South Macomb Community College - Cornerstone Yearbook (Warren, MI)

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r H, 4 Box 407 -.. ' Taos, New Mexico ' April 4, 1963 Dear Fellow Students , In February of 1963, as I left SMCC for service in the Peace Corps,I saw a door close on perhaps the most rewarding part of my life so far. To me SMCC has been more than just a college or student bodyg it has been a living dream. It has been education in many facets of life, aca- demic, social, and practical for thousands who might otherwise not have had an opportunity to gain a college education. SMCC also has meant friends and fellow students and it has also been an experience in basic growth of an institution with these friends and fellow students. I will always look back on my years at SMCC with a warm heart and fond memories. But a new, challenging, and very worthwhile experi- ence lies ahead, so I should not linger on what has been accomplished but look at what is happening now and what lies ahead. In this light I see that training in the Peace Corps, and service in Colombia, South America are my present and future and I wish, in at least a small way, to share this experience with you. The training program for the Colombian Rural Community Action project at the University of New Mexico has certainly been a busy one. We fthe traineesj attended classes in World Affairs, Area Studies, U.S. Institutions, Spanish, Physical Education, Medical Self-Help, and Community Develop- ment. We learned to speak Spanish, play soccer, understand all facets of life in Colombia, know the threat of Communism and understand more thoroughly our governrnent's and society's institutions. In addition to the academic studies, we also learned to operate all types of machinery that we might use in Colombia, we sharpened our skills in construction and facility maintenance, and we exercised our muscles by climbing the 10,000 foot Sandia Crest near Albuquerque, New Mexico. These first eight weeks of training gave us the general background needed for service in Colombia. Yet, the first eight weeks didn't complete our training. On April third we were taken to Taos, New Mexico: a small town in the northern part of the State which is in need of community development. The great majority of the 7000 citizens are decendents of the Spanish explorers of the 1500's and their town is of the old pueblo style. At this time of writing I am in Taos and in the midst of training. All of the trainees are here to re- ceive additional instruction in Spanish, learn horsemanship, further develop our technical skills on the D. H. Lawrence Ranch, and to gain practical experience in Community Development by working with the people of Taos on their own project. Our conditions in Taos consist of dormitory living in an old adobe house with very tight conditionsfone must step outside to let a mosquito-bite swelll. We are transported from job to job by a 16-year old bus and our daily clothing is Levis, boots, and sweatshirts. The experience is certainly a different one for me and I find the whole program very exciting. In addition to a description of the training I would also like to include a few words about the projected program in Colombia. Contrary to popular belief, our basic purpose and the basic purpose of the en- tire Peace Corps is not to necessarily develop communities or countries physically, although it cer- tainly is a by-product of our work. The purpose of the Peace Corps is to help the people of underde- veloped countries to help themselves and to assist in creating better understanding between peoples on an individual level. While engaging in the work in Colombia, conditions will not be the best. We are sure to have fleas, there are various worms and diseases we can contract from the food and unboiled water, and our only transportation will be our own horse. I might also add that Colombian bandit bands have murdered 300,000 people in the past 15 years. Each of us will be stationed with one other volunteer in a small town or village in the rural area. We will engage in organizing the community citizens and from that point we will step back to act only in a consultant and fellow worker capacity. Of course two years in the rural area of Colombia will be very lonely and difficult at times but the goal of progress and international understanding certainly outweighs the disadvantages. During my service some people of Colombia will show their dislike for the Peace Corps and others Will be apa- thetic toward the work being done but from those people who take interest and work to better them- selves will come the satisfaction for me and the others of our project. While I am gone I will sincerely miss SMCC and the friends I appreciate so much. The experience at SMCC as a student and as the Student Government President has been a rewarding one for me and I hope a useful one for the school. Good-bye, and my very best to all of you. Sincerely,

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Left to rlght Davld Graham Presldent of the 1963 Student Congress Ron Maddox Past Presldent 1962 Davld Toyryla out go1ng Presldent 1963 Dean Walter E Bradley and Mr Orva Lee Ice Counselor Dave Toyrula 1S shown acceptlng the engraved Peace Corp Gavel D3,V1d Toyryla, a resldent of Warren and Presldent of South Macomb Comrnumty College Stu dent Congress was selected to serve 1n the Peace Corps 1n Colombla South A.mer1ca havmg passed an exam1nat1on 111 May 1961 Dave age 20 was presented Wlth a mahogany gavel by past presldent Ronald Maddox at a Student Congress meetlng January 10 It read For contmued progress 1n the Peace Corps Davld Toyryla presldent of Student Congress SMCC 1962 63 Dave was act1ve 1n school affalrs begmmng at L1nco1n H1gh School where he was also presl dent of the1r Student Councll At South Macomb Communlty College Dav1d was Student Congress Parl1amentar1an 1961 Co Chalrman of the Art and Lecture serles 1962 and cartoonlst for the college newspaper the SPORADIC As Student Congress Pres1dent he helped to 1n1t1ate a Debate Team wh1ch began 1tS 1nter colleg1ate engagement th1s Spr1ng and an lnternatlonal Relatlons Club whose members 1n tend to carry out fleld trlps research and act1v1t1es Wlth students from all parts of the world Among successful endeavers of our presldent and the Student Congress an Inter Club Councll was orgamzed wh1ch represents all the student organ1zat1ons at South Macomb Its 1ntent1on 1S to help produce a more co ordmated act1v1t1es schedule As Dave embarks upon h1s new venture members of the faculty the Student Congress whom he grew to know so well and h1s countless frlends both 1n and out of our college wlsh hlm the very best 1n the Peace Corps and 1n h1s future career 71 . . . . I 9 9 . . . . 9 9 9 ' 9 9 9 I 9 . . . . . . . . . . 9 9 9 . . . , . . . 9 9 9 9 ' ' l I 9 9 - . . . . . . . . 9 . . - 9 9 9 9 9 9 . . . . . . 9 9 9 . . . . . . . , - . . . . . . , . , - . . . . . . . 9 . 9 . . . . - n . 9 9 . . . . . 9 . . . .

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