See pictures from the event! http://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=oa.10150825016821235&type=1

SAVE THE DATE for the next Cinco de Mayo party on May 4th, 2013.

If you left anything behind at the party, please contact helenedudley@yahoo.com to have the item set aside for you. And if you had a great time, and are not yet a member of RPCVSF, please visit the RPCVSF website, Membership area to officially become a supporter of RPCVSF and its many wonderful social and service activities.

http://www.peacecorpsconnect.org/2012/04/rpcvs-and-rotary-clubs/

You’re Invited to the Tropical Audubon Society WingDing 2012:

The Tropical Audubon Society invites you to participate in our annual celebration of conservation and environmental stewardship in South Florida.

WingDing 2012 should be a must on your list of things to do for Earth Month. The Tropical Audubon Society is the leading local grassroots organization responsible for conservation and environmental stewardship in Miami-Dade County. Without citizens and partners like you, the wind under our wings to achieve our mission is not sufficient. We find ourselves in a challenging time, we must stand up and fight for future generations together.

Gather with friends and supporters of TAS and celebrate with music by the Southbound Suspects, food, and beverages. Our program will begin at 5 p.m. with an awards ceremony followed by a keynote address given by Mayor Carlos Gimenez.

We will be awarding:

·  Polly Redford Citizen Conservation Award to Hunter Reno

·  Dan Beard Government Conservation Award to Comm. Dennis Moss

·  Joy Klein shall be awarded a Board Appreciation Award

·  Joan Browder will be awarded the Biscayne Bay Stewardship Award

At this time, we are accepting Silent Auction donations, food donations, and if you are unable to attend in person, please consider donating at this time. Please contact us at 305.667.7337. or e-mail us with any questions or to RSVP for the event.

Now, we need you to take two minutes to help make sure Senators Bill Nelson and Marco Rubio become co-sponsors of this legislation.  On March 1st, we had constituent meetings in Washington with staff of both Senators, in which this legislation was raised.  We want to now follow up with a strong show of additional constituent support!

Here’s all we need you to do:

1.  Read the sign-on letter below.  Please add your name to this letter.  If you agree to be added, please email Jonathan Peason (jonathan@peacecorpsconnect.org) and include your name, full address and (if applicable) Peace Corps country and years of service.

2.  Please share this message with at least one other Florida resident you know who is willing to support this effort and add their name to the letter.  They don’t have to be RPCVs.  They simply need to believe in the importance and the ideals of the Peace Corps, and believe its founding is worthy of recognition as part of our evolving American story.

(Click here if you want more information before taking action):

***

(Sign-on letter…Please add your name!)

Dear Senator Nelson (Rubio),

We write to urge you to join Senators Rob Portman, Mark Udall and a bi-partisan group of more than twenty Senators in co-sponsoring S. 1421, bi-partisan legislation to authorize the creation of a commemorative in the nation’s capital to mark the historic and enduring significance of the establishment of the Peace Corps in 1961 and the ideals of world peace and friendship its founding represents.

As 2011 marked the 50th anniversary of the founding of the Peace Corps, now is the time to pass this legislation.  We are very pleased that the Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee gave its unanimous support to the legislation late last year.  With so much progress, and with time running short in the 112^th Congress, we need your co-sponsorship to build momentum toward final passage.  For that reason, we ask you to please become a co-sponsor of S. 1421 as soon as possible.

It is important to note that construction of this modest commemorative will be financed entirely by private sector contributions. S. 1421 specifies that no taxpayer dollars will be used to fund this project.  However, congressional authorization is required under the federal Commemorative Works Act in order for this proposal to proceed.

Please contact Kate Van Buskirk in Senator Portman’s office to become a co-sponsor of S.1421 today.

Thank you for taking this meaningful action.  We look forward to your reply.

Sincerely,

(Your Name)
(Your Address)
(Peace Corps Service if applicable)

Time: 5pm-?

Address: 2151 SW 17th Street, Miami.

For more information or directions contact Helene at helenedudley@yahoo.com

Come enjoy the outdoors and meet prospective volunteers. The park has mountain bike trails, beach and kayaking. We’ll have hamburgers, hotdogs and drinks, but please bring a dish to share. No alcohol is permitted in the park.

A representative from Peace Corps Response will also be in attendance to talk with returned Peace Corps Volunteers about opportunities with Peace Corps Response.  She will also outline a new pilot program that allows highly qualified people who have not participated in Peace Corps to join Peace Corps Response.

*Directions: The park entrance is at 3400 NE 163 St, North Miami. From I-95, exit at NE 163 St. (Golden Glades) Detailed Directions
Note: The park charges an entrance fee of $6.00 per car of two or more people. Cars with one occupant are $4.00 and there is a $2.00 charge for bicyclists.
This event is co-sponsored by Peace Corps and the Returned Peace Corps Volunteers of South Florida.

For more info or to rsvp by May 30 email Steve Hunsicker or call 305-929-3066.

Thank you to everyone who contacted your members of congress to support the Peace Corps. Representatives Brown, Castor, Deutch, Hastings , Wasserman-Schultz, and Wilson all signed the Farr-Petri Dear Colleague letter requesting strong funding for the Peace Corps in Fiscal Year 2013.

Then I backed up to get a broader perspective. In my mind, the Peace Corps is the nation’s foremost volunteer organization. And we are its representatives in South Florida. Who better to recognize and acknowledge the spirit of service that we’ve all felt and that is thriving in our city? We did good! We did very, very good!