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 LOI’s can be published and unpublished when the trip is over or as the draft is being created.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.