President's Message September 2017

First some sad news:  David Elliott former Peace Corps Director in India died on
at home on April 16, 2017 at the age of 87.  He was a businessman who joined Peace Corps staff in the 1960s  and directed two of the largest Peace Corps programs overseas, first in Nigeria and then in India. Many of us fondly remember him for his encouragement and support of us as Volunteers in the field as well as supporting the growth of Peace Corps projects in India in its early years. His full obituary can be found on the FOI website (http://ganga633.squarespace.com)

I have just returned from an India 3 group reunion held in St Paul MN where we received our language, cross-cultural and technical training at the University of Minnesota.  Given the age of the group we had a good turnout of about 10 former volunteers and several spouses. We are all in or 70s (or a bit older) and had a wonderful opportunity to reminisce and to plan our next reunion in early 2019 in Puerto Rico where we had received our initial outward-bound training in the early 1960s.

I know other India Peace Corps groups have had similar reunions but would like to encourage those who have not to do so.  In a real way it is a wonderful support group.

I would also encourage all India groups, if not done so already, to get your group on the FOI website.  If your group is already on a different website, Maureen Nichols (FOI webmaster) can put a link to that site on the FOI India website front page. A few other India groups have already done this.  Maureen can be contacted by email at mnichols@austin.rr.com.

With warm regards and good health,

Jack Slattery

President's Message December 2016

I have been thinking about the history of the Friends of India (FOI), which was started 1970s and going strong today. We started with printed newsletters and then added a website. We are now considering sending the Newsletter via email to those who are able to receive them in this manner. George Nepert, who coordinates our newsletter and FOI charities, will be contacting everyone on the FOI mailing list to see who would be able and willing to receive the FOI Newsletter by email.

In October, I attended the India 42 50th reunion in Las Vegas. Though I worked with Tom Carter on the development and placement of the Volunteers in this program, I had a hard time recognizing everyone after attending their last reunion 20 years ago. Oh how we have changed!! Everyone knew me but without name tags I was lost. After an evening libation and a trip to Mount Charleston, all was well. It was a great reunion with lots of stories about the old days.

While there, I talked about the support of FOI Returned Volunteers and others for our five FOI charities. Since the 1970s, FOI has received over $300,000 to support and help many in India to improve and maintain a better quality of life. Thank you all for sustaining these programs.

Finally, when you get a chance, please visit the National Peace Corps Association (NPCA) website. The FOI website was recently featured. There is some very interesting and useful information on it, including what Peace Corps isdoing today. For example I found this very helpful in my mentoring of mentees at the University of North Carolina in Wilmington NC.

With all the best holiday wishes,

Jack Slattery

Legacy and Archives Fall 2014

Dear India RPCVs, our families, our India families and all others who share our love for India.  I believe it is time that we revisit what we did in India as Volunteers and how that influenced our lives, careers, and families.  I believe we have rich legacy of experiences and a place to share it….our website.

Legacy

For India RPCVs, our legacy was first shaped by Dr. Charles Houston, India’s first Peace Corps Country Director.  It was perfect for him given all his adventures: Among them world-recognized mountain climber (K2 and Nanda Devi in India), teacher, physician, scientist (e.g., invention of a mechanical heart).  A call from founding PC Director Sargent Shriver in 1961 persuaded Dr, Houston to take on India’s first Country Peace Director.   The assignment in Houston’s words: “It was unbelievable.  Every day there was some crisis, something different and exciting, or dangerous or frightening.”  He oversaw 6 Volunteers, then 250 and then another 900 on their way.  Programs included: nursing, farming, English language instruction, production of farm implements, raising chickens…almost anything under the sun.

The Peace Corps’ greatest benefit, he believed, was to the Volunteers themselves and to America.  He said “They’ve become a very distinguished sensitized segment of society” citing career diplomats and college presidents among former volunteers.   

Dr. Houston started the ball rolling for us in India by establishing the beginning of our Peace Corps legacy.  We have been moved by our experiences to take on life and work in a way we would have never dreamed possible.

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As Peace Corps Volunteers we were trained to be agents of change.  Yes, we contributed in some small way to the economic development of India but equally important we bonded with India, her families and her rich culture.  When we finished our service we brought back our experience to the United States. We saw the world differently, influenced by India’s thriving cultures of ancient traditions and world views.  Wherever we lived and worked we brought our enriched lives to our work places, families, educational intuitions and to our government, e.g., USAID, State, Senate, Congress, and state institutions.[1] 

An Archive

We have the beginning of an archive on the FOI website.  Given our aging RPCV group (youngest of us mid-60s to mid-70s), it is important to do more now….and to include our children, grandchildren and our Indian families and friends.  I should also note here that the oldest living RPCV in the world was 108. Van Shuler served in India with her husband Wallace.  Van spoke to us at the India Embassy during our PC 50^th Anniversary celebration. [2] She will be missed by us all. But she got her story out and was encouraging us to do the same. And perhaps our stories, photos, experiences may just stimulate others, especially the next generation, to take a journey like ours.

Here are some thoughts:

For all of us RPCVs and those who knew us:  

-- (1) Let’s have your memories and stories of India. 

-- (2) Let’s establish more India groups which number 1-123 (maybe its 125) on the our website Ganga633.  Or, If you already have a group website elsewhere, it can be hyperlinked to Ganga633 ).  All group websites will have a link on the FOI home page.  So far only India 3, 13 and 14 are there now.  Set it up any way you wish through our webmaster Maureen Nichols (mnichols@austin.rr.com).

-- (3) Photos:  Keep them coming they are a fun part of the record on the website, especially trying to recognize ourselves 50 years later.

-- (4) Obituaries:  Keep these coming as they are precious and tell so much about what India RPCVs, their counterparts and friends have done.

-- (5) Establish an archival home, for digital, electronic and hard copy of relevant books, manuals, etc. We actually have a possibility (more in next newsletter).

We will expand Ganga633 website to accommodate all these changes and further suggestions that you may have. Finally, PLEASE email your thoughts and suggestions about the website to (slattery33@aol.com) and mnichols@austin.rr.com).  MANY THANKS.

Namaste and Shukaria,

         Jack Slattery, President FOI 

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[1] Though not an India PCV, Ethiopia RPCV Paul Tsongas was a potential presidential candidate in 1992

[2] See more about Van at FOI website http://ganga633.squarespace.com/in-fond-remembrance/

November 2013: Remembrances

I just returned from India and Nepal organized through Michigan State University (MSU) by Mary and Harry Andrews, former India III Volunteers.  There were 24 of us including 3 other India III RPCVs and one RPCV from Nepal.  The remaining were part of MSU faculty interested in keeping ties with India.

For several of us this was a trip bringing back memories while visiting Agra, Jaipur and Delhi.  It was here Peace Corps staff called Volunteers together to check up on how we were adjusting to very different cultures and climes and to learn about possible future Peace Corps programs that would work in India.  Of course we had no objections.  We stayed in fine hotels such as the Rambagh Palace Hotel and Udaipur Lake Palace Hotel.  We were addressed by the sister of Prime Minister Nehru, Shri Vijaya Lakshmi Nehru Pandit, an active political force at that time, and her niece Indira Gandhi a future Prime Minister. 

REMINICING and STORIES:  Fifty years later, this visit was an opportunity to remember what, why and with whom we worked.  We reminisced, sharing what we did in our lives.  We shared stories of those who were with us in training and in India and those who are no longer with us. We are rich with stories about what we did in India and throughout our lives. We need only look at the stories imbedded in FOI obituaries that are posted on the FOI website. Please keep sending them.  And keep your own PC India stories going within your families and beyond.  FOI is another circle to share your stories.  We have a place on the website or within your group sites. 

On a lighter side, send your own stories and pictures.    and suggestions to improve the website, Maureen, our webmaster, and I will be happy to work with you on any of these.

GIFT GIVING

2013 has been a wonderful year for contributions to FOI charities.   Please contribute what you can AND know that you gifts reach those in need very quickly.  Please see George Nepert’s upcoming charity update. 

Also, need your thoughts about a possible FOI endowment mechanism to fund charities into the future after the FOI RPCVs are no longer around.  Would children be willing to take it on?  Any thoughts?  PLEASE send.

We are always open to suggestions and comments on website and FOI activities.

Namaste and Yours Truly in India and the USA,

Jack Slattery

FOIndiaSlattery33@aol.com

January-February 2013

A belated Happy New Year 2013 to all!!  I apologize for not getting out a newsletter sooner.  The past year has been one of transition for FOI.  Some details here and on our new FOI website.                

You may know we lost the www.FOIndia.org website when our web host went out of business or was totally damaged by one of the severe storms that hit New Jersey. Our new website is https://Ganga633.Squarespace.com.  You can access it using the full address but most browsers (e.g., Internet Explorer, Google, etc) will bring you to it by entering only Ganga633 in the search box or line of the browser. Note: letters are not case sensitive.

Also John Kuberka, our FOIndia.org Webmaster for several years needed to devote more time to his work with returning veterans from Iraq and Afghanistan.  John, we want to thank you so much for your patience and technical support in introducing FOI into the digital age.  I am not sure we can thank you enough for all that you did for us.  We wish you the very best in your most important and difficult work.  We send you and those you work with out blessings.  

  Our new Webmaster is Maureen Nichols, whom many of you met through email or personally during the Peace Corps 50th Reunion in Washington DC in 2011. Maureen, welcome again and thank you for all you are doing.  Maureen brings with her memories of India as a daughter of John Chromy, an India 3 RPCV, and the technical and social media skills to keep FOI up with the times while maintaining the security of FOI information. Also, she says please check out Friends of India's new Facebook Page and Like us.

Also of note: India III RPCVs  (1963-1966) had their 50^th Anniversary of entering the Peace Corps reunion in Puerto Rico (PR) the last week of January 2013.  A group of sixteen participated, 11 volunteers and 5 spouses. This group served in Mysore/Karnataka and Punjab/Himachal Predesh…mostly working in agriculture and home science.  About seventy Trainees began “Outward Bound” training at Arecibo, (PR) in January 1963 before going to icy cold St. Paul campus of the U of Minnesota for three months.  In June 1963, 41 were sworn-in as PC Volunteers and left for India! These were the days of overnight disappearances!! So 10 India III RPCVS is not a bad showing after 50 years!!!    A set of pictures of this reunion can be accessed on Google+ https://plus.google.com/u/0/photos/113951791574681383395/albums/5841187520876209057?authkey=CJHj9tr2toTRpwE  and a pdf  summary of the reunion is posted on Ganga633 as 50^th in Puerto Rico.

  From this gathering in Puerto Rico, Mary Andrews as agreed to coordinate India III information and activities and to link it to Ganga633 website. So please contact her or if you need assistance please email me and I will pass it on to her. A few other India groups are doing this and my hope is that more groups will do the same.  If you have a website, it can be linked to FOI or use Ganga633 to house your information.  Maureen will be sure to apply any special security requirements you want.   In any case please visit Ganga633 and give your suggestions, updates, stories, photos, etc. to Maureen (mnichols@austin.rr.com) and myself  (FOIndiaSlattery@aol.com).  Also please:        

1. Let other RPCVs and family members know about the website and newsletter and to contact us if they want a newsletter by email or by mail.
2. Encourage our friends, here in the US and in India to participate.  
3. Help make the ­ Friends of India a home that includes both subgroups, e.g.,

Individual India groups (1-130) or by activity, e.g., agriculture, science teacher training, well-drilling, health and nutrition, etc.

Final Notes:  

(1)   Please, please keep sending FOI-related Photos and stories (digital or otherwise) to Maureen or me for website.

(2)   PayPal is available on the Ganga633 website.

(3)   We will be doing only two newsletters per year.

May this be a wonderful year for you all,

Namascaram

Jack Slattery, 

FOIndiaSlattery@aol.com