Close of Service

Peace CorpsOn August 23, 2002, my Peace Corps service in Guyana abruptly came to an end. Called an Early Termination, I was separated from the Peace Corps less than three months from when I began.

My separation was officially considered a non-administrative Early Termination/Interruption of Service due to "no viable assignment in-country for which the trainee or volunteer is qualified."

I maintain, however, that my service was wrongfully terminated. This is my story.

MY CASE

Case For Appeal
I maintain that I have acted within my rights and met all of the Peace Corps concerns regarding my online content. Yet, I was not sworn in, I lost my assigned site, and I was sent home.

PEACE CORPS CORRESPONDENCE
These memos and emails were exchanged between me, Earl Brown, and Peace Corps Guyana staff.

Extension of Training Memo from CD (Aug. 15)
Earl Brown, country director, presents me a memo stating he will not be swearing me in, reasons for not swearing me in, and the steps I must take to make amends.

Extension of Training Memo to CD (Aug. 16)
My reply includes a long list of steps that I took to appease the CD's concerns.

Creating and Use of websites (Aug. 17)
Country Director Earl Brown's memo to volunteers regarding the creation and use of websites. This memo was never given to me.

WWF Email Revoking Invitation (Aug. 19)
Patrick E. Williams, director of the World Wildlife Fund in Guyana, emails Earl Brown to revoke their invitation to have me serve as a volunteer.

APCD's Email Confirming No Site (Aug. 21)
Terrence Simmons' email to Earl Brown stating there are no replacement sites in Guyana that are suitable for me.

Country Director's Timeline of Events (Aug. 21)
Country Director Earl Brown's memo regarding his accounts leading to my Early Termination/Interruption of Service.

Memo Regarding My Departure (Aug. 22)
Country Director Earl Brown's memo to volunteers regarding my departure.

Voicemail About Reapplying (Sept. 4)
A message from Sylvie Mortimer, Office of Placement, regarding my options for re-enrollment.

Email to Sylvie Mortimer (Sept. 5)
My response to Sylvie's voicemail, stating that as an Early Termination/Interrupted Service Returned Peace Corps Volunteer, I may seek reinstatement or re-enrollment to Peace Corps service or may seek transfer to another country without having to submit a new application.

Email to Brian Payne and Sarah Erdman (Sept. 26)
I still had not received an answer to my Sept. 5 email. This is my follow-up.

Email asking again about reinstatement (Oct. 10)
Still no reply from Peace Corps, I sent another email asking to be reinstated.

Email Denying Reinstatement (Oct. 10)
Sarah Erdman of the Peace Corps' Business Desk the General Counsel says that my Interrupted Service status prevents me from reinstatement in Guyana.

My Timeline of Events (current)
My detailed summary of all events leading to my Early Termination/Interruption of Service.

WORLD WILDLIFE FUND MEMOS
I was accused of emailing the WWF Suriname Office without my counterpart's knowledge or approval. These documents prove otherwise.

Email Received from WWF Suriname (Jul. 29)
Edith McXXXXXXXX, communications & environmental education officer of the WWF Guianas Program, makes first contact with me. She copies Patrick Williams of the WWF Guyana office, among others.

Reply Email to WWF Suriname (Jul. 31)
I reply to Edith McXXXXXXXX's email. I copy Patrick Williams of the WWF Guyana office.

Email Received from WWF Suriname (Aug. 1)
Email from Edith McXXXXXXXX to Astrid Vermeer, WWF Guianas' head of finance, regarding my computer needs. She copies Patrick Williams of the WWF Guyana office.

WWF Email Revoking Invitation (Aug. 19)
Patrick E. Williams, director of the World Wildlife Fund in Guyana, emails Earl Brown to revoke their invitation to have me serve as a volunteer.

PEACE CORPS POLICY
In this section you will find Peace Corps policy excerpts from the Peace Corps Volunteer Handbook and Manual that are relevant to my case.

MS 284, 5.0: Early Termination of Service
Section 5.0 Interrupted Service from the Peace Corps Manual. I was given an Early Termination/Interrupted Service per MS 284, 5.0.

Description of Early Termination
The four ways that a volunteer or trainee can be terminated early, according to the Peace Corps Volunteer Handbook.

Re-enrollment
Under some circumstances, an RPCV may re-enroll for another term without having to submit a new application.

Transfers
Transfers are approved only when it appears that the Volunteer will be highly successful in the new assignment.

Peace Corps Volunteer Handbook
Excerpts from the Peace Corps Volunteer Handbook that pertain to the sharing of information, communications, media relations, public expression, and more.

PEACE CORPS LITERATURE
In this section you will find excerpts from Peace Corps publications that discuss topics relevant to my case.

Peace Corps Director Statements on Technology
Peace Corps Director Gaddi H. Vasquez made the following statements to the United States Senate on June 25, 2002.

World Wise Schools Handbook
Excerpts taken from the World Wise Schools Handbook for Educators and Volunteers, a Peace Corps publication, that seeks to broaden perspectives; promote cultural awareness; appreciate global connections; and encourage service.

Technology and Peace Corps'
Excerpts from an article published in the Summer 2000 issue of The Connection: World Wise Schools, a Peace Corps publication, regarding the use of technology for communication purposes.

Publishing A Peace Corps Experience
Excerpts from an article published in the May 15, 2001, issue of Hotline, a Peace Corps publication, describing how to get your Peace Corps story published.

OTHER VOLUNTEER WEBSITES
Globally, I am not the only Peace Corps volunteer or trainee who has a website, online journal, or posts online photos. Here are a list of sites and online activity that set precedence.

Volunteer Sites Similar to Mine
Here is a short list of volunteer websites that have a purpose similar to mine -- to share their Peace Corps experience with others.

Online Communities and Listserves
My creation of a Yahoo Groups listserve called Peace Corps Guyana drew lots of attention and criticism. Here is a list of similar communities.

Phrase "Peace Corps"
As you might imagine, there are 300,000 websites, if not more, that have content relating to the Peace Corps.

THIRD-PARTY LITERATURE
Some relevant articles and content about my case from third-party sources.

Wood v. Ruppe
This case indicates that the Peace Corps has the same burden as any other federal agency in its efforts to restrict Free Speech. In particular, there must be a substantial governmental interest, and the restriction must be the least restrictive means.

Former dot-com Workers Joining Peace Corps
San Francisco Chronicle story on the influx of dot-com applicants.

Living in the Blog-osphere
A Newsweek article about blogs (a.k.a. web logs).

Ethics of Photographing People
The law allows you to take anyone's picture in a public place if the photo is used for editorial purposes such as to illustrate a news story, or a research project.

Ethics of People Pictures in Travel Photography
Because there are so many more travelers visiting the far corners of the world than in years past, photographing people may be more challenging now than ever.

FIRST AMENDMENT
Some relevant articles and content about my case from third-party sources.

First Amendment Text
The First Amendment says that people have the right to speak freely without government interference.

ACLU: Amended Independent Counsel Statute
"We are painfully aware of the unchecked abuses of power that have flowed from the current independent counsel statute," said Laura W. Murphy, Director of the ACLU's Washington National Office.

ACLU: Freedom of Expression
Freedom of speech, of the press, of association, of assembly and petition -- this set of guarantees, protected by the First Amendment, comprises what we refer to as freedom of expression.

ACLU: Speech and National Security
The public's First Amendment "right to know" is essential to its ability to fully participate in democratic decision-making. The government's claims of "national security" must always be closely scrutinized to make sure they are valid.

ACLU: Why Freedom of Expression is Essential
Three Reasons Why Freedom of Expression is Essential to a Free Society.

LETTERS, WHO TO WRITE
If you wish to voice a complaint or would like to see what others have written, visit these links.

Who to Write
If you are disgusted with how I was treated and would like to write a letter to your congressman or other elected officials, this section will be helpful.

Letters from Peace Corps Volunteers
Here are a few excerpts from Guyana Peace Corps volunteers regarding their disappointment of my departure.

Letters from Friends and Family
Here are a few letters from friends and family upon hearing of my return.

Letters to DC
Here are copies of some of the letters that Peace Corps volunteers have written to the DC office.