The New Volunteerism Project

The Archival Collection of
Ivan Henry Scheier

Solicitation of Messages

The VOLUNTAS Time Capsule
1990 – 2050

In celebration of International Year of the Volunteers, 2001
the Time Capsule will be rededicated on Sept 20, 2001 at Regis University in Denver, Colorado

Solicitation of messages and other contributions to the capsule contents, mostly Spring 1990.

April, 1990

MEMO TO TIME TRAVELERS:

Here’s your Opportunity to Send

A MESSAGE TO THE FUTURE OF VOLUNTEERISM

The VOLUNTAS Time Capsule will be sealed during the 1990 Thanksgiving Season and opened sixty years later, in 2050--by volunteers, we hope! Most likely, the Capsule will ultimately be incorporated within the structure of the VOLUNTAS Retreat Center on Volunteerism.

THIS IS YOUR INVITATION TO SEND A MESSAGE TO THE FUTURE IN THAT TIME CAPSULE. WE ASK ONLY A MODEST $10 CONTRIBUTION TO THE COSTS OF ORGANIZING AND CONSTRUCTING OUR ‘VOLUNTEER TIME TRAVELER". THE OFFER IS OPEN FIRST TO DOVIA AND OTHER NETWORKS OF THE CENTER FOR CREATIVE COMMUNITY.  THE OFFER WILL CLOSE ON JULY 15, 1990, OR AFTER 100 MESSAGES HAVE BEEN RECEIVED, WHICHEVER COMES FIRST.

Messages can be sent by individual volunteers, career or other leaders of volunteers, by local DOVIAs or other professional associations or organizations. We will, however, do our best to prevent over-representation of any one organization or section of the country/world.

Each person or organization will have up to 500 words for their message, and this will go into the Time Capsule exactly as written, without editing or censorship of any kind. For an additional small fee, a photograph or two can be included with your written message. Message-senders will be invited to attend the capsule-sealing ceremonies in November 1990. We hope you'll bring along a, child old enough to understand, yet young enough so they may be able to return for the capsule—opening in 2050. Or perhaps you plan to be there yourself!

Significant progress to date on development of the Time Capsule includes:

***Securing the help of Susan J. Ellis as a Principal Consultant to the Project

***Developing a first list of suggestions, from Susan Ellis and others, of objects to include in the Time Capsule, to represent today's volunteerism.

***We have identified and purchased a supply of paper especially treated to ensure preservation over extended time periods.

***We have researched procedures for preserving photographs over time

***We have researched and are nearing a final decision on the structure of the basic capsule container. It will It will be "fireproof", etc.

IF YOU WISH TO BE AMONG THE FIRST 100 TRAVELERS, YOU MUST ACT QUICKLY

---For a written message only, send ten dollars

--- For a written message plus one photograph in the Capsule, send Twenty Dollars

--- For a written message plus two photographs in the capsule send thirty dollars

We will then send you special instructions and materials for your Time Capsule Entry or else return your check, if 100 entries have already been received. DO NOT SEND YOUR MESSAGE OR PHOTOGRAPH WITHOUT FIRST RECEIVING SPECIAL INSTRUCTIONS AND MATERIALS FROM US. Checks should be made out to the, Center for Creative Community in U.S. Funds drawn on a U.S. Bank

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"Life is a series of collisions with the future. It is not a sum of what we have been,
but what we yearn to be."

Jose Ortega y Gasset

May 1990

INSTRUCTIONS FOR PREPARING YOUR MESSAGE FOR THE TIME CAPSULE ON VOLUNTEERISM

BACKGROUND: Your message will be part of the VOLUNTAS Time Capsule on Volunteerism, to be sealed on Thanksgiving Day, November 1990 and opened about the same date in November, 2050. The Time Capsule will be located in or near Santa Fe, New Mexico, U.S.A.(details to follow) and you are invited to the sealing ceremony. Consider bringing with you a young person who might be able to return for the capsule opening in 2050. The sponsor of the Time Capsule is the Center for Creative Community, currently located in Santa Fe, New Mexico. We are registered in the state of New Mexico as Certificate of Incorporation, #1322312, dated August 14,1986 and Certificate of Comparison dated October 31,1986.

Our United States (U.S.) Internal Revenue Service Employer Identification Number is FFN 750122190. Principal Consultant to the Project is Susan J. Ellis, President of ENERGIZE ASSOCIATES of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, U.S. Santa Fe staff are Ivan Scheier and Liz Bryan.

INSTRUCTIONS FOR WRITTEN MESSAGE--PLEASE READ CAREFULLY.

A. Written messages will be accepted only on special archival paper provided, attached here.

B. We suggest you make and keep at least two copies, on any kind of paper you wish. One copy can go in a safe storage place, e.g. strongbox; another can be attached to your will. You may also wish to attach a copy of these instructions to your copy of the message.

C. We strongly suggest the message be typewritten, though we'd like to see your handwriting in a signature at the end and perhaps a brief personal message as well.

D. You can use both sides of the archival paper, but don't use overly small type.

E. Especially avoid typos, via word processor, skilled typist, careful proofreading, etc.

F. Line drawings on the archival paper are okay, but you cannot add photographs or other Separate items unless you have independently arranged with us to do so.

G. We expect most of the messages will be in English, but you are welcome to use Spanish, French, Japanese or any other living language. Whatever language is used, however, be very careful to avoid jargon, idiom and acronym.

H. Your message will go in the VOLUNTAS Time Capsule exactly as written, without editing or censorship of any kind. We do, however, ask your serious consideration of the following general guidelines.

1. Begin by identifying yourself as an individual or organization. (Individuals can omit any of the following they might feel is too private) Your full name, current address, place of birth, age, some of the main places you work or have worked as a volunteer or as paid staff. For tracking purposes, we hope you will add your Social Security Number, if you are from the United States, or a similar number from any other nation. Also helpful would be the name of an insurance company with which you have an insurance policy. Please also try to give the above kinds of information, including Social Security Number and Insurance Company, for at least one descendant or other person under 10-12 years of age, to increase the chances they may be located and contacted in 2050, when the capsule is opened. Please note: we hope you will provide the same kind of information for at least one individual even if the message is primarily from an organization.

2. Describe a current volunteer group, program or other effort you're involved in and especially want to tell the future about. Consider covering such things as what volunteers do, how many volunteers are involved, their age, sex, racial, etc. makeup. Finally, 60 years from now, in 2050, what do you most hope will be remembered about this volunteer effort?

3. Looking into your crystal ball, what prediction would you make as to what you think will have evolved in the year 2050 in volunteer participation? what greeting or other message would you like to send to the future.

I. Sign, date, and send to The Center for Creative Community. FOR EFFECTIVE CAPSULE CONTENT PLANNING, WE MUST RECEIVE YOUR MESSAGE NO LATER THAN SEPTEMBER 30, 1990.

IF YOU HAVE REGISTERED TO ENCLOSE A PHOTOGRAPH WITH YOUR WRITTEN MESSAGE, YOU WILL RECEIVE SEPARATE INSTRUCTIONS FOR PREPARATION OF THAT PHOTOGRAPH(s). DO NOT SEND A PHOTOGRAPH WITHOUT FIRST HAVING RECEIVED AND STUDIED THESE SPECIAL INSTRUCTIONS.

Thank you

 THE TIME CAPSULE 

1) WHAT DO YOU THINK IS GOOD ABOUT CONTEMPORARY LIFE, THAT YOU HOPE WILL BE PRESERVED BY THOSE PEOPLE WHO WILL OPEN UP THE TIME CAPSULE IN 2050?

2) WHAT DO YOU FIND DISTURBING ABOUT OUR PRESENT-DAY LIFE WHICH YOU HOPE WILL BE DIFFERENT IN THE YEAR 2050?

3) PLEASE SHARE ANY MESSAGE, GREETING FOR THE PEOPLE OF 2050 ....

GIVE AS MUCH INFORMATION ABOUT YOURSELF AS PO9SSIBLE…YOUR NAME, WHERE YOU LIVE, YOUR SOCIAL SECURITY NUMBER, INSURANCE COMPANY, YOUR CHILDREN’S NAMES AND AGES, PHOTOS OF YOURSELF, YOUR FAMILY, THE LOCAL AREA (PREFERABLY BLACK AND WHITE)…

IF YOU WANT TO KEEP THIS PRIVATE, PLEASE FOLD OR ENCLOSE AS YOU WISH

 

May 1990

VOLUNTAS TIME CAPSULE ON VOLUNTEERISM:

Instructions on Photographs to go with written message

Please Note Carefully:

1. You are eligible to include a photograph or two only if you have first paid the $10 fee for a written message and then $10 additional for one photograph to accompany your written message, and $20 additional for two photographs.

2. You should by now have received separate instructions for preparing your written message in the Time Capsule. Please let us know immediately if you have not received these instructions.

3. According to our records you are eligible to include(one)(two) photograph(s) with your written message. The photo(s) must be sent with the written message sage and must be related to it in some reasonable fashioning. e.g., a photograph of you and/or your volunteers at work.

4. On the back of the photograph(s) clearly print the names of the people in the picture, arranged spatially so that anyone looking at the picture will be able to tell who is who. Preferred use for this purpose is No.0 or No. 1 lead pencil.

5. Pictures should be of the best possible visual quality, taken with a good camera. (Instant photos are not good for this kind of preservation). If you must choose between the two, clarity is are important than artistry.

6. These should be regular size photographs; that is, approximately 5 or 6 inches by 3 or 4 inches.

7. Send us prints, not negatives.

8. Our research thus far suggests that a black-and-white print has a somewhat better chance of preservation in a wide range of temperature and humidity conditions. We therefore ask you to send black-and-white prints. However, if you or a photography expert have strong feelings about using color, we will accept color prints.

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Please feel free to write or phone with any comments or questions. And please remember: DO NOT SEND IN ONLY A PHOTOGRAPH ALONE. THE PHOTOGRAPH MUST ACCOMPANY AND BE RELATED TO YOUR WRITTEN MESSAGE TO THE FUTURE.

Thank you for your interest

Ivan Scheier