Ni Sa Bula

- Welcome -

Namaste

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Last update December 30, 2007 – Newer stuff first, old stuff moved to Old Web

Friends of Fiji

Pot Luck Dinner

and Annual General Meeting

 

Saturday, Jan. 12, 2008 at 5:00 PM

at David & Willa Downes’s

3327 Mantua Dr, Fairfax, VA 22031

 

Please bring food and drink to share.

Program:  Having fun, with a short break

to elect next year’s Board.

Directions can be found here .  Any late-breaking news

can be found on this website www.fofiji.org,

or email

downesdd@aol.com

or call 703-641-0517

 

Nominations/suggestions/questions? 

Contact David Downes @ email/phone above.

Astrolabe  Reef

 

Joan Koven jkoven@astrolabe.org is President of Astrolabe, Inc and a friend of Fiji. For many years she has conducted research on Fiji’s Astrolabe Reef.  In Astrolabe Inc.’s 2007 report, she documents the continuing decline of the reef ecosystem.

 See her video at http://www.fofiji.org/Astrolabe_07.wmv and past videos at http://www.fofiji.org/Astrolabe.htm

Fall 2007 Friends of Fiji Newsletter  

Join Friends of Fiji to receive a copy of future newsletters by mail, or read it online here: Fall 2007 Newsletter  

Revised Friends of Fiji Bylaws 

The Board has revised the bylaws of Friends of Fiji.  Friends of Fiji Bylaws Revised Oct 2007

Oct-Nov 07 Issue of "Voqa Ni Lali," the Fiji Peace Corps Newsletter

The latest edition of Voqa Ni Lali can be found here.  In addition to news and information for and about current Fiji volunteers, it also contains an article by  John Penisten, a Fiji I RPCV.

Pictures of the latest group of Fiji Peace Corps Volunteers at their swearing in ceremony can be seen by searching on Peace Corps at http://www.fijilive.com/gallery

Gates Millennium Scholarships Available for US Fijians

The Gates Millennium Scholars (GMS), funded by a grant from the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, was established in 1999 to provide outstanding, low income African American, American Indian/Alaska Natives, Asian Pacific Islander American, and Hispanic American students with an opportunity to complete an undergraduate college education in any discipline they choose. Continuing Gates Scholars may request funding for a graduate degree program in one of the following discipline areas: computer science, education, engineering, library science, mathematics, public health or science. The goal of GMS is to promote academic excellence by providing thousands of outstanding students, who have significant financial need, the opportunity to reach their full potential.

Students are eligible to be considered for a GMS scholarship if they:

• Are African American, American Indian/Alaska Native, Asian and Pacific Islander American, or Hispanic American. *Asian and Pacific Islander Americans include persons having origins from Asia and/or the Pacific Islands. Asian includes persons having origins in any of the original peoples of the Far East, Southeast Asia or the Indian subcontinent. Pacific Islander includes persons having origins in any of the original peoples of Hawai’i, Guam, Samoa or other Pacific Islands.

• Are a citizen, national or legal permanent resident of the United States

• Have attained a cumulative high school GPA of 3.3 on a 4.0 scale (unweighted) or have earned a GED

• Will be enrolling for the first time at a U.S. accredited college or university as a full-time, degree-seeking, first-year student in fall 2008

  All paper applications must be postmarked by December 31, 2007.

For more information on eligibility criteria and the application process, see the website at https://www.gmsp.org/ .

FIJI I – Forty Years Ago

Fall 2007 marks the 40th anniversary of the formation of the first Peace Corps group to go to Fiji. In June, 1968, the volunteers  publish the first edition of "The Fiji Rag", in which the editors agonized over a name for the newsletter - "...we do not feel we can use either Fijian or Hindi words in the title to the exclusion of the other."
In August, 1968, the second edition was published under the title "SA!" - described by the editors as "...an expression of awe, disbelief, scorn and/or delight, used by Fijians and Indians alike."   

David Downes, a Fiji I volunteer and editor of  many of these newsletters, has converted them to pdf files.  The files  along with David's  introductory explaination can be found at http://www.fofiji.org/Fiji-1/index.html 

Peace Corps in Fiji - 1993

The August 25, 1993 edition of Fiji Times included a supplement celebrating twenty five years of Peace Corps in Fiji. The Fiji Times article below shows Alice Alexander and her husband Fred Mosher, founders of Friends of Fiji, presenting proceeds from the first Friends of Fiji fundraiser. PDF files of other articles in the Fiji Times supplement by the Prime Minister, volunteers, and citizens of Fiji can be found at http://www.fofiji.org/FijiTimes/index.html 

MAI Life Magazine

MAI Life is one of Fiji’s latest print magazines with its first edition in June, 2007. Features covered by MAI Life Magazine include journalism, photography, life stories, home grown Fiji humour, social commentary, cooking, art, fashion, and travel. See their website at http://www.mailife.com.fj/

Friends_of_Fiji Discussion Group

The Friends of Fiji Yahoo discussion group at http://groups.yahoo.com/group/Friends_of_Fiji/  provides a discussion list,calendar, links, etc.  for current and returned Peace Corps Volunteers, families, friends, and others interested in the activities of the Friends of Fiji.  It serves as our principle means of communication and will  usually be more up-to-date than www.fofiji.org, which is updated monthly.  Join it by clicking on the link at the top of this page

Friends of Fiji Farewell for Ambassador Vitu July 14, 2007

A farewell dinner was held at the home of Jim and Polly Reierson in Arlington, VA for Fiji's departing ambassador to the US Jesoni Vitusagavulu and family. Over 30 people enjoyed food, conversation and friendship.  More pictures are available at http://fofiji.org/Vitu_Farewell-07-14-07-C/index.html
and at http://www.fofiji.org/Vitu-2/index.html

Ben Bryan and Beth Shearer - Friends of Fiji Board, Ambassador Vitu, Polly Reierson - hostess


Ben and Joyce Bryan Host Board Meeting & Picnic

 

Ben & Joyce Bryan hosted a picnic for members of the Fiji community and the Friends of Fiji Board on Saturday July 7 at their home deep in the woods ofDameron, Maryland.   Thank you Ben & Joyce!  Some of  the happy participants and unhappy but delicious crabs are shown below.

Share your Peace Corps Story

Anne Baker received the email message below from Oghale Oddo, the Country Director for Peace Corps in Fiji. Please share your stories directly with him at ooddo@fj.peacecorps.gov

Anne:

I heard recently from some Fiji RPCVs who sent me snippets of what they did as PCVs here. I shared what they wrote with staff and then started thinking about how so encouraging it will be to hear stories from RPCVs about their experience and work in Fiji, ......... especially from those RPCVs who were in Fiji prior to the 1997 closure. I know from talking to some of the RPCVs that there are amazing stories out there. Unfortunately the present PCV population in this "relatively new" post have not experienced much, nor do they have the tradition of seeing fellow Volunteers overcome seemingly insurmountable obstacles or consistenly creating projects beyond what is expected.

My request: please spread the word, telling Fiji RPCVs to write an article or articles (between 1 and 2 pages max)  about their experience ..could be a particular inspiring, funny ......incident or project, or about where they lived and friendships made or about what they now think about their PCV experience here.  We will place their stories in our Voqa Ni Lali newsletter each month till the end of this year.  Cheers and thanks much for all of your support.

 Oghale

Friends_of_Fiji Participates in NPCA Group Leaders Forum

Jim Reierson and Cynthia Grant represented Friends of Fiji at the  National Peace Corps Association Group Leaders Forum in Washington, DC on June 30, 2007.  Anne Baker is  the NPCA Staff Liaison for the Forum.  Information about the Forum can be found at  http://www.rpcv.org/pages/sitepage.cfm?id=1626

Spring 2007 Friends of Fiji Newsletter  

Join Friends of Fiji to receive a copy of future newsletters by mail, or read it online here: Spring 2007 Newsletter  

For Currrent Fiji Peace Corps Volunteers

Stay in touch during your Peace Corps service and enjoy a complementary one-year membership in Friends of Fiji and the National Peace Corps Association upon your return:  Information and forms here for Staging and Close of Service.  

New Board members were elected at the March 4 board meeting:

President:  Jim Reierson
Vice-President:  Robert Reid
Secretary:  Beth Shearer
Treasurer:  David Downes
Membership and Newsletter:  Cynthia Grant
NPCA liaison:  Anne Baker

FRE ambassadors:  Dana and Becky Trytten (they are going to Fiji in May as Peace Corps Volunteers)

Board members at-large:  Linda Ayers, Ben Bryan, Carol Reeder, and Daniel Schmitt

The Friends of Fiji Pot Luck Dinner and Annual General Meeting was held Saturday, Feb. 3, 2007 at Beth Shearer’s home in Arlington. A good time was had by all. Several new Board members were elected. 

New Fiji Embassy Website

The Fiji Embassy in Washington DC has a new website at http://www.fijiembassydc.com/   In addition to providing a resource for the business community, the website offers information on Fiji, application forms for visas and services for Fiji nationals living in North America, and links to other public and private websites for Fiji.

Friends of Fiji 2006 Annual Report

Volunteer Voices

South Pacific News

2006 Fundraiser a Big Success

The Friends of  Fiji Gala Fundraiser was held Saturday, September 30, 2006  in the Great Hall at Fannie Mae 3900 Wisconsin Ave., N.W. Washington, DC.  Over 150 were in attendance.  Live Fiji music and authentic Fiji food highlighted the evening.  The  raffle for a Fiji holiday, including round-trip airfare from Los Angeles was won by Robert Reid.  Proceeds will be used for development projects in Fiji.  The evening's program can be seen at www.fofiji.org/2006Program.doc.

                         .

Fundraiser pictures can be seen at http://www.fofiji.org/Fundraiser2006/album/slides/DSC_0007.html?show_param=2.

Interviews with the band following the fundraiser can be found on the fijivillage.com website  at http://www.fijivillage.com/artman/publish/article_33161.shtml and 

http://www.fijivillage.com/artman/publish/article_33172.shtml

Fiji Water, supplier of our favorite beverage (when we're out of kava) http://www.fijiwater.com

Funding Guidelines

Using monies raised at its biennial fundraiser, Friends of Fiji is supporting a portfolio of projects submitted by Peace Corps Volunteers in Fiji.  Projects are normally submitted via the Peace Corps Partnership Program (PCPP).  General guidelines ate outlined at FoFFundingGuidelines-7-19-06.doc .
 

Summer ’06 Friends of Fiji Newsletter

Join Friends of Fiji to receive a copy of future newsletters by mail, or read it online here: Summer 2006 Newsletter  

Request from Craig Swank, Fiji 79

I am trying to organize a ten year reunion for my Fiji 79/Tuvalu 19 group. I've only found about 1/5 of us so far. Is it possible for me to put a notice in the newsletter that I am doing this? I would very much appreciate it. Sincerely, Craig Swank   craigswank@fastmail.fm

Annual General Meeting & Potluck Dinner 

The Annual General Meeting and Potluck Dinner was held on Saturday, January 21, 2006 at the home of Jim and Polly Reierson in Arlington, VA.  Twenty-five  friends  of Fiji  were in attendance.  

During the annual meeting, and Robert Reid joined the board and  all incumbent board members were re-elected.

Friends of Fiji Board Meetings

The  Board meets approximately once a month.  Minutes of Board Meetings can be found by clicking  FoF Board on the menu at the top of this page.

WORLDVIEW MAGAZINE

 The WorldView Magazine  of the National Peace Corps Association has a series of dispatches from countries around the world, including "A Kiribati Canoe" at http://www.worldviewmagazine.org/issues/dispatches.cfm?id=15

 .  The. special Winter 2005 addresses global water problems. For more online details: http://www.worldviewmagazine.com/issues/issue.cfm?id=40&home=yes

NPCA seeks librarians

 The NPCA seeks librarians and individuals with strong connections to libraries for pilot global education program in U.S. public libraries in 2006.  Please contact NPCA Program Associate, Ellen Frierson, at teachnet@rpcv.org  with a brief description of your position or connection along with your contact information.

Friends of Fiji Hosts Fiji’s New Ambassador to the US  

On Saturday, October 1, Beth Shearer, President of Friends of Fiji, hosted a reception for Fiji’s new ambassador to the US at her home.  A full report was  published in the Winter 2005 Friends of Fiji Newsletter.

32 New Fiji Peace Corps Volunteers Sworn In

The Fiji Times August 13, 2005:

Rural dwellers find it easier to integrate than people living urban areas because the environment is less pressured, politically, Senate President, Taito Waqavakatoga says.

Mr Waqavakatoga said rural dwellers spoke each others' languages, welcomed each other in their homes and found it easier to socialise. He made the comments while addressing 32 new Peace Corps volunteers who were sworn in at the Forum Secretariat in Suva yesterday.

Mr Waqavakatoga said the Peace Corps volunteer service had become an important part of the community.  "Volunteers have managed to master the local dialects of Fijian and Hindustani and have learned the culture of the two major races," he said.

The volunteers will provide their expertise in environmental education and resource management, health education and promotion, youth development and improving skills in information technology.  Mr Waqavakatoga said these were important areas Fiji was venturing undertaking to improve.

Peace Corps country director Oddo Oghele said there were three goals for Peace Corps to help with development, exchange cultures and for people in the country to understand America and its culture.  "There are about 75 countries in which 8000 American Peace Corps volunteers are providing assistance in fields such as education, health and environment."

New Fiji Peace Corps Country Director

On July 27, 2005  Oghali Oddo, the new director of Peace Corps, Fiji and Friends of Fiji Board members Beth Shearer, Anne Baker, and Cynthia Grant met for dinner at the Village Bistro in Rosslyn, Va.  The following is from http://www.peacecorps.gov/index.cfm?shell=resources.media.press.view&news_id=1052

WASHINGTON, D.C., July 12, 2005 – Eight new Peace Corps country directors have departed for their posts, where they will take responsibility for the volunteers in their country and work to ensure volunteers can most effectively carry out their projects.
Fiji – Oghale Oddo
Before becoming Fiji country director, Oghale Oddo served as associate Peace Corps director and acting country director for the Peace Corps in Swaziland. A volunteer in Jamaica from 1994 to 1996, he has also served as a Peace Corps community development trainer in the same country and has held positions at Prudential Securities, Inc.; Allied Bank Nigeria; Origbo Estate Managers Ltd; and owned his own import/export company. Oddo has a master’s degree in public finance and comparative international development from Indiana University in Bloomington and a bachelor’s degree from the University of Ife (now Obafemi Awolowo University) in Nigeria. He is fluent in Jamaican Patois, West African Pidgin English, and Nigerian Urhobo.

Larry Miles Dinger is new Ambassador to Fiji,

Kiribati, Nauru, Tonga and Tuvalu

From http://www.amembassy-fiji.gov/

Larry Miles Dinger, of Iowa, is the new Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the United States of America to the Republic of the Fiji Islands serving concurrently as Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the United States of America to the Republic of Kiribati, the Republic of Nauru, the Kingdom of Tonga, and Tuvalu.

A career member of the Senior Foreign Service, Ambassador Dinger currently serves as the State Department's Senior Advisor to the Naval War College in Newport, Rhode Island.

Pictures from Fiji Volunteers

Mark Lewis, the former Fiji Peace Corps Country Director,  assembled 3 CDs of Fiji pictures. 

The pictures have been uploaded onto http://www.fiji-peace-corps.us/pictures/login.php .  The August '03 - June '05 album on http://www.fiji-peace-corps.us/ now contains over 1800 photos documenting Fiji Peace Corps Volunteers. Thanks to Mark and Bill Sharp, the site's administrator.  Also, thank you, Fiji Volunteers, for your service and for your photography.

Some of the pictures have also been uploaded to our website with links from our Resources for New Volunteers page. 

Resources for New Volunteers

Some newly selected Peace Corps Volunteers have contacted us with requests for information about Fiji and the Peace Corps.  As a result, I have added a Resources for New Volunteers page to this website.  If you have information or links that should be added, please email Webmaster .  Also, if a new volunteer wants additional information, I will email Friends of Fiji who live nearby so that you will have the opportunity to share your experience & expertise.  I won’t send the new volunteer your email address, so it will be entirely up to you if you want to respond (I hope you will). 

From in the Web

http://www.fiji-vacations-resorts.com/ has some nice video clips of Fiji.

The NPCA News E-Newsletter at http://www.rpcv.org/pages/sitepage.cfm?id=1177 has recent news clips and allows you to subscribe to receive monthly news of the NPCA and the wider Peace Corps world.

Fijilive at http://www.fijilive.com/ has an improved website. It has news, weather, top Fijian & Indian music, Fijian jokes, etc.

The Prime Minister’s speech at the United Nations in September can be found at http://www.fijilive.com/news/PM_UN.pdf and at http://www.fiji.gov.fj/publish/page_5420.shtml

If you like numbers: Transparency International, a global non-governmental organization devoted to combating corruption has published the TI Corruption Perceptions Index (CPI), which ranks countries in terms of experts' perception of corruption. The US ranks 17th, Fiji is 55th of 158 countries. At http://www.transparency.org/cpi/2005/2005.10.18.cpi.en.html

The United Nations Development Program (UNDP) has issued its Human Development Report 2005, which contains national comparisons of human development. In addition to statistics, it highlights the human costs of missed targets and broken promises. Extreme inequality between countries and within countries is identified as one of the main barriers to human development. At http://hdr.undp.org/reports/global/2005/

Fiji in the News

New links have been added to this page – check it out.

The Fiji Times has an upgraded website.  It can be found online at http://www.fijitimes.com/

Website for current Fiji Peace Corps Volunteers – including pictures - http://www.fiji-peace-corps.us/ –check it out!!

1993 Fiji Peace Corps Cookbook available here:

Friends of Fiji has provided Peace Corps with a copy of the 1993 Cookbook as a resource for the new volunteers scheduled to begin arriving in Fiji this fall. It is also available here in PDF and Word formats for viewing or download.

Check your membership status

The Friends of Fiji News is mailed three times a year to members.  Please check your membership status on the mailing label on the last page and renew if necessary using the form provided.

You can also join both Friends of Fiji and NPCA by going to the National Peace Corps Association website at www.rpcv.org and clicking on Join/Renew Membership. You can charge it to your credit card at the NPCA website. Please remember to specify the Friends of Fiji as your affiliate group.

Vinaka!

Friends of Fiji email contacts:

General Correspondence

Membership Inquiries

Webmaster