CYBERVPM Members:

Dr. Dale Safrit recently e-mailed the Editorial Review Board of The
Journal of Volunteer Administration (JOVA) giving us an update on the
Journal. He granted permission to post some of the particulars to this
group:

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With the recent announcements concerning AVA, and the sudden death of
our dear friend, colleague and JOVA Editor, Mary Merrill, I wanted to
update you on the status of The Journal of Volunteer Administration
(JOVA). 
 
 Following Mary's unexpected passing, I was contacted on February 22
by Paige Tucker and Victoria McDonald from AVA and asked if I would
assume the Editorship of The JOVA. I consulted with my Department Head
at NC State, Dr. Marshall Stewart, who was very supportive of me
assuming that role. Thus, I accepted the role on the same date, and
received an email the following day from Ellen Didimamoff, AVA
President, thanking me for doing so. 
 
 I had just received an email from Mary on the day before her death
(Saturday, February 19.) In that email, she shared with me that in
light of the Board's decision to dissolve AVA as of April 22, she had
begun investigating transferring The JOVA to another non-profit
organization (i.e., 501c3 organization) that would serve as its new
"home." According to the pro bono attorneys for AVA, The JOVA could be
transferred legally to another "like organization" (i.e. another
501(c)3). This transfer concept had been approved by the AVA Board and
Acting Executive Director, with advice from the organization's pro bono
attorneys. 
 
 While in Ohio for Mary's funeral, I learned that she had been engaged
in preliminary conversations with Dr. Ryan Schmiesing (our JOVA
editorial reviewer colleague and a faculty member at The Ohio State
University) to possibly transfer The JOVA to the University. However,
upon consulting with Ryan following the funeral, I learned that the
proposed transition to OSU was only in its very initial discussions.
With the advent of Mary's death, OSU has decided (understandably) not
to pursue the opportunity. Thus, I returned to Raleigh not quite
certain just what would happen with The JOVA, but more determined than
ever to keep it in publication as a service and resource to our
profession, and as a tribute to Mary. 
 
 In the past week, I have worked closely with Dr. Stewart to develop a
concept paper based upon an initial document that Ryan had developed
for use at OSU. Basically, it proposes to move The JOVA to The
Department of 4-H Youth Development at NC State University. I
appreciate Dr. Stewart's willingness to work with me on this
possibility, his support of me as his faculty member, and his
recognition of the critical importance of The JOVA to our profession. 

R. Dale Safrit, Ed.D.
Associate Professor & Extension Specialist
4-H Continuing Professional Education (CPE)
Department of 4-H Youth Development
College of Agriculture & Life Sciences
North Carolina State University
NCSU Campus Box 7606, 512 Brickhaven Road
Raleigh, NC, 27695-7606 USA
Tel. (919) 513-0306 FAX (919) 515-7812
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Currently NCSU's legal counsel is reviewing the proposal. Further
announcements will follow as plans proceed.

Georgean C. Johnson-Coffey, M. Ed
JOVA, Editorial Review Board
Principal, Blue Vision Training
PO Box 15118
Fort Wayne IN 46885-5118 USA
PH: 260.338.1414
FX: 260.338.1707