Accession No. 2002.006, 2008.010 filed separately, and 2010.006, 2011.020. 2020.014, which are filed with 2002.006.
Title and Physical Description
Alberta Mennonite Youth Organization fonds. — 1944-2006. — 1.9 m of textual records. — 146 photographs. — 1 compact disc
Administrative/Biographical History
The Alberta Mennonite Youth Organization (AMYO) was founded in 1944 as an auxiliary of the Conference of Mennonites in Alberta (later, Mennonite Church Alberta), with the motto “A United Mennonite Youth in Christ”. Their activities focused on the newsletter Youth Leader (later renamed Alberta Mennonite Youth Organization Newsletter), summer vacation Bible school programming, a youth library, retreats, and a radio program. From the mid 1960s, it organized the provincial Song Festival (Sangerfest) and became closely associated with the activities of Camp Valaqua. In 1976, the Conference of Mennonites in Alberta began to support the AMYO with a salaried youth worker, beginning with Judy Harder. In the late 1990s, when it was anticipated that the Conference of Mennonites in Alberta would be integrated with the Northwest Mennonite Conference, the organization was superseded by The Alberta Montana Mennonite Youth (TAMMY). In 2004 this organization was renamed Youth of the Alberta Mennonite Church (YAMC).
Custodial History
The records were accumulated by AMYO staff members and transferred to the Mennonite Church Alberta.
Scope & Content
The fonds is grouped into two sequences, by accession number. Accession 2002.006 consists of three series: (A) Music events, (B) Other events & retreats, and (C) Administration & communication. Accession 2008.010 consists of the series: (A) Minutes, (B) Financial records, (C) Camp Valaqua, (D) Correspondence, (E) Newsletters, (F) Daily Vacation Bible School, (G) Conferences, workshops, retreats, (H) Songfest, and (I) Other Mennonite youth groups and camping organizations, miscellaneous.
Source of Acquisition
Gift by Mennonite Church Alberta via archivist Henry Goerzen, 2002-2008.
Notes
Accession nos. 2002.006, 2008.010 filed separately, and 2011.020 and 2020.014 which are filed with 2002.006.
Last updated April 2023 – Jim Bowman and Ted Regehr
Series Inventory
Accession No. 2002.006
A. Music Events. — 1959-2006. — 5.5 cm of textual records. — 1 compact disc
These records consist of correspondence, notes, minutes, scoresheets, etc. for the planning, preparation, judging, and correspondence regarding musical events that the AMYO was actively involved in. Arranged by date. See also Series H.
Box 1
1 – 1 Songfest – 1959, 1963-1965
1 – 2 Songfest Financial Records – 1964-1969
1 – 3 Songfest – 1967-1981; predominant 1976-1981
1 – 4 Songfest – 1969
1 – 5 Music Festival – 1970-1972
1 – 6 Songfest – 1971
1 – 7 Songfest – 1975
1 – 8 Songfest – 1981, 1986 (Received as Accession 2011.020)
1 – 9c Songfest – 1982-1990 (Received as Accession 2011.020
1 – 9d Songfest – 1999-2000 (Received as Accession 2011.020)
1 – 9e Songfest – 2005-2006 [compact disc, received as part of accession 2010.006]
1 – 9f Songfest – 1997-1998. – Lorraine Janzen’s file (received as Accession 2020.014)
B. Other Events & Retreats. — 1954-1972, predominant 1965-1972. — 2 cm of textual records.
These records consist of correspondence, notes, minutes, etc. for the planning, preparation, and delivery of non-music events of the AMYO. Arranged by date.
Box 1
1 – 10 Leadership Clinic – 1961
1 – 11 Field Day – 1965-1966
1 – 12 Workshop – 1965-1966
1 – 13 Work a Day – 1966
1 – 14 AMYO Ball Tournament, Work Day – 1970-1971
1 – 15 Winter Sports Tournament – 1970-1971
1 – 16 Retreat – 1970-1972
1 – 17 Field Day – 1970-1972
1 – 18 Winter Tournament – 1970-1972
1 – 19 Retreat Registrations – 1954-1956 (see Vertical Files)
C. Administration & Communication. — 1944-1982; predominant 1950-1982. — 16.5 cm of textual records. — 19 photonegatives.
These records consist of constitutions, minutes, newsletters, schedules, programs of the AMYO. Arranged by date.
1 – 20 Old Constitutions – 1954-1981
1 – 21 AMYO Minutes, Retreats, Newsletter – 1976-1977
1 – 22 AMYO Minutes, Retreats, Newsletter – 1977-1978
1 – 23 AMYO Newsletters, Minutes, Correspondence – 1978-1979
1 – 24 AMYO Minutes, Correspondence – 1979-1980
1 – 25 Schedules, Minutes, Correspondence – 1980-1981
1 – 26 Daily Vacation Bible School Reports. – 1944-[ca. 1957]
1 – 27 AMYO Missions Material – 1969-1971
1 – 28 Directory, 1970-1972
1 – 29 Projects – 1971
1 – 30 Promotion – [ca. 1980-ca. 1982]
2 – 31 Surveys (2 files) – [ca. 1975-ca. 1980]
2 – 32 Surveys and Questionnaires – 1966
2 – 33 Mennonite Youth Survey – 1981
2 – 34 Newsletter – 1957
2 – 35 Newsletter – 1959-1962
2 – 36 Newsletter – 1963-1964
2 – 37 Newsletter – 1963-1964
2 – 38 AMYO Newsletters, Minutes, Constitution – 1964-1966
2 – 39 Newsletters – 1965 – 1966
2 – 40 Newsletters – 1971-1979
2 – 41 Newsletter – 1982-1984
2 – 42 Swift Current Bible Institute – 1968-1981, predominant 1980-1981
2 – 43 Camp Valaqua – [ca. 1961]
2 – 44 Songfest photographs – [1982] – [19 photonegatives separated to Image Box 2, 2008.010]
Accession No. 2008.010
Series A. Minutes. – 1954-1994. – 41 cm of textual records.
Arranged chronologically.
Box 1
1 – 1 Board Meetings – 1954-1957
1 – 2 AMYO Board – 1958-1960
1 – 3 Minutes – 1960-1965
1 – 4 Minutes – 1964-1965
1 – 5 Minutes and Correspondence – 1964-1981
1 – 5a Leadership Convention – 1967
1 – 6 Minutes – 1968-1969
1 – 7 Minutes, Constitution, other business – 1968-1970
1 – 8 Minutes – 1973
1 – 9 Minutes – 1970-1973
1 – 10 Minutes – 1976-1980
1 – 11 Camp Board Meetings, correspondence, letters – 1977-1978
1 – 12 Camp Board Meetings – 1978-1981
1 – 13 AMYO Constitution – 1981
1 – 14 Youth Council – 1982
1 – 15 Youth Worker Reports – 1982-1984
1 – 16 Constitution : Conference of Mennonites in Alberta – 1982-1992
1 – 17 Youth Council – 1983
1 – 18 Executive – 1983-1984
1 – 19 Youth Conference : Canadian Conference – 1984
1 – 20 Executive – 1984-1985
Box 2
2 – 21 Mennonite Church Alberta : General Council, Executive Meeting, AGM Minutes – 1984-1986
2 – 22 Camp Contact Meeting Minutes – 1984-1986
2 – 23 Camp Committee Minutes – 1984-1986
2 – 24 Minutes – 1984-1986
2 – 25 Contracts, Agreements – 1985
2 – 26 Youth Council – 1985
2 – 27 Camp Contact Meeting Minutes – 1985-1988
2 – 28 Camp Valaqua Committee Minutes – 1985-1988
2 – 29 Executive – 1986
2 – 30 Youth Council – May 1986
2 – 31 Camp Meetings – 1987- 1988
2 – 32 Youth Ministry Council – 1988
2 – 33 Youth Ministry Council – 1988
2 – 34 General Council – 1988-1993
2 – 35 Youth Ministry Council – 1989
2 – 36 Minutes: Camp Committee – 1990-1991
2 – 37 Land Negotiation – 1990-1993
2 – 38 Camp Contact Members Meeting: Brian Sutherland – 1990-1995
Box 3
3 – 39 Camp Valaqua Committee Meetings – 1991
3 – 40 Detailed Camp Programs Report – 1991-1992
3 – 41 Manager’s Report – 1991-1994
3 – 42 Canoe Camp Report: Camp Valaqua – 1992
3 – 43 Minutes Camp Valaqua – 1992
3 – 44 Director’s Reports – 1993-1994
Series B. Financial Records. – 1944-2001. – 8 cm of textual records.
Arranged chronologically.
3 – 45 Cash Book – 1944-1959
3 – 46 Financial Records – 1959-1960
3 – 47 Financial Records – 1959-1960
3 – 48 Financial Receipts – 1960
3 – 49 Donations – 1965
3 – 50 Accounts – 1970-1979
3 – 51 Revenue Canada: Registered Charities Return – 1982-1984
3 – 52 Camp Rental Rates – 1991-1994
3 – 53 Camp Valaqua Finance – 1991-1994
3 – 54 Government Career Funding – 1993-2001
3 – 55 Camp Valaqua Finance – 1993-1994
Series C. Camp Valaqua. – 1959-1997. – 46 cm of textual records.
Arranged chronologically.
3 – 56 Bible Curriculum Programs: Devotionals – 1959-1960
3 – 57 Camp Rentals – 1966-1974
3 – 58 Camp Crest Contest – 1967
3 – 59 Camp Photos – [ca. 1970-ca. 1979] – [19 photoprints separated to Images Box 2, 2008.010]
3 – 60 Planning Notes – [ca. 1970-ca. 1979]
3 – 61 Programs for Underprivileged – 1971
3 – 62 Lesson Plans – 1977
3 – 63 Building Plans: Permanent Residence – 1977, 1986
3 – 64 Counselor Points – 1978
3 – 65 Valaqua Contracts Forms – 1978
3 – 66 Camp Reports: by Summer Directors – 1978-1981
3 – 67 Camp Valaqua: Miscellaneous – 1978-1997
3 – 68 Bible Curriculum – 1980
3 – 69 Camp Skills: Orienteering – 1980
3 – 70 Handbook – 1980
3 – 71 Lessons – 1980
3 – 72 Trails and Orienteering – 1980
3 – 73 Winter Survival Information – 1980
3 – 74 Camping for the 1980’s – 1980-1982
Box 4
4 – 75 AMYO: General File – 1980-1986
4 – 76 Valaqua Report – 1981
4 – 77 Lessons: David Braun – 1982
4 – 78 Valaqua Report – 1983
4 – 79 Camp Valaqua Handbook -1984
4 – 80 Lesson Plan – 1984
4 – 81 Bible Lessons – 1984
4 – 82 Camp Conferences – 1984
4 – 83 Camp Valaqua Plans: History of Camp Development – 1984 – [4 photoprints separated to Images Box 2, 2008.010]
4 – 84 Camps – 1984
4 – 85 Chronological Outline of Development of Camp Valaqua – 1984
4 – 86 Valaqua Report – 1984
4 – 87 AMYO (Valerie Paetkau) – 1984-1985
4 – 88 Camp Valaqua Administration – 1984-1986
4 – 89 Valaqua Report – 1985
4 – 90 Registration Information Packet for Youth – 1985
4 – 91 Young Adults Ministries – 1985
4 – 92 Adventures with Youth – 1986
4 – 93 Statistical Questionnaire – 1986
4 – 94 Valaqua Report – 1986
4 – 95 Camp Valaqua Summer Director’s Report: Recommendations – 1987
4 – 96 AMYO Staff – 1987-1989
4 – 97 Orientation – 1988
4 – 98 Form Preparation – 1989
4 – 99 AMYO – 1989-1990
Box 5
5 – 100 Camp Journal for Maintenance – 1989-1991
5 – 101 Orientation Weeks – 1989-1994
5 – 102 Curriculum – [ca. 1990-1999]
5 – 103 Survey Results – 1990
5 – 104 Themes: Summer – 1990-1992
5 – 105 Alberta Mennonite Youth Organization – 1991
5 – 106 Program Survey Camp – 1991
5 – 107 Planning – 1991-1992
5 – 108 Camperships – 1992
5 – 109 Counselor Help – 1992
5 – 110 Presentations – 1992
5 – 111 Sample Form Letters – 1992
5 – 112 Gratis Schedules – 1992-1993
5 – 113 Rental Agreements – 1992-1993
5 – 114 Recreation: Rope Models – 1992-1994
5 – 115 AMYO – 1993
5 – 116 Planning – 1993
5 – 117 Week #6 Schedules – 1993
5 – 118 Rental Agreements – 1993-1994
5 – 119 Week 4 Schedules – 1993-1994
5 – 120 List of Campers: Medicals: Schedules – 1993-1995
5 – 121 Week 3 of Camp – 1993-1995
5 – 122 Camp Valaqua: Location, Property, etc. – 1994
5 – 123 Camp Valaqua Calendar, Statistics, CIT Application/reference forms – 1994-1997
5 – 124 Camp Master Plan – 1994-1999
5 – 125 Camp Planning – 1995
5 – 126 Camp Rental Guides – 1995
5 – 127 Valaqua: Water Well etc. – 1995
5 – 128 Camp Valaqua: Water Information – 1996
Box 6
6 – 129 Planning – 1996
6 – 130 Planning – 1996-1997
6 – 131 Planning – 1996-1997
Series D. Correspondence. – 1955-2000. – 15 cm of textual records.
Arranged chronologically.
6 – 132 AMYO Correspondence – 1955
6 – 133 Canadian Mennonite Youth Organization: Correspondence – 1957-1959
6 – 134 Correspondence – 1958-1959
6 – 135 Correspondence – 1958-1960
6 – 136 Correspondence – 1962-1964
6 – 137 Correspondence – 1964
6 – 138 Correspondence – 1966-1967
6 – 139 Correspondence – 1968-1969
6 – 140 Correspondence – 1970-1971
6 – 141 Correspondence – 1970-1972
6 – 142 Correspondence – 1973-1974
6 – 143 Correspondence – 1980
6 – 144 Correspondence – 1982
6 – 145 Valaqua Correspondence – 1984-1986
6 – 146 Correspondence – 1984-1988
6 – 147 Alberta Projects: WILD – 1986
6 – 148 Correspondence – 1987-1988
6 – 149 Rental Correspondence – 1989
6 – 150 Letters – [ca. 1955]-1992
6 – 151 Jack Reddekopp Correspondence – 1992
6 – 152 Correspondence – 1992-1997
6 – 153 Correspondence – 1992-1998
6 – 154 Letterheads of Alberta Churches – 2000
6 – 155 Letters: issues – 2000-2001
6 – 156 Objections to Building Lodge – 1979-1980
6 – 157 Theology of Camping – 1980’s
6 – 158 Persian Gulf War Surveys – 1992
6 – 159 Statistical Geographic Difficulties of Campers – 1992
6 – 160 Camp Valaqua: Homosexual – 2000
Series E. Newsletters. – 1961-1989. – 11 cm of textual records.
Arranged chronologically.
Box 7
7 – 161 AMYO Newsletter – 1961-1964
7 – 162 AMYO Newsletters – 1965
7 – 163 Newsletters – 1978-1979
7 – 164 15 photoprints of Camp Valaqua – [[ca. 1970-ca. 1979] – [Separated to Images Box 2, 2008.010]
7 – 165 Newsletters, Correspondence – 1982-1983
7 – 166 AMYO Newsletter – 1984
7 – 167 AMYO Newsletter, Correspondence – 1985
7 – 168 Summer Newsletter, stuff – 1985
7 – 169 Gesundheit Newsletter – 1986
7 – 170 Newsletters – 1986
7 – 171 AMYO Newsletters – 1987-1988
7 – 172 Camp Newsletters – 1989
Series F. Daily Vacation Bible School. – 1944-1963. – 5 cm of textual records and other material.
Consists of scrapbook, correspondence, reports. – Arranged chronologically.
7 – 173 DVBS Scrapbook – 1944-1952 – [89 photoprints separated to Images Box 2, 2008.010]
7 – 174 Daily Vacation Bible School – 1953-1963
Series G. Conferences, workshops, retreats. – 1965-1999. – 26 cm of textual records.
Arranged chronologically.
7 – 175 Workshop Notes – 1965-1985
7 – 176 Youth Workshop – 1980-1981
7 – 177 College and Careers – 1980-1982
7 – 178 Canadian Conference Planning – 1981
Box 8
8 – 179 The Great Trek – 1981
8 – 180 Sports Weekend – 1981
8 – 181 AMYO Sports Weekend 1982
8 – 182 Leadership Conference – 1982
8 – 183 Great Trek II Planning Notes – 1982-1984
8 – 184 Snow Camp – Junior High Retreats – 1982-1984
8 – 185 Great Trek II – 1982, 1986
8 – 186 Leadership Conference – 1983
8 – 187 Handicapped Camp – 1983-1984
8 – 188 40th AMYO Anniversary – 1984
8 – 189 Leadership Conference – 1984 Sept. 28-30
8 – 190 AMYO Calendar – 1985
8 – 191 AMYO Great Trek – 1985
8 – 192 AMYO Retreat- 1985 Sept. 6-8
8 – 193 AMYO Retreats – 1985
8 – 194 Ball Tournament – 1985
8 – 195 Leadership Conference – 1985 Sept. 27-29
8 – 196 Snow Camp, Junior High – 1985 Jan. 25-27
8 – 197 Winter Retreat – 1985 Feb. 24-27
8 – 198 AMYO Calendar – 1986
8 – 199 AMYO Leadership Retreat – 1986
8 – 200 Sports Weekend – 1986
8 – 201 Youth Venture – 1986
8 – 202 Leadership Retreat – Oct. 2-4 – 1987
8 – 203 Snow Camp Jr. Teens – 1987
8 – 204 Sports Weekend – Pincher Creek – 1987
8 – 205 Winter Retreat – 1987
8 – 206 Youth Conference (Interconference) Winnipeg – 1987
8 – 207 AMYO/SMYO Joint Sessions Retreat at SCBI – 1988
8 – 208 Leadership Retreat – 1988
8 – 209 Project Y – 1989 Nov. 17-19
8 – 210 Bike Outbound, Whitewater, 1990 Spring Contact – 1989-1996
8 – 211 Rosthern Junior College – Corporation Day – 1989 Oct. 28
8 – 212 Evaluation of Single Adult Retreat – [ca. 1985]
Box 9
9 – 213 Conference of Mennonites in Canada Youth – Edmonton – 1990
9 – 214 Snow Camp Jr. High #2 – 1990
9 – 216 Commissioning Service – 1998 – 1999
9 – 217 Songfest Promotion Committee – 1982
Series H. Songfest. – 1982-1989. – 2 cm of textual records.
Arranged chronologically.
9 – 218 Songfest ’84 – 1984
9 – 219 Songfest ’87 – 1987
9 – 220 Songfest ’89 – 1989
Series I. Other Mennonite youth groups and camping organizations, miscellaneous. – 1964-1993. – 12 cm of textual records.
9 – 221 Canadian Mennonite Youth Council – 1973-1967
9 – 222 Young People’s Union – 1964 – 1969
9 – 223 AMYO Commission on Education – Young People’s Union – 1970 – 1971
9 – 224 Mennonite Church Alberta Education Committee Meetings – 1980-1982
9 – 225 Mennonite Conference of Alberta – 1980-1994
9 – 226 Camping Camp Shekinah – 1981-1985
9 – 227 Mennonite Camping Association – 1984-1986
9 – 228 Other Mennonite Camp Brochures – 1984-1986
9 – 229 Christian Camping International – 1988
9 – 230 Canadian Mennonite Bible College – 1989
9 – 231 Swift Current Bible Institute – 1989
9 – 232 Conference of Mennonites in Alberta – Conference Reports – 1990-1993
9 – 233 Youthing – 1987
9 – 234 Bibliography of Resource on Native Canadians – 1972-1979
9 – 235 Camp Brochures – 1977-1983
9 – 236 Skits and Dramas – 1975-1981
9 – 237 Discussion Starters – 1981
9 – 238 Games – 1987
9 – 239 Devotion Helps – Camp Valaqua – 1993