SI MONTHLY NEWS DECEMBER 2005 Editorial
From SI Exco News
Controversial?
The other day I was chatting with an active
Servas member about local items. Moving on
from different attitudes of hosts to travellers, the
conversation turned to the international scene. I
mentioned the eGA in Latina and how I would be
attending despite various difficulties. Although
aware of General Assemblies he was not
particularly interested in them and wondered how
necessary they were, particularly with the wide
range of communication available nowadays.
Part of his concern was the stamp fee and how
much was going on items that did not affect the
everyday Servas member. Were such costly
exercises really essential for the running of
Servas? Or should we be less regimented and a
more open and flatter organisation looking at the
main needs of the hosts and travellers rather than
a hierarchical structure? After all we are,
relatively, not that big an organisation. The
conversation then moved on to different matters.
But it stuck in my mind. Servas is for travellers
and hosts so that people may: get together and
develop a better understanding of different
cultures and life styles; work together as a world
team ready to help others.
Bye 2005, Welcome 2006
A fairly turbulent year has ended. Some of this
turbulence has been geophysically induced, the
short and long term effects of the 2004 Tsunami,
the Earthquake in Kashmir are but 2 major events
with plenty more round the world. Due to the
instant media communications we are all the
more aware of them even than 20 years ago.
The same goes for human induced turbulence
such as the wide range of disputes whether
between countries or between individuals.
However the end of 2005 does not mean an
automatic end to the problems. The calendar is
also a man made feature. Life continues with no
respect for a calendar. It is up to us to make the
necessary changes whether to provide securer
accommodation for zones with geophysical
problems or to provide the way to solve human
problems without physical or mental
confrontations. Certainly a challenge, but what is
life without challenges.
Apologies, short version
This edition of Servas Monthly News is shorter than
others because I am currently working on SI News
2006. Consequently instead of chasing articles for
this I am only putting in what has arrived. Thank you
especially to Pablo who went out of his way, when
very busy, to produce the Youth article and to Ewa
for the Polish language section.
We all appreciate the efforts of those who share good news with us all. Please keep it up.
Page Editors
I am looking for people who will put together articles to produce different pages of Servas Monthly News. Please see p2 for job description.
inserted by Amelia
