Chapter Information
A Brief History of the Founding of CISV Jacksonville
By Dorothy Groshell, Chapter Founder
CISV Jacksonville had its beginnings in January 1975 after I (Dorothy Groshell) read an article in the Saturday Review of Literature, Education Section, entitled "Catch Them While They're Young," explaining CISV.
I had an eleven-year-old son and thought CISV concepts were wonderful and I wanted my son to participate. My correspondence with Hildreth Miller (at the time CISV USA Executive Secretary) informed me that without a Chapter in my area that would not be possible. So I agreed to start one.
Hildreth sent me a guide for starting a Steering Committee, and Anne Meranus (sp?) from (the CISV USA) Expansion Committee came to visit me and convince me that Jacksonville needed CISV. She suggested that I pay the $250 to start a Steering Committee and then look for committee members!
By 1976 I had the committee formed and came to National (the CISV USA meeting) with two members and faced the Round Table (Board of Trustees). We left Cincinnati with two Village delegation invitations — one international and one domestic — and a Junior Counselor position. Little did we know what lay ahead! We did find the children, leaders, and Junior Counselor, formed a strong Steering Committee and took an Interchange from El Salvador. (Back then an Interchange came via the telephone frantically asking "can you take them?") We did — or I should say I did — because most of them stayed with me for the month.
In 1978 we hosted our first Village — "Children In the Sun Village" — and CISV Jacksonville was born! The rest is history.
Love and Peace,
Dorothy Groshell
Circa 1990