Last week we enjoyed a special program devoted to the US Peace Corp hosted by Stacy Plemmons. Our club’s involvement was highlighted as former members of the Peace Corp spoke. The timing was right - our friend and Peace Corp influencer, John Roberts, had just passed and Laura Thornes, CSU’s Director of Development, International Programs was present to tell us about CSU’s Peace Corp Tribute Garden.
Between 1959 and 1961 the idea of an international Youth Corps was studied, funded and endorsed by Congress and President Kennedy. CSU was selected to research the concept and released its report to Congress in February 1961.  On March 1, JFK issued the first Executive Order of his Presidency, establishing the Peace Corps with the mission “to Promote world peace and friendship” through three goals. 1.  provide technical assistance – a “hands up, not a handout”; 2. Promote a better understanding of Americans; and 3. Promote a better understanding of others by Americans. 
 
Absent in person but not in our hearts was John Roberts. He was a Volunteer in Somalia (1964-66) and later a Country Director in Tunisia, Malta and the Solomon Islands.  He believed his efforts (using Rotary’s 4 Way test) helped stop a civil war in the Solomon Islands. 
 
Stacy recalled his work as Peace Corp Country Director in Samoa. One of the problems he noted at the time was “too many volunteers.” His tour coincided with the anniversary of Samoa’s independence bringing attention and celebrities to the country. While director, Stacy decided to spend a week in the field as a volunteer. He tried to be a part of daily Samoan activities. When he spent a day working in the fields, he was advised to wear a hard hat (in case a falling coconut might hit him).
 
Next, Susan Brand recalled her time with the Peace Corp in Tunisia. She had just graduated from the University of Missouri with a nursing degree. She was young and naive but wise enough to learn the Arabic language – key to communicating with young mothers and somewhat useful 23 years later when she and her husband, Harry Mueller, worked in Saudi Arabia.  In Tunisia she worked alongside a Dutch team providing maternal and infant health - weighing and vaccinating newborns. She educated the local mothers on the advantages of breast milk over the highly promoted infant formula which many of the women could not afford.
 
Retired geologist Martin Nelson spoke next. He and his wife served in the Dominican Republic. Martin served with a Peace Corps program for “professional services”.  He taught in the best (Catholic) university in the DR. He learned Spanish in 6 weeks adequate to teach geology at college level, both in the classroom and in the field.  Apparently, he did a good job. He showed us a picture of that first graduating class in Geology and remarked that many members of that class went on to become the prominent geologists in the DR.  He was impressed how people in that country could be so happy with so little.
 
Next, Laura Thornes reminded us of the visionaries at CSU in the early days of the Peace Corps.  Professor Maury Anderson was a dreamer who could take a concept and turn it into a successful project. He and Pauline Birky-Kreutzer visited 10 countries in 30 days during 1960, identifying 34 opportunities for Peace Corps volunteers in their report to Congress.  Birky-Kreutzer also became the Peace Corps first country director in Pakistan – a woman in a Muslim country!
 
Laura then highlighted the CSU Peace Corps Tribute Garden to be dedicated this coming October 14.  Groundbreaking was this past February and the official picture that day included John Roberts who was instrumental in the development and funding of the memorial. Laura reminded us of the contributions to our community from returning Peace Corps volunteers. Approximately 300 volunteers currently reside in NOCO.
 
Martin Limbird spoke last but summed up the impact Peace Corps service leaves on a volunteer (the third goal of the Peace Corps). He stated it is important to share his observations of other cultures with Americans. His first job on returning involved working with foreign students and led to his belief that these students should be considered a resource to the communities where they studied. Connecting current students with graduates of US universities who returned to their home countries was also empowering.
 
Perhaps Martin summed up the Peace Corps experience for all volunteers. “Did I have an impact on Ghana?”  Maybe, but there is no question about the impact it had on my life – “it provided a roadmap for the rest of my life.”
Thanks to all our members who were former Peace Corps volunteers.
 
Pictured are John Roberts, John Kefalas, Amy Parsons (CSU President) and Kathleen Fairfax, (CSU Vice Provost International Affairs).  Taken at the ground breaking for the Peace Corps Tribute Garden.