MNRPCV’s PC 50 Events
MNRPCV Celebrated the Peace Corps 50th Anniversary (1961-2011) in many ways throughout 2011.
MNRPCV’s 2011 PC-50 Service Passport Program
MNRPCV‘s creative Community Service Co-chairs initiated a special service project in recognition of the 50th Anniversary of the Peace Corps. MNRPCV Members and friends were challenged to perform 50 hours of community service and to record it in a special blue PC-50 Service Passport. The service could take place anytime from January 1.2011 to September 11, 2011 when all Passports were to be collected for a drawing to choose ten winners who would each get $50 for the humanitarian cause of their choice. Laura Hoffman (Bulgaria 2007-09) and Jenny Case (Costa Rica 2004-06 and Peace Corps Response2011) developed this project. Five people entered their PC-50 Service Passports for the drawing. Since there were less than the ten allowed for, all five were winners! Here are the PC-50 Service Passport winners and the causes they designated to receive the $50 awards. Congratulations to all.
Jack Bardon (Turkmenistan 2003-05) - Walker Art Center Tour Bus Fun
“The money will be used to provide bus transportation for school children to Walker Art Center so that they can attend the special guided tours as part of their school program.’’
Dan Kane (Moldova 2005-06) - Families for Russian and Ukrainian Adoption
“Among their projects are supports for needed equipment like: furnace, natural gas and its piping, an oven, refrigerator, dishes, and similar. They also have provided high quality large playgrounds.”
Rachel Evenson (Bulgaria 2000-02) - Children’s Law Center of Minnesota
“Since 1995 Children’s Law Center (CLC) has provided free legal services to Minnesota youth in foster care. With the help of 250 volunteer attorneys, CLC provides these professional legal services to approximately 400 Minnesota foster children every year. CLC is Minnesota’s only privately funded organization that exclusively represents foster youth. Children have the right to have quality representation, and to have a voice when judges and court workers are making decisions about their lives.”
Hank Scheinhost (Eastern Caribbean 1963-65) - Haiti Outreach
“Haiti Outreach builds wells in cooperation with communities in Haiti, They also make small business loans to the people. There are many other services that they provide. I have visited the program in Haiti and was impressed as they don’t just do things or give things or money but they require input and commitment from the people or communities they work with.”
Mike MacDonald (Mali 2003-04) - Compatible Technology International (CTI)
“CTI has spent the past 30 years helping impoverished communities increase their supply of quality food by providing tools that help farmers efficiently store, process and sell their crops.We’ve designed tools to prevent the staggering post-harvest losses that occur in developing countries–where farmers lose 15-50% of their crops, often due to spoilage and inefficient processing methods”.
To see the PC50 Service Passport, CLICK HERE.
MNRPCV PC 50 T-shirt
Celebrate the 50th with this all-cotton shirt made in Uganda.! Get your shirt at the Slide Show on April 9 or other major MNRPCV Events. Cost is $15 per shirt. To order your shirt(s) now email Tammy Truong at truong.tammy@gmail.com.
For more details, a look at the shirt design, or to order your shirt online, CLICK HERE.
PC 50 Service and Saints Weekend: July 23 -24
SATURDAY, JULY 23, 2011
Service Project – People Serving People (www.peopleservingpeople.org)
614 South Third Street, Minneapolis, MN 55415
Time: 1:00 p.m. – 3:00 p.m.
-Help to develop and conduct an activity for kids in grades K-6. Or put your artistic talents to work on a mural project. Or support housekeeping with general cleaning and maintenance. Whatever your talents, come share them with the families at People Serving People!
- Contact recruiter Janice McInerney at jmcinerney@peacecorps.gov for more information.
MNRPCV at the Saint Paul Saints Game
Reserve your tickets now for the MNRPCV PC50 Weekend Ball Game on July 23. Make your reservation before July 1st to be assured of a seat with the group. Here are the details:
What: Saint Paul Saint’s Game and Pre-game Tailgate
When: Saturday July 23rd
Location: Midway Stadium in Saint Paul
Time: Tailgate Potluck is from 4-7pm and the 1st Pitch is at 7pm
Price: Tickets for the game are $8.
Please email your reservation to saintsgame@mnrpcv.org before July 1 and mail payment to: MNRPCV, P.O. Box 6413, Minneapolis MN 55406.
Peace Corps will be recognized throughout the game so wear your PC50 T-shirt. You can order a T-shirt at http://www.mnrpcv.org/Peace-Corps-50/. Shirts are $15 plus shipping. Bring your friends and family down for this hometown experience offered by the Saint Paul Saints.
*As an incentive, the first 20 people to pay for their tickets get a reserved spot to sing the 3rd inning stretch on the field! Any questions please email Andrea at andrea.trowbridge@uwalumni.com
SUNDAY, JULY 24, 2011
Peace Corps Expo
1:00 p.m. – 4:00 p.m.
Brookdale Library, 6125 Shingle Creek Pkwy, Brooklyn Center, 55430
RPCVs and future PCVs, along with friends and families, are encouraged to attend this event showcasing the Peace Corps experience.
- RPCVs are needed to staff information tables featuring Peace Corps program areas as well as special interest tables on topics such as serving as a vegetarian, married couples, and diversity. Friends and families of RPCVs and currently serving PCVs are invited to share stories at a table devoted to their own unique experience. Contact recruiter Marianne Midwinter at mmidwinter@peacecorps.gov to participate.
- Do you have a great story to tell? Of course you do—you’re an RPCV! Compete in a fun storytelling competition for a chance to win great Peace Corps prizes. Contact recruiter Rok Teasley at rteasley@peacecorps.gov for more information.
“The Peace Corps World” Spring Course at “OLLI”
The 50th Anniversary of the Peace Corps will be recognized with a spring course at “OLLI” – The Osher Life-long Learning Institute at the University of Minnesota, March 23 through May 11. Two returned Peace Corps Volunteers from the U of M who served in Central Asia (after retirement) will discuss the goals of the Peace Corps and the challenges of working and living in a developing country. Minnesota RPCVs who served in Asia, Africa, Eastern Europe, Latin America, and the Pacific Islands will share their experiences as guest speakers . Teachers: Jane Bardon – Retired I.T. professional, U of M and Edward (Jack) Bardon – Psychiatry professor emeritus, U of M.
2011 Minneapolis – St. Paul International Film Festival – April 14 to May 5
Celebrate the 50th Anniversary of Peace Corps by seeing a film from your host country!
Featuring 64 FILMS FROM 31 PEACE CORPS COUNTRIES!
Look for the PC50 logo in the 2011 Film Festival Catalog Index(Page 104) to find films from countries served by the Peace Corps. Get your copy of the Film Fest Catalog at the St. Anthony Main Theatre or at other locations around the Twin Cities. All films will be shown at the five-screen St. Anthony Main Theatre, 115 SE Main Street, Minneapolis. During its three-week run, the Festival will present over 200 films from some 60 countries. CONTACT: www.mspfilmfest.org FREE PARKING IN THE RAMP BEHIND THE THEATRE
A unique opportunity to watch films from these Peace Corps countries: Argentina, Bosnia-Herzegovina, Brazil, Cambodia, Chad, Chile, China, Columbia, Czech Republic, Dem. Rep. of Congo, Estonia, , Georgia, Guatemala, Hungary, India, Indonesia, Iran, Kyrgyz Republic, Latvia, Mexico, Morocco, Peru, Philippines, Poland, Romania, Russia, Slovak Republic, South Africa, South Korea, Turkey and Uruguay.
50 YEARS OF SERVICE: MINNESOTA PEACE CORPS VOLUNTEERS EXHIBIT
This special exhibit of items Minnesota RPCVs have brought home from their Peace Corps service will be on display through April 2011.
Location: Humphrey Forum, 301 19th Ave. S., Minneapolis, 55455, University of Minnesota, West Bank. Schedule: The Humphrey Forum is open to the public Monday through Friday, 9:00 am to 4:30 pm. However since many events are held in the Forum, it will be closed to visitors at times. Dates to avoid are: 3/28, 4/4, 4/5, 4/11, 4/27 all day and 4/1, 4/8, 4/13 afternoons.
PEACE CORPS meets EARTH HOUR
Join us Saturday, March 26, 7:00 to 9:30 pm for a celebration of service for our planet. Weber Park Building, 4415 Grimes Ave., Edina MN
▪ Celebrate 50 years of Peace Corps Service & hear stories by RPCVs from 7:00 to 8:30. ▪ We will be switching off the lights in honor of Earth Hour from 8:30-9:30, see: www.earthhour.org. ▪ There will be music, poetry, refreshments and the opportunity to network with others. Event Sponsored by COOL PLANET For more information contact: Paul Thompson: ptflydisc@aol (952) 920-1547 or visit: www.coolplanetmn.org
50 YEARS OF SERVICE: Minnesota Peace Corps Volunteers Exhibit
Opening Reception – Monday, March 21, 5-7 p.m.
This exciting exhibit celebrating the 50th Anniversary of Peace Corps and the thousands of Minnesotans who have volunteered over the last five decades will be on display at the University of Minnesota’s Humphrey Forum from March through May. The opening reception will feature appetizers and keynote speaker Bob Klein (Ghana 1961-63) Location: Humphrey Forum, 301 19th Ave. S., Minneapolis, 55455 Contact: mnpeacecorps50@gmail.com
Shabbat Morning Service: Saturday, March 5
All RPCVs – especially Jewish ones! – are invited to be recognized for your service during PC50 at Shabbat morning services. Service starts at 9:00 a.m. and the presentation will take place around 10. Please let Doris Rubenstein (rubensteindoris@ hotmail.com or 612-861-7429) know you’ll be there and your country of service so that you can be individually recognized. Location: Temple of Aaron, 616 S. Mississippi River Blvd, St. Paul (just north of the Ford Parkway Bridge).
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