FOJ March 2021 Newsletter

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Friends of Jamaica Peace Corps Association

March 2021 Newsletter

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Friends of Jamaica is committed to supporting all our Jamaican partners and Peace Corps volunteers who are being impacted by the coronavirus. Please send your questions, comments, and recommendations on ways we can help to president@servejamaica.org

If you're doing a lot of online shopping, consider donating through Amazon Smile. Our code is smile.amazon.com/ch/35-2560337

Monthly Meeting: Sunday, March 28th at 12:00 PM EST

Click here to subscribe to our public Google Calendar

The Board of Directors hold regular virtual meetings and everyone is welcome. The next meeting has been set for March 28th, 2021 at 12:00 PM EST. All meetings are held over conference call via Zoom.

All are invited to participate! Email the President (info@servejamaica.org or president@servejamaica.org) so we can welcome you and provide an agenda.

Web conference and dial in instructions as follows:
Join Zoom Meeting
https://optoro.zoom.us/j/4168046900
Meeting ID: 416 804 6900
One tap mobile
+16468769923,,4168046900# US (New York)
+14086380968,,4168046900# US (San Jose)
Dial by your location
        +1 646 876 9923 US (New York)
        +1 408 638 0968 US (San Jose)
        +1 669 900 6833 US (San Jose)
2) Enter Meeting ID: 416 804 6900
3) Press #

Meeting times are subject to change. Click here to view published Minutes from previous meetings.

Peace Corps Week Recap

Please share what you did to celebrate from February 28 to March 6 as the Peace Corps community around the world commemorated the establishment of the Peace Corps in March 1961. This year we celebrate 60 years of Peace Corps!

Introducing FOJ Domestic Grants

FOJ is interested in helping you engage in the Peace Corps Third Goal: to help promote a better understanding of other peoples on the part of Americans. We are offering small grant opportunities to support you in introducing the people and culture of Jamaica to your home community. Think reggae hour on local radio, a Zoom slideshow with a classroom or a community cooking lesson

For more information please see the Application link:
https://forms.gle/i1QtSQTt3dhq6njy8

FOJ Grants

New Applications:

Chestscott Football Club

Final approval today, awaiting funds transfer.

New Kingston Rotary:

Application approved, awaiting funds transfer.

In Progress:

Herbal Renaissance

Request for final report

The Jamaica Trail Project

The Jamaica Trail Project is a collaborative activity of Jamaican and international organizations to refurbish and develop a people-friendly and historic hiking trail in the UNESCO World Heritage Blue and John Crow Mountains of Jamaica.

Vision

To preserve the natural and cultural resources of the UNESCO Blue and John Crow Mountains (BJCM) World Heritage Site.

Current Collaborators

Jamaican Conservation and Development Trust (JCDT) (JCDT.jm.org)

Council of Voluntary and Social Services (CVSS) (CVSSja.org

The Artvark Foundation ( https://www.artvarkjamaica.org/)

Natural History Society of Jamaica (NHSJ)( http://naturalhistorysocietyjamaica.org/)

The New York-New Jersey Trail Conference (NYNJTC) (nynjtc.org )

Funding Facilitation Partner

The American Friends of Jamaica (AFJ) ( https://theafj.org/causes/the-jamaica-trail-project/ )

Jamaican Breakfast - Ackee and saltfish

Did you fall in love with Ackee and saltfish for breakfast as a PCV or visitor to Jamaica? Check out this story from the BBC.

http://www.bbc.com/travel/story/20210315-ackee-and-saltfish-jamaicas-breakfast-of-champions

Ackee was brought to Jamaica from West Africa in the 18th Century, most likely on a slave ship (Credit: Credit: Neil Bowman/Getty Images)

Ackee was brought to Jamaica from West Africa in the 18th Century, most likely on a slave ship (Credit: Credit: Neil Bowman/Getty Images)

Newsletter content

Have a story to share about being a Peace Corps Volunteer or interesting story to share about Jamaica? We would love to share.

https://docs.google.com/document/d/1Gg4laQ5qPd82qb3M6cR5f-wbtKPZNM4i8UyeSh5u7YI/edit

Newsletters - The PlessRoom

Gift a Membership

Do you know someone with a connection to Jamaica that would like to build a bright future for its people? Give a gift membership today, and FOJ will take care of the rest.

Click here to access the gift form. Put the name and email address of the person who will receive the gift membership in the "In Honor Of" field at Step #4. FOJ will create an account for the gift recipient and send them a welcome message.

More Ways to Give

General Fund

It only takes a few moments to make a one-time donation to our General Fund

Visit The Store

Represent Peace Corps and support FOJ with these items from our Zazzle store.

We also welcome your suggestions on items and designs.

Amazon Smile

Support FOJ when you shop online! Our code is smile.amazon.com/ch/35-2560337

Shop Now

COVID-19

Friends of Jamaica is deeply concerned about the effect of the COVID-19 pandemic both on the country of Jamaica and the Peace Corps volunteers that have, and that will serve on the island. During this unprecedented challenge, we remain committed to continuing our mission and will continue to provide support to important projects led by Jamaican nationals, but will also help returned and evacuated Peace Corps Volunteers carry out Peace Corps' third goal until in country service resumes.

All memberships and donations made during this time will support these projects, but also provide a venue for volunteers to stay involved during this global crisis.

Renew or Upgrade Your Membership

Current Membership Stats:
69 active, 102 expired members (please renew your membership)

We offer multiple plans, so you can give at the level that's right for you.

Memberships may be renewed manually or automatically each year. Payment may be made online through the NPCA's web portal, or by check mailed to 523 Tennessee Ave NE Washington, DC 20002. Questions? Contact our Membership Director.

Donate to the Will Thornton Fund

We started the Will Thornton Fund in August of 2018 to honor his memory by providing educational support to kids at the S.O.S Children's Village where Will served as a volunteer.

Click here to give to the Will Thornton Fund

Join/Renew

Donate/Gift

Member Portal

About us

Friends of Jamaica is a public charity registered under section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code of the United States. Its EIN is 35-2560337. Donations to FOJ are tax-deductable. It is managed by a volunteer Board of Directors who are elected by its members. Current board members and their email addresses are listed below:

President: Benjee Cascio, Vice President: John Riley Barnacastle, Secretary: David Pruitt, Treasurer: Alicia Stern, Communications: Indi Mclymont, Grants: Adam Rhoads, Membership: Chris Robinson, Newsletter: Claire Bourseleth, At-Large: Ethan Ellestad, Kenneth Lim, Cudjoe Bennett, Claire Bourseleth, David Pruitt and David Ingleman.

Copyright © *2020* *Friends of Jamaica Peace Corps Association, 523 Tennessee Ave NE Washington, DC. United States of America 20002, All rights reserved. Affiliate group of the National Peace Corps Association.

www.servejamaica.org

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April 24, 2021

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