2009 Annual Report
The mission of WCPCA is to promote humanitarian and educational
programs in connection with accomplishing the third goal of the
Peace Corps as mandated by Congress in 1961, "To promote a better
understanding of other people on the part of the American people."
The board's work to pursue the mission and carry out the goals that
it set for 2009 is listed below.
The WCPCA board met monthly to conduct the organization's business.
Meetings were open to the full membership.
Goal #1: Continue bimonthly potlucks with a program
Dinner potlucks were held in January, March, October, and November.
For the first three, speakers described their PC projects in
Cameroon, Mongolia, and Jordan. At the November potluck the speaker
described an NGO, TARIRO, in Zimbabwe which she has founded and
which funds the education of orphans of HIV/AIDS.
In May the NOM party and potluck was held at the Many Nations
Longhouse, University of Oregon campus, to celebrate the new PC
nominees. The program introduced those attending to the cultures of
Turkey, Haiti, and China. In July a potluck picnic lunch was held at
Tugman Park in Eugene. The program consisted of lawn games.
In sum, six potlucks were held in the months of January, March, May,
July, October, and November. Of this number three were held in
private homes; one in a park; and two at the Many Nations Longhouse
on the U of O campus. Programs explained a PC program or offered
insights into a culture in a PC service country. Potlucks at the
Longhouse were designed to attract students who are RPCVs or
aspiring PCVs. These potlucks were cosponsored by the U of O Peace
Corps recruiter's office and WCPCA.
Goal #2: Spend $1,000 to fund one or more humanitarian projects by
March
WCPCA awarded $2,000 in grants to the four humanitarian projects
listed below. Awards were made in February and October. Three
projects are Peace Corps Partnership projects in which an Oregon PCV
is involved. SHSKI is organized by a former PCV who is a WCPCA
member.
- Bore Hole Project in Kumasi, Ghana, $750
- Community Library Project, Guatemala, $500
- Medical Staff Housing for a Village Dispensary, Tanzania, $500
- Students Helping Street Kids International (SHSKI) in Receife,
Brazil, $250.
Goal #3: Identify fundraising ideas and find people willing to
pursue them
The primary fundraising activities for 2009 were a Thai dinner at
Mekala's Restaurant in Eugene and the sale of tee shirts, cards, and
calendars throughout the year. Members of the fundraising committee
organized these activities.
WCPCA members sold 200 international calendars for 2009 in the fall
of 2008 and early 2009. In the fall of 2009 the organization sold
another 200 calendars for 2010. Sales were made by individual
members, at the organization's social gatherings, from the website,
at local stores, and at the organization's booth at the Saturday and
Holiday Markets in Eugene.
Net earnings from the sale of 2010 calendars was $1,247 and from the
sale of the 2009 calendars $1,059. The Mekala's dinner netted $521.
A total of $441 was donated primarily by members.
Goal #4: Identify local service projects for members of WCPCA to
take part in as a group
WCPCA members volunteered to work at two Food for Lane County
fundraisers: Chef's Night Out in March and Empty Bowls in October.
Approximately ten WCPCA members worked at each event.
Outreach activities
In January WCPCA had a booth for several hours at the Eugene
International High School's "Africa Celebration". We displayed
artifacts and distributed information about Africa and the Peace
Corps and answered students' questions.
In February WCPCA hosted the meeting of the northwest regional RPCV
organizations. Joe Hindman, WCPCA member and NPCA representative for
the western region, presided. The WCPCA group was well represented
by 13 members and guests. Members of other western region
organizations who came were: Richard Ireland of the Columbia River
RPCVA, Portland, OR, Sam Greer from Boise, Idaho, Aileen Lie,
Paulette Thompson (Seattle liaison to the NPCA board), and Joana
Ramos from the Seattle, WA, RPCV organization, SEAPAX. We met at the
EWEB's Community Room and provided a potluck lunch.
In May the PC recruiter at the U of O organized a group of WCPCA
members to have dinner together and attend the U of O lecture of
Greg Mortenson, author of Three Cups of Tea.
WCPCA had a booth at the Saturday Market in Eugene on two Saturdays
in August where we introduced the organization and the PC to
shoppers. Calendars and shirts were on sale and PC literature was
available.
In August the Regional Campout was held at Bridge Creek, a group
site in the Wenatchee National Forest, WA, with SEAPAX as host. A
regional meeting was held and WCPCA was represented by two members.
In September WCPCA members took part in the Eugene Celebration
parade and staffed a booth on two days. At the booth volunteers
answered questions, sold calendars, cards, and shirts, and
distributed PC literature.
WCPCA members supported the work of the U of O campus PC recruiter
by helping staff the PC booth at Street Faires on the U of O campus
in the spring and fall, cooperating on the organization and funding
of the NOM party in the spring, and holding the October potluck on
the U of O campus. The recruiter identified recently returned PCVs
to present programs at the potlucks.
Communications
The Communications Coordinator redesigned the website and kept it up
to date, set up Google mailing lists for board use, offered two
computer classes for members, and compiled articles for and sent out
a monthly newsletter via email . The newsletter is distributed to
members plus another 100 people who want information but haven't
joined. She set up the website to display the merchandise that we
have for sale and arranged for purchases and membership dues to be
paid through Paypal on the website. In January and August she
organized and emailed the membership directory as a .pdf file to
members.
Other members of the Communications Committee wrote articles and
identified other material for the newsletter. Notice of the potlucks
was submitted to local newspapers.
The board canceled the organization's message phone since very few
calls were made to it. WCPCA has an email account to receive general
inquiries. This email address is posted on the website and the
account is monitored by a member of the Communications Committee.
Membership
Membership rose from 87 to 115 in 2009. New members joined primarily
as a result of outreach activities and a large mailing in June. In
that month we mailed 290 letters to RPCVs in the area who were
listed in the newly issued national directory and who were not
already members. Approximately 270 letters were delivered. We asked
recipients to join and/or make a donation. As a result of the
mailing, 14 individuals and 4 couples joined the organization for an
increase of 22 in the membership.
One local RPCV who was in the process of moving made a donation but
didn't join. Seven people made donations totaling $155 as a result
of the mailing.
All but five WCPCA members have email addresses allowing us to reach
most members by email and keep communications' costs low. This, in
turn, has permitted the board to keep the dues' level low. We
believe that this has contributed significantly to the rise in
membership.
Members without an email address receive the newsletter, the
membership directory, and occasional other items in paper form by
regular mail. The annual cost per person for this mailing is
approximately $15.
WCPCA charges $15 for an annual individual membership and $22 for a
family membership. Students and RPVCs in the first year after their
service are exempt from paying dues.
Our dues structure is parallel to that of the National Peace Corps
Association which charges $15 to join an affiliate such as WCPCA.
National offers no family membership and sends a rebate of $15 to
WCPCA for each individual who joins WCPCA along with taking out a
membership in national. National also offers a one year free
membership in an affiliate to newly returned volunteers.
About 30 WCPCA members belong to the national organization; 5-8
members through the year have been exempt from paying dues.
Financial matters
In October WCPCA created the Beryl Brinkman Memorial Fund at the
Oregon Community Foundation with a deposit of $25,000. This is an
endowed fund whose principal will not be spent. Use of the annual
distributions will be restricted to funding humanitarian projects or
increasing the principal in the fund. The fund was made possible by
three generous gifts to WCPCA. Prior to our creating it the money
was invested in a bond which yielded interest that was used for
grants.
The treasurer consulted IRS publication #526, "Charitable
Contributions," and learned that membership dues paid to WCPCA as
well as donations are tax deductible. This information has been sent
to all members and is included in the welcome email sent to new
members.
Income consisted of dues, donations, fundraising profit, and
interest from accounts and an investment. Fixed expenses funded
online communications, some phone service, and legal fees. Variable
expenses were for outreach activities, membership service, potlucks
on the U of O campus, and grants.
Income from membership dues and donations was approximately $1,500
and interest from an investment was approximately $1,000. Other
expenses were paid for by receipts from fundraising. The full
financial report for 2009 is available from the treasurer.
Expenses in 2009:
General accounts at OCCU:
- Fixed expenses: $517
- Variable expenses excluding a grant: $ 3,496
- Grant of $1,000
Total: $5,013
Restricted account at OCCU:
- Expenses including a second grant of $1,000: $1,005
Grand total for expenses: $6,018
Income in 2009:
Income to both general and restricted accounts at OCCU in 2009:
$10,747
Balance in WCPCA's Oregon Community Credit Union accounts on
12/31/09: $8,473.
Officers and at-large board members for 2009
- Officers
- President: James Cloutier - Kenya (1964-66)
- Vice President: Rolly Thompson - Peru (1964-66)
- Treasurer: Jack Meacham - Turkey (1967-69)
- Secretary: Dorothy Soper - Ghana (1963-65)
- Communications Coordinator: Felicia Kenney - Benin (2003-04)
- Ex Officio: University of Oregon Peace Corps Recruiter: Justin Overdevest - Dominican Republic (2002-04)/Peru (2004-06)
- At-large members
- Robert Dwan - Uganda (1966-68)
- Maggie Keenan - Philippines (1987-90)
- Michael Kresko - Russia/Seychelles (1995-97/1994-95)
- Shannon Micheel - Dominican Republic (1995-97)
- Evangelina Sundgrenz - Uzbekistan (2000-01)
- Wayne Thompson - Peru (1964-66)
- Bob Watada - Peru (1964-66)
