SEAPAX August Special

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1 Upcoming Events: Check out the SEAPAX website for more information The 2012 International Calendars have arrived! Find all the ordering information here. SEAPAX August Special We're holding on to summer with both hands! Summer took its sweet time getting here, and SEAPAX isn't about to let it go now. We're soaking up every last minute with activities galore! August st: SEAPAX Annual Summer Potluck Picnic at Seward Park Save the Date! SEAPAX will be participating in some events being planned for a special group of international visitors in honor of Peace Corps 50 th anniversary. Specifics are still in the works, but activities will include a community service day on Oct. 1st, and a program with a reception. Mark your calendars now, and stay tuned for details! To get involved, contact Joana Ramos at 50thchair@seapax.org or by phone at SEAPAX Annual Summer Picnic August 21, 2:30-7pm at Seward Park, Shelter Lake Washington Blvd. S Seattle, WA Bust out your best secret recipe and head over to Seward Park for our annual Potluck Picnic! This could finally be your chance to make that tasty dish from your country of service that none of your non-rpcv friends will try. Come on out and get to know your fellow local RPCVs! To RSVP or get more info, check out the Facebook page here. Join us for Salvadorian pupusas and other tasty Salvadorian treats! From member Joanne Dufor: When? THURDAY, AUGUST 25, 2011, 6:00 8:00 pm Where? Guanaco s Tacos and Pupuseria, 4106 Brooklyn Ave NE, Seattle 98105, (206) in the University District (free street parking after 6 pm) Why? Furthering goal 3 of the Peace Corps in support of an

2 RPCV initiated project in El Salvador What? An introduction to an RPCV scholarship project on top of good food and company What to do? Join us but first please RSVP to Joanne Dufour ( ) or and remember to mark your calendar. RPCVs Kate Ferrier (El Salvador ) and Joanne Dufour (El Salvador ) are organizing this event to share their PC experience and enjoy Salvadorian food. In addition, Kate will talk about what it's like to grow up in El Salvador and introduce a non-profit organization she and her husband started in 2008 ( to help rural Salvadoran youth attend high school and university. Equal access to quality secondary and university education in El Salvador is greatly needed: less than 2% of the rural population have completed more than 13 years of education compared to 16% of the urban population. For many RPCVs, we can relate to this huge disparity between urban and rural populations that has persisted in developing countries for decades. Bridges to Education in Central America (BECA) ( wants to break the cycle of poverty for rural families and rebuild communities by providing the opportunity of education. The organization currently supports 5 university students. Donations would be appreciated, as 100% of the funds go directly to scholarship recipients. Participate in the Seattle AIDS Walk! From SEAPAX Secretary Joshua Marshall: We have an exciting opportunity for members of SEAPAX to participate in a great volunteer activity! The 25th Annual Seattle AIDS Walk $ 5K Run will be September 24! SEAPAX has put together a team of volunteers for the event. We will be course monitoring (the largest and best contingent) for the event. This will require us to volunteer from 8:30am to 12 pm the day of the event. And then we can go to the after Party! Also, best perk: we get shirts that say "Obey Me"! These positions go quickly (only 117 left) so move quickly! For more information, please contact me (secretary@seapax.org) or Shauna Aron

3 To sign up go to Click on register now near the bottom and then select "Join Team" and select "SEAPAX" from the drop down. We have to register as a team that is running even though we are volunteering due to the way the LifeLong system works. Below is some information on both Lifelong and the Walk/Run: About the Walk Join Lifelong AIDS Alliance and thousands of supporters for the 25 th anniversary Seattle AIDS Walk & 5K Run. The Seattle AIDS Walk is Lifelong's largest annual fundraising event in support of those living with HIV and AIDS in our community. Walk with us on Saturday, September 24th, 2011 in Seattle's Volunteer Park as we honor 25 years of hope for a future free of HIV and AIDS. About Lifelong Lifelong AIDS Alliance is committed to preventing the spread of HIV, and to providing practical support services and advocating for those whose lives are affected by HIV and AIDS. Mission Statement Lifelong AIDS Alliance is committed to preventing the spread of HIV, and to providing practical support services and advocating for those whose lives are affected by HIV and AIDS Vision Statement A world without HIV or AIDS, where every person living with illness is treated with dignity and respect. from: Can't Get Enough? Don't Worry, There's More: Sake Tasting with YPIN and JYPG! Tuesday, 8/23, 6:30-8:30 pm O'Asian Kitchen, 800 5th Ave., Seattle, WA Price: $30 Members; $35 Non-Members; Cost at the door will be $35 for all. Come join YPIN and the Japan Young Professionals Group for

4 an evening of co-networking and sake tasting. We will have several types of sake samples available, and you will learn to properly appreciate and appraise that signature alcohol from Japan! JYPG, the Japan Young Professionals Group, is affiliated with the Japan America Society and is a social network of young professionals in Washington State who share a common interest in Japanese business, culture, and society. Now in its third year, JYPG is focusing on building relationships with other international business networking organizations. Ticket price includes: Food buffet with vegetarian options (light dinner), three or more sake samples, presentation and discussion of sake types, and open networking. Join the SEAPAX Book Club! The next gathering will be Sunday, September 25 at 3pm. (Location TBA) Book selection is Baking Cakes in Kigali by Gail Perkins. We're actively looking for new members! Please Jennifer Simon Halai to sign up. jensimon7@gmail.comand open networking. Mentoring: Don't be a fish out of water! Do you ever feel like a fish out of water, or remember what that feeling was like? Whether you are just coming home from Peace Corps or you've been back a while, the RPCV Mentoring Program is for you. Tap into the experience of someone who knows what you are going through. Help someone with the transition back to the U.S. Go to for more information. NPCA's RPCV Mentoring Program is really taking off. This online system allows PCVs just returning from service ("mentees") to be matched with those who have been back a while ("mentors") for assistance with readjustment, career options and engagement in Third Goal activities. We have mentors and mentees already signed up that need to be matched! This is a great way for new RPCVs to be introduced to the area and for local RPCVs to keep in touch with a country of service or connect to some place new via the newly returned

5 PCV. To learn more (and to register as a mentor or mentee), visit Registration link: Global Community Service From Home Do you want to engage in global community service? Through FIUTS this can be as simple as cleaning your house, opening up a room, and welcoming a college student who is new to the United States. FIUTS Homestay Program helps international UW students transition into American culture before courses begin. Community members volunteer to host an international exchange student for 3-10 days. Volunteers are matched with a student based on compatibility and interest. Students come from over 40 different countries and are pursuing studies at the undergraduate, graduate, and post-doctoral levels. FIUTS hosts can be families, individuals, or couples who are interested in expanding their global understanding and integrating diverse cultures. Throughout the homestay, hosts and students exchange cultures fostering international understanding. Many hosts and students keep in touch after the program is over. Some hosts even visit students in their home country. The FIUTS Homestay Program is a great opportunity for you, especially if you are interested in broadening your global understanding and strengthening your global ties. To learn more about becoming a FIUTS host, or for host interviews, contact Homestay and Community Relations Coordinator Alison Kilkenny at (206) ,Alison@fiuts.org and About FIUTS The Foundation for International Understanding Through Students (FIUTS) was founded at the University of Washington in FIUTS programs create a community of people, both on and off campus, who are committed to international understanding and cross-cultural friendship. A 501(c) 3 non-profit organization, FIUTS connects international students

6 with the greater Puget Sound community through homestay, community service, and education outreach programs. FIUTS mission is to inspire lifelong engagement in experiences that build global understanding. Increase Peace Do you know someone who would make a great Peace Corps Volunteer or benefit from learning more about what the agency does around the world? Share your enthusiasm by encouraging at least one person to consider serving overseas. As a member of the Peace Corps family, your recommendation is of great value to future Volunteers. The testimonial of those with firsthand experience is a major inspiration for others to apply to Peace Corps. The Increase Peace initiative is a formal referral system created by Peace Corps with resources to help you reach out to the next generation of Peace Corps Volunteers. Find out more at Peace Corps Response Needs You! By now, you've undoubtedly heard that Peace Corps is celebrating its 50th anniversary. But did you know that Peace Corps Response is also celebrating its 15th anniversary this year? Since 1996, over 1,500 Volunteers have served with Peace Corps Response in more than 50 countries! Response Volunteers are helping to address the critical needs of host country agencies in a variety of areas, including microfinance, TEFL instruction, monitoring and evaluation, library development, civil engineering, reproductive health, and much more. You can help us celebrate our 15th anniversary by returning to the field for a short-term, high impact assignment! Visit to learn more. Do You Have a Story to Tell? Do you have a Peace Corps story you want to share? SEAPAX is looking submissions of your Peace Corps experience to feature in an upcoming newsletter. It could be about an experience in the Peace Corps or after you returned. Maybe

7 you recently reconnected with someone from your village or just learned how you changed an individual's life or a community years ago. SEAPAX wants to hear from you, so send us a brief to news@seapax.org as soon as possible and tell us your story! Are you connected to SEAPAX? Are you getting the most up-to-date information between newsletters? To get all the latest updates, find SEAPAX on Facebook, Yahoo Groups, and Twitter. Follow us on Like us on Facebook Yahoo Listserv Got something to say? Send comments, announcements, events listings, or other newsletter tidbits to news@seapax.org. Copyright (C) 2011 SEAPAX All rights reserved. Forward this to a friend Update your profile