Brenda Jew Waters' pictures of Midwinter Dinner

Brenda's Midwinter Dinner pictures

Kiva.org

I just made a loan to a small Third World business using a website called Kiva.

You can go to Kiva's website and lend to someone in the developing world who needs a loan for their business - like raising goats, selling vegetables at market or making bricks. Each loan has a picture of the entrepreneur, a description of their business and how they plan to use the loan so you know exactly how your money is being spent - and you get updates letting you know how the business is going.

When the entrepreneur pays back their loan you get your money back - and Kiva's loans are managed by microfinance institutions on the ground who have a lot of experience doing this, so you can trust that your money is being handled responsibly.

Photos from Midwinter Dinner

2007 Midwinter Dinner

Midwinter Dinner

The midwinter dinner had even better food and entertainment than last year. The latter was provided by the Sakura Minyo Kai dance group (see video below).

RPCVs wanted for Peace Corps Day

Hi there,

My name is Kim Frisella (Guatemala 98-2000) and I teach at St. Francis Elementary School in Midtown Sacramento. I am hoping to post a message in the next SacValley RPCV newsletter. I am looking for about 6 RPCVs to speak to grades 3-8 on Peace Corps Day. I have hosted this day the past few years (not last year as I had just had a baby!) and would like to continue the tradition. I don't have a date yet, but if the message can be posted, I will organize with the speakers and find a good day we can all agree on (end of Feb./beg. of March). Hope this all makes sense.

Thanks a lot,

Kim

nopetsx2@yahoo.com

Christmas promise 2006

Christmas promise

Click on the small picture to see an album of Sacramento RPCVs wrapping presents for Christmas Promise.

Click on image to see photo album

Tonight's Adventures in Dining was at Vientiane Restaurant at 2480 West Capitol Avenue in West Sacramento. Outstanding Laotian/Thai food and our best turnout all year!

Adventures in Dining video

Adventures in Dining

Click on image to see other photos

This month's dinner was at the new Tacuba restaurant at 5452 Auburn Boulevard in Sacramento. It's the proverbial hole in the wall — many people got lost trying to find it. But the food (Salvadorean and Mexican) is outstanding and unlike anything I've ever had before.

Doo-Wop at Faith’s House

This is from Faith Boucher's end-of-summer party.

Joseph Kauffman, 84; Helped Develop the Peace Corps Program - Los Angeles Times

From Times Staff and Wire Reports

October 3, 2006

Joseph Kauffman, 84, one of the architects of the Peace Corps in the early 1960s, died Friday of cancer... read full article

Peace Corps seeing resurgence, new chief says | naplesnews.com | Naples Daily News

By Amie Parnes (Contact)

Monday, October 2, 2006

WASHINGTON — To all those who say the Peace Corps is a sleepy, outdated organization with little purpose, Ronald Tschetter has a story for you... read full article

Welcome!

This is the blog for the Sacramento RPCVs. I will be posting pictures from our events as well as Peace-Corps related news articles. If anyone else wants to post to the blog, email me at mark@markstivers.com and I will make you a team member on the blog.