1 Vol. 2018: December Open Doors Servas International is an international, non-profit, non-governmental federation of national Servas groups, supporting an international network of hosts and travellers. Our network aims to help build world peace, goodwill and understanding by offering opportunities for personal contacts between people of different cultures, backgrounds and nationalities. National Secretary’s Report – SICOGA 2018 By Chris-Ann Lauria It was a sunny October afternoon in Seoul, when Servas members from over 50 countries arrived on the steps of the International Youth Conference Centre to begin the 31st Servas International Conference and General Assembly (SICOGA). With the theme ‘Connecting People and Cultures for Peace’, South Korean Servas members hosted nearly 170 people. Six days and nights were filled with Servas business and cultural exchange as people met, talked, debated, laughed, and danced. Phyllis Chinn and I shared the US delegate role. We were among 52 delegates, who put in 10-hour days presenting, discussing, amending and voting on motions that will impact Servas in years to come. Of significance was the motion introduced by Italy to change how member countries contribute funds to Servas International. We decided that in place of stamps, a country’s annual payment will be based on: average payments from the past three years, number of members, and the relative wealth of the member country based on GDP. This new fee structure will be tested from 2019 to 2021 and implemented in 2021. During that time period, we will pay Servas International the average of our payment over the last 3 years. The Servas International website, received much attention. A Servas International Membership & Technology Committee was formed and a 3-year budget for website development was approved. Servas’ commitment not only to peace-building, but support of the UN’s 17 Sustainable Developmental Goals (SDGs) and ethical travel, was emphasized throughout the conference. Several motions were made addressing the need to acknowledge climate change as a global issue and encourage member countries to act. Servas International statutes were amended to reflect a commitment to minimizing our ecological footprint. Additionally, work is being done to create a carbon offset program on the SI website. Page 6 2 ; US Servas Open Doors Vol 2018: December Peace building and the original aims of Servas were considered, with reference to Bob Luitweiler’s vision of the organization as an active peace- building group, committed to work camps and activities Open Doors is a publication of beyond home-stays. Former United States Servas. Servas International Peace Secretary Danielle Serres and th Phyllis (USA) & Prossy 1125 16 Street (Uganda) at the DMZ) our new SI Peace Secretary Suite 201 Paige LaCombe discussed the Arcata, CA 95521 work Servas has already done at the UN and the work we will 707-825-1714 need to do to help achieve the SDGs.Two countries, Belarus and www.usservas.org Kenya, fulfilled the requirements to be Servas country members so were added. Office Staff Tracy Jordan French Servas Youth were represented in good number, hosting Administrator discussion panels on cultural sensitivity and providing assistance Grace Lovell to moderators in business sessions. Yoga was held each morning, Volunteer Coordinator run by India’s National Secretary, Abhay Shaha, and country Shohei Morita Member Services Specialist presentations and celebrations were held each evening. Maria Tonn Administrative Assistant Our Korean hosts organized opportunities for those not attending as delegates to visit places of interest around Seoul. A Board of Directors group tour to the Demilitarized Zone between North and South Chris-Ann Lauria, Chair Korea was held for all. Dennis Mogerman, Vice-Chair Steve Kanters, Treasurer Before and after the conference, members of Servas Korea Richard Martin, Secretart provided amazing hospitality in their homes. Prior to the Sharon Victor conference, I was the recipient of such hospitality by Byong Wan Earlene Cruz Choi in Seoul, where he and his wife hosted me and three other Aaron Fowles Servas guests. Radha Radhakrishna Nancy Polk I will end with a heartfelt thank you to the entire Servas Barbara Pioli International EXCO, the 2018 SICOGA planning committee, and the Koreans for an EXTRAORDINARY conference in Peace and Social Justice Secretary Seoul, South Korea! The positive energy, the amazing new Paige LaCombe friendships, the important but difficult conversations, the short Meet our newest board and staff nights, the dance and laughter, the sharing of Kimchi and Soju members on our website will stay with us forever and are the seeds of change... the https://usservas.org/page/staff- beginnings of a more peaceful world. board-directors Article content was borrowed with permission from Lauren All rights reserved. Reproduction Gordon, National Secretary Servas Australia prohibited without the express Chris-Ann Lauria written permission of US Servas Servas US Board Chair/National Secretary 2 31 ; US Servas Open Doors Vol 2018: December New EXCO Committee L-R- Kiat (Malaysia), Radha (USA), Carla (Portugal), Jonny (Sweden), Paige (USA), Andreas (Switzerland) Help us Update our Host Request Guidelines When I first joined Servas in 2003 as a traveler, I had a very limited idea of the benefits, or the culture. I simply liked the idea of not staying in hotels while traveling. So I got the host list of my planned trip and blasted out a simple email with my travel dates a couple weeks before I left. I probably just blind copied everyone; in English. Not surprisingly, I didn’t get any responses. Since then, I’ve also been a host, and have seen every sort of traveler request possible, and I now realize that a more personal touch that takes into consideration the way the host wants to be contacted is better. Some hosts in heavily-tourist areas get bombarded with requests, and other hosts off the beaten path don’t. We’ve heard from travelers – and maybe experienced ourselves – about the frustration of sending out a request to stay and getting no response at all, not even a “no, we can’t host”. So, in this day of super-fast communication, where other sites and services can be set up instantly, how do we train our members to communicate – and respond – for the best success? I’d like to update and expand the list of helpful hints, of general rules, as people are looking for US hosts. Perhaps in this digital age, we need some additional suggestions. Perhaps it’s simply that our list of suggestions that comes with the *complete* host list is not being seen by travelers who are now using our online map-of-hosts feature. (a great feature! Check it out if you haven’t at https://usservas.org/find-hosts If you see anything amiss with your map pin, let me know). So perhaps we simply need to get the list below out in front of the map program. Please help me update and/or add things to this suggestion list by sending me your thoughts from your experiences. You can email me directly at [email protected] . Here’s what’s already in the host list regarding *how to communicate with hosts*: Be sensitive and respectful of your hosts’ values and customs. Learn about the area where you will be visiting, use travel guides, books and maps so you can be prepared. Consider contacting hosts outside major cities. WMT indicates Wants more travelers. Read the host listings carefully to understand what the host is able to offer and what each country expects of the visiting travelers. Each request should be individualized...no mass emails. Contact hosts well in advance and include a copy of your Letter of Introduction and the purpose of your travel. 3 2 ; US Servas Open Doors Vol 2018: December Only call between 9 am and 9 pm host’s local time; do not expect hosts to return your long distance call at their expense. DO confirm arrangements before arriving and notify your hosts if your schedule or arrival time has changed and if you should eat before you arrive. Present your original Letter of Introduction to your hosts at the door when you arrive… before being asked. Any travel companions (18 and older) must have their own LOI. Servas membership does not guarantee anyone the “right” to free hospitality. Servas hosts, on the other hand, do have the right to refuse a homestay request… even without an explanation. Be polite and understanding when a host, who finds it inconvenient to receive you, must say “No.” Please take this set of guidelines along with you and refer to them on your trip. As a host, what else do you need from travelers? What should we add to this list? If you’ve NOT responded to a request from a traveler, can you tell me why? If you’ve found yourself saying no to travelers, is there a reason other than scheduling conflicts? If you’ve had success or failures while hosting or traveling that could shed light on how hosts and travelers can do better, please share with me at [email protected] and I’ll work with the board to get things added to the website and/or the host list. Tys Sniffen [email protected] Making Connections is an extended-stay program that allows Servas members the opportunity to meet with individuals from over 100 countries, building bridges of understanding through various projects or activities. Projects can be organized around cultural, educational, language, social, volunteer, special interest, or social activism experiences. They can be initiated anywhere: big cities, suburbs, or rural areas. Making Connections is a great way for Servas members who receive few travellers to attract more of them.