During PC:

I served in the second group of Pernambuco AG Co-op volunteers; there were three turmas of volunteers the first group started by Joe Whythe in 1967, and ended 1973.

Our group trained in Georgia in July-September 1969 along with at least 100 other trainees for other groups going to Paraiba Electric Co-ops, SUDEPE fish co-ops in the States of Rio and Espirito Santo, and 4-H volunteers in Goias and Mato Grosso.

There were 13 vols in my group,all single (initially) males, most of us straight out of college. All of us finished the two years, and 8 extended a third year and some beyond that.

Our State Director was John Burns and the NE regional director Church Bosley and then Mel Grossgold. Each volunteer was placed in a town with a co-op, located mostly throughout the State. During this time, Peace Corps started the GERAN program in the sugar cane zone, so I got to know many of these GERAN vols, although we worked in separate areas.  I have stayed in contact with many of the PE vols during that time, 1968-73, as well as some from neighboring states like Paraiba and Bahia.

Three of my turma members married Brazilians, two of these lived there for many years (one still lives in Brazil).

In late 1980s, a number of RPCVs--particularly Joan and Scott Ramos who served in Amazonas - started the Friends of Brazil group, which published a newsletter and held reunions during the annual RPCV convention. Unfortunately, we were unable to continue the Friends group.

Two years ago when another devastating drought hit the NE and Pernambuco, our PE turma raised $4,000 to help a Catholic priest in the sertão of Pernambuco in the heart of the seca.

I have visited Brazil several times since leaving, and stay in touch with rpcvs and Brazilian friends still there.

After PC:

I returned from Brazil and got a MS in agricultural economics, doing my thesis on agricultural economy of the cotton areas of Ceará.

Since then, I have worked for the U.S. Government in international trade for the past roughly 25 years.

I have done a lot of community work since returning and found all that I learned from Brazilians and Americans to be immensely valuable.

Our RPCV turma has held a number of reunions, the last big one with over 100 people (spouses, children, Brazilian friends, hanger ons and party people). We are planning to have a 30th year anniversary of the PE co-op group, probably next year and only a year late

John Reeder PE 69-72