Recapping the Peace Corps 50th Anniversary Celebration

On March 1st, we shared our Alpha Chi Omega link to the local Returned Peace Corps Volunteers and their plans to celebrate the 50th Anniversary of the Peace Corps. (See the blog post here). We thought it would be fun to follow up with a recap one of the events that week.

Friday, March 4, the Returned Peace Corps Volunteers hosted an Opening Reception for their "Art from Our Countries" exhibit, which is on display in the Reflections Art Gallery in the FSU Center for Global Engagement from March 1st through 15th. 

A view of part of the gallery.

Jennifer and fellow Returned Peace Corps Volunteer, Tiona, both served in Botswana!

Alpha Chi Omega sisters supporting our Returned Peace Corps Volunteer, Jennifer (Theta Lambda, Clemson): Amy (Zeta Upsilon, Case Western Reserve Univ), left, and Tara (Beta Eta, Florida State), right. Great work Jennifer!!

 The piece on the wall in the background is one of Jennifer's. It is a "hand-loomed, wool tapestry of a typical village day in Oodi, Botswana. Oodi village is home to Oodi Weavers. The village resides in the Southeast part of Botswana, a bit outside the capital city of Gaborone. My family also owns to gorgeous table runners from this cooperative."

We would be remiss if we didn't thank Amanda (Alpha Upsilon, Alabama) who works with COCA (Council on Culture and Arts for Tallahassee/Leon County). Amanda was instrumental in helping the Jenn's group find the perfect gallery space for their exhibit and event! Thank you, Amanda, and thank you to everyone who stopped by or attended any of the Peace Corps 50th Anniversary events!

Peace Corps 50th Anniversary - Support a Sister!

We have a fabulous opportunity to support our wonderful AXO ETE Treasurer Jennifer (Theta Lambda, Clemson) all this week (and month) as the Returned Peace Corps Volunteers celebrate the 50th Anniversary of the creation of the Peace Corps! Jenn has been involved in every aspect of the planning so I hope you might be able to attend one or more of the events.

For those of you who didn't know, Jennifer served in the Peace Corps in Botswana (Africa) from 1993-95.

Calendar of Events

50th Anniversary Celebration of the U.S. Peace Corps

February 28, 2011 – April 9, 2011; Tallahassee, Florida

Hosted by the Returned Peace Corps Volunteers of North Florida

Tuesday, March 1, 2011 (2 – 6pm)

Global House Party hosted by Ferdy Mazoleny (Jamaica '84). Please call 561-1011 for directions.

Kick-off for “Walk a Mile in Their Shoes” Shoe Drive (through April 3). Contact Ellen Meyi (Paraguay '02) at 891-6540 or 491-1517 and she will bring you a Soles4Souls collection box. [Collection boxes will be at Good Friends Fitness and at the Alpha Chi Omega house.]

Thursday, March 3, 2011

(11:00am – 12:00pm)

Perspectives hosted by Tom Flanagan, WFSU 88.9 FM

Tune in to listen and call-in to talk to former Peace Corps volunteers about Peace Corps and the 50th anniversary. Mark Mahoney (Chile '80 and Ecuador '77), Charlie Clark (Liberia '76), Alethea Parker (SE Peace Corps Recruiter, Cameroon '08) and Dana Brosig (Uganda '10) will be live on the radio!

(5:30 – 7:30pm)

Peace Corps Information Session and Panel Discussion, FSU Center for Global Engagement, Auditorium. Please join Alethea Parker, SE Peace Corps Recruiter (Cameroon '08) for a lively discussion on the Peace Corps and hear from former volunteers about their experience.

Friday, March 4, 2011 (6:00 – 9:00pm)

Opening Reception: RPCV Art from Our Countries

FSU's Center for Global Engagement, Reflections Gallery

Hosted by the Returned Peace Corps Volunteers of North Florida

Exhibit runs through March 15

Saturday, April 2, 2011 (8:30am – 5pm)

Springtime Tallahassee Parade and Jubilee in the Park. Join RPCVs marching in the Springtime Tallahassee Parade to celebrate 50 years of service around the world. Twenty-four flags will be carried by local RPCVs that represent countries where Tallahasseans have served. Volunteer walkers and table hosts are still needed. Contact Jennifer Sue Butler Harris (Botswana '95) @ 850-559-0742 if you can participate!

Saturday, April 9, 2011 (10:00am – 4:00pm)

Peace Celebration, Midtown Tallahassee

Join the Returned Peace Corps Volunteers of North Florida along with more than 200 community organizations to celebrate the great work local organizations do to make our community great!