Advocacy

We’re Heading to Capitol Hill March 1st

By Guest Contributor on Tuesday, February 21st, 2012

Richard MacIntyre (Korea '67-'69) will be among the fifty (or more?) advocates on Capitol Hill for the March 1st National Day of Action

Still thinking about joining us on March 1st for our National Day of Action meetings on Capitol Hill? Not Richard MacIntyre.  He’s all in! This RPCV from Swanville, Maine (Korea ’67-’69) will be participating on the Hill for a 3rd year in a row.  Here are his thoughts about participating:

Come to Peace Corps Advocacy Day.  You’ll be glad you did!

Spending one day in the hub of the US government can be good…for you, for Peace Corps, and for the world in which we all served.  For Peace Corps to thrive, we not only need volunteers to serve overseas, we need volunteers to help sustain the funding.

Your one day, whether it be on March 1, Peace Corps Advocacy Day, or on another day at the home office of your U.S. Senator or Representative, is all it takes to make your voice heard and help influence those who must vote to provide Peace Corps funding.

When you visit the Senate and House Office Buildings, you’ll see military groups, veterans groups, trade groups, and, of course highly-paid lobbyists, all knocking on congressional doors and meeting in their offices to advocate for their causes.  If we aren’t there, we’ll be left out.

So that’s what I’ve learned over my past three years lobbying legislators on NPCA Advocacy Day.  I’ve also connected with many young legislative aides who hold important access to the elected congresspersons; many of these young people share the ideals of Peace Corps and are willing to speak up for us…but in most cases only if they hear from us.

So share your thoughts with your Senators and Congressperson this Advocacy Day, Thursday, March 1, either by coming to Washington or by calling or e-mailing your congressperson to remind them to support Peace Corps.  Tell them why!  You have a lot to share about your experience, and there’s no more important place to share it.

For more information, click here.

Richard MacIntyre
RPCV, Korea ’67-‘69
NPCA Advocacy Volunteer

Sarah Singletary, this month's Featured Advocate, will also be in attendance.

If you want to join us in Washington, your first step is to contact  advocacy@peacecorpsconnect.org to let us know you can attend (Note:  the Day of Action will start early in the morning and run throughout the day).

Check out this video from last year’s Day of Action.

Don’t forget that the strongest force during the Day of Action will be the thousands of communications coming from supporters all around the country.  Be sure to make plans to visit www.peacecorpsconnect.org/dayofaction on March 1st for specific instructions.

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