by Bill Magargal

We are excited to announce that Vincent Mann, Turtle Clan Chief of the Ramapough Lunaape Nation, will be a key presenter at the US Servas 2023 National Conference this October 6-8, at Frost Valley YMCA Camp in Claryville, NY. Most of us know very little about the indigenous peoples of New York and New Jersey as they were decimated by disease, slaughtered by colonial forces, and relocated to remote areas of Oklahoma and Wisconsin by the federal government. 

The Ramapough are the descendants of the Munsee speaking people who once lived from Western Connecticut to Eastern Pennsylvania, and from the northern bank of the Raritan River north to Albany N.Y. (See map.) Somehow, they survived the French and Indian War, and managed to stay in the region protecting their homelands and rights to hunt, to fish, to gather, and to strip bark from trees on this land – as rights reserved in the Treaty of Easton in 1758. They are the Munsee band who "stayed behind," maintaining a presence in northern New Jersey and southern New York for over 11,000 years. 

Today, the Ramapough Lunaape Nation encompasses present-day Passaic and Sussex Counties in New Jersey, as well as Warwick County and surrounding areas in New York. Since 2008, Chief Mann has worked tirelessly to help his community survive and fight back against the Ford Motor Company, which dumped highly toxic paint sludge from the 1960s to the ’70s on what is now the Ringwood Mines Superfund Site. He is also currently co-creating the United Lunaapeewak to restore Lunaape culture and to provide educational opportunities across the region about Munsee language, history, and traditions.  

Chief Mann is a Trustee of the Highlands Coalition and a former member of the Ringwood Mines Superfund Site’s Citizen Advisory Group (CAG). He recently co-founded the Munsee Three Sisters Medicinal Farm with Michaeline Picaro to create local jobs but more importantly to bring back food sovereignty to his Clan. He works with many universities on projects related to his people, including the NYU and Ramapo College Environmental Science programs, the Price Institute at Rutgers Newark, and the Design Program at Rutgers New Brunswick.  

 In 2016 the Russ Berry Foundation awarded Chief Mann their highest honor for his life-long service to the citizens of the Turtle Clan. (See video.). Chief Mann regularly lectures on environmental justice and the importance of indigenous knowledge. Chief Mann gives land acknowledgments across New Jersey and New York in honor of his ancestors and offers up prayers for humanity and for our natural world. 

Our national conferences always include sessions, workshops and general fellowship, but this year we are adding great evening entertainment as well. On Friday evening, Oct. 6, we will host a hootenanny featuring several groups, including Servas songwriter and musician Dave Lippman, and folksingers Little Sparrow with Carol Smith on guitar and Aldo Troiani on mandolin and guitar. On Saturday, Oct. 7, we are hoping for a contra dance featuring a caller and musicians from the Hudson Valley (pending costs). An alternative might be a blues and rock-n-roll jam (let us know if you might like to perform (email conferences@usservas.org).

Here is a link to an article from last month's Open Doors about the conference venue Frost Valley YMCA Camp in Claryville, NY, about 2 ½ hours northwest of New York City.

This is fun-filled event in Mühlviertel, the upper province of Austria, north of the Danube. Enjoy walks, hikes, tours, through with other Servas members, in and around the traditional towns and villages of this region. Highlights include:  

Kefermarkt  – walk to the old church to see the medieval Flügelaltar (altar). 

Freistadt – walk around the old town center, then hike along the River Aist into Thurytal.

Ottenschlag – Visit this traditional village known for its double-walled Steinbloß stone houses.  

Linz – Visit Mariendom, the largest church in Austria, and enjoy a concert on the special “Rudigier-Organ” for the group in the Cathedral. 

Guided tour of Reichenthal Schloss (castle), and short walk to the open-air museum Mühlendorf in Reichenthal. Enjoy the music of Fairy Tunes (bagpipe, flutes, violin, harp, guitar) led by Servas member Traudi, and folk-dance with other Servas attendees. 

See the Monument for Active Nonviolence on the square  

Click HERE for more information, fees, and registration. 

April 28th – May 2nd, 2023: Cycling tour in and around historic Brindisi

Servas Italy will host a four-day walking and cycling tour in and around historic Brindisi from April 28th to May 2nd. Participants will gather on the evening of Friday the 28th for a reception and dinner at the Fabbrica del Farò. On Saturday, attendees will tour the old section of Brindisi, then return for dinner and a social event. Sunday & Monday are two easy days of cycling 30-40 km. Here is more information on this event.

Historic Brindisi by the Sea

May 25th – 28th, 2023: Servas Korea Peace Ride

Servas Korea will host a four-day, 3-night Peace Ride along the Geumgang River, May 25 - 28, 2023. The route begins at the Daecheong Dam and ends at the Seonyudo Islands, a Distance: 640 km (Biking 220 km + Bus 420 km) The ride is limited to 40 Servas members who love cycling and wish to share connectedness,  the dramatic scenery along the Geumgang River, the natural beauty of the Seonyudo Islands, and the seashore.

The ride averages a very manageable 50-60 km per day and includes overnight hostel stays. Bikes may be rented for $10 per day. Registration for the ride is $274. It looks like this will be a very magical event. For details,  click HERE.

June 2nd – 4th, 2023: Servas Sweden Youth Volunteer Opportunity

Volunteer at Wik Castle Festival – Four Servas youth members age 18-35 years are invited to work as volunteers during the medieval festival at Wik Castle Festival, close to Uppsala. You are welcome to stay between the 30th of May to the 5th of June, but the actual workdays will be the June 2nd - 4 th. Three days filled with historical experiences with knight games, knight weddings, jesters, Viking ships, musical performances, and a contemporary market with food and so on.

There will be work both inside in the kitchen and outside collecting entrance fee, attending the parking lot and other work together with a garden caretaker. Room and board are paid for during the entire period at the site. During your stay you will also meet other Servas-members in the area. If you like to visit some other areas in Sweden before and after let us know. If this sounds thrilling don´t hesitate to contact Eva Hartman-Juhlin by emailing info@servas.se no later than May 1st. We are all looking forward see you here in Uppsala!

July 7th – 13th, 2023: Servas Sweden - Alpine Hiking

Sentierinsieme (Pathways Together) is our traditional yearly alpine event - organized since 1985 - where Servas members from all over the world come together. Italy, France, Switzerland and Germany take turns each year in hosting this event aiming to meet people and getting to know each other as well as the surroundings, according to the most genuine Servas spirit. Participation is reserved to Servas members in good standing with their annual fee. Hiking excursions have been classified in different levels of difficulty, from easy (up to 400-500 m elevation gain per day) to difficult (up to 1,400 m elevation gain per day).

We will be staying at 1180 m above sea level at the guest quarters of the Santuario d’Oropa, a UNESCO World Heritage site in the heart of the Alps of Biella, known for their wonderful views and cool summer climate. The event begins Friday, July 7th with a reception at the Santuario guest house. On the weekend we will make daily excursions within the surroundings of the Sanctuary. The following three days (Mon. July 10th thru Wed. the 12th): will have treks of varying difficulty levels divided into 5 groups (from "easy" to "hard plus" level). You can choose to participate only in the weekend program, or the full week. Registration and program details are on-line  HERE. Registration must be made by March 12th.

Save the Date - October 6-8

This fall we are hosting the U.S. Servas  National Conference from October 6th-8th at Frost Valley YMCA Camp in Claryville, NY, about 2 ½ hours northwest of NYC. This gorgeous 5,000-acre facility is located on the ancestral homeland of the Munsee Lenape people. Since this weekend precedes Indigenous Peoples Day, we have reached out to the Lenape and hope to have them participate.

This year’s conference will focus on peace … with our planet, our world of nations, our country, our community, our tribe, and most of all—ourselves. We are planning a festive, informative, and rewarding event with presentations, hands-on workshops, break-out sessions of special interest, and music and social events in the evenings. Up to three US Servas members will be recognized for their noteworthy efforts to promote peace. They will be presented with our first-ever, US Servas Peace Awards (see article). 

Make it a Vacation

Visit wineries, hike the incredible Watkins Glenn Gorge, visit the Baseball Hall of Fame in Cooperstown or the Corning Glass Museum. Early October in the Catskills is spectacular with pleasant temperatures and brilliant fall foliage near its peak. Look for more details about the conference in upcoming issues. We look forward to seeing you there.

by Deirdre Marlowe

Screenshot of some East Asia Zoom Meeting attendees and greetings in their languages

On Saturday, January 14, 126 people from around the world participated in a SERVAS East Asia Zoom and Live YouTube. Some of us even woke up at 2:30 in the morning on the biggest football weekend of the year!

We learned how to greet one another in the languages of two dozen countries and about the natural wonders of Hong Kong.  

Who knew that you could scuba dive within a few miles of Kowloon and go climbing in a rocky wilderness less than an hour from the hustle and bustle of downtown Hong Kong!? We broke into small groups for conversation, and as always happens with Servas learned that we shared more in common than our differences. It was a great opportunity to meet and begin to know members in places that so far only exist on my bucket list.

Thank you, Mei Wang, Taiwan, newly elected Servas International Co-Peace Secretary, and others for setting this up. 

February 7, 2023 – 7:00 to 8:30 pm

Attend a free Webinar on the THE FOOD - CLIMATE CONNECTION on February 7, 2023 – 7:00 to 8:30 pm PST, hosted by the Climate-Friendly Food Committee of the Portland Chapter of the Climate Reality Project and facilitated by Servas member Steven Goldman and Kraig Buesch.

Three speakers will present and discuss the relationship between our food choices and the earth's climate, and a realistic way to avoid climate chaos. They are: Glen Merzer – author of Food Is Climate; Dr. Sailesh Rao – founder of ClimateHealers.org; and Gerard Bisshop – former principal scientist of the State of Queensland, Australia.

For more information about the speakers and to watch short video presentations by them, check out these websites:

• A realistic solution to climate change, by Dr. Sailesh Rao (5 minute video)
• Food Is Climate, by Glen Merzer (link) 
• Understanding Climate Change by Gerard Bisshop
• NOAA article: Coronavirus and CO2

To participate in this webinar, use this Zoom link: https://us06wewebinar,b.zoom.us/j/89013368943.

Go beyond the food, shopping, and nightlife to experience the hidden gems of Fragrant Harbor. Mei Wang of Servas East Asia, invites you to experience the natural beauty of Hong Kong on Saturday, January 14, 6-7:30 pm EST. Online space is limited and available on a first-come, first- reserved basis. Registration must be made by January 11 at https://forms.gle/3jJaAhrgSU9zCaJdA. 

National Secretary Arnie Rowland shares a namaste of farewell with Jony Sågänger  outgoing President of Servas International on the final day of SICOGA.

Our own Radha Radhakrishna, former US Servas Board Treasurer was elected president of Servas International. Eleven members of US Servas – hailing from both coasts and the heartland – made the journey to the 32^nd Sicoga (Servas International Conference & General Assembly in Panchgani, India, November 22-28.

Joanne Ferguson Cavanaugh, Board Secretary attended the conference… The Asia Plateau Initiative of Change conference center was a perfect place to hold the SI conference. The opening ceremony featured traditional drumming, horns, dancing, and a talk by Gandhi's grandson. Participants stayed in either Valley View or Rock View, Meetings, meals, and programs were held in the conference center. Dr. NamHee Kim (Naomi) a retired nursing professional and watercolor artist from South Korea was my assigned roommate. I was on the Secretariat Team assigned to take minutes and record decisions made by the General Assembly. Delegates from each country were either present in person or participated remotely thanks to Dan Bare and the Technology Team.  Mornings we participated in meditation, yoga, or hikes up to the second highest plateau in Asia. I am thankful I was able to connect with people from around the world during the wonderful traditional meals and breaks. After the conference, my two Nebraska Servas travel companions and I will be hosted by people we met as we continue our journey through India and on to Portugal. 

For more information about SICOGA visit the Servas International website.

While you may not be able to go to India to attend this year's 32nd International Conference and General Assembly fron November 22-28, 2022, you can register to attend virtually. For more information about the conference go to https://servas.org/en/sicoga2022.

Microsoft Teams will be used to deliver SICOGA 2022 virtually. To enable access to the SICOCA Teams, members will be given one of two types of access to the Servas International Microsoft 365 (SI M365) application.

To register to attend virtually, go to SICOGA Virtual | Servas Online.