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

The Peace Corps has pulled volunteers out of Honduras. The following articles and personal responses may add to an understanding of the situation.

1/25, from JOE HINDMAN:

"Here's something that came out a couple days ago in the Miami Herald (the newspaper with the best coverage of the Americas). It also mentions the PC being pulled out."

Below is an article that I found following Joe Hindman's link. There have been incidents in Honduras that seem to have led to the pull out.

Peace Corps pullout a new blow to Honduras

By FREDDY CUEVAS and ADRIANA GOMEZ LICON
Associated Press

TEGUCIGALPA, Honduras -- The U.S. government's decision to pull out all its Peace Corps volunteers from Honduras for safety reasons is yet another blow to a nation still battered by a coup and recently labeled the world's most deadly country. Neither U.S. nor Honduran officials have said what specifically prompted them to withdraw the 158 Peace Corps volunteers, which the U.S. State Department said was one of the largest missions in the world last year. It is the first time Peace Corps missions have been withdrawn from Central America since civil wars swept the region in the 1970s and 1980s. The Corps closed operations in Nicaragua from 1979 to 1991 and in El Salvador from 1980 to 1993 for safety and security reasons, but has since returned to both countries.

But the wave of violence and drug cartel-related crime hitting the Central American country had affected volunteers working on HIV prevention, water sanitation and youth projects, President Porfirio Lobo acknowledged. On Wednesday, Lobo met with senior U.S. officials to speak about security. The U.S. agreed to send a team of experts to help the Honduras government with "citizen security issues," said a State Department news statement. The U.S. Embassy in Honduras did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

Monday's pullout also comes less than two months after U.S. Rep. Howard Berman, a California Democrat, asked Secretary of State Hillary Clinton to reconsider sending police and military aid to Honduras as a response to human rights abuses. "It's a welcome step toward the United States recognizing that they have a disastrous situation in Honduras," said Dana Frank, a University of California Santa Cruz history professor who has researched and traveled in Honduras.

The decision to pull out the entire delegation came after a Peace Corps volunteer was shot in the leg during an armed robbery on Dec. 3 aboard a bus in the violence-torn city of San Pedro Sula.

Hugo Velasquez, a spokesman for the country's National Police, said 27-year-old Lauren Robert was wounded along with two other people. One of the three alleged robbers was killed by a bus passenger, Velasquez said. The daily La Prensa said Robert is from Texas.

Most areas of San Pedro Sula, like other specially violent parts of Honduras, had been declared "banned or highly discouraged for volunteers," according to the June 2011 edition of the Corps' "Welcome Book." Also banned were "all beaches at night" and a large part of the country's Atlantic coast.

Also, on Jan. 24, 2011, a Peace Corps volunteer was robbed and raped near the village of Duyure in southern Honduras. Three men were found guilty of rape and robbery in that case, according to an employee of the regional court in the southern city of Choluteca who was not authorized to be quoted by name. Sentencing is scheduled for February; the three men face up to 26 years in prison. The volunteer was apparently assaulted while hiking in a remote area.

The U.S. also announced it had suspended some training for new volunteers in El Salvador and Guatemala, though they kept open the possibility of sending new teams of volunteers once a review of security conditions is finished. El Salvador has 113 volunteers, and there are 215 in Guatemala, where the head of the Peace Corps pledged the program would continue.

The U.S. Embassy in Guatemala said in a statement the suspension only applied to the January Peace Corps class. Further reviews will determine future training in that nation.

Read more here

Peace Corps lists the colleges and universities that produced the most Peace Corps Volunteers in 2011. Read more....

The Eugene-based Environmental Law Alliance Worldwide (http://www.elaw.org) seeks help bringing a young Honduran scientist, Emilio D'Cuire, to Eugene for a ten-week ELAW Fellowship, starting April 1. Emilio and his organization, the Environmental Law Institute of Honduras (IDAMHO), are doing excellent work strengthening the rule of law and protecting natural resources in Honduras, including the Mesoamerican Reef. However, Honduras is becoming increasingly violent. The Peace Corps recently pulled out of Honduras and this is an excellent time for Emilio to travel to Oregon to gain skills and work with ELAW. Honduras has the highest homicide rate in the world, and violent attacks against environmental activists are increasingly common.

Emilio has landed a tuition scholarship for the UO American English Institute, Intensive English Program. Emilio would spend half his day at UO and the other half with ELAW, working with lawyers and scientists to gain skills and tap resources that will make him more effective when he returns to Honduras. For information on how you can support Emilio, contact Maggie Keenan (Philippines '87) at maggie@elaw.org.

Breaking from the current mission of PeaceCorps Response, assignments would be open to those who could meet qualification criteria, whether or not they had been Peace Corps Volunteers in the past. The program would place experienced and qualified individuals into assignments that draw on their specific skills and experience, with flexible time commitments.

Questions RPCVs might raise can be found here.

Jerry Rust adds mystery writer to his long list of activities:
Read more

Gary Cornelius of Eugene begins his life as a Peace Corps Volunteer in South Africa and will blog about his life there. Check him out! http://garycornelius.com/blog/

Save the Date!
Saturday, April 28th @ Cozmic Pizza-7:30

West African Cultural Arts Institute (WACAI) is organizing an evening of music, dance & fun for the whole community Saturday, April 28th @ Cozmic Pizza, starting at 7:30 pm! We will have a variety of fabulous live music, an awesome silent auction, door prizes & more. This event is an all ages, family friendly function whose proceeds go toward furthering WACAI's mission.

Please save the date by putting it in your calendar & telling all your friends!

--
Alseny & Andrea Yansane
West African Cultural Arts Institute
541.484.3111 (office)
541.232.5471 (cell)

I'm writing to ask the WCPCA membership to consider taking a step that, I believe, would give the organization a greater presence in Lane County and affirm its commitment to "bringing the world back home" and one of its purposes as listed in the constitution, " ... understanding and assisting people from diverse cultures in the Eugene, Oregon area..."

A local committee of which I'm a member as a representative of the League of Women Voters of Lane County has developed a "Statement of Principles" that advocates the fair and humane treatment of recent immigrants who live in our community. The organizing group is now asking local organizations and individuals to endorse the statement to give evidence of a community that is welcoming and supportive. I ask the WCPCA membership to learn about the statement, the organizing committee that created it, and view the list of organizations that have already endorsed it. Would you support the WCPCA's board's endorsing this statement?

First, the organizing committee, Lane County Network for Immigrant Integration, was put together by Bob Bussel, Director, Labor Education and Research Center (LERC) at the University of Oregon. Bob has studied immigration in Oregon and is the editor of Understanding the Immigrant Experience in Oregon: Research, Analysis, and Recommendations from University of Oregon Scholars, a recent publication of the LERC. Bob organized the committee in response to what he perceived as a lack of coordination among the many local governmental agencies, NGOs, and other organizations that work with immigrant communities. About 30 organizations or agencies are now represented on the committee which has been meeting monthly since November, 2010.

The committee spent some time with the participating groups' explaining to each other their work and areas in which they could use advice or support from the wider community. Their common goal was a desire to see greater integration of recent immigrants into the larger community. The Statement of Principles grew from this desire with the belief that if the statement were widely endorsed, the affirmation of support would reenforce everyone's work.

The purposes of the "Statement of Principles" are the following:

• It publicly affirms the contributions that immigrants make to enhance the quality of social, economic, and civic life in Lane County.

• It encourages a respectful dialogue about immigration that is free from discrimination and harassment.

• It advances the notion that the integration and active participation of immigrants is a necessary component in any effort to achieve a vibrant, just, and welcoming community for all.

The statement may be endorsed by both individuals and organizations. It doesn't commit anyone or any organization to a specific action. It's purpose is to strengthen the work of both individuals and organizations and possibly forge new avenues of work or alliances among those working with immigrant populations.

As of 1/25/12 fifteen organizations had signed the statement including the following: Temple Beth Israel, Catholic Community Services of Lane County, FOOD for Lane County, American Red Cross Pacific Chapter, League of Women Voters of Lane County, Lane Education Service District, Centro Latino Americano, Lane County ACLU. I can give you a full list upon request. I know, also, that the city councils of Eugene and Springfield are discussing an endorsement as are the school boards of Springfield and 4J.

Click here for the "Statement of Principles", as well as the text of Oregon Law 181.850, Enforcement of federal immigration laws, which is referred to in the statement.

I would be very pleased to answer any of your questions about this idea or the relevant documents. I would like the board to learn from you whether you feel the organization should take this step. Why so or why not? Please email info@westcascadepca.org.

Many thanks in advance for your care, time, and consideration.

Dorothy Soper

Below is a letter from longtime WCPCA member, Bob Crites, who is writing from his second home in Receife, Brazil. Bob and his wife, Dalva, spend their time in both Eugene and Receife. Bob is locally known as a retired counselor from the Springfield public schools, local sponsor and mentor over several years of the Olympic long distance runner from Mozambique, Maria Mutola, and founder of Students Helping Street Kids International (SHSKI). This organization has long supported the private school education of promising children of poverty in Brazil. Initially this support included funding from the efforts of students in Springfield and Eugene public schools. WCPCA contributed to SHSKI in 2010.

Bob is looking for a host family for a talented young woman from Receife, Brazil who will attend high school in Eugene or Springfield next year. He's hopeful that the local Peace Corps community will be helpful in this effort. Please read his request below.

Dorothy Soper

January, 2012

Dear Fellow WCPCA Members,

I am looking for a host family for, Manuela Villanova de Andrade Lima , the granddaughter of a close friend of my wife, Dalva. Manuela lives in Recife, Brazil and will come to the Eugene area for the 2012-13 school year. I am asking if any of you, or anyone you know, might be interested in hosting Manuela. If so, please let me know, and I will follow up.

Please give this request some consideration, and I hope to hear from you. I will be eternally grateful for any help you can give me in finding a good host family for this very sweet, intelligent girl. Below is a letter about herself that Manuela sent to me; and attached is a photo of her. She converses very well in English. She will be coming through an official student exchange program.

I am in Brazil at this time, but you can still reach me by phone at my Eugene number below. It will be a local call for you.

My Warmest Regards, Bob Crites, PCV, Brazil - 1964-66 bcrites@helpthekids.org 541-686-1396

I'm Manuela, fifteen years old and i'm currently studying in GGE school, i'm on my 9th grade. I intend to be doing my high school next year in the US of A, i'd start it in August and stay for 10 months. I would appreciate if you guys helped me finding a family, since my mom isn't so sure about me going to a random one.

At school i have really good grades at school, I've got mostly A+'s and received a prize recently regarding it. I live with my parents and grandmother and i have 3 older siblings, they don't live with me though.

I'm very interested in Sciences and i actually plan to study Physics in college. I'm a vegetarian and absolutely love animals, so a house full of them would be delightful. I have a little kitten called Nirvana and she's the sweetest thing. It would be very interesting if i had little siblings at my house aswell, i happen to really like children.

I dance Ballet in my free time and like to listen to music, watch tv shows, blog around and read lots of books, i also really enjoy open places and everything about Art and Photography. I'm a total movie addict, and totally fanatic about sci fi ones, mostly Star Wars. I can't spend a day without music either, and some of my favourite band are Nirvana, AC/DC, The Cure, The Sex Pistols, The Ramones and The Beatles.

My main goal in this exchange program is getting to know different cultures and improving my english.

And if you ask me i'd prefer a house with no smokers.

Manuela

Oregon Asian Celebration 2012
Goes Green, Celebrates the Year of the Dragon

EUGENE - The Eugene/Springfield Asian Council is proud to present the 27th annual Oregon Asian Celebration February 18 and 19, at the Lane Events Center/Fairgrounds, which will highlight sustainability and global prosperity in its 2012 theme, "The Future is in Your Hands." The two-day event offers cultural activities for all ages.

Doors open at 10:00 a.m., with the traditional Chinese Lion Dance to scare away the evil spirits and usher in a weekend of good fortune. Celebration co-chair David Tam says the idea behind this year's theme is to let people know "the future of our planet is dependent on the actions we take today." 2012 is also the year of the Dragon, a symbol of passion and nobility.

In keeping with the sustainable aspects of the theme, the Celebration is partnering with Waste Free Oregon to recycle and reduce waste at the event. Styrofoam will be banned from the food court, and all materials will be printed on recycled paper with environmentally-friendly ink.

International students from the University of Oregon will lead cooking demonstrations in the Food Court, which will feature cuisines from countries such as India, Japan, Vietnam, Korea and the Philippines. The Celebration will also feature its traditional art and Asian history exhibits, martial arts expos and youth room.

Highlighted main stage performances include drum dancers from the Jindo province of South Korea; the music of KOHALA, Hawaii's acoustic guitar trio which reflects the beauty of the Kohala region on the Big Island; a duet between the Iron Mango Orchestra and the North Eugene High School 'ukulele Orchestra; Portland Taiko, a Celebration favorite; and the Balinese dancers sponsored by the Indonesian Consulate. Weaver, Susan Pavel, will bring "Weaving Words" to the Celebration Atrium Stage on both afternoons.

Admission is $6 per day ($10 for the weekend) for adults; children 12 and under are free. The event closes at 7:00 p.m. on Saturday and 6:00 p.m. on Sunday. A complete schedule of activities and performances is available at the door or at www.asiancelebration.org.

The event is produced by the Eugene/Springfield Asian Council with sponsorship support from Kikkoman International, Sunrise Asian Market, McDonalds Restaurants, Tam Global Network Consultants, University of Oregon, City of Eugene, Comcast, and KVAL-TV.

The mission of the Eugene/Springfield Asian Council is to create opportunities that foster friendships and harmonious relations among all people by presenting events and activities that will stimulate a better understanding of Asian and Asian-American cultures.

From The Board

Our condolences are extended to Bob York upon the death of his wife, Darlene, on January 16th. Bob and Darlene were PCVs in Lithuania, 1996-98. They moved to Eugene in recent years and joined WCPCA. During this last year while Darlene was living with cancer, she and Bob enjoyed beautiful music, the nature of Oregon and Canada, and lovely times with family and friends.

The WCPCA board worked hard in January to welcome 2012! We established goals for the year, approved a budget, and planned potlucks through the spring. That's a good start but there is more to come and that's where the membership and the larger Peace Corps community have a significant role to play.

Below I'll summarize what we've done so far and show where you are invited to play a part. We're looking forward to hearing from you.

The board will pursue the following goals in 2012:

Goal #1: Organizing activities "to bring the world back home," the Peace Corps' third goal

Activities planned at this time are listed below. Others will be added through the year.

• Organizing six potlucks, each with a program. This includes the NOM party in May to honor new Peace Corps trainees from the area.

• Issuing a monthly electronic newsletter with information about activities of WCPCA, the Peace Corps, and the National Peace Corps Association (NPCA) as well as other news items of general interest. The newsletter will be emailed to all WCPCA members as well as to an email list of interested parties.

• Maintaining the WCPCA website on which the posts describe current activities and general business.

• Publishing an annual membership directory as a .pdf file and emailing it to all members.

• Holding two discussion group meetings per month as the Salon Ougadougou.

• Volunteering to support Lane County humanitarian organizations. We are currently committed to two activities per year with Food for Lane County.

• Participating in a booth to represent WCPCA in the Oregon Country Fair in July.

• Participating in the Eugene Celebration weekend in August with a parade entry and staffing a WCPCA booth.

• Participating in community activities such as the International High School's "Africa Day" and giving a presentation to OASIS on the Peace Corps at 50 in February.

• Affiliating with the National Peace Corps Association to maintain a national perspective and recruit members.

• Participating in northwest regional RPCV group activities such as an annual regional representatives' meeting in the spring and, in 2012, organizing the August summer campout for the northwest and northern California RPCVs.

Goal #2: Funding humanitarian projects

• Selecting and funding humanitarian projects focusing on projects organized by PCVs from Oregon.

• Raising funds to support this goal.

Goal #3: Supporting the University of Oregon's Peace Corps recruiter

• WCPCA members will help staff campus recruiting events.

• Cosponsoring with the recruiter the annual NOM party to honor new Peace Corps trainees from the area.

Budgeting for 2012:

Treasurer, Dale Morris, proposed a budget for 2012 which the board approved at its January meeting. The budget keeps costs in line with projected income from membership dues and fundraising. Major provisions of the 2012 budget are listed below. The full budget will be posted on the website.

• Projected income from dues: $1,400; from fundraising: $1,000- $2,000; from distributions of the Beryl Brinkman Memorial Fund which must be used to fund humanitarian projects: $1,150
• Projected cost of business and outreach activities: $1,400
• Projected level of awards to humanitarian projects: $2,000

Balance in the current accounts is the following:

• OCCU savings and checking accounts: $6,178
• OCCU account restricted to funding grants: $621

Balance in the Beryl Brinkman Memorial Fund managed by OCF: $25,903

Potlucks with programs in 2012:

Potlucks provide an excellent opportunity for our members and interested parties to meet and mingle. Attendance is in the 30 to 50 range. Each potluck features a program to inform our membership about Peace Corps activities or related items. We often hear presentations from recently returned PCVs who tell us about their individual programs.

Maggie Keenan and Josette Green are the program committee. They've worked with U of O Peace Corps recruiter, Hannah Klausman, to plan program activities through the early summer. You'll see their plans in a separate article.

Membership:

Miriam Aiken is joining Felicia and Dorothy to work on maintaining our membership base. You've all received emails recently to encourage you to update your membership as necessary and to contribute or update a bio for the 2012 membership directory.

Please note that shortly before your membership dues are due, you'll receive an email from Miriam to remind you to renew. Your renewing on time is a big help to us all. We're trying to make online renewing more inviting. See details below. Thanks for your cooperation!

We'll shortly be updating the membership pages on the website so that it will be easier for you to join, renew, or update your bio or contact information through the website. To pay your dues through the website you would use PayPal but you don't need a PayPal account to do this. Many thanks to those who renew promptly!!

Felicia manages the membership database. She keeps it up to date as members join and renew their memberships. She also organizes and publishes an annual a membership directory which is emailed as a .pdf document to members only.

In addition to our membership list there is an email list of people interested in receiving the WCPCA newsletter who are aren't members. This group receives all mailings except the membership directory.

WCPCA currently has approximately 150 members. About one third of this group belongs as "individual" members who pay $15 in annual dues. Another third of the membership is in the "family" membership category in which a family pays $22 for an annual membership. The remaining third of WCPCA members are in one of four categories of memberships which owe no dues: student, first year member, PCV, or PC trainee.

The board is pleased that for the last two years the income from memberships has been approximately $1,400 per year and this amount covers the organization's business expenses.

The board will continue to invite new members of both the Peace Corps community and local friends of the Peace Corps to join to expand the reach and depth of the organization's work. As our membership grows we will be able to expand our activities.

Fundraising:

For several years the organization's primary fundraising efforts have been the sale of international calendars published by the Madison WI RPCV group as well as the sale of tee shirts and sweat shirts designed by board member, James Cloutier.

In 2011 James' tee shirt design celebrated the Peace Corps' 50th anniversary. This was a popular design. We printed 60 shirts and have sold all but two for a profit of about $500.

We ordered 200 calendars from the Madison RPCV group. The 2012 calendar celebrated the 25th year of the calendars' publication. Those of us who know them are aware that they are works of art and there is a consistent demand for them. This year we sold calendars to individuals, through an ad on the website, and through the following local stores: Swahili Imports, Greater Goods, and Jambo World Crafts. In all we sold 197 calendars for a profit of approximately $1,000.

The board discussed fundraising at the January meeting. There is support for continuing to sell tee shirts and calendars but also strong interest in exploring other fundraising possibilities that offer opportunities for social and cultural activities.

We'll be putting together a committee to talk about this and invite members to join this effort. Please email Dorothy at info@westcascadepca.org if you would like to contribute. You'll find more information about this initiative below.

If you are looking for more of a role in WCPCA activities, the board would like to know. We're looking for you.

The 2012 board of directors is your board. We are nine individuals committed to making WCPCA work as an organization. But to fulfill the goals that we've set for 2012, we'll need ample membership support. The goals are for all of us to pursue together, enjoying our work, and reaping the rewards of our efforts.

Here are some opportunities:

• Social/fundraising activities: We need people with ideas for activities that combine fundraising with social and cultural events. We have a small but steady income and money in the bank. But to expand our role and presence in the community we might take on new activities or new programs or well known activities with a new twist to "bring the world back home." Come and brainstorm with us at a meeting in late February or early March. Let Dorothy know if you have a preference for a date or time. Email info@westcascadepca.org.

• Social evenings: There is interest in WCPCA's having frequent social gatherings in the evening at one or more local pubs. If you're interested in helping to organize such, please let us know at info@westcascadepca.org.

• Volunteer activities: We're looking for people with ideas about new opportunities for volunteer work for our membership as a group. We're committed to working on two events per year with Food for Lane County but we're open to other ideas. Do you know of activities or organizations that could use our help? If so, please email us at info@westcascadepca.org.

• Speaking opportunity: The board has accepted on invitation from OASIS, an organization of retired persons, to give a presentation on the Peace Corps at 50th on Wednesday, February 22nd, 1-2 pm at Macy's in Valley River Center. We're putting together a panel. Would you like to take part? If so, please email info@westcascadepca.org.

• Regional meeting: The primary annual meeting of representatives of the northwest RPCV organizations is being organized by the RPCV group in Seattle and will take place on Saturday, March 10th, in Seattle. One or two nights of lodging will be offered by the Seattle group's members to those attending. This meeting is primarily for board members but if you are interested in attending, please let us know by emailing info@westcascadepca.org.

AIDS Education in Swaziland 6 pm, Friday, February 10, 2012 at the home of Tom and Nancy English (directions)

Swaziland, a small landlocked country in Southern Africa, has the highest HIV infection rate in the world. Returned Peace Corps Volunteer Serena Parcell will speak about community health and HIV education in Swaziland. Parcell served as a Peace Corps Volunteer in Swaziland from 2008-2010. Her community education work included workshops for adults, weekend camps for young girls, and more. She collaborated with World Vision and drew support from the President's Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR). Serena will receive a Masters of Public Administration this year from the University of Oregon's Department of Planning, Public Policy and Management. Please bring a dish to share.

If you need a ride to a WCPCA activity, the board is committed to helping you find one. Also, if you are interested in helping organize rides to potlucks or in providing a ride, we could use your help! Send an email info@westcascadepca.org, and let us know. This way, we can ensure that everyone who is interested in attending an event can make it, plus avoid parking difficulties and even help out the planet.

West Cascade will hold its next pot luck on April 13. Watch upcoming newsletters for more information!

On May 4, we will team up with Hannah Klausman, UO Peace Corps Recruiter, to host this year's Nomination (Nom) Party. This promises to be a Pot Luck highlight. We will be honoring Peace Corps trainees who will soon be leaving for their in-country training programs. Join us at the Wesley Center at 6 pm, 1236 Kincaid St., behind the UO Bookstore. Program details will follow in upcoming newsletters.

West Cascade Pot Lucks are a good way to meet RPCVs and enjoy presentations about compelling international topics. Please let us know if you would like to host a pot luck at your home. Gatherings are typically 30-40 people. We are looking for hosts for either indoor or outdoor gatherings. West Cascade supplies the paper plates, tabelware, etc. and guests bring the food. Hosts only need to provide the space! We are thankful to our regular hosts and are open to new venues! Please contact maggie@pacinfo.com.