Volunteers and Board of Directors:

The Backbones of CISV NY

  by Julie Harrison (Board of Directors)

Most who are reading this know that CISV is an all-volunteer organization —we have no paid administrators, thus everything we do is coordinated and/or directed by individuals who have dedicated themselves (sometimes during entire weeks of their vacation time) to our mission of peace education.

In that spirit, I’d like to recognize some of the folks who worked tirelessly this past year (in no particular order). Last year, we welcomed two new members to our Board of Directors. Adio Mugen is continuing as our Recording Secretary and Sara Petersilie is our new Leader Liaison; Co-presidents, Jenevieve and Nina who have kept this chapter afloat with their enthusiasm for development and attention to detail;   Tunc Altinbas , our trustee who also works as webmaster, letter-writer, flight coordinator and database manager; Steven McLaurin who directed our chapter’s three-week Seminar Camp in Connecticut, hosting 28 delegates from 16 countries, as well as trained all local staff and leaders; Bianca Gorman who planned that Seminar with Steven throughout the year; Alanna Badgley who planned and directed our Mosaic residential camp for a week in Upstate New York, hosting 32 delegates and five staff, including her assistant director, Obed Done ; Lauren Iossa , our Mosaic Chair, who recruited and worked closely with the families of Mosaic participants; Joe Jarencio , our treasurer who has managed the books and kept us solvent; Arnold Miller , our longest-serving board member (over 35 years), who raises funds for our chapter; Bobby Mensah , our new Risk Manager who is on-call when things go wrong; Melissa Donohue , our Insurance Chair, who collects all the forms for outgoing delegates; Jim Donagen , a long-time board member who creates budgets and administers scholarships; all the (too many to mention by name) chairs and members of selection committees, leaders of international camps, staff of local camps, hosts and chaperones for events and delegates, designers, and last but not least, our Junior Board representatives, without whom this organization would not exist.

Photo above from left: Rena Altinbas, Bianca Gorman, Alanna Badgley.

Exploration in Pittsburgh Seminar

 by Sara Azcona-Miller (Delegate)

Every time I complete a CISV program, I am left feeling so incredibly lucky that CISV is a part of my life and that all of the wonderful people I got to know during the program are now also part of my life. My Seminar in Pittsburgh left me feeling no differently. When I think of my Seminar experience, I think of exploration , growth , connection , fun , and laughter , and I know that I will always keep the special community we created with me wherever life takes me.   

Leader & Delegate Reflect on Their Time at Village

Participating in CISV Village was such a wonderful experience! As leader, I worked with children and adults from all over the world who brought together different perspectives  that strengthened me to become a better global citizen . I was able to learn about conflict and resolution that I will apply in my professional career and at home. I am so thankful for this unforgettable experience! Nothing will compare to the memories I made during CISV Village Milan 2019. - Jillian Henthron (Leader)

I had so much fun at Village. Both my homestays were great. I made so many good friends. The staff was also very nice. I learned so much from the activities, especially the "rich and poor day." I was very sad at the end of the camp because it was hard to say goodbye to all of my best friends knowing that I will might not see them again. Ceylin Altinbas (Delegate)

More Family From More Parts of the World 

 by Kaan Taneli (Delegate)

This summer, for my first time I took part in CISV’s Youth Meeting program. Like all CISV programs, Youth Meeting is a stepping stone continuing down the path of maturing. The participants plan everything themselves, set the schedule and have no leaders or other delegates. The latter made me the most nervous, I was used to the first two but the concept of having no delegation was completely new to me. Delegations were always something I felt I could fall back on, who I was often closest with on programs. I didn’t know that this would make my Youth Meeting experience so magical! This key change forced me even further out of my comfort zone and really allowed all the participants to bond and learn about each other in a way I had never done before. We were able to grow together and trust each other , increasing the intensity of the activities as the mere 14 days went by and at the end I was left with many beautiful memories with even more family from even more parts of the world.