In 2015, a formal partnership was established between Rotary International General Secretary John Hewko and Peace Corps Acting Director Carrie Hessler-Radelet when they signed an agreement during a ceremony at Rotary Headquarters that included RI President Ron Burton and others. This agreement was inspired by a group of Returned Peace Corps Volunteers from Rotary District 5450 which is in Denver Colorado. The heart of the agreement is that Peace Corps and Rotary have almost identical goals and create greater good working together.

At this month's November 17th RCNY's International Breakfast Meeting at the United Nations, join New York Rotarian Thomas McConnon and Denver, Colorado Rotarian Charlie Miller, both Returned Peace Corps Volunteers, and decades-long Rotarians outline the relationship between Rotary International and the United States Peace Corps.

Join via Zoom: https://us02web.zoom.us/j/81929589710

 

 

A Denver Rotarian since 1996,  Charlie Miller served in the Fiji Islands from 1968 to 1970 and he assisted in establishing the Official Partnership with the Peace Corps. As a Denver Rotarian, Charlie served on the Board of Trustees,  Board of Directors, and rose up to be the club's 1st vice president .  Shortly after completing his Peace Corps service in Fiji,  Charlie graduated from Harvard University Law School, and has had a 40 year extensive legal career in Colorado. He has donated his talents to many notable non-profit organizations throughout the Rocky Mountains. Charlie has two sons and five grand children.

 

Thomas McConnon has been a longtime active member of Rotary, and is currently a member of the Rotary Club of New York.  He is also an Honorary Member of the Rotary Club of Harlem for Life, and a Honorary Charter Member of the Rotary Club of Wall Street.

As a Peace Corp Volunteer in the early 1980's Tom started up a technical training program in St. Vincent West Indies in partnership with the Rotary Club of Toronto, Canada and the  The Rotary Foundation. Before joining the Peace Corps, and studying economics at New York University, He was a financial analyst at Dun and Bradstreet, and a research assistant to Former Chairman of the Federal Reserve, Alan Greenspan. Tom is currently the CEO of Thomas Refrigeration Inc, a company that provides mechanical services to New York City building managers

Since 2004, Tom has assisted in conducting the Rotary Club of New York's Monthly International Breakfasts Meetings, and was the editor and contributor to the blog  "Inside the United Nations"   Tom is the author of the book Conversations at the United Nations: An Inside Look At The Permanent Missions, UN Administration And Nongovernmental Organizations'

Tom lives on Long Island with his wife, Noemi whom he met while serving in the Peace Corps, and was lucky enough to convince her to move to the United States with him. They have five children and eight grandchildren.