First Coast Returned Peace Corps Volunteers

10/17/2026

Hello FCRPCVs, ✨️

Don’t miss our Annual Meeting on October 24! We are excited to welcome Carla Brown, CEO and President of NPCA, for an engaging conversation about the future of Peace Corps and the important role Returned Peace Corps Volunteers can play in shaping it. 💪🏾☮️

Date: October 24
Time: 12:00 PM to 3:00 PM
Location: Sevilla Apartments Community Center, 1800 Sevilla Blvd., Atlantic Beach, FL 32223
Come reconnect with fellow RPCVs, enjoy a Florida/Cuban-themed lunch, and share in the spirit of service and community. A suggested donation of $10 is requested to help support the event. BYOB, and water and lemonade will be provided.🍴🌞

Please RSVP at the link below by October 20 using the signup link and let us know if you’ll be bringing a dish to share. We hope you'll join us for what promises to be a fun, informative, and inspiring afternoon!️💡✅️

https://www.signupgenius.com/go/4090544AFAB2BA5F94-66478658-annual

Warm regards,
Michelle M. Karolak
FCRPCV Board President

Everyone may bring a dish to share such as rice, beans, empanadas, key lime pie, tostones, flan, croquettes etc.. to accentuate the Cuban theme. If there is something you would like to bring that it is not listed, please write it in your rsvp. Please review the below and click on the button to sign....

10/03/2026

Happy birthday to Board President, Michelle Karolak from all your pals at FCRPCV! 🎂🎉✨️

09/08/2026

The Celebration of Life for Joan Lipp will be held at the Clubhouse of Sevilla Condominiums (1830 Sevilla Blvd. in Atlantic Beach, FL 32233) on Sunday, September 27, 2026, from 2 to 4 p.m.
Carpooling is encouraged.

Joan served her country in the United States Peace Corps, joining at the age of 53 for two years in both Liberia and Togo, Africa. While in the Peace Corps, she loved working with Togolese residents and children, teaching local women how to build mud stoves and working as a manager for the CARE program, a global network that fights poverty and hunger for women and infants.

View Joan Sheehan Lipp's obituary, send flowers, find service dates, and sign the guestbook.

09/08/2026

Steve was a strong voice for peace as a volunteer for the Peace Corps in Panama, a member of our armed forces, and a member of aid. His leadership for our Returned Peace Corps Volunteers in Miami and the First Coast was extraordinary.

Maureen we are so sorry for your loss.
https://www.dignitymemorial.com/obituaries/jacksonville-fl/steven-orr-13017321.

08/20/2026

We spent yesterday the Catholic Charities Food Bank. Leo and Phil navigated several languages at intake and the rest of us sorted, bagged and distributed food donations. If you have ideas for us, or simply want to connect, please send us a DM or reach out directly to our President, Michelle Karolak. We hope to see YOU at our next event. ✌🏾

07/25/2026

Join us, Wednesday August 19th!

06/29/2026

Thank you to everyone who attended our annual Partnership Luncheon! ✌🏾🍴🙏🏾
Our Board President Michelle Karolak led us all through a productive meeting, sharing a recap of the past few months and a look to what is planned ahead. ✅️
Board member, Helen Covington shared the opportunities for Partnership Grants. There were four from Florida and Georgia PCVs.
-The Gambia- Business Development-Health HIV/AIDS-Community Market establishment
-East Timor-Education-Technology-Installation of Star Link to allow full engagement of faculty and secondary school students.
-Armenia -Education-Establish dedicated English learning space w/ technology.
-Kosovo - Technology Women and Girls in Development - Program responds to a locally identified need for more opportunities for girls to strengthen digital knowledge and practice leadership.
It was suggested we give all we have to the East Timor, they need $1,200
The Kosovo grant only requires $600
A secret ballot was held to determine where to spend ’26 funds
While the votes were counted, Frances Luna shared an update of the status of refugees in Jacksonville. With her update we decided to have a volunteer day at the Catholic Charities Food Pantry in August.
The results of the vote were split 60/40 between the Starlink Grant in East Timor and the Coding grant in Kosovo. ✨️

06/28/2026

05/11/2026

Join us at 5pm on May 21st! We are excited to get together and reconnect for an amazing happy hour to at Bartaco. See you there!

✌🏾🍻🌮🍸☮️