VAC is hurting, wounded. Will we let it die? I think that would be a serious blow to us; the PCVs. It is the established means by which concerns and ideas from the PCVs reach the administration. Our voice.

While the history of this "Think Tank" is long and tumultuous, replete with moments of glory and agony, today it stands on the precipice of extinction, pushed along by our communal apathy towards doing

things for ourselves. Perhaps it sounds counter to our goals. After all, we have come here to help the Panamanians, not ourselves.

But if you have ever had a moment where you needed a voice to make a concern of yours heard, something that would have made you a happier, better informed, more fully rounded PCV, and felt that the evaluation you filled out was not studied in detail in the chambers

of the elite, here is your chance to rebuild this road of communication so it may resemble its past glory. I have briefly written down some things that we might like to discuss. I propose Tuesday the 14th of May at 1:00 PM in the office as the next meeting.

14-May-2002 (proposed) Agenda for the New VAC Meeting

Purpose: To provide a forum or means of representing relevant problems and concerns to the country staff. To discuss new, in-country policies and the change of current policies that directly affect volunteers before they are implemented.

To communicate these changes to all PCVs.

In general, to act as a liaison between volunteers and staff.

To initiate select volunteer activities (conferences, social gatherings, etc.) and, when necessary, to generate funds to finance such activities.

II) Activities:

A) 4th of July

B) AVC

C) Barro Colorado

4. Panama Book (What’s that?: Possibly our best written resource yet, for everything!)

III) Training : Provide a talk during PST.

IV) Volunteer Support:

A) Getting acquainted during training

B) Allied to the PCV so as not to endanger the working relationships: We are the bridge!

VI) I am sure there is plenty more.

Fellow PCVs, allow me to introduce myself. Most of you know me as one of the exiled, toiling away out there on the far side, paying no mind to Colombian guerillas camped nearby and holding the venomous snakes at bay. Yeah, something like that. Well, don’t believe the hype ‘cause truth be known I’m far more frightened by transit police than guerillas, but that’s another story for another day. The real reason I’m writing is because I’ve got a new incarnation as a PCV and I’m here to help you guys out. I am now the volunteer leader (PCVL) for the new Environmental Health Program. Like all PCVLs, I will be helping the new EH volunteers as they adapt to life in their sites, helping them locate technical and financial resources, and helping the EH program network with other organizations having mutual interests, among other things. In addition, I’m interested in helping out the non-EH volunteers (in other words, all the rest of you) who might have questions or projects related to the Environmental Health field. There already seems to be a lot of interest from some of you working on projects to improve aqueducts or build the composting latrines that Greg wrote about in the December issue of the Vaina and I’ve already scheduled a few site visits. So, if there are others out there needing assistance with designing, building or improving aqueducts, chlorination issues, filters, latrines, rainwater systems, wells, nutrition, hygiene, or anything else that might be related, don’t be shy — send me an e-mail or a page. Word is a few PCVs are thinking about building foot bridges — I’d be down with that too.

El Hombre de la Mancha, a quaint little bookstore and cafe located within 5

minutes walking distance from the office, is a unexpected experience in

NorthAmerican shi-shi-ness. Everything, from the creative arrangement of

expensive, glossy, books, to the lighting, to the wood paneling, to the

yummy-looking sweet goodies on display upstairs in the cafe, reminds me of

Palo Alto, California.

So, if you're like me, and once in a while get the urge to listen to "ethnic"

world music while sipping a cappucino and flipping through expensive glossy

books, go to El Hombre de la Mancha, and you will be satisfied.

El Hombre de la Mancha is located across the street from Hotel Costa del Sol.

From the office, head towards Via Espana. At the Merril Lynch building

(before you pass the Arrocha), take a left. Walk 50 meters. It is on the

left-hand side.

Attention all you volunteers who are good listeners or "wannabes".

This is an invitation to the Listening Skills Training which will be held in

Panama on June 10th & 11th for volunteers interested in the training and/or

becoming a part of the Peer Support Network.

To become a member, this training is a prerequisite, but those who attend will

only become members if they wish to be. We are planning to have the training in

Panama City at the USIS multipurpose room on June 10th from 8 to 5 and June

11th from 8 to 12 noon. We are planning to cover food ($9/day), transportation,

and the hotel rooms. Volunteers from all provinces are urged to participate.

When: arrive afternoon/evening Sunday, June 9th and leave sometime afternoon on

Tuesday June 11th. The training will be all day on the 10th and half day on the

11th (with hotel covered for nights of 9th and 10th).

Where: Panama City. USIS multipurpose room. For those not familiar with USIS,

it is part of the same building as the US consulate (across the street (38th ST)

from the US Embassy), but has it´s own entrance further away from Ave. Balboa

than the main entrance to the consulate.

What you need to do: Send a paragraph or so on why you´d like to join PSN (or

receive the training) and what sort of relevant experience or training you would

be able to bring to the group to Sally Mincks

P.S. Yes, I know its still a long way off till June 10th but all of you know the

red tape involved in setting everything up for reimbursements. If you know you

want to participate, let me know ASAP so I can request that the reimbursement

for your meals, lodging & transportation will be put in your bank account Before

the meeting date. Also, I need to know the transportation amount (round trip)

from your site to Panama for each of you .

PSN love from Sally & all the PSN Volunteers

The next meeting will be in COMPA-MIDA the office (Santiago) on April 20^th followed by a sex-ed charla!! Come get ideas on how to tackle the subject in your own community! The meeting starts at noon…..hope to see you there.

The May meeting will be in Panama City on the 19^th (Sunday) and a clothing sale on Saturday the 18^th. We could use any of you second hand clothes junkies who would like to help raise patkon (Woumeu for plata). Please let any of the WID/GAD officers know if you are available to help.

Please start thinking about a woman who you would like to send to the Rural Women’s Seminar in June. The tema will be Backyard Nutricion (Women in Agriculture). If you have any seeds and/or would be willing to donate some seedlings (i.e. tomato o ajices…) please contact Melissa

Where? Tole

WID/GAD publicity, fund-raising coordinator.

Must be able to attend monthly meetings in Panama, have spare time in his/her site, and be willing to work like a dog.

All interested applicants, please e-mail Melissa Davis at

shakegirl73@yahoo.com or Erin Eichelberger at dogsrgreat@ yahoo.com

How can you help without ever going to a meeting?

Take advantage of the WID/GAD library! There are plenty of gender issues in your community (from family violence or alcoholism to self-esteem and decision making) that you can work with. All charlas, etc. are neatly organized and arranged in the office library.

Call on a WID/GAD member to come and give a charla!

Are there a whole lot of 14 year old mothers? By being too male or too much a part of the community, are you not able to talk about birth control? Call in a WID/GAD tecnico. E-mail Val at valeriewhiting[AT]yahoo.com with any requests.

Work a clothes sale!

May 18th, Panama City, meeting in the office in the morning, selling clothes all day in the park. It’s just talking to a whole lot of strangers, trying on a whole lot of clothes, and making a little money for our scholarship program. Contact Lauren

Donate clothing for the clothes sales!

Got old stuff you feel like trashing? COSing tomorrow? Leave your stuff in a bag in the volunteer lounge, clearly marked WID/GAD CLOTHES to donate.

Support a scholarship applicant!

Is there a talented, impressive girl in your community? Get her to apply, get the application to the meeting, and maybe she’ll be a profesional someday.

SEND SOMEONE TO A WID/GAD SEMINAR!!!

The rural women’s seminar on backyard, nutritious gardening is in June. The youth seminar (still in planning) will be during the mid-year vacations. They both will be WELL advertised, EASY to sign-up for, and you have to do NO WORK! This woman or kid will be affected in ways you could never imagine by knowing people from all over the country, by being special enough to go to a seminar, and more importantly, you gain thousands of brownie points for inviting them!

This memorandum is to draw your attention to Peace Corps' long-established policy regarding Peace Corps Volunteer use of or involvement with drugs.

We recognize that PCMOs are sometimes the first to learn about possible Volunteer drug use, and that, as healthcare providers, their initial response may be to treat the issue as a medical one only. However, even when such information is medically confidential, PCMOs must promptly extend medical confidentiality to Country Directors and share with them any information they possess about actual or possible Volunteer drug use so that Country Directors may follow up in an appropriate administrative manner.

This is in accordance with Peace Corps medical confidentiality policy as set out in Manual Section 268 and Technical Guidelines 150. Everyone in the Peace Corps should understand that Volunteer use or involvement with illegal drugs raises extremely serious issues for which Country Directors are ultimately responsible, including Volunteer safety and security and the reputation and efficacy of the Peace Corps program in your posts, and, accordingly, Country Directors have a legitimate need to know such information.

Country Directors are responsible for setting the tone at posts, through every interaction they have with Volunteers and staff, that Volunteer involvement with illegal drugs is deadly serious and will not be tolerated. 

You’ve just got a couple of computers from Edgardo or your community has just received a pretty nice donation and you’re wondering how to start a computer project and how to teach classes (or train some people in your community to do so). About a year ago, I was in the same situation, so I’ve tried and tested a couple of things over the last 11 months. Over the past month, I’ve received a number of questions on my computer project, TecoPena, so I thought I’d share some general thoughts.

Below, I’ve outlined tips and/or ideas on forming classes, teaching them, vocabulary, and sustainability. I’ve learned a lot through trial and tribulation, sharing ideas with other volunteers, and my community. Hearing ideas about how different projects can unfold and sharing those of my own has been great, so if you have questions for me or have any ideas of your own to share, I’d love to hear them. Also, email me if you want information, in the form of a guide with step by step procedures and suggestions, and I will send it to you right away!