Worldview Magazine - Fall 2007 - (Page 11)

Interview DEPTH OF EXPERIENCE Ron Tschetter is looking for a lot more older Peace Corps volunteers by Erica Trafas Burman clearly comes through. He received high marks within the Peace Corps community for overnighting with volunteers during his overseas trips and for his handling of several events in the news. When volunteer Julia Campbell disappeared, he ﬂew to the Philippines to oversee the search and when her body was found he wanted to be the Peace Corps oﬃcial who notiﬁed her family. More recently, when the U.S. ambassador in Tanzania withdrew the country director’s authorization to remain in country, Peace Corps Washington issued a strongly worded statement in support of her and of the agency’s independence from political interference. Tschetter is very clear that by talking about the positive qualities of older volunteers he in no way diminishes the value, contribution or numbers of younger volunteers. “All we’re trying to do is put a focus on it, and by doing that, create broader and deeper interest and bring more people in. Young people right out of colleges and universities–that will always be our core focus of recruiting, but this is to augment that and to deepen and broaden interest in Peace Corps. I’m hoping that the Peace Corps can grow.” Currently, ﬁve percent of Ron and Nancy Tschetter as India volunteers in 1967. Peace Corps volunteers are over the age of 50 and the investment industry, yet retains the the hope is to increase that signiﬁcantly. down-to-earth qualities one associates Much of the impetus springs from with his upper-Midwestern roots. He’s simple demographics: the 78 millionfocused, plain-spoken and friendly… person bulge in population coupled and his enthusiasm for Peace Corps with the beliefs and values of this hen Peace Corps Director Ron Tschetter talks about the agency’s current focus on recruiting older volunteers, he easily shares stories of older volunteers he has met–not only on his recent travels as director, but from 40 years ago when he himself was a volunteer in India with his wife, Nancy. “ is is not a new phenomenon at all. I had them in my group when I was the young 20something,” says Tschetter, who then rattles oﬀ the names of half a dozen older volunteers who served with him, the best known being Lillian Carter, mother of former President Jimmy Carter. “A certain kind of person is going to join at 50… very outgoing and not afraid… it’s hard to describe. ey brought a completely diﬀerent dimension to what us 20-somethings thought we were going to do over in India.” Tschetter forged a successful career in W B age cohort. “I spent 35 years in the securities industry,” says Tschetter, “I can’t tell you how many demographic presentations I sat through from all kinds of marketing experts on the proﬁle of the Baby Boomer. It’s ey are givers. ey compelling. give of themselves, they give of their resources … and it stands out when you look at the market research, which shows that a lot of them volunteer already.” ut what really resonates with Tschetter and others is the 30plus years of experience and expertise these volunteers can bring to Peace Corps. “I hate to use the word ‘maturity,’ because that implies that 20-somethings aren’t mature, and that’s not what I mean at all,” says Tschetter. “But older volunteers can bring a higher level and breadth and depth of experience and expertise. A 20-something will look at a problem a little diﬀerently than somebody who’s probably dealt with that problem 20 times in his of her life.” “Country directors say it’s really a positive thing to do. In most of these countries age comes with a tremendous amount of respect, plus they’ve got all this experience to bring to the needs of the host country. When you sit back and look at it, it’s kind of a no-brainer,” says Tschetter. “And they’re healthy. At 65, at 70 they’re still vibrant, still strong.” Clearly there is pent-up interest out there. Just talking up the program gently, without a big roll-out campaign, has on its own resulted in a signiﬁcant response. Numerous articles have appeared in the media outlets around WorldView 11

Table of Contents Feed for the Digital Edition of Worldview Magazine - Fall 2007

Worldview - Fall 2007 Contents Presiden'ts Note Lafayette Park Introduction Interview Commentary Editor's Note Letter from Rumbek, Sudan Listings Letter from Yekaterinburg, Russia Letter from Codaesti, Romania Letter from Catia La Mar, Venezuela Letter from Gumare, Botswana Letter from Ridder, Kazakhstan Letter from Rincon, Cape Verde Letter from Port Au Prince Another Country Community News Giving Back Opinion

Worldview Magazine - Fall 2007

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