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Why I Support NPCA: My Twitter Friends!

By Guest Contributor on Thursday, December 20th, 2012

As a recently Returned Peace Corps Volunteer (RPCV), Andrea Kruse (Bulgaria 2008-10) doesn’t have a lot of disposable income.  That’s one reason we really appreciate the fact that Andrea, a resident of St. Paul Minnesota, is a member of the National Peace Corps Association (NPCA).  Not only that, she dug just a little bit deeper and made an extra donation to NPCA’s Advocacy Program.  (Andrea is the Advocacy Coordinator for the Minnesota RPCVs).

Here’s her story:

Why do I support the NPCA?  The joy of meeting up with my online NPCA community of Twitter friends every Friday.  This is the highlight of my week.

Every Friday I join my other Twitter friends through NPCA’s #RPCVchat.  This not only lets us “meet” each other but gives a chance to ask questions about life as a RPCV and how to improve the organization for the next generation.  This summer at the NPCA Annual Gathering in Minneapolis I was able to meet some of these friends.  This (#RPCVchat) really is a support network even if it’s in 140 characters.

I joined NPCA as soon as I got home from Bulgaria in 2010 because the first year membership was free and I knew I would need a new Peace Corps community to get me through coming home.  I joined my local group, the Minnesota RPCVs, and then joined the board.  I got very involved as the social event co-chair continuing my Peace Corps role as “mother hen/party planner” to my new group. This year I became the Vice President and started a new role to help with advocacy.

Once I moved to a large city from my hometown I soon found out just how many people do not understand what Peace Corps is all about.  NPCA is trying to close this gap of knowledge. This is extremely important as it helps RPCVs get jobs, into schools, and enable friends to understand not only what RPCVs did but what RPCVs learn, gain, experience, and go through.  For example, I want people to know and understand about my orphanage in Bulgaria and the projects we started such as the archeology and sports camps.

As a graduate student I have not been able to donate a lot to NPCA, but I am now a dues-paying member and like to buy items from the online store.  I also made a very small but extra donation for one of NPCA’s larger goals – advocacy.  That’s important to me.

Big or small, every contribution adds up and goes a long way.  Thank you Andrea for your leadership and support of the NPCA and the greater Peace Corps community.

To learn more about the many ways you can support the National Peace Corps Association, visit our Contributing page.  Or to make a donation online now, click here.  Learn about NPCA’s recently launched Next Step Travel program here.

Read why other members of NPCA feel that it is import to support the association.

 

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