The New Volunteerism Project

The Archival Collection of
Ivan Henry Scheier

History and Purpose

The VOLUNTAS Time Capsule
on Volunteerism
1990 – 2050
@ -- permission for use-with-acknowledgment

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

      
The VOLUNTAS Time Capsule on Volunteerism

          1990 – 2050

    Nothing Happens Unless First A Dream

                Carl Sandburg

(Designed to be what people will see first when they open the capsule.)

No, we didn’t open the Time Capsule 58 years early!

…though it might seem like it. The VOLUNTAS Time Capsule was "officially" dedicated in December 1990, then RE-dedicated in September 1991 and finally Re-Re-dedicated in October 1992. It will likely be physically SEALDED before the end of 1992. (actual date: April 1, 1993)

This somewhat astonishing lag between ceremony and sealing was partly due to delays in cataloging the materials, and also unwillingness to miss fascinating new materials that kept coming along. I hope both circumstances will help humanize us, though they can scarcely evoke admirations for our efficiency.

In any event, this explains why there are some 1992 and 1993 materials in a 1990 time capsule! Surely don’t expect us to admit having a time machine!
Ivan Scheier

As of autumn, 1996, the capsule will be moved from the VOLUNTAS Residence at Madrid to the care of other proprietors, elsewhere.

The contents of this box provide "above-ground" background for the new proprietors, including purpose, history, samples of enclosures. There are photos, a video and an audio Tape along with the written material.
Peace Ivan

 Afterthought:
It occurs to me these samples of the capsule contents may have a second equally important function. Carefully preserved, they may serve as a valuable back up for (any) capsule contents damages in transit through time. So guard them as carefully as you care for the capsule itself.

Initial Proposal
From Rob Cole, May 1989

(Rob, a Canadian, was a member of the VOLUNTAS Board of Directors. He died tragically (1993 or 1994). Rob said the idea was stimulated by the placement of a time capsule within the new ‘sports palace’ in Toronto.

Dear Friend:
Have you ever wondered what the world will be like in the year 2100? Imagine some people will be pondering what the world was like for us back in 1989.

As a fundraising strategy and because the Centre for Creative Community wants the future world to know volunteerism was alive and well in 1989 we plan to build a TIME CAPSULE and place it in a cornerstone of the foundation of VOLUNTRAS, The Centre's New Home in Santa Fe, New Mexico.

If you would like to join us in leaving your mark we would like to invite you to join our organization. Right now everyone who contributes $15, or more to VOLUNTRAS will be entitle to have their name, address and organization included in a membership list which will go into this capsule. Other materials relevant to our time and our involvement with volunteers will be included.

Join now! Contributions are tax deductible and a receipt will be issued. Time to leave your mark is running out so send in your membership today.

Oh, yes, and thanks for making VOLUNTRAS a reality.

FIRST ANNOUNCEMENT

A MESSAGE FOR THE FUTURE- -THE VOLUNTAS TIME CAPSULE

1970... 1980... 1990 soon-the turn of each decade produces a flurry of futuring in volunteerism. As we continue to seek messages from the years to come, the VOLUNTAS time capsule will also send our message to the future of volunteerism.

The time capsule will be sealed during the 1990 Thanksgiving season and opened sixty years later in the year 2050... by volunteers, we hope!

Though this is surely an enterprise of the spirit, it has a very practical side as well.

Ironically, attempting to foresee the future is the best way to understand the present because that is the only solid basis we have in forecasting. More than that, our vision of times to come profoundly influences the present and enriches it. As Joss Ortega y Gasset put it: '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." The VOLUNTAS time capsule will help us focus our yearning and begin to do something about it; it will be one instrument through which, as Gregory Baum said, we will "... create our own future"

Many time capsules are set for hundreds or thousands of years hence. Why only sixty years for us? First of all, the rapid pace of development of modern volunteerism suggests it might change out of all recognition over centuries. Secondly, over "only" six decades, our special preservation arrangements will virtually assure arrival of documents and artifacts in excellent condition. Finally, this is a time span we can relate to on a human scale. Some younger people invited to the 1990 launching, may still be alive in 2050 for the opening! The rest of us can visualize our children there, or their children...

Our time-traveler will be about the size of a steamer trunk. It will probably be incorporated in the cornerstone of VOLUNTAS, though another possible site is in the ground beneath the central 'reflection well" or kiva.

The core of capsule content will be 150-200 messages from individuals, associations (e.g. DOVIAS), or organizations involved in volunteerism. Frontline volunteers will definitely be represented along with people who have a career or other serious interest in leadership of volunteers, e.g. volunteer coordinators, and consultants, clergy and lay leadership in church temple and synagogue; self-help and service club leaders, etc. Each person or organization will receive paper specially treated for preservation. Approximately 500 words will be allotted to speak to the following points:

• Identification of self and volunteer program, perhaps also the name and address of children and grandchildren to be notified at capsule opening

• Good things you see about volunteering today in your program or organization, and in general.

• Challenges, problems, things that need improving in volunteerism today

• Your prediction of what 2050 will be like as far as volunteering is concerned

• Your message to the future: advice, encouragement cautions, or a greeting.

All this will go into the capsule exactly as written, without editing or censorship of any kind. Message-senders will also be invited to include a photograph of two of their choice, with special recommendations on how to prepare these for the best possible preservation over time.

In addition to what message senders place in the time capsule, each will also have a vote on what other articles should be included, that is, which books, other publications, videos, recognition items, etc., best reflect contemporary volunteerism. Finally, each message-sender will be asked to recommend the kinds of people or organizations that should be represented in capsule messages, especially those contributors we might otherwise overlook.

The Center for Creative Community will be responsible for the physical design of the capsule; its construction, monitoring and upkeep as necessary; selection, assembling and storage of messages; and the same for other articles responsive to the recommendations of the message-senders. We will also inventory time capsule contents and place the list in a safe deposit box. Finally, notices of capsule location and opening date will be distributed to libraries, universities, temples, etc to ensure that the time and place of the opening will be remembered and observed. This task will be simpler because VOLUNTAS will probably still be standing in 2050, with a plaque on the outside of the capsule.

Considerable time, effort, and expense will go into all of this, so the fee for each message to the future will be significant or even substantial (we haven't decided on an exact figure yet and welcome your suggestions). On the other hand, the privilege of communicating with the future is a rare and extraordinary one. Moreover, individuals who contribute or have contributed to VOLUNTAS in other ways (e.g. a flagstone) will be able to apply at least part of the value of this other donation to their "time travel ticket".

What of those who have essentially nothing to give dollar-wise, but have much to say to the future of volunteerism? In the first place, part of each fee will go towards at least thirty scholarships--free messages for the kinds of people or organizations recommended by message-senders. Beyond that, we plan to approach foundations for help in financing the widest possible range of time travel scholarships.

Th first one hundred messages-by-fee will be accepted on a first-come, first-served basis. After that, we will begin to examine the allocation of the remainder for balance in representing volunteerism, and begin awarding scholarships accordingly. Until then, we will appreciate hearing from you with your comments and suggestions on all of the above. We’re even willing to take your provisional reservations, for inclusion in the time capsule.

Ivan Scheier
The Center for Creative Community

Late news: We're pleased and proud to announce that Susan Ellis, President of ENERGIZE ASSOCIATES has agreed to serve as Principal consultant on the Time Capsule Project. We have also set the fee per message at $100, at least for those who choose to participate in the next six months. Finally, it seems likely that the first actual Time Capsule messages will be prepared at the CHALLENGE III think tank on volunteerism, November 1-3, at the Center in Santa Fe.

 HIGHLIGHTS IN THE HISTORY OF THE VOLUNTAS TIME CAPSULE ON VOLUNTEERISM

Including an attempt to ‘clarify the confusion.’
As of December 23, 1990 – And As of April 1996

* = this person represented elsewhere in Capsule by a message or in some other way.

May, 1989 Rob Cole* of Toronto, Canada first suggests the idea of a time capsule on volunteerism in a letter to Ivan Scheier.* Rob, at that time a member of the Center for Creative Community's Board of Directors, was impressed with the publicity and fundraising capability of the time capsule connected with Toronto's (at that time) new sports dome. He also felt that "...the Centre for Creative Community wants the future world to know Volunteerism was alive and well in 1989..."

July, 1989 Susan J. Ellis*, President of ENERGIZE ASSOCIATES of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, agrees to serve as Principal Consultant on Time Capsule Development, especially in regard to contents.

Autumn, 1989 to December 1990
Liz Bryan*, Administrator of the Center for Creative Community researches the physical construction of the Time Capsule and gets a lot of help on that from the place where she grew up in Kansas, which had a time capsule some years before. Liz mentions as especially helpful, Evea Rumpel, Register of Deeds, in Trego County, Kansas, and James W. Cleland, Cleland Drug Store, WaKeeney Kansas.

In Autumn, 1990, Liz contracted with Southwest Metal Products of Santa Fe, then located at 3142 Rufina, to construct the capsule and physically seal it after it was filled (including taking out the air). Southwest Metal Products agreed to provide the capsule and seal it for a total fee of $300. We considered this a good price. Nevertheless, all expenses considered in relation to fees earned for messages (usually $10 per message),the Center lost about $500 on the Time Capsule operation overall. We felt it was worth it.

During this time, Ivan Scheier* took responsibility for publicizing and promoting the Time Capsule, by mail, at conferences, etc. At one such conference, Ivan was doing his usual thing urging people to include the names of their children or grandchildren, to notify when the capsule was opened sixty years hence ... when he was firmly interrupted by a woman of mature years who said, essentially: "Look, I plan to be there, so why don't you give me the date it will be opened so I can put it in my datebook/calendar?" Where upon another woman whipped out her hand calculator and promptly announced: "It's on November 23, 2050". Most everyone there duly recorded this date in their datebooks and none claimed to have already scheduled something else on that date.

November 2, 1990 - Participants at the CHALLENGE IV Think Tank on Volunteerism, begin placing messages and objects in the Time Capsule. Photographs are elsewhere in the Capsule, and also a brochure describing the CHALLENGE IV Think Tank.

December 2, 1990 - The ceremonial sealing of the Time Capsule is held at the Plaza del Monte Conference Center in Santa Fe (Just behind what was, at that time, the main Post Office, and located on Paseo de Peralta). This beautiful ceremony was created and conducted by Reverend Fred Swearingen* and Carolyn Swearingen* (a Board Member of the Center for Creative Community). Text of ceremony and photographs are elsewhere in the capsule.

As this is written we are cataloging capsule contents, waiting for late-arriving contributions before physically sealing it, and still deciding its final location. We're also considering who to notify to be sure somebody remembers to open it on Nov. 23, 2050 or even know where it is! Greetings to those of you who do…..

December 2, 1990 – Capsule was dedicated at Plaza Resolana in Santa Fe (see documents an photos in this packet.) However, packet was not sealed.

Between Dec 2, 1990 and September 1991 – The capsule was mainly kept inside with the Harriet Naylor Memorial Library on Volunteerism, a main resource of the Center for Creative Community. The capsule was still not sealed at this point; we were still adding things.

In September 1991, the VOLUNTAS Residence at Madrid, MN was dedicated and a video on that was place with this packet. As part of that ceremony, there was a presentation by Liz Bryan* on the Time Capsule, which was now placed on the ledge in the back garden of the VOLUNTAS Residence in Madrid, NM.

Early in 1993 – The VOLUNTAS Time Capsule is finally sealed, remains on the ledge.

1994 – Tom Hart, currently residing in Jemez Springs, NM built a framework around the Capsule to protect and stabilize it

NOTE: April 1996 – In September 1991, The Capsule was placed on the southeast ledge of the backyard garden of the VOLUNTAS (Ivan Scheier) Residence, at 46 Main St. C2284, State Hwy 14) in Madrid, NW. It has been there since and is expected to remain there until September 1996.

Fall, 1996. The plan is, the capsule will be moved to a new location and proprietors.

1996 – July 2000 – New location was with Dr. JoAnn Hanson, volunteerism consultant and historian, in Brimson, in northern Minnesota. Her plan did not work out, however, to establish a retreat center there in the spirit of VOLUNTAS. Therefore, in summer 2000, we are planning to pick up the Capsule in Brimson and transport it to Regis University in Denver, Colorado. There, the library system has accepted responsibility for storage and preservation of the capsule, probably in association with the archives of the work of Ivan Scheier, already established at the Regis University library.

Volunteering Virginia
Printed by the Virginia Department of Volunteerism
Winter 1989
(Circulation about 2,000 in Virginia)

 "1970 ... 1980 ... 1990 ... The turn of each decade produces a flurry of futuring in volunteerism. As we continue to seek messages from the years to come, the VOLUNTAS time capsule will also send our message to the future of volunteerism..." Such are the plans underway at The Center for Creative Community in New Mexico where Dr. Ivan Scheier (internationally known mentor and innovator in volunteerism) is leading the time capsule project.

The core of the capsule content will be 150-200 messages from individuals and organizations involved in volunteerism. Frontline volunteers will be represented, along with those who have a career or other serious interest in leadership of volunteers, e.g. volunteer program managers, consultants, clergy & lay leadership, self-help and service club leaders, educators, etc. Each person or organization will receive specially- treated paper on which to address the following points:

• Identification of self and volunteer program, perhaps also the name and address of children & grandchildren to be notified at capsule opening

• Good things about volunteering today
• Challenges, problems, things that need improving in volunteerism today
• Predictions about volunteering in the year 2050
• A message to the future: advice, encouragement, cautions, or greeting.

In addition to these messages, the capsule will contain books, videos, recognition items and other materials that best reflect contemporary volunteerism. The capsule is scheduled to be sealed during the 1990 Thanksgiving season and opened sixty years later in the year 2050 -- hopefully by volunteers!

In summarizing the project Dr. Scheier states: "Though this is surely an enterprise of the spirit, it has a very practical side as well. Our vision of times to come profoundly influences the present and enriches it. The VOLUNTAS time capsule will help us focus our yearning and begin to do something about it; it will be one instrument through which we will create our own future."