Recapping the Group 46 Reunion
Attendees: Mari Kae Ennis-Applegate, Terry Applegate, Shirley Martin McGrath, Bill McGrath, Denise Martin, Susan Cole, Susan Tower Racine, John Martin. Group 46 held its seventh- yes, its seventh -reunion May 21-25, 2018 in Seattle, WA. Throughout our reunion, conversations revolved around changes in our lives, thoughts of those who could not join us, reflections about the importance of the Peace Corps – Colombia, about human nature and the world, continued involvement in the changes we want to see, cherishing of positive steps by others- from graying heads like us to young people – to make the world a better place. We gathered
2017 Peace Corps Connect Recap
By Patricia A. Wand, Peace Corps Colombia 1963-1965 Political scientist Oliver Kaplan studies rural communities in Colombia and analyzes how they fared through the prolonged period of civil unrest. Kaplan introduced his findings to Friends of Colombia by playing the folksong “El Campesino Embejucao” by Oscar Humberto Gómez. In the song, the campesino is caught between a rock and a hard place, ensnared in the middle of opposing forces. The folksong articulates the difficulties faced by villagers whose lives are disrupted by years of political turmoil and militant aggression. Through his observation of various municipalities in the departmentos of Caldas, Santander, Cundinamarca and Meta,
FOC Celebrates the 55th Anniversary of the Peace Corps with the Colombian Ambassador, Juan Carlos Pinzon
Photos courtesy of the Colombian Embassy
Embassy Gathering
Old friends and new friends alike gathered at the residence of Colombian ambassador to the United States, Juan Carlos Pinzon, in Dupont Circle, Washington D.C, to celebrate the 25th anniversary of Peace Corps Colombia. Guests included returned Volunteers from both phase one (1961-1981) and phase two (2010-2015) of Peace Corps operations in Colombia, Peace Corps HQ staff, and a few friends of Colombia. Embassy staff welcomed guests will a warm cafecito and pan de yucca before Ambassador Pinzon began with an interesting discourse on the history and current state of Colombia, thanking Peace Corps Volunteers for their contributions and continued
50th Anniversary Reunion of Colombia Group 46
By Richard Sanders Colombia #46, RCD-UDC, 1966-1968, does it once again by holding the 6th reunion for the 50th Anniversary since COS. This time the joyous reunion was held at Kiawah Island, South Carolina, and hosted by the ever gracious Bruce and Judy Newton. Some 20+ persons were in attendance and a few were accompanied by spouses and significant others. The ever popular “Talking Stick” was passed from person-to-person, so as to allow each person to update the others on what has occurred of significance in their lives since the last reunion they attended. Our group has acquired and adopted as our own a few
Sancocho Stars at RPCV Party
Aahh…sancocho! That hearty and comforting soup… a favorite of all Colombians…was the centerpiece of an RPCV gathering in Washington, DC February 21. Constance Ray, Colombia II-4, administrative specialist for the Peace Corps’ InterAmerica and Pacific regions and the new social chairman of Friends of Colombia, hosted the party which attracted two dozen RPCVs from the early years and the most recent ones. While slurping their soup, RPCVs who served in the 60’s shared stories with RPCVs newly returned from assignments on the Colombian coast. The newer RPCVs updated the older ones about living and working in Colombia today. Fun facts:
Peace Corps Colombia’s 25th Anniversary Celebration
Peace Corps Director Carrie Hessler-Radelet presided over a festive 25th anniversary celebration of the Peace Corps in Colombia at the Hotel El Prado in Barranquilla on October 21. An outstanding exhibit chronicling the early years and latter years-- separated into those who arrived in country between 1961-81, and the latest group who began again in 2010—was also on display throughout the ballroom with about 150 attendees. "Flaco" Bob Arias and Maureen Orth take in the sights at PC Colombia's 25th anniversary celebration About a dozen elders from the early years traveled to Colombia for the anniversary and each early
Colombia I Reunion: “The Older We Get, The Better We Were”
This piece is courtesy of Leia Alex of the National Peace Corps Association. From Oct. 12-16, 2015, 26 of the remaining Colombia I (1961-1963) Returned Peace Corps Volunteers (RPCVs) reunited in Galveston, Texas to reconnect and honor their time together, more than 50 years after their first experience in Colombia. Colombia I included 62 Volunteers who were assigned, along with local counterparts, to do community development work in rural Colombia. Primarily, they were instrumental in getting the Colombian government’s fledgling Acción Communal program up and running. According to CARE, the organization that administered the group even before Peace
Friends of Colombia Showed Up in Force at Peace Corps Connect- Berkely, June 5-6, 2015
By Patricia A. Wand, Colombia VIII 1963-1965 After the final session of Peace Corps Connect – Berkeley, as I got on the dorm elevator to retrieve my bags and head out, another returned PCV got on with me. He was probably in his sixties and, making small talk, I asked, “Is this the first Peace Corps Connect you’ve attended?” With a smile he said, “Yes, it is. And next year will be the second.” That pretty well summed it up for all of us. He went on to explain. The speakers were informative and stimulating, the contributions of
Bob Arias: “That Fire in the Belly”
On Oct. 16, 2007, Bob Arias received the Presidential Volunteer Service Award in Salem, Oregon. Jody Olsen, PC Deputy Director and a personal friend, presented the award. Bob first served as a PCV in Sevilla, Colombia, from 1964-66. Bob returned to Colombia in 1968 as North Coast Director, covering Barranquilla, Santa Marta, Cartagena, La Guajira, and the island of San Andrés. Later he was in charge of language training in Bogotá when PC moved its training for South America there. He settled down to work in Los Angeles County, but returned to Peace Corps in 1993 as Country Director for