Friends of Fiji

You can now join or renew your membership and pay with a credit card. It’s all available on our new Membership page.

If you receive Friends of Fiji News by mail, check your membership status on the mailing label on the last page. Please renew your membership when the mailing label shows “Lapsed”.

Photos from two 2008 Fiji Peace Corps Reunions can be found on our Facebook Group page http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=55116&id=23752435565&ref=mf :

• 4th of July 2008 National Reunion of the Fiji 16 group organized by Elliot Rosenberg in Issaquah, Washington
• Friends of Fiji gathered at the Northern California Peace Corps Association picnic in San Francisco on October 5, 2008.

Over 150 attended the big party in Arlington, VA Saturday evening, Sept 6.  The rain disappeared as the first guests arrived and a fine evening of island food, music, dancing, and fun ensued.  The Fiji Breeze Band was terrific.

Selai Nacagilevu had the winning raffle ticket for the trip to Fiji.

Special thanks to the National Rural Electric CA and Charla Young for providing a wonderful venue and Martin Ogle and the Potomac Overlook Regional Park for providing the lovo site.  Thanks also to our sponsors, donors, & volunteers including Air Pacific, Tropic Splendor Resort, and Fiji Water.

Additional details will be posted here shortly & in the next edition of our newsletter. Pictures of our lovo are at http://fofiji.org/wordpress/?page_id=106.  Event pictures are on our Friends-of-Fiji facebook page:

http://www.facebook.com/pages/Friends-of-Fiji/23752435565

Posters of Friends of Fiji Projects

By Bill Collier (F XXX)

On Sunday, May 25^th, about 40 friends of Fiji gathered on the shores of Narragansett Bay in Saunderstown, RI, for the annual FOF Memorial Day weekend picnic. While most of the attendees were from New England, several hardy travelers from the DC area made the journey to sample co-host Mike “Lovo Master” Scott’s (F LXXI) perfectly prepared Fijian culinary surprises. Many Indian and American dishes also contributed to an abundance of food, and no one left hungry.

The weather could not have been more cooperative for this 20^th anniversary gathering, which was first hosted in 1988 by now-NPCA V.P. Ann Baker. The picnic has moved through the years to venues in RI, MA, and CT, and many of the attendees have been coming for the entire two decades. This year the RPCVs in attendance included a seasoned veteran from F IV, as well as a recent returnee from FRE-2 and a number of RPCVs from groups in between, including five from F XXX. Many of the RPCVs’ children have also become good friends over the years, and this year was cause for celebration because Nick Cardano, the son of Barbara and Conrad Cardano (both F XXX), had recently received word that he would be leaving in July to begin his stint as a PCV health educator in Kyrgyszstan. (Well, it ain’t Fiji (what is?), but everyone was nevertheless excited for Nick and his proud parents.)

The FOF Memorial Day weekend picnic in New England begins its third decade in 2009, and everyone hopes the camaraderie and good times will continue for years to come.

Update:  Pictures of the event:

A new iguana has been discovered on Fiji.  Brachylophus bulabula has a stripey green back and a greyish-green belly. More information, and a picture at http://www.abc.net.au/science/articles/2008/09/16/2365110.htm

An official invitation is shown below left. Click on it to enlarge.  The Raffle grand prize is a Fiji vacation for two — details at http://fofiji.org/Raffleprizedetails2008.doc

To attend,  click on the reply shown below right, print it out, fill it out, and send to:

Friends of Fiji

4327 43^rd Street, NW

Washington, DC 20016

See the post below for more information on the fundraiser.

Fijian Breeze Band, Fiji Vacation Raffle & Familiar Food and Drink

Development projects in Fiji involving current Peace Corps Volunteers will once again be the beneficiaries of the biennial Friends of Fiji Gala Fundraiser held on Saturday, September 6, at the very attractive and conveniently located headquarters of the National Rural Electric Cooperative Association (NRECA) in Arlington, Virginia.

The evening included entertainment by (and dancing to the music of) the wildly popular West Coast Fijian Breeze Band (flying in especially for the event), a traditional Fijian/Indian feast, and a raffle whose grand prize includes round-trip tickets to Fiji from Los Angeles, plus resort accommodations. Various types of delectable alcoholic and non-alcoholic beverages were available, as well a silent auction of all sorts of Fiji artwork, crafts, etc.

This marked the first year that the fundraiser is being held outside of Washington, DC, but not very far. NRECA is ideally located at 4301 Wilson Blvd. in Arlington, VA, two blocks from the Ballston Metrorail Station and right off the Glebe Road exit of Interstate-66. The facilities offer free parking in the basement garage (enter from N. Taylor Street) and a very spacious, attractive and well-equipped venue. In addition, NRECA is offering us a substantial discount which will increase the percentage of proceeds available for development projects.

Updates about the fundraiser will appear on this website . If you would like to help or have questions about this or future events contact John Smallwood who has agreed to be coordinator for the event. If you have items to donate, please contact Anne Baker.

The Projects page has been updated to include all projects funded to date. Pictures of the Cadranasiga Environmental Arts Club (Eco-Drama Project) provided by RPCV Rhiannon Carrasco have been added.

A Pictures page has been added, which links to pictures posted on our Friends-of-Fiji facebook page so that we don’t have to publish in multiple places.

David Downes and Ben and Joyce Bryan of Friends of Fiji attended Pacific Night at the National Geographic Society at the invitation of the Embassy of Fiji . Ben’s pictures can be seen here.

A 40 year reunion is being planned for Fiji II.  The dates for the reunion are set for Friday, October, 24 through Sunday, October 26, 2008 at the Springhill Marriott Hotel near Orlando, Florida.  For additional information on the reunion, contact Mike Haynes at (419) 885-5076 or via email at mdhaynes44@msn.com. Or Dave Rhudy at (574) 533-6361 or via email at dcrhudy@bnin.net.