1. Old Business New Business Main Topic: Safety and Security RPCV Panel Discussion

2. Congratulations! You are a part of something very special and we thank you all for making Tulane one of the top Graduate Schools in Peace Corps!

3. Brown Bag Lunch with Curt Thursday, February 28 th 12-1pm, room TBD An informal lunch meeting with our Dallas recruiter, Curt Baker. This is an excellent opportunity to meet the person who will be interviewing you and/or ask any Peace Corps related questions you may have. Bring your lunch!

4. THE INTERNATIONALIST We need a few more volunteers to be on the committee Please talk to Sarah or Ann- Marie ASAP if you are interested MARDI GRAS photos- We need some good pictures!! Comic strip photos from your travels RPCVs- Readjustment tales

5. March Service Project HandOn New Orleans When: Sunday, March 3 rd, 9-12 (Lunch in the quarter following the event) Where: St. Louis Cemetery No. 1 located outside the quarter on Basin St. What: We will be working on historic cemetery preservation, tomb and marble cleaning, lime washing, painting, vegetation removal and iron work restoration How: Only a few spots left. Sign up on the link from the weekly email. If you signed up and CANNOT go you MUST go back and cancel. *Unique New Orleans Experience!

6. March Social Event: Potluck at the Fly Before Spring Break Vote Thursday, March 21 st -4:00? Friday, March 22 nd - 4:00-?

7. Office Hours Sign Up Resource lists for MIs in the filed Internationalist help Updating our office maps

8. Looking ahead… March 20, 12-1 in the Diboll Auditorium, reception following: “Public Health in the Land of the Batwa Pygmies”- a presentation by Scott Kellerman, SPHTM alum April 1, 6:30-?, Muses Apt Building: Come support Hannah Nelson’s NGO APF Tanzania which promotes arts among youth in the community. Music, food and charity- $10 donation suggested.

9. Aimee D’Avingnon: Albania http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zBLAFpedOFc

11. Possible Safety and Security Risks Natural Disasters Political Unrest Crime Corruption Harassment Sexual Assault Transportation Accidents

12. The Stats

14. Peace Corps Approach Integration Volunteers are safest when they are in their communities and have developed appropriate relationships and earned community respect by: Respecting local customs Dressing in a culturally appropriate manner Communicating in the local language Dedicating time to working with community members on projects Participating in local festivities and cultural events Demonstrating expertise in their technical field Mitigation Actions taken to reduce the likelihood of a safety and security incident or impact. Housing choices Post choice Training Country specific policies Staff Response The strategies in place in the event that there is a specific threat to the well-being of volunteers Emergency Action Plans Safety and Security officers

15. Safety and Security RPCV Panel Discussion Gabe Cohen – El Salvador Nicole Carter- Peru Ken Blaylock- Ethiopia Sarah Syed– Jordan Ann-Marie Yongho- Cameroon

16. What did you feel was the biggest safety and security threat was in your country/post? What PC rules/regulations were in place to prevent safety and security issues? Did you have any safety issues in country? If so, how did Peace Corps help/handle the situation? What do you think is the most important thing volunteers can do to keep themselves safe? Any advice or suggestions for future PCVs?