You all already know the benefits of Servas membership as a traveler and/or host but wait... there’s more! To ensure the continued success of Servas into the 21st century, the US Servas Board has issued a challenge to our members: we challenge each member to bring in one new member this year.

Besides knowing that this great organization will continue to thrive, those who succeed in meeting this recruitment goal will be entered into a raffle (prizes TBD). Make sure the new member gives your name to Membership when he or she joins Servas so you can be entered.

Starting now, think of friends, family, and members of other groups you belong to who might be a good fit with Servas. Remember, our dues are only $33 per year, and people can join as Friends before they decide if they want to host, or travel, or both!

The US Servas annual meeting was held via Zoom on June 8th with 114 people registered to attend. This was slightly more than the 2023 registration of 111 attendees. People joined and left the meeting throughout the entire meeting, so it is likely that most registrants participated in the event. Here is a link to watch a video of the meeting.

The event kicked off promptly at 10:00 AM Pacific time with about 75 people in attendance. We broke out into groups of 4 to 5 people for a five-minute "get to know one another" exercise. Upon return, board president Richard Weaver welcomed everyone and noted that 2024 is the 75th anniversary of Servas International. He reported that after three years as an all-volunteer organization, US Servas was in excellent shape both financially and that membership was up to nearly 1900 members.

After Richard's presentation the board liaisons for each US Servas branch gave a short update on their team's accomplishments during the previous year, and goals for the upcoming year. These included: Finance: Leena Desai, Member Services: Tim Sullivan, Technology: Shyla Esko Bare, Communications: Tys Sniffen & Bill Magargal, Peace: Karen Morian, and Governance: Richard Weaver.

Two motions were presented to the members for a vote, and both passed by large majorities. These included:

1. Should US Servas "merge" the old New York State corporation into our current Nevada corporation?
2. Rick Wolfe and Debra Skomer were approved to lead the 2024 Elections Committee

Be Part of It - Sat., June 8^th!!!  

US Servas will hold its third video-streamed Annual Meeting on Saturday, June 8^th, at 10am Pacific (11 MT, 12 CT, 1pm ET). Last year's meeting was very well received by the 87 members who attended (see article). We are hoping this year's meeting will be equally successful... a three-peat (is that a thing?). 

You should have already received the personal invitation via email from Dick Weaver, US Servas Board Chair. Consider this a reminder that the Board would like you to be updated on things that have been done during the past year and included in the conversation about what might lie ahead for US Servas. 

In addition to being informative and a good way to interact with other members, the annual meetings also offer you the opportunity to make meaningful changes to how US Servas operates: its direction and focus, and even specific actions you think it should take.  If you would like to do so, you can propose specific by-law changes, and/or offer motions for other actions you wish the board to take. Do this from the comfort of your home – no transportation or parking worries. 

A link to attend the meeting will be sent to all members a few days prior to the meeting, so be sure to check your mailbox.

In January the board appointed Vena Rainwater to an interim board position through December 31, 2024. Vena brings the vitality and ideas of a younger member (early 40s) to the board. She holds a BA in Community Development and Economics from Portland State University and works at Amazon as their Inclusion and Equity Program Manager, charged with identifying and eliminating barriers to employment for marginalized people.

When she was young her family were Servas hosts and travelers. She thought this was amazing and wanted to pursue the opportunity to meet like-minded individuals and provide the same experience for her children. Vena joined Servas in 2023 as a Host and Traveler.  

US Servas will hold its second video-streamed Annual Meeting on Saturday, June 8^th, at 10am Pacific (11 MT, 12 CT, 1pm ET). Last year's meeting was very well received by the 87 members who attended. (see article)We are hoping this year's meeting will be equally successful... a two-peat (is that a thing?). 

In addition to being informative and a good way to interact with other members, the annual meeting also offers you the opportunity to make meaningful changes to how US Servas operates: its direction and focus, and even specific actions you think it should take.  If you would like to do so, you can propose specific by-law changes, and/or offer motions for other actions you wish the board to take. These must be submitted in writing to uss_admin@usservas.org on or before March 31, 2024. 

by Bill Magargal

US Servas has had a tradition of annual national conferences for quite some time. The volunteers and avid members who attend enjoy meeting other members and learning more about Servas. They are fun and energizing. Attendees give them rave reviews. Our most recent conference this past Fall in NY State was no exception, but even though this successful event had only 78 attendees. That is about 5% of our total membership, even though it was heavily subsidized, well publicized, and near NYC. 

Conferences require tons of volunteer effort to plan, arrange, and execute. Could our money and limited volunteer hours be put to better use, perhaps organizing local and regional gatherings? Should the US National conference alternate years with the SICOGA International event? Should we plan conferences two or three years in advance to reduce the conference committees' stress levels and to allow more time for members to hold the dates well in advance? Should conferences be held in the Summer when more people, especially younger members, might be able to attend? These are just a few of the questions that need clarification.  

At this point, the Board has not received any requests from any group interested in hosting a conference in 2024. Given the above questions, and the fact that time is already short for even an experienced group to stage a national event this year, unless someone steps up in the immediate future, we are very unlikely to see a national conference in 2024.

What are your thoughts with alternating years with SICOGA , or moving to regional events? Please share them with publications@usservas.org. 

by Natalie Petersen 

We're pleased to announce the new Directors on the US Servas Board: Leena Desai, Tim Sullivan, Connie Ross, and Kelly Sackheim. They bring a broad range of skills and experience to the table; we look forward to how these will strengthen US Servas. It was exciting to get to know these candidates as we heard their ideas and saw their passion for Servas during the Meet Your Candidates Forum on October 18^th. The New Board Member terms begin January 1, 2024.  Desai, Sullivan, and Ross will each serve a three-year term, while Sackheim will serve a one-year term.  

Leena Desai has been on the Board since 2020 and is currently our treasurer. This is her second term. She has a background in medical research management and has served as treasurer for various nonprofit organizations. She has helped US Servas transition to an all-volunteer organization and to develop the 5-branch structure. With other board members, she has worked to make Servas' finances more transparent, organized, and accountable. She has also been an interviewer for Servas, participated in the Peace & Justice Committee, and is always ready to recruit new member volunteers worldwide. Leena is particularly interested in Servas collaborating with other non-profit organizations.   

Tim Sullivan has been serving as an interim Board member after serving as an interviewer. He has a background in business and nonprofit finance and  served as chair on a variety of boards. He is interested in expanding membership - particularly to younger and non-typical travelers - through utilizing tools to better understand traveler experiences, developing programs and tools to reach younger and more diverse populations, expanding and supporting US Servas’ relationship with Servas International, developing ways to communicate with and engage members, and actively looking for and implementing new programs to engage in peace and understanding. 

Connie Ross joins the board with a background in non-profits and education. She has done significant work in the Peace Corps. She became a Servas Member in 1995 and has first-hand experience as a traveler and a host in building peace one contact at a time.  Connie is interested in using her skills and experience within the area of community outreach; particularly with event planning and member services for new members. Additionally,  she has ideas on how technology could be utilized to broaden the Servas membership base.  

Kelly Sackheim comes to the Board with experience working internationally with national organizations supporting travelers. She served as Board President for the Sacramento Council for International Visitors, and during her tenure led the effort to incorporate as a not-for-profit corporation. Kelly is very involved in sponsoring the travel of citizens and residents of less developed countries to the U.S. She is interested in expanding Servas' volunteer engagement by improving processes, particularly in the area of technology, and exploring Servas' involvement in improving immigration policies.  

Servas Board members form a dynamic group of passionate, dedicated, and engaged individuals working collectively to fulfill our mission of promoting peace and understanding through travel and hosting. Let’s extend a warm welcome to the newest members of our US Servas Board of Directors!

by Lee Rowley

On October 5th Eileen Rowley hosted the US Servas board planning session at her home in Rhinebeck, NY.The Board worked the entire day reviewing and assessing the current goals of US Servas, as well as designing ways our organization can be more effective moving forward.In recent years the board has made it a practice to spend at least a full day together two or three times each year to accomplish plans and discuss major issues that are not possible to complete during their regular monthly board meetings. 

Newly appointed member, Tim Sullivan and his wife, Charlotte, drove 20 hours from Iowa to attend. President, Richard Weaver, flew in from San Diego, CA, Leena Desai from Raleigh, NC, and Karen Morian, recently appointed Peace Secretary, arrived from the Peace Assembly in Spain. Virtual participants included Shyla Esko Barr, Shelley Mitchell, Joanne Ferguson Cavenaugh, and Tys Sniffen. On Friday the 6th all the in-person attendees navigated their way to the National conference at Frost Valley in Claryville, NY. 

Voting for the US Servas Board of Directors is now open. Voting closes at midnight, October 29th. We have four excellent candidates. Here is a link to a summary of their credentials, and the ballot. Easy-peasy... just enter your name and email address, then four clicks and you are done. Two minutes max.  

On October 18, Ernie Baragar, moderator for the Board Candidates Forum, opened the event right on time with welcoming and overview of the agenda. He made sure the event went smoothly with the help of timer, Natalie Petersen, and comments reviewer, Bill Magargal. The twenty-six attendees got to hear from each candidate, both during their respective opening remarks. Ernie then asked each candidate to answer each of three questions developed by the elections committee. Each candidate had 90 seconds to answer each of the questions below.    

1. 

   US Servas has been an all-volunteer organization since 2021. Are you involved in helping with Servas operations? If so, how? 

2. If not, have you done volunteer work for other nonprofits?   

3. Have you had a chance to talk with any board member to learn about current programs and needs? Whether or not you have done so, where do you believe you can make your best contribution to the current programs and needs of the organization?   

4. Through Servas, travelers who believe in peace visit hosts who also believe in peace. Do you see a role for Servas as a peace organization beyond the communication that occurs between travelers and hosts? If yes, how do you think Servas can be an agent for peace?    

All candidates handled themselves well, and all should be good additions to the board.  Be sure to vote. Voting is open now until Midnight, October 29th. here is a link to the ballot webpage.

By Natalie Petersen 

“Servas is a special way of seeing the world as a place where there are no strangers.”Be the change you want to see in the Servas world. There is still time to step up and run for the board. Serving on the board is a great way to shape US Servas and help ensure its long-term success. Here are a few ways you can have an impact by serving. 

1.  Enrich the Diversity of Leadership - We need candidates from different backgrounds, ages, and regions to provide a more comprehensive and balanced approach to our governance.  

2. Expand Outreach & Impact - You can help shape strategies that enhance outreach efforts and engagement with a broader audience. Your dedication and fresh ideas can lead to a stronger and more connected Servas community. 

3. Innovate & Adapt - We need fresh ideas, innovative thinking, and adaptability as our world changes.Be a part of shaping strategies that ensure US Servas remains relevant and responsive to the needs of its members. 

4. Advocate for Servas Values - US Servas is committed to promoting peace and understanding through cultural exchange. Serving on the board, you'll have the opportunity to support and drive projects and initiatives that embody the spirit of Servas and increase our positive impact.  

5. Empower Future Generations - As a board member, you’ll play a pivotal role in inspiring and empowering future generations to participate in meaningful cultural exchange and contribute to a more peaceful world. 

This is a call to action, a call to leadership, and a call to all those who believe in the potential of Servas to create a more interconnected and peaceful world. If you're passionate about promoting cultural exchange, peace, and understanding, please consider running for the US Servas Board. Your unique voice, ideas, and dedication can help steer US Servas towards greater impact. Learn more and apply for the Board.  

There’ll be an opportunity to hear from our candidates during a Meet the Candidates Forum on Wednesday, October 18, @ 5pm, Pacific Time. Each candidate will share their platform; US Servas members will then be able to ask the candidates questions. A link to join this meeting will be sent to US Servas members.  

Important Dates to Remember: 

Submission Deadline to Run for the Board:  Saturday, September 30, 12:00 am (Pacific Time)  

Public Forum to Meet the Candidates: Wednesday, October 18, 5:00 pm (Pacific Time)