SI MONTHLY NEWS April 2006 New EXCO info
From SI Exco News
New Exco are:
President Gary Sealey Canada
Vice pres. Mary-Jane Mikuriya U.S.A.
Gen. Sec. Pramod Kumar India
Treasurer Ömer Özkam Turkey
Host Sec. Anna Flammini Italy
Peace Sec. Nandasena Amarasinghe Sri Lanka
inset photo
There were elections for a range of other posts. Hopefully in future issues there will be something about these different positions so that we can all know better how Servas runs
From: SI Host List Coordinator
I will do my best to support and strengthen a team working approach and to enlarge the Buddy Projects already active, so that all the countries will be able to participate in Servas life in their own way.
I strongly believe in cooperation and I think that giving and receiving help is very important for all of us.
I intend to be in touch with all the people involved in host lists and I will appreciate sharing ideas and working together towards a common aim of worldwide peaceful communication and relationship .
In peace and friendship
Anna Flammini
From: Vice President
There was a wonderful, welcoming, open, friendly, cooperative spirit at the EGA in Latina, Italy. When I went Italy, I had no intention of running for office and somehow allowed myself to be persuaded to run for Vice President of EXCO. The primary role of the Vice President is to "be responsible for the development and strengthening of national Servas Groups."
Over my 29 years as a Servas member, I have become active in developing and strengthening Servas in Northern California. I have learned that face to face meetings of Servas members and like minded individuals have resulted in new friends, willing workers, and an active enthusiastic Servas organization.
We have monthly dinner meetings, in a church or warehouse, where 25 to 35 people come. When it is during the week we charge $8 and ask members to bring the drinks. About 20% to 30% that attend are new to Servas. Servas sounds too good to be true. What is it that I am missing? Let me check out these Servas members. When Servas Meetings are on a weekend, we have potluck -- where each person brings a dish to share with others. Frequently there is a theme that is related to being a good host or traveler or we have speakers. Our latest presenters were Fullbright Fellows from Mauritania. In learning how they saw the USA, we learned about life in Mauritania.
Richard was a first time Servas Traveler going to Japan and arranged to have a Servas interview. We was amazed to learn that his men's choir colleague was his Servas Interviewer. They asked each other why neither had known about each other's interest in meeting people from other cultures through home visits. We discussed how could we change and encourage all members to tell friends, family, work colleagues, and their organizations about Servas. We all are now spokespersons for Servas. We even sponsor a Servas table at Study Abroad student Fairs and at Intercultural events.
Northern California has about 200 hosts, 200 travelers and 18 interviewers. We encourage all individuals who want to become more active to organize Servas Gatherings, provide translation services for other countries' newsletters, offer to speak about Servas and be sure to distribute our special Servas Business Cards, call a host who receives too few travelers, look around and see what you can do to bring Servas to life in your community. It is amazing how rewarding volunteering for Servas is.
I would like to hear from individuals who would like to get more involved with Servas and would like to know what skills/competencies you bring with your offer to volunteer for Servas. Please contact me at mikuriya[at]aol.com
Mary-Jane Mikuriya
