Most of us were around in 1970. It’s
normal to ask what were you doing on July 7, 1970. Avoiding an embarrassing
answer for you, here’s what was happening. We remember we were in a very
unpopular war. Protests sprung up everywhere. Young men left the US for Canada.
The country was unsettled. The Aswan Dam in Egypt was being constructed. The
USSR and France were conducting nuclear tests. Northern Ireland was in
conflict. The US would soon launch Venera 7, for a 1st soft landing on
Venus.
However, a bright spot shined right here
in Decatur. DOVE was formed. Eight churches agreed to support a new ministry to
be called Disciples on Volunteer Enlistment (DOVE). First Christian (Bethany),
First Christian (Blue Mound), Central Christian, First Christian and Prairie
Avenue Christian Church (Decatur), Harristown Christian, Illiopolis Christian
and Niantic Christian. Ray Batman was the first DOVE Coordinator with a
whopping first budget of $6,380. His office was in the furnace room of Decatur
First Christian. There were 18 volunteers and 128 program participants in
tutoring, sewing and cooking classes.
The treasurer’s report from November 1972
read balance $17.09. Pledges are needed. Were they wondering if it was worth
the effort? Was it time to throw in the towel? No. The board had a two-hour
meeting and came out with a decision to buy a house. A house on East Locust was
purchased for a new headquarters. By 1973 the budget increased to $14,000 and
they bought a typewriter. 1974 Nancy Jo Batman becomes secretary. A year-round
system for collecting foodstuffs was initiated and DOVE becomes the sponsor of
the VISTA program.
Three regional churches (Presbyterian, United Methodist and
United Church of Christ), join in supporting DOVE in 1975. The next year DOVE
initiates RSVP. Fred Spannaus becomes the second Executive Director in 1978.
The DOVE house in redecorated for the ten-year anniversary in
1980. RSVP has grown to over 400 volunteers and the overall budget is $125,000.
In 1980 Fred Spannaus included in his annual report a synopsis
of the first ten years. ”What I found is this: Ten years of steady, Consistent
progress. No single year viewed in isolation, looked very spectacular. But … a
pattern was there. Each year took our work of the previous year a step or two
forward; each year provided one or two good ideas which bore fruit in the next.
For as surely as we’ve enjoyed no exceptional year, we’ve suffered no bad year.
It was impressive, this ten-year flight of steadily ascending stairs. The
history of DOVE is consistent, dynamic and progressive. Far from being a
problem, this is perhaps one of our ministry’s strongest assets. Our past
demonstrates the long-term sense of commitment shared among the hundreds of
folks who have been vital parts of DOVE.”
As we look back on DOVE’s past this remains the guiding focus of
DOVE today. Consistent progress.
Guest Submission
Dave Webb
Serving on Dove's Board of Directors as the RSVP Program Representative and on the Anniversary Committee
Comments
Post a Comment