Omega's In The News - The Rattle, Spring 1967
As appeared in The Rattle - Vol. 55 No. 3 - Spring 1967
PENN STATE ALUMNUS TOUCHED THE HEART Of A COMMUNITY
Here is a man who has touched the heart of a community. Vaughn Stapleton '46, a provincial representative for the Agency for International Development in Vietnam Central Highlands says “In Vietnam, a village market is more than just a place to buy rice, dried fish and chili peppers. It is the heart of the community - the ‘club’ to which everyone belongs where people meet over a cup of tea to exchange greetings and catch up on the news."
July 2 this year was a big day for people of Tinh Thuong village in Darlac province when their new market was dedicated. The new market's concrete floor and tin roof offered dry surroundings which replaced makeshift thatched stalls, poorly protected from the elements and surrounded by mud after every rainfall.
As provincial representative for AID in Darlac, he had supplied 120 bags of cement, 300 sheets of roofing from the AID Mission and some technical know-how for the project. The Vietnam Government and advanced rentals from the market concessionaires furnished the remainder of the funds.
Directly and indirectly, the market will benefit all of the village’s 6,000 people, most of whom are refugees from Viet Cong rule.
Stapleton works with the Government of Vietnam on a wide range of programs in such areas as education, agriculture. self-help, public health, well drilling and Chieu Hoi - the ‘Open Arms‘ amnesty program for the Viet Cong.
Stapleton, who speaks some Vietnamese, served with the International Voluntary Services and AID in Vietnam. helping to set up IVS education teams, from 1962 to 1964.
He was science supervisor at the Bridgewater-Rritan High School in Somerviile. N.J., 1964-65. but returned to Vietnam as provincial representative when AID called for experienced personnel.
Prior to his first tour in Vietnam he served with the United Nations Relief and Rehabilitation Administration in Germany, Poland, Greece and Italy. He ha also taught in the Delaware State School system.
Omega's in the News
Maurice K. Goddard, Penn State, Secretary of Forests and Waters, has announced the appointment of Samuel S. Cobb, 39, as State Forester of Pennsylvania. Mr. Cobb, former chief of the Division of Forest Protection, succeeded Ralph C. Wible, '27, who retired after 39 years service in the field of forestry. Mr. Cobb. a graduate of the University's School of Forestry, began his employment with the department as a junior forester, and also was an assistant district forester at Pottsville, district forester at Blain, Warren and Bloomsburg and assistant chief of the division of Forest Protection.
Installation of Zeta Mu chapter at American International College on Dec. 17, 1966 - Speakers table L to R: James Brennan, Dean of Students; Earl "Dusty" Rhodes; John F. Hines, President of the College; Larry Galler, Chapter President; Howard R. Alter, Jr.,; Dr. William Adams; Eliot Wright, Asst to the President of A.I.C.; and George W. Chapman - as appeared in The Rattle, Spring 1967