by Eileen Rowley

Bylaws are a rather boring topic, but nevertheless, they are critical for our continued operation. For many reasons (see details below) the Board wants to merge our very old NY corporation into our current Nevada corporation. To do so requires a vote of our general membership, and there must be a quorum. The vote is a simple, 30-second, yes-no vote; so please be sure to do that. Voting will begin online on April 7 and conclude on April 17. You will soon receive an email with details of the motion and a link to the ballot, so be on the lookout for it.

Merger Background:

NYC Corporation: Prior to Sept. 11, 2001, US Servas was incorporated in New York state and had an office in NYC. Shortly thereafter, our office moved to Arcata, CA. As a result of the COVID pandemic, the Board felt compelled to make US Servas an all-volunteer organization. At that time, and over the next couple of years, the Board spent many hours reorganizing and simplifying our processes to support our new all-volunteer organization’s operations. One of these activities included the merger of our corporation from New York into our Nevada corporation. Completing this process requires a vote of the membership. The Board believes this merger is in the best interest of US SERVAS.

 For your convenience you can Vote Online (you must be logged in) between April 7^th and April 17^th, or you can vote at the special meeting on April 17^th at 3:00 PM PST. All members will soon receive an email with a link to the meeting. Either method will count toward the quorum needed to vote for the motion.   

See Jan., 2025 Open Doors article for additional information about the Nevada corporation..

If you have any questions, please email  eileen.rowley@usservas.org.

by Marguerite Hills 

The US joined the rest of Servas and became an all-volunteer  group in 2021.  Since then, we’ve been building a successful organization with many volunteers contributing their time and energy to make it all happen (see our Volunteer News webpage).

Our elections committee has now begun its annual effort to fill Board vacancies. Many of you have the time and skills to become a Board Member. Please, ask yourself if you have some time to "give back" to Servas. If not as a Board Member, consider joining one of our other volunteer teams. For more information about US Servas teams and their functions. for more information, please email elections@usservas.org.our website for more information about US Servas teams and their functions. 

We will soon have the Run for the Board Application page updated with the appropriate information for the 2025 elections. Be on the lookout for it under the [About Us] >> [Board Business] webpage.

Tim Sullivan, Board President

The US Servas Board of Directors have announced their intention to hold a national conference in 2026. This means that we need to start planning now to ensure that we have a suitable venue and a solid team of volunteers to stage it.

In 2022, the US SERVAS National convention was in Salt Lake City; in 2023, the conference was in upstate New York. In October of this year the 33rd SERVAS International Conference and General Assembly (SICOGA) is being held in Dijon, France.

Could the 2026 USSERVAS National Convention be held in your city? If you have a suggestion where we should hold our 2026 conference or if your SERVAS community would like to host our 2026 conference in your state or city, please contact: Tim at tim.sullivan@usservas.org

Eileen M. Rowley

As a result of the COVID pandemic US Servas became an all-volunteer organization. Over the next several years we've spent many hours reorganizing, automating, and simplifying processes to support our new all-volunteer operations. One last tax/legal detail of this process is to merge our defunct New York corporation with our new State of Nevada corporation. This bureaucratic, red-tape-filled process has taken several years to solidify. Completing this process requires a vote of our membership.

Voting for the merger will begin online on April 7, 2025, and conclude on April 17, 2025. You may also vote at the Board of Directors monthly meeting on April 17^th beginning at 5:00 PM CST. Please be on the lookout for the voting link that will be e-mailed to you in early April and do your best to vote. We must have a quorum to pass the motion.

Member Question:

For those of us who are not sure about the implications of the merger, could you please briefly state the purpose of the merger and how it is going to impact members.

Dear Helga

The merger will not impact our members in any way. You can think of the merger as a piece of housekeeping. We do not want, or need to be, incorporated in two states.
When the Board decided to move our incorporation to the state of Nevada, it was always understood this last step was necessary. Please feel free to e-mail me at eileen.rowley@usservas.org if you would like to schedule a conversation to discuss further.

Eileen M. Rowley

As a result of the COVID pandemic US Servas became an all-volunteer organization. Over the next several years we've spent many hours reorganizing, automating, and simplifying processes to support our new all-volunteer operations. One last tax/legal detail of this process is to merge our defunct New York corporation with our new State of Nevada corporation. This bureaucratic, red-tape-filled process has taken several years to solidify. Completing this process requires a vote of our membership.

Voting for the merger will begin online on April 7, 2025, and conclude on April 17, 2025. You may also vote at the Board of Directors monthly meeting on April 17^th beginning at 5:00 PM CST. Please be on the lookout for the voting link that will be e-mailed to you in early April and do your best to vote. We must have a quorum to pass the motion.

US Servas not the Other Guy

by Tim Sullivan

Servas began as a peace building organization after World War II. For more than 75 years Servas has been actively trying to support peace in our world. Bob Luitweiler writes “Though not pacifists, Servas has, from the start, aimed to build the foundations of justice that can lead to a peaceful world”. Sadly, today our mission is more relevant than ever. In 2024 wars, violence, injustice and environmental disasters have resulted in record levels of human migration. The experts who maintain the Doomsday Clock said humanity was as close as ever to global catastrophe. Yes, peace building work is more important than ever.

I believe we are called in some way to work for justice for not only our species but all of creation. It is a big job and can seem overwhelming but each of us can do some small part. Archbishop Desmond Tutu said, “Do your little bit of good where you are; it is those little bits of good put together that overwhelm the world.” I am thankful for the opportunity to volunteer with Servas. It is one of the ways I can personally support a more just and peaceful world.

"I believe we are called in some way to work for justice for not only our species but all of creation."

The opportunity to meet local folks in their home and learn about their lives and community has been an absolute wonder and joy for my spouse Charlotte and me. I am sure each of you could share amazing stories about your travel experiences. In every Servas stay we have been guided to local wonders we would have never found as simple tourists. These connections to people different than ourselves are the building blocks of our transformation leading to understanding and tolerance for other peoples and cultures.

In January the US Servas board of directors gathered to reflect on how Servas could advance our peace building efforts in 2025. I would like to share what I think is one of the more challenging strategic initiatives we adopted.

The pandemic resulted in a dramatic drop in membership that forced the board at the time to move to an all-volunteer organization. (All of the Servas groups in other countries are all volunteer.) By early 2023 our membership had grown back to a pre-pandemic level. In 2024 our membership remained flat with little growth.

The board felt since our primary way to build peace is by cultural exchange via hosting and traveling, we should focus our efforts on improving processes, communication, and member experience to keep current and attract new members. This effort will impact every member, volunteer, and all the teams that drive our work every day. There is a lot of opportunity in these areas, and I suspect this will be a multiyear project.

Naturally, there are a few challenges and opportunities for our membership to get involved and support this effort. Here is a short list of suggestions:

Don’t allow your membership to lapse!

• Sometimes folks allow their membership to lapse if they are not planning on traveling in a given year. We hope Servas is a way for you to support peace building and for only $33.00 a year.

Become a host!

• Without hosts there is no traveling. Everyone can be a day host. It is another great way to connect.

Volunteer!

• If we really can grow membership, we will need lots of new volunteers. Every little bit helps. If you have experience with web design/programming, or with video calls and navigating on Servas.org, we’d love to hear from you. Use the Volunteer link below.

Reach out to friends and neighbors and invite them to learn about Servas.

Host a local event!

• This is great way to meet Servas members in your community and attract new members.
• Better yet see if the Servas members in your area would like to host the 2026 Servas National Conference!

I will close with a thank you for being a Servas member, for supporting peace, and for considering how you might get more involved with our efforts. Oh, and by the way, Charlotte and I live in Western Iowa, and we want more travelers! You are welcome here!

Tim Sullivan

Board of Directors Chair

 

Follow this link if you would like to learn more about Volunteering

Follow this link if you would like to begin Hosting or Traveling

US Servas has a nine-member board and a core team of 38 hardworking volunteers across the country that enables us to function smoothly as an all-volunteer organization. However, we don't have any way to know how these efforts are paying off, and how well our members feel the overall Servas travel/hosting experience is working for them. We need your feedback, so please take a very short, five-minute survey on the subject. 

This survey is meant to get a little snapshot of how Servas is working for our members and how it can improve.  We aren't collecting personal data here - your name or account won't be connected to the answers - but we hope it's a useful tool for you to quickly share your opinions and experiences. Of course, if you do want to talk directly, feel free to reach out to any US Board member, anytime. 

Here's the link to the Quick Survey: 

by Richard Weaver

The Board of Directors wish you a joyous holiday season. Let the song and message of “Let There Be Peace on Earth” ring out and resonate with all the people of this world. May we all find peace in our gatherings of family and friends.

This has been an exceptional year for US Servas. We have really settled into being an all-volunteer organization. The work of the organization is being done and there are more opportunities for members to contribute as volunteers. The Board has looked hard at how US Servas can be an even more effective peace organization. Promoting peace was the energizing force when Servas started so many years ago and, given our troubled world, is still an important mission. We invite you to participate in the growing number of peace-related activities you will see in the new year. Of course, the direct contact that comes from our traveler-hosting experiences is a core, ongoing way Servas contributes to peace in the world.

For me personally, this holiday season marks a transition. I complete my three-year term on the Board and my second year as Chair of the Board. What a wonderful experience this has been! I have met and worked with so many fantastic people with whom I share so many important values. I thank you all as I turn over these responsibilities to the next group of capable people in this relay of leadership. I will not be going away. I will continue with several of the teams that are important in our six-branch structure. As a member of Servas for over 50 years, I believe in this organization and its mission.

Let us all make a New Year’s resolution, that we will actually fulfill, that we will support Servas and pursue more Servas traveling and hosting opportunities. We know that this will make a richer year for all of us.

Diversity Committee Needs Volunteers  by Verona Forrest 

Many of us have been quite chagrined over the years by the lack of racial/social/ethnic diversity of US Servas and wonder why. Are we not welcoming to people of color? Do we project an air of LGBTQ intolerance? Are there cultural barriers that we project, or maybe we just don't publicize our organization to people who aren't already "in the circle?"

This year's board elections saw a good turnout with 95 host/traveler members casting votes. The slate of candidates was so exceptional that only fractions of a point separated the highest and lowest rated. We are glad our voting system worked so well so everyone could be represented and all votes made a difference. With that being said, electees for the two-year seats are Allison McCann and Effie Trihas. The three-year terms were awarded to Deirdre Araujo, Vena Rainwater, and Richard Wolfe.

Thank you, election team, for managing the elections, and a special welcome to our new board electees. We look forward to working with them in January.