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MENNONITE
MUTUAL AID
XII-9
Mennonite Mutual Aid
Board of Directors
Minutes and Reports, 1943-1995
6 Boxes (4 Prontos, 2 Large)
A.
Introduction
These records focus on the minutes
and reports of the meetings of the Board of Directors from their
beginning in 1945, to 1991. The early materials, 1943 to 1971, were
collected by the Archives from various Board members, and transferred
into the archival stacks in 1984 (Accession #4121). The Minute and
Report Books from 1964 to 1991 were transferred to the archives from
Mennonite Mutual Aid offices in 1992, and were incorporated with the
other materials (Accession #92-13).
B.
Historical Sketch
Mennonite Mutual Aid (MMA) was begun
in 1945 to provide financial assistance to men returning from their
Civilian Public Service assignments during World War II. The first
meeting of the Board of Directors was on October 24, 1945, Goshen,
Indiana. Six persons made up the board: Orie O. Miller, as President,
Simon Gingerich as Vice-President, and C. L. Graber as
Secretary-Treasurer. Guy F. Hershberger, John H. Alger and H. A. Diener
were the other three board members.
This meeting in 1945 was
precipitated by recommendations in 1943 from three existing Mennonite
Church committees (Committee on Industrial Relations represented by Guy
F. Hershberger, Peace Problems Committee represented by H.S. Bender,
and Stewardship Committee represented by C.L. Graber) to the Interboard
and Executive Committees of the Mennonite General Conference.
In 1964 Mennonite Mutual Aid was
reorganized under one board of directors. This board represented an
integration of the eight corporations which had sprung up from 1945 to
1964. In 1965, the 17 members on the board were: Abram P. Hallman,
President, Richard Yordy, Vice-President, C.L. Graber, Treasurer, H.
Clair Amstutz, Luke Birky, Ben Cutrell, Justus Driver, Ralph J. Gunden,
H. Ralph Hernley, Paul Hummel, L.M. Jungas, J.R. Kreider, M.A. Kroeker,
O.O. Miller, O. Shoemaker, D.L. Stoltzfus and Harvey Taves. Nine of the
members were elected by the various churches, and eight members were
appointed. This board also reflected the inter-Mennonite cooperation
between the Mennonite Church (11 members), General Conference (4
members) and Mennonite Brethren (2 members) groups.
The eight corporations which make up
Mennonite Mutual Aid, Inc. in 1992 are:
Mennonite Mutual Aid, Inc., 1945-
Mennonite Aid, Inc., 1949-66 [successor was Mennonite Mutual Aid
Association, 1966-]
Mennonite Foundation, Inc. 1952-
Mennonite Aid Insurance, Inc., 1954-66 [successor was Mennonite Mutual
Aid Association, 1966-]
Mennonite Automobile Aid, Inc. 1954-
Mennonite Church Buildings, Inc. 1956-
Menno Insurance Service, Inc. 1957-
Mennonite Retirement Trust, 1963-
Mennonite Mutual Aid Association, 1966-
ShareNet Insurance, Inc., 1987-
These corporations reflect the
various aid and insurance programs provided to its members: mutual aid
sharing programs, health insurance, life insurance, casualty insurance,
retirement programs, employee benefit programs, charitable foundation
services, estate and financial planning, church loan programs,
investment programs, and mutual aid and stewardship programs. MMA's
mission statement is to lead Mennonites and related groups toward
greater practice of the biblical principles of stewardship and mutual
aid.
The five General Managers and
Presidents that have served from the beginning in 1945 to 1992 are:
C. L. Graber, General Manager,
1945-1954
Harold L. Swartzendruber, General Manager and President, 1954-1978
Dwight L. Stoltzfus, President, 1978-1986
James D. Kratz, President, 1986-1991
Howard Brenneman, President, 1992-
In 1992, the 17 Board of Directors
were: Mennonite Church: Lee Roy Berry Jr., Beryl Hartzler Brubaker,
Kathleen Grieser, Bruce Harder, Wayne Kempf, Lester Kropf, Henry D.
Landes, Ruth E.H. Martin, Richard Reimer, Chairperson, Randall Snyder
and Keith Stuckey. General Conference: Ruthann Dirks, William Dunn, Ted
Koontz and Donald L. Schmidt. Mennonite Brethren: Arthur Jost and Nick
Rempel.
Bibliography Sources:
Bender, Harold S. and J. Winfield
Fretz, "Mutual Aid," Mennonite Encylopedia (1957)
Erb, Paul, "Historical Development fo General Conference Standing
Committees," 7 pages. Attached as Exhibit IV, Minutes of the Study
Commission on Church Organization, April 26 & 27, 1966.
Mennonite Mutual Aid, "The Spirit of Community: A Closer Look at
Mennonite Mutual Aid," Video, 11 minutes.
Mennonite Yearbook, 1992.
Minutes and Reports, Board of Directors, Mennonite Mutual Aid,
1943-1991.
Peachey, Laban, "Mutual Aid," Mennonite Encylopeida (1990).
Wenger, J.C., The Mennonite Church in America, (Herald Press, 1966),
pp. 225-227.
C.
Scope and Content
The early minutes and reports of
meetings, 1943-64, are often loose and contain some correspondence and
cover letters with them. After 1964 the reports are much more
substantial, which reflects the consolidation of activities in that
year. A typical "board book" for a meeting includes "Board and
Management Reports," "Committee recommendations," "Current Quarterly
Reports," "Special Reports," and "Minutes" of the last meeting of the
board.
D.
Inventory Listing (Box/File Folder)
Box 1 (Pronto), Minutes and
Reports, 1943-1966
1/1 Minutes and Reports, etc.,
1943-45.
1/2 Minutes and Reports, etc., 1946
1/3 Minutes and Reports, etc., 1947
1/4 Minutes and Reports, etc., 1948
1/5 Minutes and Reports, etc., 1949
1/6 Minutes and Reports, etc., 1950
1/7 Minutes and Reports, etc., 1951
1/8 Minutes and Reports, etc., 1952
1/9 Minutes and Reports, etc., 1953
1/10 Minutes and Reports, etc., 1954-56
1/11 Mennonite Mutual Aid Conference, 1955
Conference took place July 14 & 15, 1955, Atlantic Hotel, Chicago,
Illinois. File includes Minutes. Sponsored by Mennonite Central
Committee, and beginning of Association of Mennonite Aid Societies.
1/12 Mennonite Mutual Aid Conference, 1956
Program of conference of Mutual Aid organizations, held July 19 &
20, 1956, Atlantic Hotel, Chicago, Illinois.
1/13 Minutes and Reports, etc., 1957
1/14 Mennonite Mutual Aid Conference, 1957
Mennonite Aid Section Meeting, July 5, 1957, Atlantic Hotel, Chicago,
Illinois. File includes Minutes.
1/15 Minutes and Reports, etc., 1958
1/16 Minutes and Reports, April 25, 1959
1/17 Minutes and Reports, August 28, 1959
1/18 Minutes and Reports, October 26, 1959
1/19 Minutes and Reports, etc., 1960
1/20 Correspondence, Reports, etc., 1961
1/21 Minutes and Reports, April-August, 1961
1/22 Minutes and Reports, October 26/27, 1961
1/23 Correspondence, Reports, etc., 1962
1/24 Minutes and Reports, April 25/26, 1962
1/25 Minutes and Reports, October 25/26, 1962
1/26 Correspondence, Reports, etc., 1963
1/27 Minutes and Reports, Jan.-April, 1963
1/28 Implementation Committee, May-Oct. 1963
Minutes of Implementation Committee, as well as reports and
Constitution & Bylaws from the eight corporations.
1/29 Minutes and Reports, Sept.-Nov., 1963
Includes meeting of nine directors from the Mennonite General
Conference, September 21, 1963.
1/30 Annual Reports, 1963 [April 9, 1964]
1/31 Correspondence, Reports, etc., 1964
1/32 Minutes and Reports, April 24/25, 1964
1/33 Minutes and Reports, October 30/31, 1964
1/34 Correspondence, Reports, etc., 1965
1/35 Annual Reports, April 30/May 1, 1965
Start use of AccoPress 2-hole Folder for Minutes and Reports, 1965-82.
1/36 Minutes and Reports, October 22/23, 1965
1/37 Correspondence, Reports, etc., 1966
1/38 Minutes and Reports, April 15/16, 1966
Box 2 (Pronto), Minutes and
Reports, 1966-1976
2/1 Minutes and Reports, Nov. 11/12,
1966
2/2 Correspondence, Reports, etc., 1967
2/3 Minutes and Reports, April 21/22, 1967
2/4 Minutes and Reports, November 9, 1967
2/5 Correspondence, Reports, etc., 1968
2/6 Minutes and Reports, April 26/27, 1968
2/7 Minutes and Reports, November 22/23, 1968
2/8 Correspondence, Reports, etc., 1969
2/9 Minutes and Reports, April 29/30, 1969
2/10 Minutes and Reports, November 21, 1969
2/11 Correspondence, Reports, etc., 1970
2/12 Minutes and Reports, May 1-2, 1970
2/13 Minutes and Reports, November 13-14, 1970
2/14 Correspondence, Reports, etc., 1971
2/15 Minutes and Reports, April 30/May 1, 1971
2/16 Minutes and Reports, November 12, 1971
2/17 Minutes and Reports, April 7, 1972
2/18 Minutes and Reports, November 17-18, 1972
2/19 Minutes and Reports, May 4-5, 1973
2/20 Minutes and Reports, November 30, 1973
2/21 Minutes and Reports, May 17-18, 1974
2/22 Minutes and Reports, December 6, 1974
2/23 Minutes and Reports, May 16-17, 1975
2/24 Minutes and Reports, November 21, 1975
2/25 Minutes and Reports, April 30, 1976
Box 3 (Pronto), Minutes and
Reports, 1977-1985
3/1 Minutes and Reports, January 14,
1977
3/2 Minutes and Reports, May 20-21, 1977
3/3 Special Board Meeting, September 17, 1977
3/4 Minutes and Reports, November 18, 1977
3/5 Minutes and Reports, May 12-13, 1978
3/6 "Board Book," May 12-13, 1978
Example of a Board Book which contains only the Minutes of the previous
Board meeting, and the previous year's annual report. Presumbably all
board members received and used these board books for their meetings.
3/7 Minutes and Reports, November 17-18, 1978
3/8 Minutes and Reports, June 1-2, 1979
3/9 Minutes and Reports, November 16, 1979
3/10 Minutes and Reports, May 30-31, 1980
3/11 Minutes and Reports, November 21-22, 1980
3/12 Minutes and Reports, May 29, 1981
3/13 Minutes and Reports, November 20, 1981
3/14 Minutes and Reports, May 14, 1982
3/15 Minutes and Reports, November 19, 1982
3/16 Minutes and Reports, May 13, 1983
Start of using 3-ring binders for minutes and reports, 1983-1991.
3/17 Minutes and Reports, November 18, 1983
3/18 Minutes and Reports, May 11, 1984
3/19 Special Board Mtg., August 17, 1984
3/20 Minutes and Reports, November 30, 1984
3/21 Minutes and Reports, May 10, 1985
3/22 Minutes and Reports, August 16, 1985
Box 4 (Pronto), Minutes and
Reports, 1985-1991
4/1 Minutes and Reports, November
22, 1985
4/2 Minutes and Reports, February 14, 1986
4/3 Minutes and Reports, May 9, 1986
4/4 Minutes and Reports, August 15, 1986
4/5 Minutes and Reports, November 14, 1986
4/6 Minutes and Reports, May 8, 1987
4/7 Minutes and Reports, August 21, 1987
4/8 Minutes and Reports, November 7, 1987
4/9 Minutes and Reports, April 29, 1988
4/10 Minutes and Reports, August 11-12, 1988
4/11 Committee Book, December 2, 1988
Beginning of using separate Committee and Board Books, 1988-1991.
Committee Book includes agendas, minutes and reports for five
committes: Administrative Services, Marketing Services, Mutual Aid
Services, Stewardship Services, and Executive Committee.
4/12 Board Book, December 3, 1988
Beginning of using separate Committee and Board Books, 1988-1991. Board
Book includes includes such things as agenda, chairman's and
president's reports, committee recommendations, current quarterly
reports, corporate plan, special reports and minutes.
4/13 Committee Book, May 4, 1989
4/14 Board Book, May 5, 1989
4/15 Minutes and Reports, August 10-11, 1989
4/16 Committee Book, December 1, 1989
4/17 Board Book, December 2, 1989
4/18 Committee Book, May 3, 1990
4/19 Board Book, May 4, 1990
4/20 Minutes and Reports, August 9-10, 1990
4/21 Committee Book, December 7, 1990
4/21a Minutes and Reports, May 2-3, 1991
4/22 Minutes and Reports, August 9-10, 1991
4/23 Committee Book, December 6, 1991
4/24 Board Book, December 7, 1991
Box 5 (Large)
Minutes and Reports, 1992-1994
Box 6 (Large)
Minutes and Reports, May 4-5, 1995
Minutes, September 8-9, 1995
E.
Name and Subject Tracings
Name tracings:
Alger, John H., Board of Directors
Association of Mennonite Aid Societies [1/11; 1/12]
Brenneman, Howard, President
Civilian Public Service
Diener, H.A., Board of Directors
General Conference
Gingerich, Simon, Board of Directors
Graber, C.L., Board of Directors
Hershberger, Guy F., Board of Directors
Kratz, James D., President
Menno Insurance Service, Inc., 1957-
Mennonite Aid Insurance, Inc., 1954-66
Mennonite Aid, Inc., 1949-66
Mennonite Automobile Aid, Inc., 1954-
Mennonite Brethren
Mennonite Church
Mennonite Church Buildings, Inc., 1956-
Mennonite Foundation, Inc., 1952-
Mennonite General Conference. Committee on Industrial Relations.
Mennonite General Conference. Peace Problems Committee.
Mennonite General Conference. Stewardship Committee.
Mennonite Mutual Aid Association, 1966-
Mennonite Retirement Trust, 1963-
Miller, Orie O., Board of Directors
ShareNet Insurance, Inc., 1987-
Stoltzfus, Dwight L., President
Swartzendruber, Harold L., President
Subject tracings:
Insurance
Investments
Loans
Mutual Aid
Stewardship, Christian
March 11, 2003 / Put on Web by Tim
Nafziger
Updated 5-24-96/ds
April 10, 1992 / Dennis Stoesz
File: "XII-09.doc"
Mennonite Church USA Archives - Goshen, Goshen, Indiana
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