West Cascade Peace Corps Association  October 2026 Newsletter
WCPCA Matters Join the WCPCA Board! Four of the board positions have fairly well-defined roles and responsibilities. In addition, we may have up to 9 at-large members also elected by the membership, and up to two appointed by the president. At-large members perform a variety of functions, from leading committees such as membership or communications to representing special interests such as liaison with local Peace Corps recruiters and/or the national association, NPCA. Elections To vote in this upcoming election you must be a registered member of WCPCA with your dues currently up-to-date. We will accept nominations until November 2, and online voting will commence on Nov. 9 and last until Nov.23. Let us know if you would like more information about the board or the election process. If you'd like to request a mail-in ballot, please let us know by Nov. 2. Send requests to: admin@wcpeacecorps.org, or our regular mail address: WCPCA, PO Box 5462, Eugene, OR 97405. Update Our WCPCA Bylaws and Constitution Our governing documents have not been updated since 2014. While we feel our organization's mission and scope of activities are well-articulated, there are aspects of our finances and day-to-day operations that are in need of revision. We hope to begin this work in November and have a revised version for our membership to weigh in on in January. Please reach out if you have an idea, or want to join us in this work. —jeff magoto  Spotlight on Two PCV ProjectsRecently WCPCA has funded two volunteer projects: in August, a water access borehole in The Gambia proposed by Maxwell R., and in September, a school infrastructure upgrade in Nepal proposed by William A. Both have a high level of community buy-in, and address basic needs that need immediate attention. Extracts from the proposals are given below. You can read more about them and other PCV projects funded by the Brinkman Memorial Fund and the Summer Appeal on our website. The Gambia: Water Borehole for Community's Garden Nepal: Infrastructure Upgrades to Rural School Maxwell's project is designed to address a basic need: having a reliable source of water for a community garden. His community partners would like to drill a water borehole to supply the garden and surrounding area. Expected outcomes include improved food security, increased income for garden members, strengthened community leadership and decision-making, and a long-term model for reliable water access that will continue to support the community beyond the duration of the grant. William's project is focused on his rural school. It aims to create a welcoming, respected space where students and parents can feel a sense of pride in their school's physical and educational condition. As many students move to the bigger cities to study, and resources become harder to come by for rural communities, new solid walls, bright paint, and classrooms with implemented teaching materials will uplift all the students who can't afford to seek education elsewhere. Fall Picnic @ Morse Ranch   Click the image above to see a short video of WCPCAers describing their places of service. It was wonderful to see so many folks at our Fall picnic on September 27. The weather was perfect—so sunny that we had to move into the cool shade of the shelter to eat and conduct a brief "state-of-the-organization" meeting (we're doing well!) Our potluck meal was rich in variety, especially the salads and small bites, which were well-matched to a warm fall afternoon. The meeting welcomed one new and many longtime members, including Caroline L., who just finished her PC service in Peru and is now a student in UO's Law School, Maggie K, who just retired from ELAW, and Sandi and Rob M. who drove over from Sunriver, OR "because there's not an RPCV group east of the mountains."
Join our new WhatsApp Community!The new WCPCA WhatsApp Community is a great way to stay connected with fellow WCPCA members, sign up for events, and share ideas and resources with our RPCV community. We will share information and reminders about upcoming events with all members of the WCPCA community, and you can sign up for specific group chats based on your personal interests. Want to volunteer at the Eugene Marathon? There’s a group chat for that. Do you have an idea for a new event or initiative? We can take a poll and learn who else is keen to join you. The WCPCA WhatsApp community allows you to stay up-to-date and engaged in the way that works best for you. If you have any questions about the WCPCA WhatsApp community, please message Kelly at: 458-245-7236.  Scan or upload this QR code using the WhatsApp camera to join this group.  WCPCA MerchandiseWCPCA now has a "merch site"! Before placing that holiday order with Harry and David, check out our site where you can purchase the 2027 International Calendar for just $15, or our cool WCPCA T-shirts. More items coming.  West Cascade Peace Corps Association PO Box 5462 admin@wcpeacecorps.org |
