Jason Pearce

Some of my fellow colleagues in Guyana have written a few letters to the Peace Corps DC office regarding my termination. Others have also been asking me who they can send letters to, should they decide to do so. This weekend, I plan on adding a page to my site that will give a list of various people and organizations that will help you with this process.

In the meantime, here is the Peace Corps’ instructions regarding who should receive letters about my departure.

— ?Frola, Kimberly? wrote:
From: “Frola, Kimberly” KFrola@PeaceCorps.gov
To: current volunteer
Subject: RE: Could you help us?
Date: Tue, 3 Sep 2002 10:22:11 -0400

Hi [Hidden Name]! My apologies for just returning the message. I had planned to come in over the week-end to catch up on e-mails, but that did not happen. I do remember you from my ever so brief period in Guyana. I had such a lovely time and enjoyed getting to meet your group, especially since I had been in previous e-mail contact with many of you.

As you said, though, I too am sorry to hear that there have been difficulties between the PCVs and the CD. Thank you for thinking of us on the Country Desk Unit as a resource. The letters you refer to below can be sent to Country Desk Officer Rita Jimenez at rjimenez@peacecorps.gov. (You can cc me on them if you would like.) CDO Jimenez will then compile them and discuss them with the appropriate regional senior staff.

Should anyone want to send copies via fax to Rita’s attention, the fax number is 202-692-2501. The mailing address is: Peace Corps, South America Desk Unit, 1111 20th St., NW, Washington, DC 20526.

Despite the issues with the CD, I do hope that you and the rest of your group are settling in well at your sites. Please send my greetings to all.

Take care!

-Kim

—–Original Message—–
From: current volunteer
Sent: Friday, August 30, 2002 12:49 PM
To: Frola, Kimberly
Subject: Could you help us?

Good afternoon Kim!

I hope you remember me from your visit to Guyana so you can put a name with a face. This is [Hidden Name] (a boat paddler on the brief excursion downstream, on “culture day”.), a recently sworn in volunteer. I wish my reason for contacting you was to look back fondly on that time, but unfortunately current events have embittered me to make a request.

We have had several conflicts with our country director, Earl Brown, from the onset of our training; and the recent situation with one of our fellow colleagues has forced us to voice official complaints. In light of this, nowhere in the volunteer handbook states who we are supposed to contact in reference to voicing concerns about our country director. I know you’re a busy woman, but I was hoping you could at least point me in the right direction.

I’ll be passing this information along to other Guy 9 and 10 volunteers who have letters written (an email address would be great, as not many of us have access to typewriters-a hand written copy might be a bit sloppy). I appreciate all your assistance in this matter. Enjoy your weekend!

Sincerely,
Current Volunteer

I have officially applied from the Peace Corps’ Internet communications manager position. It would be so ironic if I were to get this job, or even get interviewed, since the Peace Corps kicked me out of Guyana due to my personal website and online content. We’ll see.

— “Picado, Patricia” PPicado@PeaceCorps.gov wrote:
From: “Picado, Patricia” PPicado@PeaceCorps.gov
To: ‘jason@pearce.net’
Subject: RE: Internet Communications Manager Application (PC2-103w)
Date: Fri, 13 Sep 2002 09:16:48 -0400

Your application has been received. Thank you for applying to work at the Peace Corps.

Our staffing specialists are currently reviewing the applications for this position. When they complete their review, they will forward to the selecting officials the applications of the individuals whose experience and background meet the requirements of the position. This selection process may take up to 100 days. During that time we appreciate your patience in waiting for the selection officials to contact you should they decide to request an interview.

Thank you for your interest in the Peace Corps.

Sincerely,
Office of Human Resource Management

—–Original Message—–
From: Jason.Pearce.net
Sent: Thursday, September 12, 2002 11:18 PM
To: hrmjobs@peacecorps.gov
Subject: Internet Communications Manager Application (PC2-103w)

Dear Peace Corps,

In the past five years I have been actively involved in managing and developing the architecture, content, format, and design of nonprofit and for profit websites. My participation in these projects has been primarily in the areas of concept development, marketing, project management, communications strategies, and hands on design and development.

Having served as editor of a magazine for five years, I offer experience in organizing vast amounts of information and details, writing and editing content, and creating clean and user-friendly design. My strong editorial and communications background has served me well online, helping me develop clean design and effective content. I am skilled in a wide variety of authoring and development tools such as Dreamweaver, Fireworks, Flash, Photoshop, and ImageReady. Although these tools are helpful and efficient, I use them without compromising the frequent need to write code by hand.

I am currently seeking an opportunity to manage and develop a company’s website; ensuring that its online presence, design, and content is consistent and supportive of the company’s offline marketing objectives by providing guidance and direction for the daily and long-term benefits of online communications.

I believe that my comprehensive knowledge of web development, my vision for its application in corporate communications, and my experience as a senior manager offer a unique mix of credentials – all summarized in the enclosed resume.

I would be delighted to discuss my qualifications with you at your convenience. Thank you for your consideration.

Sincerely,

Jason.Pearce.net
jason@pearce.net
(919) 787-4142

——————-
SAMPLES OF MY WORK

Resume:
http://net.jasonpearce.com/vocation/resumes.html

Websites:
http://net.jasonpearce.com/vocation/websites.html

Animation:
http://net.jasonpearce.com/vocation/animation.html

Writing:
http://net.jasonpearce.com/vocation/writings.html

Awards:
http://net.jasonpearce.com/vocation/recognition.html

On September 5, 2002, I sent an email to Sylvie Mortimer of the Office of Placement, Business Desk, regarding my request for reinstatement or re-enrollment to Peace Corps service, or transfer to another country, without having to submit a new application. Please scroll down to read that email if you haven’t already done so.

Today, I received the following email in reply. And as I imagined, just about everyone at the Peace Corps is involved with coming up with a response to my simple and clear request.

— “Mortimer, Sylvie” SMortimer@PeaceCorps.gov wrote:
From: “Mortimer, Sylvie” SMortimer@PeaceCorps.gov
To: “‘jason@pearce.net’” jason@pearce.net
CC: “Brown, Earl” ebrown@gy.peacecorps.gov, “Jimenez, Rita” RJimenez@PeaceCorps.gov, “Myers, Amber” AMyers@PeaceCorps.gov, “Smith, Kent” KSmith@PeaceCorps.gov, “Galloway, Lien” LGalloway@peacecorps.gov, “Glasow, Suzanne” SGlasow@PeaceCorps.gov, “Payne, Brian (Headquarters)” BPayne1@PeaceCorps.gov, “Erdman, Sarah” SErdman@peacecorps.gov
Subject: RE: Request for reinstatement, re-enrollment, or transfer
Date: Thu, 12 Sep 2002 11:51:52 -0400

Jason,

Thanks for your email.

The matter regarding your Peace Corps application and status is being reviewed by the Office of the General Counsel in consultation with the Guyana staff. You will be informed as soon as the matter is resolved. Your Placement contacts while I am on maternity leave will be Brian Payne and Sarah Erdman. Both can be reached at ext. 1850 here at headquarters or by email: serdman@peacecorps.gov and/or bpayne1@peacecorps.gov.

Thanks,
Sylvie

Criminal activity in Georgetown, Guyana, counties to be a concern for some of the volunteers still stationed there. I recently received this email from one of them who currently lives on the same street that I lived on with my host family during training. It is also just three blocks away from where I would have been living and about five blocks away from the Peace Corps Guyana office.

The bad news…..i was walking home with a volunteer on Friday nite from another volunteer’s house on Pike street and we got mugged and assaulted – yeah pretty darn traumatic and disturbing. They stole my bike and i got a couple of knife marks in my back – but i’m okay – it’s certainly not an exciting aspect to my experience and of course i’m debating on whether my life is really worth it….being here that is….the crimes seems to be only getting worse and the incidents more often. So we’ll see – i’m giving it to the end of the month to evaluate if it gets any better – since i hate my site too – but that’s another story.

yeah you’d think that Kitty [the neighborhood she lives in] was safe – but it apparently happens anywhere any time – unfortunately – i feel bad for the other volunteer because this is the second time [she's been assaulted] – yowsers! The stats at the police station is partly what has me freaked – it has only been increasing in incidents/cases – nearly doubled since last years numbers and is only getting worse….and on top of that – even Henry [a Peace Corps host family and friend] tells me that he’s scared – in addition to every other Guyanese i talk to – and in his response to what i told him what happened he was surprised i wasn’t going home – yeah totally crazy i tell ya.

During training, we were asked to all be home before dark (6:30 p.m.) unless we were being escorted by our host family or Peace Corps staff. Naturally, it’s tough to have a curfew.

Stay safe my friends. Stay safe.

I have received some wonderful feedback and advice regarding my appeal of the Peace Corps’ decision to send me home. One friend in particular found a DC Federal District case involving a Peace Corps volunteer who was terminated for expressing his political views. Here is his email and an excerpt from that case:

Jason, Below is language from a DC Federal District case involving the termination of a Peace Corps volunteer. In this particular case, the individual was expressing political views related to the US military intervention in Grenada, while stationed in the Dominican Republic.

“Peace Corps policy does not prohibit private speech by its volunteers on matters of political expression, although volunteers are admonished to portray their opinions as their own, and not as representative of the Peace Corps or the U.S. Government’s position. … It is only in situations … where there has been a direct threat to the interest of the Peace Corps, that speech is prohibited; thus, the policy is narrowly tailored to restrict speech no more than is necessary to protect a compelling government interest.” Wood v. Ruppe, 659 F.Supp. 403, 410-11 (D.D.C. 1987).

As I had suggested earlier, 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.

I can’t tell you how pleased I was to have someone find some legal precedent regarding my case. While I don’t imagine that I’ll take my case to court, it will be very useful to reference prior court rulings in my appeal to the Peace Corps.

My friend then offers me the following advice regarding the actions that I should take.

I took some time to read through the correspondence that you posted. Here are my thoughts and advice:

1. Request all relevant documents and information contained in your personnel file relating to the decision to terminate your affiliation.
2. Write a non-confrontational appeal that focuses on the objective facts. (i.e. You were asked to restrict access, and you complied in a timely manner.)
3. Indicate that restrictions on speech are not clearly proscribed in any Peace Corps document, other than to be sensitive and refrain from political commentary; it appears from what I’ve seen that you complied with this. I’d avoid from making too strong of 1st amendment claim here, as they won’t want to admit that they are violating your free speech rights, and then reinstate you. If you leave them wiggle room by suggesting that any restrictions were not clearly conveyed, than they can view it as a “mutual misunderstanding”.
4. The most confrontational I would be, is with respect to Brown individually. I’d use the phrase “arbitrary and capricious” to describe his conduct.

That is my advice if you want to be reinstated.

Now, if you want to drop a fire in the hole, and head for cover, there are a few other options I’d consider. First, I would look into your political contacts. Second, there is always the route of public embarrassment. You have the media experience, contacts, and know how to really disparage the Peace Corps. Third, a letter from someone on good legal letterhead is always fun too.

If I can be of any help or if you want to bounce anything off me, feel free to write. Best of luck Jason.

Oh the possibilities. Thanks so much for the advice. And thanks a bunch for finding the Wood v. Ruppe case.