This is a good site for access to NPCA plans, info on hotels, etc. as well as tool-kits for event planning, fundraising, cocktail nights and reunions. They can be downloaded directly from the website below. See below website for most recent information:

http://www.peacecorpsconnect.org/resources/peace-corps-50th-anniversary/

• Proposed Reception at the Embassy of India (Friday, September 23, 2011 sometime between 6PM and 8:30PM)
• Planned FOI Picnic (Saturday, September 24, 2011, 11AM - 4PM)

Please send me (Jack Slattery - FOIndiaReunion11@aol.com) as soon as you can but by August 1, 2011, your best thoughts on (1) attending and (2) the number of people you would like to attend along with you to each of these two activities.

For each you could say something like: (a) Yes, definitely, (b) Not sure but let you know soonest; (c) No, cannot make it. This bit of information will help us immensely with our planning.

1. Some housekeeping: FOI main goal is to help keep you informed. To do this we will use:

1. Emails
   • Please note that emails will be sent to more than 800 recipients. However, each recipient will receive an email with only his or her name on it and no other than that of the sender. To do this, all recipients will receive blind-copies (BCC). Only your email address will show.
     
     
   • Please reply to Jack Slattery - FOIndiaReunion11@aol.com with any questions.
     
     
   • If you have email addresses of others you think would want to receive this and other emails, please forward this email to them. Thanks.

2. FOI Newsletter:
   • An extra mailing of the Newsletter will be sent sometime between March 1-15, 2011. If you are already a member you will receive this.
     
     
   • Please note that you can review the President's message of all FOI Newsletters the website but not the other pages without registering and becoming a member. Then you have access to the membership section of the website, which includes email addresses of other members. To become an FOI member, please click: Registration Info
     
     
   • FYI, FOI membership dues are voluntary. We encourage paying-members but it is not required for registering with this website. Paid memberships cover the costs of our Newsletter, FOI-supported charities (YOU choose which ones), and maintenance of this website.

3. Hotel Information: Some now here, more later: Hotels contacted for a group rate are noted here with their suggested rates, subject to a contract and guarantee. But check directly with hotel, as rates for individual rooms may not be that different. Remember senior rates. Also hotels in VA may be cheaper than DC.
• EconoLodge at East Falls Church Metro Stop / $109.00 with free parking and a breakfast. Arlington VA - http://www.econolodge.com/hotel/VA166 Tel 703-538-5300
  
  
• Hilton Garden @ Court House Metro Stop, Arlington VA / $ 109.00 double, no breakfast and $20 per night for parking. http://www.arlingtoncourthouse.gardeninn.com/ Tel 703-807-4862
  
  
• Hyatt at Rosslyn Metro Stop, Arlington VA / $99.00 double, no breakfast and $17 per night for parking. http://www.hyatt.com/hyatt/index.jsp Tel 703-908- 4663
  
  
• Inns of Virginia
  421 W Broad St Falls Church, VA 703.533.1100
  2 double beds:
  Regular nightly rate: 89.95
  Discounted rate: 79.95
  (discounts for lots of things, like AAA membership, senior, etc.)
  
  
• Hyatt Arlington
  1325 Wilson Blvd Arlington, VA 703.525.1234
  Regular nightly rate: 99.00
  Prepaid nightly rate: 84.00 (of course, conditions apply)
  Group rates: 10-20% off. Will need more info for a group rate quote. Contact if interested.
  
  
• Hilton Arlington
  950 North Stafford Street Arlington, VA 703.528.6000
  King alcove
  Senior rate: 170 + tax
  15+ rate: 151.20
  
  
• Embassy Suites
  1250 22nd Street NW Washington DC 202.857.3388
  Senior rate: 189.08
  15+ rate: 185.07
  
  
  
• DoubleTree by Hilton
  1515 Rhode Island Ave NW Washington DC 202.232.7000
  Senior rate: 161.10
  15+ rate: 152.15
  
  
  
• Another hotel arrangement
  
  Hotel Accommodations
  I suggest you stay from Thursday, Sept 22 to Monday Sept 26
  I have arranged with the Comfort Inn in Ballston (Arlington) to give you a rate of $95. This rate includes breakfast and internet access and free parking. The Inn is within an easy walk to the the Ballston Metro station, bar and restaurants. There is an Indian restaurant in the building.
  
  When you make your reservation mention that you are here for the Peace Corps event. If you have any difficulty with making reservations at the rate I mentioned let me know.
  pauldonaldson@mris.com
  
  Comfort Inn
  http://www.comfortinnarlington.com/
  703-247-3399
  800-787-6589
  

***

Some advise on hotels, as you probably know those in Washington and close to the city are generally very pricey during the tourist season - September is still close to that period. There are a couple of relatively lower priced hotels - a Red Roof Inn and a Comfort Inn - at the Shady Grove end of the Red Line. Before taxes the September rates for the RRI are $70 to $77; the CI is $119.

2. FOI Reunion Activities - Proposed and Planned:

a. FOI - Embassy of India Reception

The Friends of India (FOI) is pleased to inform you that the Indian Embassy will be hosting a reception at the embassy on Friday, September 23, 2011 in the early evening (6-8:30 or so). The format of the event will depend on the number of attendees, but it could include a film show or cultural performance as well as reflections of prominent Indians and Americans on Peace Corps, in India (1961-1976) and afterwards.

Please let us know by email (FOIndiaReunion11@aol.com) or mail (see address below) by August 1, 2011 if you would like to attend this event so that FOI and the Embassy of India can make the necessary preparations. Right now about 50 of you have indicated you plan to attend. This number is likely to increase with the distribution of this April-May 2011 FOI Newsletter.

After this newsletter, we will keep you informed by email and through this website. Address any questions by email FOIndiaReunion11@aol.com) or send a note to the address below.

Also see below sections on how you can help us stay in contact with you.

Jack Slattery
338 Shorepoint Drive
Wilmington, NC 28411


b. FOI Picnic - Saturday 24 September 2011,between 11AM and 4PM

• Informal. Wear what you feel fits the occasion. We have reserved a party shelter in a spacious park adjoining the Falls Church Community Center for Saturday, Sept. 24th.
• Invitees include all former India PCVs, Trainees, former US and India host-country Peace Corps staff and trainers, their families, and guests.
• Food, soft drinks and beer will be available.
• Activities:
1. Sharing our experiences with one another as well as with family members and guests.
2. A toast in remembrance of those who are no longer with us.
3. A place for audio-visual slide presentations.
• If it rains, we will have option in the same area.
• Location, maps, etc

Address:
223 Little Falls Street
Falls Church, VA 22046
TEL: 703-248-5077, 703-248-5077


METRO transit Map http://www.wmata.com/rail/maps/map.cfm

Again, more details later.

1. A 2011 Directory/brief bios to commemorate our 50th year since the first Volunteer arrived in India. This could be in the form of a booklet and/or a digital format on a CD.


Note: We have already a database with maybe 750 reasonably accurate entrees. This database stays with FOI.


2. A compilation of short stories (in digital format) reflecting such areas as:
• How and why we joined peace Corps
• Our experiences in India as Volunteers and/or PC Staff
• How PC shaped our lives such as careers, outlook on life, our families, and others around us
• Other topics.


Note: We already have a short story on the reunion part of the website by Alice Slattery.


3. A collage of photos (digital format)
4. Your thoughts on this? Different items?


Note: If there is enough interest, we would get these products ready in time for the FOI picnic!!

1. To stay in touch with you about FOI Reunion activities:
   • Full name
   • Email address
   • Home Address
   • Phone number
   • India Group number and years served in India (1966-1968) and elsewhere with PC as PCV, US or Host Country Staff)
   • Village or town or city, Taluk, District, State where you served
   • What you did as a PCV

2. Additional Information if you so wish (Bio): to start the development of the keepsakes noted above.
   • Brief statement about your work in India
   • Your family
   • Career since India
   • Your contact with India since your service there

3. Again, if you so wish:
   • Provide 3 or 4 of your favorite photos from India with captions in digital format (e.g. JPG, PDF) Photos, and
   • Short stories, poems, or other writings (Microsoft Word or other common format): we have no page limitation at this time.
   • Note: Photos and stories should be ones you are willing to share with other FOI members. If you so wish, authorship of stories could be kept unknown.

1. Please indicate if you would be willing to send your photos and short stories now for posting on the FOI website, and
2. Where on the website: They could be put into the membership area where only registered members could view them or placed outside the membership area for access to all who visit the website.

1. Being a group leader (e.g., India 3, India 28, etc) staying in contact with your group. We would send emails to you and you would then forward them to members in your group. If you need names we might be able to help. But your work would be very helpful in developing a comprehensive directory of former Volunteers.


Note: To date I believe we have leaders for about 15 of the 131 of the groups who served in the India.


2. The collection and organization of short stories (digital form) that could be put on a CD.
3. Collection and organization of photographs (to be received in digital form) that could be put on a CD.
4. Doing a history of Peace Corps in India. There is information but it is scattered. Much of it with ourselves. Areas of interest might include, PC India groups (there were about 131?), technical areas, Indian states covered, types of training programs, successes and failures, what did all of us do after PC, how many family members followed in the footsteps of overseas work, what type of work did we do after PC, staying in touch with India, etc.
5. For all: If you know of someone in your group, or associated with PC India in any way, who has died, please send those names in and, if possible, a brief bio so they can be remembered at the FOI reunion and in the updated directory.
6. If you are interested in any of these areas, or if you have other ideas, please email me at FOIndiaReunion11@aol.com

For now, please send all your emails to me FOIndiaReunion11@aol.com. My address and telephone number is noted at the end of this email.

Finally, and very importantly, a big thanks to Ed Willett, Randy Baxter, George Nepert, Paul Donaldson, John Chromy, Don Camp and Tom Carter who joined in forging these ideas, we hope to hear from you soon and see you all in September.

India 3 Reunion

COME TO THE REUNION WITH 15 PLUS OF OUR GROUP.
We will join with Friends of India who were mostly volunteers and staff of Peace Corps India. The plans for FOI are a reception at the Indian Embassy Friday evening and a picnic 11:00 to 4:00 on Saturday. India III will have dinner at an Indian restaurant Saturday evening. We are updating our contact list so we want to hear from you whether you can make it or not. It is important for us to know how many are coming. Please contact Connie Hankins and 410-358-7957 or 410-804-6605 (cell).
PC Trainees India Project
India III Bios

India 13 and 14 Possible Reunion

Tom and Ramola Carter live in Gaithersburg, Maryland about 8 miles from the Shady Grove metro station. They would be happy to host up to six India volunteers who need a place to stay for the reunion. Preference to India 13-14 and first come first served. They also would be happy to host a reunion get-together at their place. Contact - revett@rocketmail.com and 301-963-7183.

India 17, 18, 19 Reunion

46TH Reunion for India 17, 18 and 19 ('65 - '67) Sept 22 - 25.
We will meet at the Hotel Harrington on 11th St. NW
Contact Pam Allender - pamallender@earthlink.net or 818-243-6617.

India 20B Reunion

India 20B is planning a reunion in Washington DC the weekend of the Peace Corps 50th anniversary, September 23-25, 2011. Please contact Ellen and Bill Sachs at wnsachs@aol.com if you are interested.

India 28 (Williams College) Reunion
We will be having a reunion in DC. We will be gathering at the Holiday Inn from noon to 5 on 9/23, and have a dinner and other group activities. If you have not received our reunion email
please contact Linda Goetzinger - lindagoetzinger@gmail.com or call 805-407-8778.

India 31 (Small Scale Industries, Maharashtra & Kerala '66 - '68)
Reunion in DC on the evening of saturday, 24 Sept.
Contact Bob McKoon for further information.

India 34 (Community Development '66 - '68)
India 34 training group reunion in McLean, VA on saturday night, Sept 24th.
Interested parties please contact: Ruth Alliband

In Fond Remembrance:
Clarence Pickard (1982)
Terry Thomas Alliband (1996)

India 37
India 37 meeting friday evening 23 Sept 2011 at the Comfort Inn, Arlington Blvd, Falls Church,VA.
Interested parties please contact: Barry Stevens, 703-851-2443

India 39 (Family Planning group from '66 - '68)

Let's get together at the big 50th Peace Corps reunion in Washington DC Friday, Sept. 23, the date the Peace Corps has designated for group gatherings. Please call or email me with your name, address, phone, email, and if you are on Facebook, that info. Also, if you have contact information for others in our group, send that. So far Fran and Jack Kennedy, Carol (Ball) Stahl, Bob Ball and Ron and Bonnie Counseller are planning to go and are willing to help organize a gathering.

Bonnie Counseller ronnbonnie@yahoo.com, 805-484-3716

India 40 (Haryana/Punjab/Maharashtra '66 - '68)
George Becker george@gabecker.com, 216-533-3622

India 101 (Tamil Nadu, '70 - '72)
Contact Ted Ferriter for India 101.
Much more information

As you may know, the 2011 Smithsonian Folklife Festival will feature Peace Corps: Fifty years of promoting World Peace and Friendship. The Festival will be held on the National Mall between 7th and 14th Streets in Washington D.C. The Festival will open on June 30 and run through July 4 and then again from July 7 to July 11. The scheduled program of activities will run daily from 11 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. with special evening events taking place from 5:30 to 8 p.m.

Attached you will find the RPCV Reunion Schedule for the 2011 Smithsonian Folklife Festival featuring Peace Corps. We wanted to get this finalized schedule to you as soon as possible so that RPCVs can begin planning a visit. The RPCV Reunion area is just one portion of the event, details of other elements of the event will follow in the coming weeks.

The reunion schedule can also be found at http://www.peacecorps.gov/index.cfm?shell=about.fiftieth.reunion.