Accession 2002.009, 2005.044, 2011.014 and 2023.013, both filed with 2005.044
Title and Physical Description
Mennonite Disaster Service fonds. – 1959-2010. – 1.3 m of textual records
Biographical/Administrative History
The Mennonite Disaster Service formed from a local Mennonite Church in Hesston, Kansas in 1950 that became inter-Mennonite in 1951. It evolved to incorporate participation from Indiana and Ohio and other states. To aid coordination the Mennonite Central Committee created the Disaster Service Coordinating Committee on 15 May 1954. By 1956, it was composed of representatives from Mennonite Church, General Conference Mennonite Church, Evangelical Mennonite Conference, Conservative Mennonite Conference, Brethren in Christ and the Mennonite Central Committee and provided for Canadian representation as well. It met annually with representatives of the local or regional disaster organizations. Most of the local units also met annually. The program was decentralized, with local units springing into action as needed, and without centralized administration. Mennonite Disaster Service is an organized program to aid the victims of natural disasters such as floods, tornadoes, storms, earthquakes, and fire by cleanup and reconstruction work, largely in damaged homes. This supplements Red Cross and government operations. Mennonite Disaster Service typically operates by assembling groups of people who at their own expense and with their own tools proceed to the disaster area and work at their own expense for a period of several days or weeks doing what they can to make damaged homes livable again.
Custodial History
The records were transferred by Mrs. John H. Janzen to the Conference of Mennonites in Alberta.
Scope & Content
The fonds consists of formal records of the Mennonite Disaster Service, including many files relating specifically to Region V, Alberta.
Source of Acquisition
Gift by Conference of Mennonites in Alberta, 2002.
Finding Aids
Notes
Accession 2002.009, 2005.044, 2011.014 filed with 2005.044
Last updated 16 Jan 2014 – Ted Regehr
Accession 2002.009
Box 1
1a Mennonite Disaster Service Reports, Correspondence, News Releases, Constitution and Address Lists – 1959-1965
1b Mennonite Disaster Service Reports, Correspondence, News Releases, Constitution and Address Lists – 1965-1968
2 MDS Minutes. 1964-1965
3 MDS Minutes and Correspondence, 1964-1965
4 MDS Minutes and Reports, 1964-1966
5 MDS Correspondence, Minutes and Reports, 1987-1988
6 MDS Correspondence, Minutes and Reports, 1987-1995
7 MDS Correspondence, Minutes and Reports, 1987-1995
Accession 2005.044 Box 1
8 Introduction – 1997-1999. Project Leaders
9 Region I Unit Officers
10 Region II Unit Officers
11 Region III 1997 Unit Officers
12 Region IV 1997 Unit Officers
13 Region V 1997 Unit Officers
14 Preparation, 1997
15 Investigation, 1997
16 Setting Up Programs, 1997
17 Administration, 1997
18 Long Term Projects, 1997
19 Binational, 1997
20 Appendix 1997
21 MDS Manual, 2002
22 MDS Network
23 “When Disaster Strikes,” 2002
24 “The Project”
25 MDS In the 21st Century, 2002
26 Appendices, 2002 MDS Service Manual
27 Forms 2002
28 Statement of Understanding MDS and American Red Cross, 1997-2001
29 Region I 2002, Unit Officers
30 Region II 2002, Unit Officers
31 Region III 2002, Unit Officers
32 Region IV 2002, Unit Officers
33 Region V 2002, Unit Officers
34 MDS Minutes, May 21-22, 2002, Winnipeg
35 MDS Minutes, Feb. 6, 2002, Phoenix, AZ
36 MDS Minutes, Special Board Meeting, Feb. 10, 2002, Winnipeg
37 MDS Minutes, Region V, Annual Meeting, 21 Oct. 2000, Edmonton
38 MDS Region V, Board Meeting, June 2, 2000, Hesston KS
39 MDS, Annual Meeting, Oct. 16, 1999, Winnipeg, MB
40 MDS Annual Meeting, Oct. 17, 1998, St. Catharines, Ontario
41 MDS Annual Meeting, Oct. 18, 1997, Abbotsford, B.C.
42 MDS Region V, Board Meeting, Oct. 26, 1996, Regina, SK
43 MDS Operation Agreement, Region V
44 MDS Long Term Application
45 MDS Region V, Transportation Assistance Policy
46 MDS Recommendation by the Task Force
Box 2
48 MDS Delegate Package, Annual Meeting, 2001
49 Workshop for Non Governmental Organizations, June 14, 2000
50 MDS Congregation Contact Package, Region V
51 MDS Service Manual, 1999
52 MDS Congregation Contact Package, Region I
53 MDS Statement of Understanding, MDS and North American Red Cross
54 MDS Memorandum of Understanding, MDS and Federal Emergency Management Agency
55 MDS Statement of Understanding, MDS and the Salvation Army
56 MDS ADRA Meetings, 2001-2001, Non Governmental Organizations
57 Correspondence and Notes, 1998-2001
58 Correspondence, 2001-2002
59 Financial Reports, 1997-1998, Region V, Albert
60 Board Meeting, 1997, Unit V
61 Contact Persons
62 Reports
61 Contact Persons
62 Reports
63 Guidelines
64 Volunteer List
65 Dennis Grasse Memorial
66 MDS Alberta May
67 Alberta Project Firestorm
68 MDS Alberta
69 Firestorm, Dec. 997
70 MDS 50 year celebration
71 Behind the Hammer
72 Folder and Pamphlets
73 Houston Project, 2002
74 Firestorm Project, 1998
75 Archival Suggestions
76 Phone Numbers, Addresses of Church representatives
Box 3
77 Drought Response
78 Chisholm Fire
79 Short Term Assignment Service
80 Transportation Policy
81 Long Term Application
82 Potential Volunteers
83 Alberta Financial Report
84 NGO Disaster Response
85 Alberta 2001
86 Foundation
87 Region V Problem 2001
88 Cost and Service Information, 2001
89 Congregation Contacts
90 Kitchen Workshops, 2001
91 Pine Lake Clean Up, 2000
92 Articles of Constitution & Policy, 1988-2002
93 CPP and Board Member List, 1992-2008
94 MDS Alberta Projects, 1997-2010
95 Volunteer Application and Border Letters Correspondence, 1998-2001
96 Financial Correspondence, 1995-2007
97 NGO Meetings
98 Correspondence, 1989-2007
99 Region V Annual Meeting, 1998-2000
Accession 2023.013
100 Copy of Mennonite Disaster Service, Alberta, Unit minutes, or summaries of minutes, from 1975 to 2023, together with an electronic copy