 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
|
| Click
on any of the following links for quick reference to full details,
so you don't have to scroll down the page: Upcoming Events / Announcements / This Past Year's Events |
|
| UPCOMING
EVENTS: In a nutshell |
|
| Click on an announcement link for the details, or click here for all upcoming events details | |
|
|
Sat, February 11, 2012 (10am-1pm) - Annual
Meeting, Potluck Brunch & Board Election @ 619
Camino Campana, Goleta |
|
ANNOUNCEMENTS:
In a nutshell |
|
Click on an announcement link for the details, or click here
for all announcements details |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
 |
Saturday, January 7, 2012 (10am-12pm) @ Goleta Coffee Company, 177 S. Turnpike Rd, Goleta Come kick off the New Year right over coffee with fellow SBPCAers and friends! In our quest to experience different local coffee spots around town, this time we'll hit up the Goleta Coffee Company at the suggestion of a couple SBPCA members. One online reviewer deems it to be "truly a community watering hole and meeting place," and another says it's "hands down: the coziest, bestest, coolest, hippest coffee shop in Goleta!" One recent patron proclaimed it to have the "best chocolate croissants...ever!!" Come on out and help us see if it lives up to these high acclaims -- and catch up with new and familiar friends as we usher in the new year. |
 |
Annual
Meeting, Potluck Brunch & Board Election Join us for a recap of the past year's accomplishments, a report on our Mini Grants Program, the election of our 2012 board of directors, and of course... eating and socializing (which we do so well!). We'll also be asking attendees for input on 2012 activities our membership would like to see us plan, or help us plan, and we'll announce a worksession we're planning to update our Mini Grants Program policies and guidelines, to which all current SBPCA members will be invited. Please bring a dish to share for the potluck brunch. We'll take care of the plates, napkins, etc. If you aren't a current SPBCA member, now's the time to join or renew so that you can vote on SBPCA leadership in our Board Election. It's simple and only $15 for a whole year (or free if you COS'd within the past 12 months!): CLICK HERE for info on joining or renewing your membership. If you aren't sure if your membership is current, email us to find out! |
|
Personalized RPCV License Plate Frames! This idea has been in the works for a while now, and we are really excited to finally be offering these! Just imagine how cool you'll be driving around with a personalized license plate frame that shows you were in the Peace Corps (and perhaps highlights your country and/or years of service). Then add good Karma to the cool factor because not only did you get an awesome accessory for your car, you also helped fund our Mini Grants Program! Plus, for only $18-$19 per frame, you'll get years of enjoyment and admiring glances from strangers and fellow RPCVs out of it. Orders will be processed quarterly. To have yours included in the next batch, we must receive your completed order form(s) with payment no later than December 1 , 2011. We anticipate your order will arrive with enough time to mail it to you in time for Christmas, though we cannot guarantee it. (If you really need your order prior to mid-to-late December for a time-sensitive special occasion or gift, email us and we'll work with you to get your order in early.) Click here for the order form, which includes all the details. |
 |
Get
your SBPCA Tote Bag Now! For only $12 each, how can you go wrong?! The bags are 100% cotton, oyster color, with blue & black print, and the face of them is ~15"x16". To place an order now, send us an email with subject line "Tote Bag Order" -- or you can get them at any of our upcoming SBPCA events. |
 Image of the 2012 calendar will be posted soon! |
2012 International Calendars are in! We know it's only the Fall, but we're on the ball and have already received our batch of 2012 International Calendars! Only $15 each or 3 for $40 -- and proceeds support our Mini Grants program! As the Peace Corps group of Madison, Wisconsin (which puts together the calendar) says: "The images in the Calendar introduce you to the people who welcomed us so warmly into their communities and who continue to inspire us to bring the world back home." To place your order, send us an email with subject line "2012 Calendars." Who knows, maybe you want to finish your holiday shopping early, or you need to know what dates in 2012 you'll be celebrating Ghana's Okoakyere Festival, Belize's Garifuna Day or Nepal's Rakshabandhana? Or you just want some lead time to discover all the holidays that take place practically every day of the year around the world so that you can amaze your friends with your vast knowledge of international holidays and events? Whatever your reason, if you want one or more calendars now, let us know via email or come to one of our upcoming events where you can get yours in person.
|
 |
SBPCA has awesome t-shirts for sale! They've been so popular that we only have white L and XL shirts in stock now. Get yours while they last! Now only $10 each! Proceeds benefit the SBPCA Mini-Grant Program. To place an order now, send us an email with subject line "T-Shirts" -- or you can get them at any of our upcoming SBPCA events. |
 |
On
Facebook? -> Join the SBPCA Facebook Group! For you facebookers among us, we have a facebook group! Come on, you know you want to be a part of it! Join us! Click here or log onto facebook and do a search for the group: "Santa Barbara Peace Corps Association (SBPCA)" |
LinkedIn |
On
LinkedIn? -> Join the SBPCA LinkedIn Group! For those online networkers in our group, we have created the "Santa Barbara Peace Corps Association (SBPCA)" group on LinkedIn! Come on, you know you want to be a part of it! To join us, click here! |
| To see photos of our past events, click here to go to our "Fun Side" page | |
 |
Holiday
Potluck Party Saturday, December 10, 2011, 6:00-9:00pm @ 131 Alpine Dr., Goleta What a great party! So many faces (some of which we only seem to get to see at this annual event); the potluck spread was awesome and plentiful; we had some happy raffle winners -- and thanks to Nancy sharing her prize of a home-baked chocolate fudge cake, we were all raffle winners; and the White Elephant Gift Exchange was such a hit that we think we'll do it every year (and we won't be surprised if that sparkly porcelain unicorn shows up again over the upcoming years...we're just sayin'...) Huge thanks go to Jorie, for being the hostess with the mostess! OK, everyone, time to start thinking about your white elephant gifts for next year!
|
 |
Wine
Tasting Event & Fundraiser Saturday, November 5, 2011 (4-6pm) @ Vino Divino, 2012 De la Vina St, Santa Barbara This event was tasty, a lot of fun, and helped us raise funds for our Mini Grants program! (Several attendees also seized the opportunity to find some excellent and affordable bottles of wine for Thanksgiving dinner, holiday parties, and/or holiday gifts!) There was also a FREE RAFFLE with a number of prizes (included a home-baked carrot pie complete with "SBPCA" baked in crust onto the top!) and happy winners. Those who hadn't been to Vino Divino yet were glad to be introduced to it (a number of people commented that they didn't know it was there and will definitely be going back). We were pleased to see some new faces at this event, among many familiar ones. Thanks to everyone who joined us to make this such a fun event and successful fundraiser!
|
 |
"Not
in DC for the 50th" Coffee
Saturday, September 24, 2011 (10am-12pm) @ The French Press, 1101 State Street, Santa Barbara While some SBPCAers were able to make it Washington DC for the official Peace Corps 50th Anniversary Celebration, many of us couldn't, so we figured, why not get together that same weekend for our own mini celebration over a morning of good coffee or tea and hanging out with fellow local Peace Corps junkies? So that's what we did! And we were pleasantly surprised to see a few familar faces we don't get to see very often! Thanks to all who came to hang out. |
 |
Potluck
Brunch Saturday, August 13, 2011, (11:30am-2:30pm) @ Jan & Harv's, 7826 Day Rd, Goleta Mmmm, brunch... And what an amazing, delicious spread of food and treats we had! It was better still because of our beautiful surroundings at Harv and Jan's lovely home, with all of their interesting artwork and artisinal craft decorations and spacious, lovely back yard! PLUS... Jan & Harv had mimosas waiting for us! What a great turnout of people! We counted over 30 people who joined us. Thanks to everyone who came out and made it such a great event. The post-brunch bluffs walk was a lot of fun, and it was great to have both Harv and Vic as informative "guides" of sorts. We can't wait to do this again next year! |
 |
4th
of July Parade & Lunch
Monday, July 4, 2011@ July 4th Parade - State Street, Santa Barbara What a great sight it's been the past few years to see a group of RPCVs march in the Santa Barbara 4th of July Parade, holding the Peace Corps banner, American flag, and flags from various Peace Corps countries of service! (Plus, it's a fun event to be a part of!) And this year, we were excited to welcome 2 soon-to-be-PCVs onto our parade team! It's also great being a part of the parade because it reminds parade-goers that the Peace Corps is alive and well, and that military service isn't the only way to serve our country. After finishing marching in the parade, several of our team members headed out for tacos and beers. Seems this has become "the tradition"! Many thanks to Jane for organizing everything for us, and to everyone
who came out and made us proud! |
 |
Happy
Hour
Thursday, June 16, 2011, (5-7pm) @ Palapa Restaurant, 4123 State St., Santa Barbara Happy Hour prices were 'til 6pm, but we kept the happy going 'til
about 8pm! Thanks to everyone who came out despite the gray weather
and made it such an enjoyable evening! (And the delicious huge nachos
for $5, $1.50 tacos, $3 huge margaritas, among other great happy
hour deals, certainly helped, too!) |
 |
"Time to Schmooz & Renew Your Dues" Coffee Saturday, May 21, 2011 (9-11am) @ Muddy Waters, 508 East Haley St, Santa Barbara With so many people's dues up for renewal, we thought we'd make an event of renewing your dues! Of course, we also love to get to hang out with fellow Peace Corps types, so we encouraged eveyone to come on out even if their dues weren't in order, or even if they haven't been a member. Thanks to everyone who showed up. Not only was it a great crowd (we filled the front room!), but we were happy to see that a lot of people hung out well beyond 11am. (Seems next time we should start a bit later, since the trend seemed to be late arrivals and late departures!) |
 |
Nominees
("Noms") Event & RPCV Panel This continues to be one of our favorite annual events, as it's such a great opportunity for Peace Corps applicants, nominees, and invitees (and those still in the "curious/considering it" phase) to hear from a panel of local Returned Peace Corps Volunteers (RPCVs) about what it was like to be in the Peace Corps, from language and technical training to living situation to daily life to the work they did, and how serving in the Peace Corps has impacted their lives. It was great to meet all the applicants, nominees and invitees who came to the event! Many thanks to DRI for
providing the event space, and to our informative and entertaining
panelists: Click here for photos of the event. |
 |
SBPCA Booth @ Earth Day Saturday, April 16 (11am-7pm) & Sunday, April 17 (11am-6pm) @ Alameda Park, 1400 Santa Barbara St., Santa Barbara Since many RPCVs love to reminisce about their Peace Corps days with anybody who'll listen, this was a great opportunity to chat up and educate perspective PCVs and people generally curious about Peace Corps service - and there were many at our booth throughout the weekend! Many thanks to our booth volunteers: Jorie, Kate, Linda, both Nancys, Joe, Jeanmarie, Naomi, Jane, Millie, and Dominique! We couldn't have done it without you! Click here for photos of our booth at Earth Day. |
 |
"Meet
the New Board" Happy Hour A great crowd of about 15 people came out to meet our new board (all 7 members were there) and hobnob with new and old friends. The Bay Roadhouse is in a building that was once home to the El Nido Hotel & Busy Bee Cafe, which opened its doors in 1936 and primarily catered to fisherman, railroad workers, locals, and travelers. (How "Peace Corps"!) The current owners are commited to "serving delicious high-quality food at fair prices to hungry locals & travelers alike" - so we figured it'd be a good place for RPCVs and PCVs-to-be to hang out -- and we weren't mistaken. Looks like we may have to go back again sometime for another Happy Hour SBPCA-style! Click here for photos of the event. |
|
Annual
Meeting & Potluck Thanks to those who joined us for a recap of the past year's accomplishments, a report on the mini grants we made in 2010 to PCVs in the field, a preview of 2011 activities, the election of our 2011 board of directors, and of course... eating and socializing! What a great turn out of both familiar and new faces to SBPCA! Many thanks to Jane & David for offering their home to host this event! Click here for photos of the event. |
 |
Saturday, January 8, 2011 (9:30am) @ Java Station, 4447 Hollister Ave, Santa Barbara What a great crowd we had to start the day (and year!) right by relaxing, catching up with familiar faces, making new friends, and caffeinating! It was fun to see all the familiar faces and to get to welcome a few new ones, too -- including 2 new RPCVs who just got back a mere 2 months ago. Thanks to all who joined us and helped us kick off the new year right! |
|
Holiday
Potluck Party What a fun party! Yummy food, great desserts, drinks, and of course, good conversations! It was great to see both familiar and new faces. It was also fun to bring back our "Who Am I?" game, this year learning that Jane has a whoppin' 91 first cousins, Joe is one of 11 kids from the same parents, Jorie once danced with Neil Armstrong, Reid found a revolutionary hiding in his house when he was a PCV, and Connie taught some of "her" kids to ride a unicycle while she was in the Peace Corps... among other random tidbits of info about fellow SBPCAers & friends. Many thanks to Jorie for being the hostess with the mostest! Click here to see photos of the party. |
 |
The Future of International Service Sunday, November 21, (3pm) @ UCSB Campbell Hall, UCSB Campus This FREE event was presented in celebration of the Peace Corps' 50th Anniversary by the Walter H. Capps Center for the Study of Ethics, Religion, and Public Life at UCSB. On the cusp of the agency's 50th anniversary, Peace Corps Director Aaron S. Williams (RPCV Dominican Republic, 1967-1970) addressed the future of international service opportunities and the significance of the Peace Corps mission to promote world peace and friendship. Kevin F.F. Quigley (RPCV Thailand, 1976-1979), President of the National Peace Corps Association, discussed how the Peace Corps community is using this golden anniversary as an opportunity to renew the agency. Both speakers also answered questions from the audience. Co-sponsored by Direct Relief International, National Peace Corps Association, Nuclear Age Peace Foundation, Santa Barbara Peace Corps Association, Santa Barbara Coalition for Global Dialogue, UCSB Alumni Association, Career Services, Global & International Studies Program, Library, Orfalea Center for Global & International Studies, and Women's Center. |
 |
Fifty
Years of Peace Corps: Tuesday, October
26-Sunday, November 21, 2010 In addition, throughout the month, SBPCA hosted four presentations / slide shows / discussions / conversations led by local Returned Peace Corps Volunteers - one every Wednesday evening of the display dates at 7pm in the Main Floor Lounge (New Book Area): Oct 27, Nov 3, Nov 10, Nov 17. Co-Sponsored by the Walter H. Capps Center for the Study of Ethics, Religion, and Public Life at UCSB, UCSB Davidson Library, and SBPCA. Click here to see photos of the opening reception. |
 |
Fifty
Years of Peace Corps: RPCV
Presentation Evening #4 "Peace Corps: Continuing the Service" We had another packed house and didn't have enough chairs to accommodate the overflow of people who joined us for this presentation. Plus, a 19 attendees noted their interest in joining the Peace Corps! In 1961, President John F. Kennedy established the Peace Corps to promote world peace and friendship. Its mission has three simple goals: (1) Helping the people of interested countries in meeting their need for trained men and women; (2) Helping promote a better understanding of Americans on the part of the peoples served; and (3) Helping promote a better understanding of other peoples on the part of Americans. Ann Rowe Church is passionate about public service and Peace Corps' third goal. She served as Peace Corps Volunteer in Honduras from 1988-1990. When she returned, she worked in the Office of Congressional Relations for the Peace Corps in Washington DC before going to back to school to earn her Masters degree. She continues to feel passionate about her Peace Corps service and gives talks about the Peace Corps and global issues. This FREE event was presented by the Santa Barbara Peace Corps Association and co-sponsored by the Walter H. Capps Center for the Study of Ethics, Religion, and Public Life at UCSB and UCSB Davidson Library. |
 |
Fifty
Years of Peace Corps: RPCV Presentation Evening #3 Wednesday, November 10, 2010 (7-8pm) @ UCSB Davidson Library, Main Floor Lounge (New Book Area), UCSB Campus “Peace
Corps Volunteers as Witnesses: About a dozen people joined us for this presentation, a quarter of them noting they are interested in joining the Peace Corps! Our three presenters served as Peace Corps Volunteers in different parts of the globe. All three are writers. Vic Cox worked in health and community development in Brazil from 1964-66. He has devoted more than 30 years to full-time, freelance nonfiction magazine and book writing and editing, mostly in the fields of science and travel, and has also published on the Web. His four published books cover subjects as diverse as “The Challenges of Immigration“ to “Whales & Dolphins.” Lawrence F. Lihosit served in Honduras from 1975-1977 as an urban planner. He is the author of "South of the Frontera; a Peace Corps Memoir" and the soon-to-be-released "Peace Corps Chronology; 1961-2010." Bryant Wieneke taught agriculture in Niger from 1974-1976. His memoirs, "A Dry and Thirsty Land," are part of the Peace Corps archives in the John F. Kennedy Library. His nonfiction chronicle of a Congressional campaign, "Winning Without the Spin," was published by Nova Science in 1999. His fourth suspense novel with an international flavor, "Timbuktu and Ouaga Too" is scheduled for publication in November 2010 by his own micro-publishing company, PeaceRose Publishing. These accomplished authors talked about their Peace Corps experiences, the value of written observations, and discussed both traditional and self publication. This FREE event was presented by the Santa Barbara Peace Corps Association and co-sponsored by the Walter H. Capps Center for the Study of Ethics, Religion, and Public Life at UCSB and UCSB Davidson Library. |
 |
Drop
In Mix & Mingle Information Hour(s) Well, it was really 2 hours, but to call this event "Drop In Mix & Mingle Information Two Hours" just didn't roll off the tongue. A great balance of people interested in joining the Peace Corps and Returned Peace Corps Volunteers (RPCVs) mixed and mingled with each other and with our local Peace Corps Recruiter Jeanette Earley. Who know, maybe the event helped someone make one of the best decisions of their life?! (That would be joining the Peace Corps, of course!) |
  |
Fifty
Years of Peace Corps: RPCV Presentation Evening #2 Wednesday, November 3, 2010 (7:00-8:30pm) @ UCSB Davidson Library, Main Floor Lounge, UCSB Campus We had a packed house and didn't have enough chairs to accommodate the overflow of people who came to hear the following 2 presentations, but people didn't seem to mind. Not only that, but a whopping 18 people in the audience noted they are hoping to join the Peace Corps! "Adventures
in Africa: Peace Corps Cameroon" "Adventures
in Africa: Peace Corps Madagascar" This FREE event was presented by the Santa Barbara Peace Corps Association and co-sponsored by the Walter H. Capps Center for the Study of Ethics, Religion, and Public Life at UCSB and UCSB Davidson Library. |
 
|
Fifty
Years of Peace Corps: RPCV
Presentation Evening #1
Attendees of these presentations were treated to two wonderful slide shows and a window into the experiences of two of our local Returned Peace Corps Volunteers: "Beyond
Siberia" (7:00-7:45pm) "Adventures
in Kyrgyzstan" (7:45-8:30pm) This FREE event was presented by the Santa Barbara Peace Corps Association and co-sponsored by the Walter H. Capps Center for the Study of Ethics, Religion, and Public Life at UCSB and UCSB Davidson Library. |
 |
Opening
Reception of Tuesday, October
26, 2010 (7-8pm) @ UCSB
Davidson Library, Main Floor Lounge (New Book Area), UCSB Campus The display will be open to the public during the library's hours of operation from Tuesday, October 26 through Sunday, November 21. This event was co-sponsored by the Walter H. Capps Center for the Study of Ethics, Religion, and Public Life at UCSB, Santa Barbara Peace Corps Association, and UCSB Davidson Library. Click here to see photos of the event. |
 |
Screening of "Frontrunner: The Afghan Woman Who Surprised the World" Thursday, October 21, 2010 (6pm) @ Theater and Dance West 1701, UCSB Campus This FREE film screening was presented in celebration of the Peace Corps' 50th Anniversary by the Walter H. Capps Center for the Study of Ethics, Religion, and Public Life at UCSB, with a special appearance by the Emmy Award-winning producer and film director, Virginia Williams (RPCV Morocco 97-99). "Frontrunner is the story of a woman who took the first fragile promise of democracy in Afghanistan, and dared to run for President. Her story is irresistible. Her courage is contagious." - Gloria Steinem Co-sponsored by the National Peace Corps Association, Santa Barbara Peace Corps Association, Santa Barbara Coalition for Global Dialogue, UCSB Alumni Association, Career Services, Global & International Studies Program, Library, Orfalea Center for Global & International Studies, and Women's Center. For more info on the film, visit: www.frontrunnermovie.com |
 |
International
Service: Sunday, September 26, 2010 (3pm) @ Lobero Theatre, 33 E. Canon Perdido St., Santa Barbara This FREE event was presented in celebration of the Peace Corps' 50th Anniversary by the Walter H. Capps Center for the Study of Ethics, Religion, and Public Life at UCSB, this panel discussion examined the impact of the Peace Corps on the lives of distinguished returned volunteers and included the following individuals: SARAH CHAYES (RPCV Morocco 84-86), former international
correspondent for NPR, author of The Punishment of Virtue: Inside
Afghanistan After the Taliban, and founder of the Arghand Cooperative
in Kandahar; Congresswoman Lois Capps (CA-23) & SBPCA's President, Victoria Juarez, were among those who made opening remarks. This event was co-sponsored by the National Peace Corps Association, Santa Barbara Peace Corps Association, Santa Barbara Coalition for Global Dialogue, UCSB Alumni Association, Career Services, Global & International Studies Program, Library, Orfalea Center for Global & International Studies, and Women's Center. Click here to view the Capps' Center's event flyer. |
Sat, January 7, 2012 (10am-12pm) - 
Copyright ©
2007 Santa Barbara Peace Corps Association. All rights reserved.
Website created by Karlos Benavides, Barbara
Hodgdon, Robert Stevens & Naomi Kovacs
Website managed by Naomi
Kovacs
Website consultation provided by www.CMHost.com
P.O. Box 91406
Santa Barbara, CA 93190