SI MONTHLY NEWS DECEMBER 2006 Comments
From SI Exco News
Peace orientations
Who are we and what are we discovering in our World?
If you have recently looked through a Servas national directory, you may have noticed many in caring professions: nursing, teaching, personal assistance, home care, artists, artisans, scientists
Many Servas people are involved in shaping the world, and making it better for instance: organic gardening, architecture, city planning, public policy. We look like an international community of people who chose to be Good. Decent and Caring. Of real service to others.
We fit the broad profile of "Cultural Creatives", defined as about 50 million people in North America, and perhaps over 80 million in Europe – and, who knows how many elsewhere? You can check out more references to us and similar people at www.culturalcreatives.org
Researchers on Cultural Creatives (like us Servas people) say that we are distinguished by our values, our creative and optimistic spirit and lifestyle.
But they also say that we do not realize we are a global community. We are not aware of each other.
Because we yield to distance and separation, we are therefore not aware of our creative potential, our potential vast gift to global understanding and culture.
Of course, many in Servas are exceptions. We do reach out, and we try to share, experience, understand, appreciate, respect.
What have you learned, in 2006 or earlier, through your work, study and travel?
What special people, places and lessons have you discovered?
Here's a checklist adapted from Cultural Creatives research which might help remind you about your valuable discoveries:
• Community actions
• Personal actions
• Learning living more lightly
• Talking and thinking with each other
Would you like to share your story of discovery? Please let us know.
Gary Sealey, President[at]servas.org
Funding delegates for SI conferences
Servas International (SI) does not interfere in internal matters of its chapters. In India Servas has existed as unregistered body for 55 years. Similarly many other chapters of Servas may not be registered. The National Secretaries (NS) are neither answerable to SI nor to anyone as they have no constitution or rules for their chapters functioning . The NSs appoint relations or close friends in subordinate positions and continue in office for decades or until their demise. The NSs nominate themselves as delegates to all the SI conferences with full funding from SI. Servas Australia does not fund any person more than once for SI conference, hence at each of the SI conferences they have a new delegate. It is desirable that every Servas Chapter has a new delegate at the SI conferences. No Servas chapter would like to copy Servas Australia on their own. It would thus be appropriate for SI to introduce One time funding rule for SI conference for delegates. Also relations or close friends of NSs should be forbidden from being nominated as delegates to the SI conferences. The NSs ,it is hoped ,will agree to allow for change of leadership with the introduction of One time funding rule for delegates
Gurdev Singh, Servas India
Human Rights Day Hey, isn't that something to do with us?
Aren't we concerned about people?
Can you remember when it was?
What did you do about it?
Which Servas member was so concerned that he founded an impressive organisation which concentrates on human rights? (He did this before joining Servas)
Answers to these questions can be found by looking at: Amnesty Enews <amnesty_enews[at]ems02.com>
First answer to Gary on who we are...
There are lots of caring people out there and they do not have to be Servas members. eg: I turn up at Megève altiport (airfield high up in the mountains), in France and ask to go flying (I have a private pilot licence). Initially the answer was 'Not possible' I shrug my shoulders, 'tant pis'. A short time later I am invited to join them but not to expect much because of the weather. Wow, my head was in the clouds. Literally as we flew round the clouds looking for Mt Blanc. There were caring people there who saw my disappointment and decided to cheer me up. But then wherever I have been I have found pilots like that.
So what experiences have you people had. Send to Gary and to Servas Monthly News.
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