Treasurer

I am originally from India and moved to US in 1970s. My family has lived in 15 states and have travelled extensively. I love hiking, gardening, cooking and most of all, I am a fearless traveler, love connecting with people and experiencing different cultures. The best part is meeting and sharing my world with others, locals, fellow travelers and just about anyone.

I want us to have a warm feeling in our heart and mind, feel positive about the world we live in and feel togetherness, peace and erase those boundaries between us. My goal is to expand and strengthen Servas for future generations.

I grew up in the Philadelphia area with a Unitarian / Quaker background. After college I moved into Philidelphia and became active in community development with the West Mt. Airy Neighbors Association, and have continued my community involvement wherever I have lived.

My career began as a research engineer with a manufacturing company.  Early in my carreer I moved the company into using IT systems, and eventually became the corporate IT director. In 1992 I left the company and took a one-year, self-financed backpacking sabbatical through India, SE Asia, and Australia/NZ. I became a Servas traveler in India in 1994, host and Interviewer in 1995, and active member help volunteer in 2021.

For me, making friends while traveling is the best part.  My lucky life has been full of friends and influences from other cultures, and I believe it's important to bring that to as many people as possible, especially Americans.

I've been a member of Servas and other hospitality organizations for a couple of decades, and I enjoy working with volunteer leaders to make things better, so I'm always willing to help out, so here I am.

My family lives off-the-grid in a unique forested area, so while we're not at the center of things, we are lucky to offer a special experience to those we host.

In addition, my business of travel backpacks and gear keeps me in the 'travel mindset' year-round, and I love to learn of new trends and experiences. 

Tim and his spouse Charlotte have had the great opportunity to meet and stay with some amazing SERVAS hosts over the years. They are both deeply involved in justice work and Tim really appreciates SERVAS's peace building mission. Tim and Charlotte live in a beautiful spot in Western Iowa and they are looking for more travelers!

Volunteer service is a personal passion and a professional practice for Deirdre Araujo. A native New Yorker who left Rome, Italy, in 1989 to volunteer in Santa Cruz County, CA, in the aftermath of the Loma Prieta earthquake, Deirdre soon met her Brazilian partner. She settled in the Bay Area, where they've hosted countless young travelers, and raised an adventurous daughter currently studying at Oxford.

In addition to helping in her local library and animal shelter, she’s served on various boards, including Phi Beta Kappa of Northern California, two terms as president of the American Association of University Women in San Francisco, and as chair of the young members’ caucus for Graduate Women International. After supporting SERVAS in ancillary ways since 1996, she formally registered as a traveler in 2022. As the head of volunteer engagement at San Francisco's Exploratorium for nearly 30 years, Deirdre serves on the national boards of the American Association for Museum Volunteerism and the National Association of Volunteer Program Leaders in Government, in the latter role as the liaison to the National Association of Counties.

One happy SERVAS memory is of a recent trip to Taipei, where she spent time with lovely day hosts, exploring the city, and even volunteering at a local senior center. Deirdre looks forward to engaging members throughout their SERVAS experience, whether they're actively traveling or at home.

US Peace Secretary

I have been a Servas member for over twenty years, both as a traveler and as a host. I have been the beneficiary of my hosts’ diverse lives and interests: I have wrangled bees in the Alps, ridden scooters in Hanoi, and given a university lecture on Gandhi’s influence on the American civil rights movement in India- all thanks to Servas.

As a host, I’ve tried to give travelers a different view of America. I took one to the local historically Black American Beach, one to Election Day events to see American democracy in action, and even took one to a racial justice rally when she came to stay (at her insistence).

From my personal experiences, I know how valuable our organization is in bringing people together and sharing experiences. Now that experts are supporting the idea that shared experiences are more valuable in terms of breaking down prejudice and cultural barriers, I relish the opportunity as Peace Secretary to broaden Servas’ mission to “help build world peace, goodwill and understanding.”