by Anne Cordon

Are you confused by the eStamp process? What is the purpose of the Letter of Introduction (LOI) currently?  

To begin travel planning, which includes contacting Servas hosts to request hosting, members need a completed LOI and an eStamp. Servas International’s Version 2 software (SI V2) merges member’s profile information onto their LOI, so the LOI itself serves more as a description of an upcoming trip. If members are planning several trips, they may have more than one LOI. LOI’s can be published and unpublished when the trip is over or as the draft is being created. Since SI V2 merges member profile information with their LOI, there is no need to describe who you are beyond the “About Me” and other profile sections.

Here’s an eStamp Quick Reference Guide.

When to Request an eStamp :

For new members:

• After completing their Member Profile including "About Me," "Interests," and as applicable, "Travelled in," "Lived in," and "Organizations" sections
• After uploading a passport-style photo
• After publishing their Letter of Introduction (LOI) which will include their profile and photo
• For renewing members with an invalid eStamp:
• After adding missing LOI components such as:
• A passport-style headshot
• Important, previously incomplete sections of their Member Profile  

When not to Request an eStamp:

For members with a valid eStamp, no action is needed.

For recently renewed US Servas members with a complete LOI, no request is needed. A US Servas Member Help volunteer will process the eStamp within a few days of renewal.

Criteria for Issuing an eStamp:

• A clear passport-style headshot of the member
• Completed Member Profile sections including:
• About Me
• Interests
• Traveled in, Lived in, and Organizations (as applicable)
• An emergency contact for a non-traveling person (highly recommended)

Understanding when and why to request an eStamp helps conserve valuable volunteer time. Reach out to MemberHelp@usServas.org with additional questions.  

Electronic System for Travel Authorization (ESTA)

by Bill Magargal (suggested by Alexis Soule)

Although 2025 global tourism saw a 6.7% rise in spending compared to the previous year, the United States had a 6% drop in foreign tourists. Many tourists, especially younger people, are travelling more frequently, but concerns including U.S. anti-immigration policies pushed tourists to visit European countries such as Spain and France, as well as Japan. US tourism revenue dropped 7% due to fewer arrivals from Canada, Mexico and Europe according to WTTC estimates. (Reuters 1/14/26).

For US Servas hosts this trend is likely to hold, i.e., we will see fewer travelers in 2026. That said, we can assist the International Servas travelers who request a stay by helping them navigate the new US Electronic System for Travel Authorization (ESTA) process for determining their eligibility to travel to the U.S. under the Visa Waiver Program (VWP).  

Travelers from eligible countries (see list) must apply online or via the app at least 72 hours before departure. The cost is $21, nonrefundable. It is valid for two years for multiple visits of up to 90 days. The process is fully automated and fairly simple to navigate.

You can also help you travelers avoid being scammed. Apparently, there are numerous look-alike scam websites that trick people into overpaying for expedited ESTA approval and other dubious benefits. You might direct your visitors to the FTC webpage How to Avoid Scams while Applying for ESTA .

By Joanne Ferguson Cavanaugh

I recently visited with one of our new Nebraska members and she told me an interesting story about hitchhiking in Ireland in 1980. I know that Renee Riley also did some hitchhiking in the 1970s, as did I in 1979. I wonder how many other Servas people hitched as well. I think we need to chronicle these stories while we still can.

 The Blue Highways were for Servas travelers, especially back in the day when it was possible to hitchhike almost anywhere in the world. If you hitchhiked in the 60s-80s while traveling, whether or not you were a Servas member, we want to hear from you. Even if you did not personally hitch, perhaps you know someone who did that you can tell us about. Please send any ideas, stories, pictures, etc. to JoanneFerguson.Cavanaugh@usservas.org.

Joanne Ferguson Cavanaugh, Member Help Team

Hosts! Do you Want More Travelers (WMT)? As our Chair, Tim Sullivan stated at our annual meeting, Servas is really nothing without hosts, and some of us away from the coasts don’t get many requests. And we understand that under our current political climate, many Servas friends around the world are reluctant to visit the USA at this time. However, for those who come and for our domestic travelers, here are a few tips to ensure that YOUR Servas.org profile shows up in the Servas International host search results!

NOTE: Click on the small images below to view them at full size.

Log into your Servas International account at Servas.org and edit your profile. Click on your account avatar (photo or generic person) in the upper-right portion of the screen. Choose Edit Profile from the dropdown list.

Click on “Address & Hosting” on the left side of the window to access your Hosting information, then click the red Edit Address and Hosting button at the lower right side of the window.

Click the radio buttons to set them "on" (green) for Hosting offered at this location, and Day Hosting offered at this location, and Want More Travelers. Add any details helpful for travelers... (see the screen-shot below.) Click the SAVE at the bottom before leaving.

Finally, after you’ve completed all the sections of your profile – including photo and household information, click on “Profile Confirmation” section and make sure you CONFIRM your SI profile. See Open Doors Article on this subject.

by Bill Magargal

Fortunately, it is extremely rare for Servas travelers or hosts to encounter a situation where they feel unsafe or that they believe is counter to Servas ethics.  However, members should know that there is indeed a process in place for reporting and resolving serious complaints if they should arise. The small team that handles them works quietly and discreetly to gather information from all parties involved in a situation to help resolve the issue. Sometimes the problem is simply a misunderstanding that is easily handled by clarifying the issue with the parties involved. In severe cases the complaints committee may decide that a member must be removed from US Servas and prevented from rejoining in the future.

by Bill Magargal

In the post-COVID era it seems that getting timely (or any) responses from hosts has become difficult, to the point that some members have decided not to renew. This might simply be the result of emails getting lost or shuttled to junk-mail folders. Or, now that we are also being deluged with phishing calls and junk texts, perhaps people just ignore calls from numbers they don't recognize. It could also be that people are more concerned about or apathetic to hosting. Whatever the reason, it seems we should do something to address the problem.

At a recent tech team meeting we discussed the issue and tossed out ideas. One option is to use WhatsApp, which seems to have much less spam, but some of us find it difficult to set up new contacts. Another idea is to add a function to the Servas International website by which travelers can request hosting via a standardized email address or phone number. The Servas International website had a similar feature, but it was not well known. This solution would at least identify the requests as non-spam.

Another idea tossed about was to set up a system that would identify the member as a "Quick Responder", or "Top Rated" host. Other travel groups like Couch Surfers and Warm Showers hosts have a rating system that serves this function. The first reaction among most Servas members is that host-traveler ratings aren't something we feel is appropriate. However, not having a timely and reliable communication system is losing us members. Maybe we should consider a rating system. What are your thoughts? Add a comment below to let us know.

By Deirdre Marlowe

We are often at a loss as to what to gift the people who welcome us into their homes. Here are some ideas I came up with as someone who spent seven months traveling on a bike, and who only travels with a carry-on regardless of destination.

Spice blends are great: Old Bay (seafood or chicken seasoning), Papa Porker’s Dry Barbecue Rub (comes in 1-ounce packets), regular taco seasoning packs, Taijin (Mexican chili-lime seasoning), Ranch Dressing (for salad, or… comes in small packet). You might have a local favorite that you prefer to bring.

Bandanas are good gifts, too, especially for households with children. I have brought flag bandanas and map bandanas. Pencils that have local decorations: NYC the Big Apple, I Love Hollywood, etc.

When in doubt, but far heavier, fridge magnets specific to where you come from are good.

I always carry postcards from my hometown or state and use them to send bread & butter notes shortly after I’ve gone on my way. Yes, there’s text and email, but something your host can have as a permanent reminder that doesn’t take up too much space, is always welcome.

Let me know if you have other light-weight suggestions for host gifts. We’ll print them in a future edition of OD.

by Bill Magargal

Well, I know for sure that I'm old... after all, I live in an old-folks home, but what about the overall US Servas membership? Last week we ran age demographics for all 1909 active members, including both friends and host-travelers. No surprise! We are still an older group. Our median age is 67, with a mean (average) age of 62.

Although some people are distressed by this, it is just a fact of life. We are a travel and peace organization... we travel. Young people are involved with careers and families, and it is difficult to include extended travel in the mix. Retirees on the other hand have the time and are more likely to have the funds to travel. Older adults are also much more active than even our parents’ generation, which further extends the age-line.

It is wise of us to encourage younger twenty-somethings to become members to give them a taste of authentic, meaningful travel before job and family commitments become entrenched. Hopefully they will fondly remember and resume having Servas experiences when they get older.

By Deirdre Marlowe

We all know the quote: “What's in a name? That which we call a rose, by any other name would smell as sweet."  Well, actually, occasionally, the Bard got it wrong. There’s a lot in a word. A friend recently went to Japan for the first time. I knew she would not learn Japanese but wanted to give her a few words that could prove helpful. Please and thank you, of course. Excuse me (Sumimasen ), is particularly important in Japan where things are often crowded, and people are conscious of personal space. Sumimasen is also used when entering a small shop to announce one’s presence and ask forgiveness for the interruption.

Since my friend is somewhat of a foodie, I also gave her oishi or delicious. I also advised her to never say “no” unless the situation is dangerous or unforgivable. I’d learned this in bustling Nagasaki station; I said ie and everything stopped, heads turned, and suddenly, I was in the wrong.

Slang can be in the wrong, too. My family lived in France for years. When I took my already foodie children to Paris, my dad told them to say dégueulasse if something was truly delicious. So, we were at a one-star restaurant and my kids told the server that the food was dégueulasse. The server was speechless. My dad’s slang was out of date; they were saying that the food was disgusting rather than délicieuse.

My wordly [sic] advice would be to learn the important words: "please, thank you, excuse me, delicious", but not the slang for it. For anything else, use the translation device on your phone or the mini dictionary you packed. Even if you bungle it, people like that you are trying to speak their language.

by Bill Magargal

Recently a US Servas host/traveler contacted the member help team, a bit miffed because the new and improved Servas version 2 website did not have all the hosting information that the "...old system used to have." The new system does indeed have all that information, plus the descriptive blurbs like, "More about this Address", and "More details" can be much more detailed than the old version.

It turns out that our traveler found host profiles that were incomplete, they had never confirmed that their information was accurate and up to date. Voila! Mystery solved. But it does point out the need for and relevance of periodically reviewing and confirming your online host, traveler, and hosting location information. 

Many of our hosts say they "Want more travelers", yet their profiles are incomplete. Often, they don't include a photo and have only the minimum boxes check. Why would travelers even bother to contact you if there you have just the minimal (or no) information in your profile. If for no other reason you should complete your host and traveler information as a courtesy so that travelers don't waste travel time pouring through blank profiles.

If you don't know how to edit and confirm your profile, check out the January, 2025 Open Doors article "How to Confirm Your Profile."