Itjimaa 2002
June 20-23, 2002
Reservations    Volunteers

Join us in celebrating the 40th Anniversary of the Peace Corps in 2001 and continuing into 2002. We are coming together this year to recognize the leading roles over 160,000 RPCVs play in teaching America’s children, shaping its foreign policy, expanding and enriching its business sector, and volunteering in its local communities. We are also highlighting the importance of Peace Corps service to our global and local communities. The National Peace Corps Association (NPCA) is coordinating a number of activities throughout the year 2001 and into 2002 and we encourage you to get involved and help us in celebrating "The Peace Corps Family:  Bringing the World Together". 

The climax is the NPCA biennial Conference June 20-23, 2002.  The weekend highlights include Advocacy Day on Capitol Hill, keynote speakers, including President of Peru Alejandro Toledo, workshops, world music concert, world Bazaar, Volunteer Day, Fundraising Reception and Dinner, Remembrance Ceremony,  and to finish off the weekend, a picnic.  NPCA Conference information is at http://www.rpcv.org/pages/celebrate.cfm

Friends of Morocco (with 4000 former volunteers and staff and 40 years of service in Morocco) will also be staging it's biennial Itjimaa (gathering, assembly) simultaneously.   NPCA Conference registration is recommended but is not required for participation in most FOM events (Annual meeting, World Music Concerts, Reception at Ambassador's residence, Procession across Memorial Bridge with COS flags and Arlington Cemetery Recommitment/Memorial Service).  

NPCA has a list of RPCVs from Morocco that are registered for the Conference.  

Others will participate in Itjimaa events.  
Reservations made for the 6/21 Embassy reception
FOM Reservations made for 6/22 NPCA Fundraising Reception and Dinner
Reservations made for 6/22 Feast at Casablanca restaurant in Alexandria, VA (Details)
Reservations made for 6/23 Lunch at Taste of Morocco restaurant in Arlington, VA (Details)

The conference hotel is the Omni Shoreham in the Washington neighborhood of Woodley Park near the National Zoo. There are no more NPCA rooms available.

FOM Hospitality Coordinator is Anne Reese 202 333 7237.  Call to offer or seek housing.  There is also Peace Corps 40th Anniversary Home Hospitality Network which is soliciting lodging and offering housing for participants.

Call or email Tim Resch at 703 660 9292 or tresch@att.net to volunteer for FOM Itjimaa organization.  Volunteer opportunities also abound at the Conference

FOM Events will be coordinated with the NPCA Celebration and include:

Wednesday, June 19
Evening: Advocacy Day Orientation (7 pm – 10 pm Omni Shoreham.) There is no space left in this activity.

We encourage people to consider Wednesday and Thursday for group and year of service reunions.

Thursday, June 20
All Day: Business Symposium (9 am – 5 pm Omni Shoreham) The luncheon is a separate charge.  FOM Mike Smith, retired senior IBM Manager, is one of thee panelists.

All Day: Advocacy Day (Capitol Hill)  There is no space left in this activity.

All Day: Global Challenge (9:30 am – 3 pm Shriver Hall in the Peace Corps Building).  Morocco is one of the featured countries and the lunch theme.  Volunteers are needed to eat lunch with the kids.

Afternoon: Advocacy Everyday Panel (4 pm - 5:30 pm Capitol Hill)

Evening: Congressional Reception, (6 pm – 8 pm Great Hall in the Library of Congress).  For Conference Registrants only.

Friday, June 21
All Day: Bazaar (9 am – 7 pm Omni Shoreham).  This is a free activity open to non-conference registrants.  Come to the Friends of Morocco booth and shop the inventory of Moroccan arts and crafts of Mr and Mrs Mohamed Benjalloun.  We will sell handmade arts and crafts from Morocco such as smallish rugs, wooden chests and boxes, pottery, beautiful woven straw handbags, silver teapots, and metal ware and have information on group activities.

All Day: Career Fair (9 am - 5 pm Omni Shoreham) (If you are not registered for the conference, a separate ticket is required to attend this event. Tickets for the Career Fair and Career workshops only are available for $35.)

All Day: Career Workshops (9 am – 5 pm Omni Shoreham).  (If you are not registered for the conference, a separate ticket is required to attend this event. Tickets for the Career Fair and Career workshops only are available for $35.)

Morning: Opening Ceremony (9 am – 10:00 am Constitution Hall) (Peruvian President Alejandro Toledo is the confirmed speaker.)

Morning: Ruppe and Shriver Awards (10 am - 10:30 am Constitution Hall).  Friends of Morocco has been nominated for the Loret Ruppe Award for the Moroccan-American Friendship Tour as well as the Newsletter and Web Site award.  

Morning: Host Country National Awards Ceremony (10:30 am - 11:15 am Constitution Hall)

Afternoon: Box Lunches (TBA) (Lunch tickets are $7 in advance and $10 onsite.)

Afternoon: Major Panels and Workshops (1:30 pm – 5 pm Omni Shoreham including: “A New Peace Corps Mandate” 1:30 pm – 3 pm)

Evening: Country of Service Group Dinners (4 pm - 7 pm embassies and restaurants)
Friends of Morocco reception by the Embassy of Morocco. at the residence of H.E. Aziz Mekouar, Ambassador of the Kingdom of Morocco to the United States.  Reservations necessary.

SPEECH OF H.E THE AMBASSADOR TO “FRIENDS OF MOROCCO”

Evening: Peace Corps Staff Reunion (6 pm – 9 pm National Museum of Women in the Arts) Buy Tickets Tickets are $50.

Saturday, June 22
All Day: Bazaar (9 am – 1 pm Omni Shoreham).  This is a free activity open to non-conference registrants.  Come to the Friends of Morocco booth and shop the inventory of Moroccan arts and crafts of Mr and Mrs Mohamed Benjalloun.  We will sell handmade arts and crafts from Morocco such as smallish rugs, wooden chests and boxes, pottery, beautiful woven straw handbags, silver teapots, and metal ware and have information on group activities.

All Day: Career Workshops (9 am – 5 pm Omni Shoreham).  (If you are not registered for the conference, a separate ticket is required to attend this event. Tickets for the Career Fair and Career workshops only are available for $35.)

Major Panels and Workshops  (7:30 am - 5 pm Omni Shoreham)

All Day: Zoo Fest, World Music Concert, Environmental Exhibits, Film Fest, box lunches: Lunch tickets are $7 in advance and $10 at the registration desk during the conference....Open event.  All Peace Corps Family and Friends Welcome!  FOM will assemble under the Moroccan Flag.  Look for us.  Point of Contact volunteer needed.

Morning: Multi-Cultural Education event (9 am – 2 pm George Washington University Campus).  This is a free activity open to non-conference registrants.  

RPCVW and the George Washington University Graduate School of Education and Human Development are hosting a Multicultural Education Forum as one of the programs offered during the 40+1 Anniversary Celebration of the Peace Corps.

The forum will run from 9:30 AM to 12:00 Noon on Saturday, June 22 and will held at GWU. The program will have 4 focus groups: students between the ages of 13-16, parents, RPCV teachers, and other teachers. The focus discussion of each group will be: How do we communicate in a multicultural classroom? The second part of the program will be a panel discussion on the topic with representatives from GWU and the RPCV community who work in the field of multicultural education.  If you fit one of the focus groups, please contact Yasmine Eldroub to participate at educationgroups@cs.com. Students will receive a gift certificate from Borders Books, and adults will receive a complimentary canvas bag for their focus group participation.

Morning: Volunteer Day (9 am – Noon location Walter C. Pierce Park in Adams Morgan, west entrance (next to Mama Ayesha's restaurant) 1999 Calvert St., N.W., Washington, D.C. ) (Open to all)

Morning: President’s Forum/Annual General Meeting/Newsletter and Website Awards (9 am - Noon Omni Shoreham).  Group leaders are expected to be at the President’s Forum on Saturday morning to help decide group policy and the future direction of the NPCA. Other members are welcome, but only one can vote for the group.

Afternoon: Box Lunches, World Music Concert and exhibits at the National Zoo. (Tickets for non conference registrants will be available at the door.  Lunch tickets are $7 in advance and $10 onsite.)

Afternoon: Country of Service Updates (3 pm – 5 pm George Washington University Funger Hall Room 210  Map The Funger building is at 2201 G St NW).  Groups will convene for their updates Saturday afternoon from 3 pm to 5 pm. This is a time traditionally devoted to discussing the host country and possibly planning activities as a group with the host country.   FOM will have a Morocco update with at least reports from FOM, the Embassy of Morocco, and Peace Corps/Morocco and the DC premiere of the Friendship tour video by Dan Cahill.   FOM Business Meeting  (FOM Members)

Evening: Fundraising Reception and Dinner and Silent Auction (6:30 pm – 10 pm Omni Shoreham) To buy tickets email Rebecca Bein.   FOM at the undraising Reception and Dinner (Bill Moyers is the emcee.)Tickets will be available by April 8.  A separate ticket is required to attend this event.  Saturday night’s Salute to Sarge promises to be an evening of celebration and fun, when RPCVs, members of the international and corporate communities and Peace Corps supporters come together to hail the ongoing legacy left by Peace Corps’ first director. Entertainment, good food and wine and a chance to visit with old friends promise to make the event one to remember.  Join the Morocco table(s) and, God willing, dine with the Ambassador.  The Embassy of Morocco has contributed to the Silent Auction.

An alternative FOM gathering will be at the Casablanca Restaurant in Alexandria, VA that same evening. Reservations necessary.

Evening: Dance (9 pm – 1 am Omni Shoreham).  Tickets for non conference registrants will be available at the door.  For all conference registrants and their guests. Conference registrants are welcome for free, unregistered guests will need to buy a ticket at the door. There will be music from all regions of the world.

Sunday, June 23
Morning: Procession to Arlington Cemetery across Memorial Bridge.  This is a free activity open to non-conference registrants.  Sunday morning at the playing fields by the Lincoln memorial, groups will gather by country with their host’s flag to march across the bridge to Arlington. NPCA has invited ambassadors in Washington to join us in the procession. Country dress is encouraged. FOM will march together under the Moroccan flag. You too can carry the flag.    Volunteer needed for FOM coordination.  NPCA is planning a picnic and games but FOM will meet for lunch at the Taste of Morocco restaurant in Arlington, VA owned by FOM member, Abdel Moumen.  Reservations necessary.

Morning: Closing Ceremony at Arlington National Cemetery.  This is a free activity open to non-conference registrants.

Afternoon: Family Picnic and Games (Ball fields at 23rd and Constitution) Lunch tickets are $7 in advance and $10 onsite.) Tickets for non conference registrants will be available.  At the picnic, seating will be on the ground, so country groups can arrange their own placement. Lunches will not be sold on site, so please ask members to order lunch online when they register or bring their own. Games might be played by country groups.  Friends of Morocco will assemble under our flag.