Memo to Cooperating Agencies & Employers of MVS Volunteers
Mennonite Voluntary Service, Box 347, Newton, KS 67114 316/283-5100
Mennonite Voluntary Service, Box 370, Elkhart, IN 46515 219/294-7523

Mennonite Voluntary Service (MVS) is a cooperative program of the Commission on Home Ministries of the General Conference Mennonite Church and Mennonite Board of Missions of the Mennonite Church. Established in 1948, MVS attempts to meet human needs in a lifestyle of humility and simplicity. MVS seeks to serve in a way that is faithful to Jesus. message and call to non-violent action.

MVS volunteers serve in many geographic areas in North America. MVS involves people with a wide variety of skills, backgrounds, levels of education, and maturity. Persons in MVS come from Mennonite and other religious traditions. They serve in child care centers, housing rehabilitation programs, as community organizers, teachers in low income communities, social workers, researchers, etc. Volunteers live together in shared household settings, called "units" Within this context, volunteers share income, housekeeping duties, and decision making.

Costs related to the support of an MVS worker in the Pilsen/Chicago unit are $550/month/volunteer in 1999. Each local unit is organized to be financially self-sufficient. The stipends that MVS receives from agencies go into a collective unit account. Since most units deal with a very limited cash flow, it is imperative that volunteer stipends be paid promptly each month. Agencies employing MVS workers are requested, whenever possible, to make their checks payable to the "?Pilsen? Mennonite Voluntary Service Unit" and not withhold taxes since all income is under the direct control of the General Conference Mennonite Church and tax-exempt.

When serving with an agency, MVS volunteers are responsible to that agency just as other employees, or volunteers are. MVS requests that:

-clear job descriptions and work expectations be established. (Copies of these should be filed with the MVS Office in Newton, KS.)
-the same privileges given other staff be afforded MVS volunteers.
-in those cases in which agency and MVS personnel policies differ, a mutually acceptable policy be negotiated prior to a volunteer's placement.
-special effort be made to allow volunteers to attend periodic retreats (1-2/year) planned by the MVS administration.
-two weeks of vacation be allowed each MVSer during each year of service, beginning with the initial year.
-each person entering MVS attends an MVS orientation (5-6 days long) prior or near to the beginning of his/her term of service.

Ongoing education and "in-service" training programs are welcomed by MVS. When "in-service" training is available or necessary, the sponsoring agency (employer) is usually financially responsible. Occasionally MVS can help in securing some assistance.

Agencies interested in exploring a relationship with MVS should be in contact with the local MVS unit and/or committee. When this isn. t possible, contact should be made with the MVS Office. Requests for MVS personnel should be made in the form of a proposal and should include: Clear job descriptions and qualification requirements, financial support statement, an indication of when personnel will be needed, and a projection of the position. s duration. These requests will be reviewed by the local MVS representatives (unit and MVS Committee) and the MVS administration.

9/29/99