Western Montana Returned   Peace Corps Volunteers

History

       The idea for the Western Montana Returned Peace Corps Volunteers began in 1987 with the dedication of the "Beyond War" award to past and present Peace Corps Volunteers.  Lynne Brett and Rohn Wood, the University of Montana Campus Recruiters, presented the awards to local Returned Peace Corps Volunteers.

          From 1987 to June 1990 the U of M Campus recruiter acted as the unofficial leader of the Returned Volunteers.  The group held informal gatherings a couple of times a year in addition to helping the Campus recruiter with recruiting activities.

          In June of 1990, after the National Conference of Returned Peace Corps Volunteers in Eugene, Oregon, the group informally elected its first officers and began calling itself the Western Montana Returned Peace Corps Volunteers.

          The WMRPCV's slowly evolved into more than just a social group.  In 1991, the members organized a traveling photo display celebrating Peace Corps' thirtieth anniversary.  The WMRPCV's organized a group, the Emissaries, to assist local schools with educating students about the cultures, people and countries in which the volunteers served.  In 1993, the members sold the Wisconsin group's Peace Corps Calendars, donating the funds to area Food Banks and soup kitchens.

        Since then the group has continued to grow and meet regularly in Missoula, Bozeman and other areas.  The selling of the International Calendars continue to be our major fundraising event.