INPCA. Bringing the World back home.

Overseas Short-Term Volunteer Positions for RPCVs

noreply@blogger.com (INPCA) — Fri, 30 Mar 2012 18:44:00 +0000

Now is the time to be a part of some exciting short-term international development opportunities available for Returned Peace Corps Volunteers and other skilled professionals through the Farmer to Farmer program.

The National Peace Corps Association is connecting its two innovative programs - Africa Rural Connect and Encore Service Corps International - to benefit rural smallholder farmers.

As an Encore volunteer, you will live in East Africa for 6 weeks and collaborate with and mentor entrepreneurs, NGO colleagues, farmers and others while working with International Fertilizer Development Center (IFDC).

Then, you will continue communication with your colleagues in Africa for up to 6 months while sharing project successes and challenges with the broader Africa Rural Connect community.

All of the positions will emphasize 'bringing to scale' - increasing the number and size of agribusiness clusters, strengthening the role of the private (farm and firm) sector contribution in cluster activities and enlarging the impact on food security by tripling the number of smallholder farmers involved.

Submit your applications now!

Kay Dixon's Take Aways from the Regional Meeting

noreply@blogger.com (INPCA) — Fri, 30 Mar 2012 18:32:00 +0000

Hello,
By now you have received the official report from the regional meeting. I am glad that I submitted the INPCA report electronically so that you can see what we did report, not what the recorder heard.
But my "take aways" are what Kevin and I heard that can help INPCA. Sarah and Heather, too bad that your schedules did not permit you to go... the informal discussions are "the meat!"

Membership ideas:
First year is free (from NPCA). At all events, with new attendees, provide the membership form, remind the attendee it is a free first year membership.. when they complete the form, you are now building your database (whether they pay or not!) (collecting their emails).
Through the online PeaceCorpsConnect, Leaders are able to download data (emails) of PCVs and RPCVs in our region. (I have not looked at this to validate it, but others were using this vehicle)
Build database of attendees and events/interests (could be an Excel spreadsheet) so now you can determine interests, etc. Use database for event invite, thank you for participating and note about the next event.

Communication
Groups have websites, Facebook and blogs and use emails to correspond with membership. But these are not as useful as they sound! Telephone trees and calling are much more effective.
Use Survey Monkey (free tool for surveys of less than 10 questions) http://www.surveymonkey.com/ for quick surveys and then collect responders' information for membership listings.
Use Mail Chimp (www.mailchimp.com/) for newsletter distribution. (Portland distributes monthly/regular newsletter free to all on mailing list, but publishes weekly updates only to paid membership. Use Yahoo Groups for these updates. Portland is much bigger than INPCA.) Groups are not using post office for newsletter distributions. Occasionally do send post cards for events.

Tshirts
The Cascade PCA has created a Tshirt that can be sold to any PC group or individual. We purchased one to show you all. They have a graphic artist RPCV. He designed the shirt, etc. Whole sale cost is $16 (no order less than 1 dozen) and retail cost is $20. Shirt is light blue with designs and logos multicolored. Artist was going to research licensing the designs so you could modify for very local use. (But I would recommend buying shirts as they are and then retailing to members.)

Campout
Details are at the website: http://westcascadepca.org/ Not too early to make reservations. Yurts and some camp sites are already filled.

Leadership roles
One group has a "communications role/expert" whose role it is to maintain the email database.
Service and / or events chairman --- separate role other than officer

Fund raising activity
Hold a "thing" fundraiser. For example, all attendees bring notebooks for a local ESL project.
Support other community fundraisers by offering to do the cleanup and then receive a "share" of the funds raised!
And then the usual assortment of silent auctions, etc.

Encourage membership in NPCA... this is the advocacy part of Peace Corps. Remember Peace Corps is a government agency and cannot lobby/advocate for itself. If we believe in Peace Corps, we need to support the NPCA... to advocate for budget/ funding for Peace Corps etc.

KSPS 2012 - We raised $32,655

noreply@blogger.com (INPCA) — Fri, 30 Mar 2012 18:29:00 +0000

Throughout 18 days and nights of campaigning, viewers have called in with $548,787.00 (that’s through 3,214 pledges) of promised contributions. KSPS was aiming for $350,000.

Here is the thank you note from Shawn Claypool!

We have ended our Spring 2012 membership campaign and those of us at KSPS Public Television wish to thank you for joining us during our campaign. We tallied the pledges that were called in during the entire event and wanted to give you a final accounting of how your effort contributed to the stations success.
We had 18 days of great programming and the wonderful support of our viewers. Many who renewed their memberships or gave an additional gift. And we welcomed many new members to the Friends of KSPS for which we are truly grateful. Throughout the days and nights of campaigning to date, viewers have called in with $548,787.00 (that’s through 3,214 pledges) of promised contributions.
KSPS is a programming service primarily funded by individuals. The contributions we receive help us pay for the broadcast rights to show the programs we present 24 hours a day, 365 days a year. Membership dollars enable us to "buy" educational programs, continue showing favorites, and the option to contract with new shows viewers will enjoy. It is truly a special partnership.
KSPS Public Television is a place where quality and excellence count. We strive to be exceptional, competing in a fast changing technological world. At KSPS-TV, we make substantial television happen, with limited budgets, funded by people who care. Just like YOU! You cared enough to give your time . . . a generous contribution we truly appreciate.

Western Regional Campout

noreply@blogger.com (INPCA) — Fri, 16 Mar 2012 00:56:00 +0000

Here is the link for the Western Regional Campout. It is hosted by the West Cascade Peace Corps Association and will be held 12 miles north of Coos Bay, Oregon on August 2-5th 2012.The sites are located in Sunset Bay State Park. Tent locations are in the park's 'C' and 'B' groups.

http://www.westcascadepca.org/campout-2012-registration.php

Feel free to register as soon as possible, spots are filling up quickly!

A great opportunity to celebrate "Peace Corps Day!"

noreply@blogger.com (INPCA) — Fri, 17 Feb 2012 21:10:00 +0000

Hi Spokane-area RPCVs,

Greetings from the Seattle Peace Corps office. As the Regional Representative for Eastern Washington, I will be holding a special information session in Spokane on March 1st - “Peace Corps Day”. I’m looking for 3-4 inspiring RPCVs to be on a panel and talk about their Peace Corps experiences and answer questions to prospective Peace Corps volunteers.

Would you be interested in participating and sharing your story? If so, please let me know by Friday, February 24th at eerickson2@peacecorps.gov or 206-239-6624.

Thursday, March 1
6 to 7:30 p.m. - Info Session: "Stories from Returned Volunteers"
Crosby Hall - Road to Bali Room @ Gonzaga University
* RSVP on Facebook *

Thank you for participating in 3rd goal activities—bringing it home!

Appreciatively yours,

Erin Erickson
Regional Representative
Returned Volunteer, Moldova'07-'10

Improving the World One Grad at a Time

noreply@blogger.com (INPCA) — Fri, 10 Feb 2012 00:36:00 +0000

Gonzaga U. Moves up to No. 2 Nationwide for Alumni Serving as Peace Corps Volunteers

Dues Reminder from Heather

noreply@blogger.com (INPCA) — Tue, 07 Feb 2012 18:36:00 +0000

Hello, all.
Just a reminder that INPCA dues are coming in now, and it's not too late to pay yours. Whether it's $15 for local (INPCA) only or $50 to support both your local group and the national group (NPCA), your dues and donations matter:

You stay informed when keep our website and blog (inpca.net) stay up and running
You can participate in campouts, potlucks, Fall Folk Festival, KSPS pledge times, etc.
On your behalf, INPCA has donated to the Salvation Army, Second Harvest Food Bank, a book project in South America, and Peace Corps Partnership Projects (PCPP)

A couple things to remember:

If you're hoping for a hard copy of the newsletter written by our Mike O'Neill, please enclose an additional $5 to cover postage and materials. Electronic copies are included in your dues.
If you'd like to use our couples rate, it's $25 for local only.

INPCA Officers -2012

noreply@blogger.com (INPCA) — Thu, 12 Jan 2012 00:17:00 +0000

Congratulations to our new set of officers.
Sarah Everstine - President
Maria Beebe - Secretary
Heather Kaschmitter - Treasurer and Outreach Chair

Local Peace Corps Advocates Urge Support for Agency

noreply@blogger.com (INPCA) — Fri, 30 Sep 2011 19:09:00 +0000

50^th Anniversary Gathering Spotlights Critical Corps Needs

Kevin and Kay Dixon, RPCVs Colombia, were among the twenty-some Returned Peace Corps Volunteers (RPCVs) from Washington State who traveled to the Nation’s Capital with a message: Support legislation to honor and strengthen the Peace Corps mission of promoting peace and friendship around the world.

They were among more than 800 who participated in a September 22^nd Capitol Hill advocacy day, organized by the National Peace Corps Association. September 22^nd marked fifty years to the day of the final congressional passage and signing of the Peace Corps Act in 1961. More than 5000 participated in Peace Corps 50^th celebrations in Washington, DC between September 21 to 25.

The Dixons met with Congresswoman Cathy McMorris Rodgers, Fifth District of Washington, to request her support for Peace Corps initiatives going forward.

Advocates urged continued strong support for funding the Peace Corps, noting the positive role Peace Corps volunteers play in United States outreach to the world and emphasizing the forgotten dividend and many domestic benefits RPCVs provide to their communities here at home. Earlier this year, Peace Corps received a $26 million cut to its $400 million budget. Advocates are seeking to forestall further cuts. Some 8655 Peace Corps volunteers are currently in the field – an increase of nearly 1000 from a year ago and the highest number in 40 years. Since 1961, more than 200,000 citizens have served as Peace Corps volunteers in nearly 140 countries.

Advocates urged bi-partisan support and cooperation to ensure passage of the Kate Puzey Peace Corps Volunteer Protection Act, designed to strengthen the agency’s training and response to volunteers serving overseas that are subjected to physical and sexual assault. Since this issue received much attention earlier this year, Congress, the Peace Corps and victims advocacy groups have taken significant steps forward to address the concern.

Congress is also considering legislation to authorize the creation of a commemorative work near the National Mall to mark the historic significance of the founding of the Peace Corps in 1961, and the ideals represented by its founding. This project would be entirely funded by private donations. Peace Corps advocates say passage of this legislation would serve as a capstone to this year’s 50^th anniversary celebration.

Pow Wow 2011 Directions and Message from Jane

noreply@blogger.com (INPCA) — Fri, 02 Sep 2011 15:35:00 +0000

Dear All:
I am looking forward to seeing you at the Wellpinit Pow Wow this Saturday, Sept. 3rd. (Directions are below.) If you are planning to attend, it would be great if you could RSVP to this email address or to my cell phone (509) 863 7370. Texting is a super form of communication for this. Why RSVP? So I'll know to look for you and be a better hostess, of course!

The group will be meeting up at the entrance to the Pow Wow grounds around 11:30 AM. For those of you that feel more comfortable entering with a group, I will be leaving my house at 11:15 AM - you are more than welcome to meet up at my house first.

There is a variety of food available at the pow wow - from Indian Tacos to Pow Wow burgers to, well, I am sure there is something healthy there.

I will be heading back up to my house in the early afternoon, for those of you who wanted to visit/see my new place.

DIRECTIONS:
There are a number of different ways to reach Wellpinit from the Spokane area. I drove the first two, and marked the mileage myself, as the MapQuest directions are a little off. The third set I based off MapQuest, so if those numbers are off, I apologize.

[I now live at 49801 Little Falls Rd, and you will drive by my new home on your way to the Pow Wow. I am leaving my house at 11:15 am. If you want to stop by, please do – but please go slowly down the ¼ mile driveway out of respect for my neighbor. BTW: the directions to my house on MapQuest/GPS are incorrect and you will end up at the dam, below my house. Just one of those things. I will be setting out the INPCA sign at the end of the driveway – there is already a Windermere Realty sign there.]

From I-90:
Take exit 277, to RT 2 West.
Follow RT 2 for 18.8 miles to Reardan
Turn north onto State Road 231. (It is a right turn just before the US Bank.)
Follow 231 for 11.4 miles, turning LEFT onto Little Falls Road. (There is NO SIGN for ‘Wellpinit’ going this way.)
Follow Little Falls Road to the end (9.4 miles). There will be a stop sign.
Turn RIGHT at the stop sign.
The Pow Wow Grounds will be on your right in about a mile. Turn right onto the Sherwood Loop (there may or may not be a road sign.) Take a LEFT into the day-parking parking lot, and then walk across the road to the Pow Wow.

From Francis (this is the pretty way)
Francis turns into 291.
Turn left (West) onto Seven Mile road. Follow Seven Mile for 8.2 miles.
Turn right onto Dover. Follow Dover for 4.9 miles.
Turn right onto Long Lake Rd. Follow Long Lake Road for 8.7 miles - there will be a stop sign at the end of it. At this point, you are at the intersection of State Road 231, Long Lake Road, and Little Falls Road. Just go straight across this intersection, onto Little Falls Road.
Follow Little Falls Road to the end (9.4 miles). There will be a stop sign.
Turn RIGHT at the stop sign.
The Pow Wow Grounds will be on your right in about a mile.
Turn right onto the Sherwood Loop (there may or may not be a road sign.)
Take a LEFT into the day-parking parking lot, and then walk across the road to the Pow Wow.

From 395
Turn West (Left if you are coming from Spokane area, Right, if you are coming from Colville area) onto WA-292, (Garden Spot Rd?) in the Loon Lake area.
Follow this for 5.8 miles, into Springdale.
In Springdale, turn South (left) onto State Road 231.
Follow 231 to Ford (11.7 miles) – there will be a sign for Wellpinit. Take a right onto the Ford-Wellpinit Rd.
Follow the Ford-Wellpinit Rd for 9 – 10 miles.
The Pow Wow grounds will be on the left… and you may have driven by the Sherwood loop entrance.

West Regional RPCV Campout - info from Delores

noreply@blogger.com (INPCA) — Fri, 29 Jul 2011 15:24:00 +0000

web site, so please check it out: http://web.mac.com/twopats/PeaceCorpsCampout2011

Regional Campout:

Welcome to the 21st Annual

West Regional RPCV Campout

Celebrating 50 years of Peace Corps

Dates: August 4-7, 2011 (Thursday through Sunday night)

Place: Grayback Gulch Group Campground

www.recreation.gov/camping/Grayback_Id/r/campgroundDetails.do?contractCode=NRSO&parkId=70097&topTabIndex=CampingSpot

Located 36 miles northeast of Boise, ID on Idaho Highway 21- Ponderosa Pine Scenic Highway - just 2 miles south of historic Idaho City (easy to find - honest!).

Schedule:

Aug. 4 (Thurs.) - Arrive and settle in for a good time

Aug. 5 (Fri.) - Go sightseeing, take advantage of many recreation

opportunities (see Activities page) or just hang out

at camp - maybe a drumming circle in the evening

Aug. 6 (Sat.)

4:00 PM - Regional Meeting

5:00 PM - Gather for a social hour. Bring your own liquid

refreshments & hors d'oeuvres to share.

6:00 PM - Dinner and Peace Corps birthday cake served by

Idaho RPCVs

Time to be announced - Entertainment by Rosalie Sorrels - You

are in for a treat! Rosalie is a world renowned

folksinger-songwriter/storyteller extraordinaire.

www.rosaliesorrels.com

Aug. 7 (Sun.) - More time for sightseeing, recreation & relaxation

Aug. 8 (Mon.) - Checkout by 1:00 PM, please. See you next year! ‘Bye

Outdoor Activities from Delores Schwindt

noreply@blogger.com (INPCA) — Thu, 28 Apr 2011 09:20:00 +0000

Hey,
The temp hit 60 finally so it is time to think positive about being outdoors. I'm sending some resources for those of you who are too busy to search out these great, mostly family-friendly, activities on your own. These are not INPCA events but ones in which some of us may want to participate in the company of our RPCV friends.

Biking:

Bike to Work Week is May 16-20.

On the previous Sunday, May 15th: Lilac Century and Family Fun Ride: rides from 15 to 100 miles starting from SFCC. Info: sanwrc.org/ There is a registration fee as there is a t-shirt and baked potato lunch involved. Let me know if you want to meet me for this ride.
On May 18th is the Ride of Silence, a quiet ride through downtown to bring attention to all those who have been killed or injured while biking on our city streets. Meet at 6 PM at the corner of Riverside and Howard. I’ll be there, weather permitting. Let me know if you want to meet up for this ride. Info: visitspokane.com/membership/ride_silence No fee but they would like you to register.

June 19: Loreen Miller Bike Ride: They have modified this popular event to include various distances from 3-100 miles. info: cancerpatientcare.org Registration and fee required.
June 21: Ride the Wall: a celebration of the summer equinox in the evening: 13 miles along the CdA River. Fundraiser for Habitat for Humanity, Idaho. info: hfhidaho.org. Registration and fee required.
Sept 11: Spokefest - if you haven't done this ride in Riverside State Park you really should give it a try. Distance choices from 9-47 miles. info: Spokefest.org. Registration and fee required.

Lots more: The Spokane Bicycle Club has rides of every length and speed available on most days of the week. Check them out at spokanebicycleclub.org. Rides are free. Club membership is $15/year.

Camping:

July 1-4: you are invited to join the Portland RPCV group at their campout along the Columbia River: info: crpca.org/campout.html

August 4-7: Regional campout north of Boise hosted by the Idaho RPCV group. info: web.mac.com/twopats/peacecorpscampout2011

Hiking:

We hope to get some INPCA hiking events scheduled through the summer. In the meantime, these organizations are out there, rain or shine! (or snow)
Spokane Mountaineers: spokanemountaineers.org/: lots and lots of activities year round
Hobnailers: tinyurl.com/hbnlr
Meetup: Inland NW Hikers: tinyurl.com/inwhkr
Meetup: Burning Boots Trail Club: tinyurl.com/brnbts
Conservation Northwest: conservationnw.org
Panhandle Nordic Club: panhandlenordicclub.com/

WA Trails Association (wta.org) does not have organized hikes in this area but does work to improve and sometimes create new trails on this side of the mts. If you'd like to join a work party, mostly on the Liberty Lake Trail this year, go to their website and choose Volunteer. Or contact me for more info.

Birding:
The local Audubon Society (spokaneaudubon.org) has many birding trips through the spring and summer. If you aren't a birder but would like to learn, there is a beginners class being offered on May 9,11 and 13 (evenings) and a trip to Turnbull on the 14th. info: garyb@spokanefalls.edu

You have absolutely no reason to be sitting at home..................go have some fun!

Delores Schwindt
Malaysia 72-74

Regional Meeting Saturday, April 30 ... INPCA is the host...

noreply@blogger.com (INPCA) — Thu, 21 Apr 2011 18:14:00 +0000

All RPCVs in the INPCA region are invited and encouraged to participate in the Northwest Regional meeting, Saturday, April 30, at the home of Kevin and Kay Dixon, 619 E Martingale Ct, Spokane.
Regional meetings are open to all RPCVs located in the Northwest. This is an opportunity to share and discuss the activities among the local RPCV groups. Currently, we know there will be representatives from the Seattle and Portland groups, as well as our Regional Rep (to the NPCA) Joe Hindeman. We have not heard from the group in Boise, Idaho, but, they, too, are invited.
The program begins with a potluck luncheon at noon, followed by an afternoon of discussion.
Late afternoon, we invite our guests to see our current Asian Pacific Folk Art Exhibit before adjourning to a local restaurant for dinner. (As of today, April 21, the restaurant venue has not been finalized.)
Our out of town guests are staying with friends in the area. The INPCA Board deliberately chose this weekend so that our visitors could participate in Bloomsday festivities.
Topics of discussion will include the 50th anniversary celebration, both our local activities and the NPCA festivities in September.

April 22, 2011 at 11am: Volksmarch

noreply@blogger.com (INPCA) — Thu, 21 Apr 2011 16:06:00 +0000

White stuff may have fallen from the sky yesterday but the forecast is for better times ahead. Friday is expected to be a sunny, reasonably warm day so we are planning to do a Volksmarch of 10k starting from the main entrance of Deaconess Medical Center (on 5th Ave) at 11 AM. The route takes us through downtown and Riverfront Park and on, so there will be many choices for a lunch stop along the way or afterward. You do not need to be a Volksmarch member to participate.

It would be good, but not required, that you let me (Delores Schwindt) know if you plan to participate so we don't leave without you if you have a little difficulty finding a parking spot, etc. There is usually parking available at the medical building directly across the street from the main entrance. There are also 10 hour meters on some of the streets around the Medical Center and Lewis and Clark HS. Bring lots of quarters!

Hope to see you then.

Delores Schwindt
Malaysia 72-74
489-2005

June 11, 2011 - Grand Floral Parade in Portland

noreply@blogger.com (INPCA) — Mon, 18 Apr 2011 23:04:00 +0000

This is from the Portland RPCV group. Sounds fun so I'm going to participate. They need more flag-carrying RPCV's to get all the flags in the parade. Hope some of you can make it. Car-pooling to Portland a real possibility. Please respond to Richard Ireland, not to me. Thanks, Delores (Malaysia 72-74)

Message from Rich Ireland: CRPCA has entered the Grand Floral Parade! To celebrate Peace Corps 50th Anniversary. We are wanting to carry all the flags of countries that Peace Corps has served. The Parade is June 11. When we start and finish depends on where we are placed in the parade. If first on the list you get your country's flag if not you will carry an "orphan" flag. We would like country costumes, but some people don't have them or out grew them. We have a 50th 'Anniversary T shirt which will cost about $15 which will be worn with Khaki pants. The parade is a little over 4 miles and we have all the flags.

If you are interested in carrying a flag email Rich Ireland at rireland88@yahoo.com.

Peace Corps Nominees Send-Off

noreply@blogger.com (INPCA) — Fri, 01 Apr 2011 23:22:00 +0000

You are invited to the 2011 Send-Off Party:

Sunday, April 17 from 1 to 5 p.m.

Spokane, WA 99204

Home of James and Maria Beebe, returned volunteers

Come meet other nominees and invitees who will soon be departing for service along with returned volunteers and local Peace Corps staff who can answer questions and share stories, challenges, and rewarding moments.

The 2011 Send-Off Party is sponsored by the Inland Northwest Peace Corps Association (INPCA).

If you are a returned PCV, please bring drinks or munchies to share!

Downtown Spokane First Friday exhibit April 1, 2011

noreply@blogger.com (INPCA) — Tue, 08 Mar 2011 18:01:00 +0000

The story of rice highlights the Inland Northwest Peace Corps Association (INPCA) folk art exhibit, First Friday, April 1, 2011. Through a slide show presentation, pictures and food samples, Mary Hensley will lead this discussion on the role of rice in the daily lives of Asian peoples.

The Asian and Pacific region is the current focus of the ongoing exhibit through March and April as INPCA continues its celebration of the 50^th anniversary of the founding of the Peace Corps.

Mary Hensley served as a Peace Corps Volunteer in the Philippines in the 1970s. She is the owner and founder of Eighth Wonder, a Fair Trade importer of select varieties of rice from the Philippines. Hensley works with 250 rice farmers in the Cordillera Mountain range in the Philippines. In 1995 UNESCO designated five of the 3000-year-old terraces as World Heritage Sites. Hensley points out that rice is the center of their culture. “As fewer people farm the terraces and the younger generation leaves the mountains in search of economic opportunity elsewhere, the connections to their culture have rapidly deteriorated. Supporting the farmers to continue to farm their terraces and planting their native rice is one small way of helping the people to keep some parts of their culture alive for future generations.”

These ongoing exhibits focus on the third goal of Peace Corps, to present through the visual arts, examples of the cultures in which Peace Corps Volunteers have worked. This exhibit continues through mid April 2011 in the gallery of Express Employment Professionals, 331 W. Main St. It is open to the public Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.

There is also information available for those who are interested in applying to the Peace Corps.

For more information, please visit http://inpca.net or contact Ira Amstadter at Ira.Amstadter@ExpressPros.com 509 747 6011

For more information about our program with Mary Hensley, check her website at www.heirloomrice.com

Mayor Mary Verner Proclaims Peace Corps Week, February 28 to March 4

noreply@blogger.com (INPCA) — Tue, 15 Feb 2011 00:26:00 +0000

Spokane Mayor Mary Verner will proclaim Peace Corps Week as February 28 to March 5. The event takes place at the City Council meeting, on Monday, February 28, 2011 at 6 p.m. The first order of business after the Pledge of Allegiance is the mayor making these official proclamations... After she proclaims Peace Corps week, then a spokesman from INPCA has two minutes to respond. The event concludes by 6:30 p.m. and then the regular Mayor/City Council meeting continues.
It would be wonderful if as many RPCVs as possible witnessed this short ceremony. Please add this event to your calendar and plan to attend. To add some "color" to the occasion, if you have appropriate dress from your country of service, please wear this costume for the event.

50th Anniversary Celebration Kicks off March 4... First Friday Art Walk

noreply@blogger.com (INPCA) — Tue, 15 Feb 2011 00:17:00 +0000

INPCA celebrates the 50^th anniversary of the founding of the Peace Corps as part of the March 4 First Friday Art Walk. Amidst the display of folk art from the Asian Pacific region of the world, the group is hosting a birthday party as part of the worldwide commemoration.

Folk art from the Asia Pacific region includes artwork from Bali, batiks from Malaysia, saris from India, teak carvings from Thailand, a Thai benjarong porcelain bowl, cloisonné vases from China, selected weavings from the Hmong peoples as well as multiple artifacts and pictures from the Philippines. Several native costumes will be displayed as part of the exhibit.

March 1, 1961, President Kennedy created the Peace Corps through an Executive Order. His original vision for Peace Corps identified three goals: To provide technical assistance, to help people outside the United States to understand United States culture, and to help Americans understand the cultures of other countries.

These exhibits focus on the third goal, to present through the visual arts, examples of the cultures in which Peace Corps Volunteers have worked. This exhibit continues through mid April 2011 in the gallery of Express Employment Professionals, 331 W. Main St. It is open to the public Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.

KSPS Phone Bank on March 6 (Sunday)

noreply@blogger.com (INPCA) — Sat, 05 Feb 2011 02:13:00 +0000

Volunteers needed to participate from 3 to 6 p.m.. Come to 3311 South Regal. Contact Sue Bracken sbrckn@comcast.net to sign up. Group will go to dinner together following event. Come join us for a fun evening.

Latin American and Caribbean Exhibit continues through February 2011

noreply@blogger.com (INPCA) — Mon, 17 Jan 2011 17:51:00 +0000

INPCA continues to welcome the public to its First Friday Art Walk celebrations. The Latin American and the Caribbean countries are the focuses of the current exhibit that concludes in mid February.

These exhibits are part of the worldwide celebration of the Peace Corps community’s accomplishments during its first 50 years. As part of the First Friday events, local returned Volunteers are available to discuss their experiences, some who served in the very early days of Peace Corps as well as more recently returned Volunteers (as recently as January 2011).

Currently, 25 Spokane area residents are serving in the Peace Corps, behind only Seattle and Portland for the most Peace Corps Volunteers from a metropolitan area in the Northwest.

The State of Washington has a strong history of Peace Corps service; it ranks third for the most Peace Corps Volunteers produced since 1961. California and New York are Number 1 and Number 2, respectively.

Exhibit includes work from Melissa Cole

Peace Corps Volunteers come from many different walks of life, with multiple skill sets and talents to offer the program. This exhibit includes original art work by Melissa Cole. Melissa Cole served in Peace Corps in the Dominican Republic. She is currently completing a project for display in Spokane’s Convention Center Lobby. This past summer, she worked with local youth creating three underpass murals.

This exhibit continues through Friday, February 18, 2011 in the gallery of Express Employment Professionals, 331 W. Main St. The exhibit is open to the public Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.

2011 Peace Corps calendars are available. This calendar features photography from each of the original 13 countries in which there have been Peace Corps Volunteers.

There is also information available for those who are interested in applying to the Peace Corps.

For more information, contact Kay Dixon at (509) 868-0302 or by e-mail at kay.dixon@yahoo.com.

Links of interest... perhaps!

noreply@blogger.com (INPCA) — Sun, 09 Jan 2011 00:43:00 +0000

For those of you who have seen the Latin American and Caribbean folk art exhibit,currently underway at the Express Employment Pro gallery/offices at 331 West Main Street, Melissa Cole has shared with us artwork from her Peace Corps days as well as some of her personal art work. This is a link to her current project...

Here are pictures of almost completed project for convention center
http://melissacolefunfineart.blogspot.com/2011/01/riverdance-final-stages-progress-report.html

Also the newest Peace Corps public service announcements highlighting 50 years!

http://www.peacecorps.gov/index.cfm?shell=resources.media.psa.television

From the First Friday Folk Art Exhibit...

noreply@blogger.com (INPCA) — Sun, 09 Jan 2011 00:26:00 +0000

INPCA RPCVs Get Ahead

Third Exhibit Focus is Latin America and the Caribbean

noreply@blogger.com (INPCA) — Thu, 16 Dec 2010 17:03:00 +0000

INPCA prepares for its third exhibit in this series of folk art and culture highlighting countries in which Peace Corps Volunteers have served.

This third exhibit focuses on the folk art and culture of Latin America and the Caribbean. Not only displaying folk art, this exhibit includes items that illustrate the will of people to survive under difficult circumstances. Volunteers, invited to these countries by their governments, provide hope and inspiration for people who have been struggling through violence from civil wars and political unrest along with their impoverished living conditions.

There is no better example of this determination than the poster from Nicaragua, showing a young woman carrying her infant in her arms while bearing an AK47 on her back. The concept of young motherhood prepared to defend with arms their children became fused as a symbol of the revolution in Nicaragua during the 1990s.

A second pair of items also illustrates the determination of the people. In Colombia efforts to bring down the infamous drug cartel and restore civility were finally meeting with success. Millions of Colombians and supporters of Colombia participated in a world wide demonstration in February 2008 wearing T-shirts announcing “I am Colombia, No more kidnappings, no more lies, no more murders and no more FARC (Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia).” A copy of the Colombian newspaper El Tiempo describing this event along with a T-shirt from the demonstration is on display.

As part of Spokane’s First Friday Art Walk, this exhibit opens Friday, January 7, 2011 in the gallery of Express Employment Professionals, 331 W. Main St. The show will run through February. The exhibit is open to the public Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.

2011 Peace Corps calendars are now available at the exhibit. This calendar features photography from each of the original 13 countries in which there have been Peace Corps Volunteers.

There is also information available for those who are interested in applying to the Peace Corps.

European and Middle Eastern Folk Art Exhibit continues through December

noreply@blogger.com (INPCA) — Mon, 15 Nov 2010 17:59:00 +0000

The European and Middle Eastern folk art exhibit presented by the Inland Northwest Peace Corps Association will again be part of the First Friday Art Walk, December 3. This exhibit concludes at the end of December.

Highlights of this exhibit include examples of traditional clothing worn in this region of the world. Many of the garments are embroidered with exquisite precision and detail. An ensemble of particular interest is the traditional wedding costume worn by a bride from the nomadic Kuchi tribe; the ensemble includes the silk dress embroidered with silver disks and gemstones, as well as the decorative shawl and the face plate.

During the December First Friday Art Walk, returned Peace Corps Volunteers are available to discuss the art work as well as to chat about their experiences while serving in the Peace Corps. Because local returned Peace Corps Volunteers served in multiple capacities throughout the world, they have rich and interesting stories to share on a personal level.

One of the goals of Peace Corps is to increase international awareness through exposure to the humanity and commonalities found in other cultures. INPCA President Ira Amstadter reminds us that “when we recognize the commonalities, we are more apt to honor the differences, paraphrasing Ram Das.”

There is also information available for those who are interested in applying to the Peace Corps.

This exhibit is open to the public Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., in the gallery of Express Employment Professionals, 331 W. Main St.

Peace Corps calendars for 2011 are now available as part of the exhibit. These calendars, in celebration of the 50th anniversary of the Peace Corps, feature photographs from the thirteen countries in which Peace Corps Volunteers originally served.

The third in this returned Peace Corps series follows in January 2011. This exhibit introduces folk art from the Americas (including Latin America, South America and the Caribbean region). The first exhibit this past fall featured folk art from Africa.

For more information, please visit http://inpca.net or contact Kay Dixon at (509) 868-0302 or by e-mail at kay.dixon@yahoo.com.