Korea is home of first PTPI national chapter
By John Redmond
John Maloney, director of operations at People to People International (PTPI) world headquarters
John Maloney, director of operations at People to People International (PTPI) world headquarters, said Korea is home to the first PTPI chapter founded outside the U.S.
He said PTPI Korea national headquarters is a perfect example of a mission-driven origination with over 1,000 members. He added the national HQ will help lead the entire Asia-Pacific region into the future.
Maloney made the remarks after PTPI wrapped up its Asia Pacific Regional Conference.
Participants from the 10 member nations, including Bangladesh, Nepal, the U.S., Mongolia, Pakistan, Japan, Togo, Nigeria, Liberia and Taiwan, toured the Demilitarized Zone and Gyeongbok Palace in Seoul before attending a farewell dinner at Insadong Art Center, Saturday.
Maloney flew to Seoul from PTPI world headquarters in Kansas to join the conference.
Maloney, from Grandview, Missouri, was asked by the president and CEO of PTPI world headquarters, Mary Jean Eisenhower, granddaughter of U.S. President Dwight D. Eisenhower, to come aboard and serve as the director of operations in August 2016.
Maloney spent time with The Korea Times speaking on his role at the nonpolitical organization, his reason for joining PTPI and the role Korea plays in the organization.
Q: How did you get involved with PTPI?
A:
When I was elected to local office six years ago, I became good friends with Troy Nash, a sitting member of the board of directors of PTPI Worldwide.
Nash told me story after amazing story about the amazing people he has met and how it positively changed his life. I decided to join and have been an active member for five years now.
In addition to the Asia Pacific Conference in Korea, I also took a delegation to Cuba in 2015 and it, too, was amazing. Being able to meet people from different countries and experience their culture are some the greatest life lessons I have ever learned.
Q: What issues do you see as important to the Asia-Pacific region?
One of the many great aspects of PTPI chapters is that each one focuses on the needs in their community.
In the Asia-Pacific region, chapters have helped earthquake victims with food, clothes, blood drives, provided school supplies and college scholarships to students, created job training centers, hosted educational cultural seminars, and logged hundreds of hours of community service.
Although we are not political in any way, our tagline of “Peace Though Understanding” can help in all facets of life.
Q: What are your future plans?
Our President and CEO Mary Jean Eisenhower has made very clear goals in re-engaging the following programs: Peace Camps, Global Youth Forums and our Worldwide Conferences.
We are also in the process of rebuilding our website in order to offer members many more educational and useful features like videos of international speakers, a global member dictionary, global book club and a blog section with short stories, fun travel trips and cooking tips from around the world.
PTPI is a nonpolitical, nonreligious and nonprofit organization that is dedicated to private diplomacy and cultural exchange on the global stage, and engages in a wide range of activities in relation to education, culture, sports and the arts.
Visit ptpi.org for more information.