literacy Class

By Marsha Partlow, (Jamaica, 1969-71)

When I first got to Lucea, Jamaica in 1971, I decided to start a literacy class because I had received a series of small books from the Ministry of Education produced just for teaching. Each book was a simple story about typical Jamaican life. But no instructions were included on how to actually teach adults to read.

About a half dozen neighbors and one young woman from across the bay met with me weekly. I must have imagined that having the books would somehow make the class successful. My students had had no experience at all with shapes. I simply could not convey the idea of an A, B, or C.

Except for the young woman, they were all well over 40, had no glasses, and probably couldn't even see the print. I was pretty discouraged after three or four classes when I remembered I'd brought a few fairy tale books with a lot of illustrations and simple words. I had them setting out on the table at the next meeting. The young woman picked them up and her eyes began to glisten. She was very intelligent and had, much to my surprise, been absorbing a lot of information from the classes and could, therefore, pick out a few words.

A few weeks later I discontinued the class and noted a general sigh of relief. At the end of that last class, I loaned the fairy tale books to the woman from across the bay.

One day I saw her shopping at the outdoor market with her beautiful baby. She invited me to come round to visit her and said she'd learned to read the fairy tales and would like to return the books.

A week or so later I went over to get the books. She lived by the water, in a small, tin roofed shack. I saw her bent over, stirring a pot of stew on an outside open fire. When she straightened up, I could see there was something wrong. She thanked me for coming. Then, with shaking shoulders, burst into tears and said, " Me lictle pickney. She gone. She got diarrhea an me no cudda stop it. The doctor im say, she as dehydration, take her to ospital. Me took er an that's where she died." Then she shuddered and cried with deep moans that wrenched me in two.

I don't know if she would even remember me now, some 30 years later. What's important is that I remember her and her baby. I am richer because she walked the three miles to come to my literacy class. In the end, it was she who was the true teacher.

Need a Job??

Could you please pass a message along to the West Cascade RPCVs that the Douglas County VISTA Team is currently recruiting for a Team Leader? Here's our posting:

VISTA Team Leader position available in Douglas County, Oregon. Duties: Provide strong leadership and support for VISTA Team members, participate in recruiting and interviewing potential VISTA members, promote community awareness of team projects, and coordinate trainings and workshops. Qualifications: Self-directed; motivated; interested in community-based solutions to poverty; excellent written and verbal communications skills; strong organizational skills; desire to learn program development and management. Must have successfully completed one year of VISTA or Peace Corps service. Deadline: July 20, 2006. For more information on the team visit http://users.rio.com/vista/index.htm. Contact emily.rhyner@ucancap.org for information on how to apply.

Thanks a million!

Emily Rhyner,VISTA Team Leader
Umpqua Community Action Network
2448 W. Harvard Ave. Roseburg, OR 97470
Ph: 541.492.3518 Fax: 541.492.3538
http://users.rio.com/vista/index.htm

Time to Share...

The update on meetings and news is always interesting. The organization is doing great work, and I'm always pleased. I'm no help at all but like keeping up.

It is time for me to give up some things from Belize.

I don't have any of the beautiful wood-carvings, only small ones. I do still have one basket made by my host father on Placencia Peninsula. It is of a special reed and with a very different wrap. It was originally used to place the fish catch in, thus very porous.

Drop me a line if there might be any interest, or call 683-8351.

Many thanks,
Norma LeBard
NLEBARDPCV@aol.com

Eugene Celebration Parade Ideas?

This year West Cascade's entry in the Eugene Celebration will mark the 19^th consecutive year we have marched in the parade. The archives put the date of the first entry to 1987. We'll drive the International Taxi that Vern Delk, (Guatemala, 1984-86) created out of plywood and decorated by a number of Volunteers headed by James Cloutier (Kenya, 1966-68). This year's Celebration's theme is "Shake, Revel and Roll." We are supposed to march with our flags of many nations in a choreographed manner. Is there a potential dance teacher out there who can help? We need some supervision! Contact any of us on the Board. Please!

Julia Demichelis (Ghana, 1982-84), now in Rabat, Morocco, gives talk on Iraq.

West Cascade was fortunate to hear Julia address the group June 16, on a brief stop-over in Eugene to receive an award from the Department of Planning, Public Policy and Management at the University of Oregon on June 15, 2006. The meeting was held at the home

of Beryl Brinkman (Afghanistan, 1967-69), and nearly 30 RPCVs and community members were able to hear her share her experiences and opinions regarding her working with transitional Iraqi parliament to establish institutional on the constitutionand other key legislation.

Patricia A Wand, (Colombia, 1963-65), Dean of the Library, Zayed University, Dubai, United Arab Emirates

Managed a brief meeting on June 30 at a truck stop on I-5 near Woodburn, Oregon, with Beryl Brinkman. Pat remains a member of West Cascade PCA even though she left the area in 1990. Previously she was head librarian at American University in Washington DC. She remains loyal to Oregon where she has family and many ties.

Mayor of Eugene Kitty Piercy, (Ethiopia. 1964-66), and First Gentleman David Piercy (Iran, 1964-66)

Led off over 1500 participants in the Annual Mayor's Fitness Walk as part of the Butte to Butte Race on July 4 at 8 AM.

Garage Sale at home of Beryl Brinkman

In August to help raise money for the many homeless elders that Father Charles is supporting in Oringa, Tanzania. Fr. Charles, a Catholic priest and the brother of Marko Mwipopo, who is enrolled in the Yamada Language Center at the University of Oregon. Please call 687-7095 if you can help or contribute an item or two for the sale. Or email brinkman@bigplanet.com. More details as they become available.

2007 International Calendars now on sale!

The stack of calendars has arrived from the RPCV group in Madison, Wisconsin! They are BEAUTIFUL and more appealing than ever. We sold out of our supply of 2006 Calendars. They will be on sale at each West Cascade meeting and at the Eugene Celebration booth. Get your Holiday Gifts early.

WEB SITE now available at

www.westcascadepca.org.

The Web Site is back. After a few years break, while the domain companies bought and sold and lost our access to the updating capability, we now have a new site! Thanks to the skill and expertise of Felicia Kenney, (Benin, 2003-04), we can now invite you to again keep up to date with the activities of West Cascade.

Camp Out August 4-6

Do not forget to sign up for the camp out in Idaho August 4-6. You won't regret the drive over and the company of many RPCVs from the Western Region. Go to www.crpca.org/campout.html.

Joe Hindman, off again...
(Guatemala, Chad, Panama, CAR, Bolivia)

Sorry I'll miss the July 9 meeting. I'm going on a 5-6 day hike of a segment of the Pacific Crest Trail (Ashland to Seiad Valley CA).