Volunteers in Mission 

Wisconsin Volunteers in Mission

Bruce Koch
UMC Wisconsin Conference VIM Chair
Phone (608) 370-2083
e-mail lbkoch@verizon.net

Rev. Susan Safford-Gaul
IVIM Committee Chairperson
Phone (920) 756-2717
e-mail pastorsusan@yahoo.com

International Trips

If you want to travel the world, you can do it through this program of the United Methodist Church!

Invest your time, talents, and financial resources in a team made up of people from every walk of life - other team members just like you. With your team, travel safely to another country to work on a life-changing project. Many projects focus on construction and all skill levels are needed. Some teams also need people to lead Vacation Bible School, provide adult or community health education, listen to others, work in agriculture or give hugs to children.

Each experience leaves an indelible mark on your soul while allowing you to help others and to see the world from a new perspective.

Wisconsin/National Trips

Below are the latest brochure and registration resources for volunteer opportunities for Wisconsin VIM.

During the year there are VIM trips formed as a response to needs that arise. These may not be listed on this site so check in with us to be aware of all options for VIM service in Wisconsin, nationally and Internationally.

Upcoming VIM Trips - 2011 and 2012

Camp Mekokiko (On the Big Island of HAWAII, January 24 - February 10, 2012)

Camp Mekokiko is the only United Methodist Church Camp and Retreat Center in the entire Pacific Basin. It is located on 36 acres of land on the northeast side of the island. The camp is 1,800 feet above sea level. Projects will vary from clearing land to various construction projects. The camp has limited funds, a land usage permit that will expire in 2012, and with a lot of projects left to be completed they need the help of volunteers to meet their goals.

This trip will include several days of rest, worship and touring of the Big Island along with the work. There is room for only 2 more people on our team of 12. Registration before October 30, 2011 is required. Call if your time is short. Do not send money until your registration is confirmed. CAMP NOW FULL Click to download and complete camp registration form.

The trip cost is $1,550 per person. The price includes airfare, ground transportation while there, food at the camp, lodging, and a donation to the camp. Personal costs while we are touring are not included. You will be contacted with details after registration. Payment of $750.00 by October 30, 2011, and the last $800.00 by January 2, 2012. Make checks payable to: St. Luke United Methodist Church, and include VIM January trip on the note line of your check. Mail checks to: St. Luke United Methodist Church, 623 Ontario Ave., Sheboygan WI 53081

  • Registrar - Jim and Pat Houwers, 2608 W Riverdale Ave., Sheboygan WI 53081, Phone: 920-458-4764.

Tuscaloosa Tornado Damage (Alabama, February 25th - March 4th, 2012)

Our team will leave Sun Prairie by chartered bus on Saturday morning, February 25th for the two easy travel days to Tuscaloosa, and return on Sunday afternoon, March 4th. This is designed so participants will only miss one work week at home. The team will stay at a large UMC volunteer center in Coker, which is a suburb of Tuscaloosa. There are bunk beds and cot for sleeping on the second floor. Rest rooms and showers, kitchen and large dining area are all located on the ground floor.

The cost of this trip will be $410. This covers bus and motel cost, food on work days and a $100 dollar donation to the project. Cost for those driving to the worksite will be $250. Click to download and complete camp registration form. Co-Leaders are:

  • Registrar - Rev. Jeanne Jones, PO Box 216, Colfax WI 54730; 715-962-2828
  • Co-Leader - Jeff Cupery, 100 LaCrosse St., Beaver Dam WI 53916; 920-887-8726

Ozark Methodist Manor (March 19th - 30th, 2012)

The team will leave from Sun Prairie for the one day trip to the Ozark Methodist Manor in Marionville, MO on Monday morning, March 19th and return on Friday, March 30th. Ozark Manor is a large complex containing many homes for independent living seniors, assisted living apartments and a full-time nursing facility. This will be our third trip to Ozark Manor. They were so impressed by our teams in the past, they have urged us to accept an invitation to return and build a large picnic shelter for the use of the residents. We will need several team members with carpenter experience, but in addition there is always much maintenance to do and repairs to be made. There will be something for all skill levels to do.

Many of the independent living seniors have invited us to be guests in their spare bedrooms. Participation in this trip may be limited by the housing available. Our cooks will prepare our meals in the kitchen, and we will eat in the dining room, of the United Methodist church across the street. There will be an optional overnight trip to Branson on the weekend. We will stay in one of the many hotels and take in a number of shows. Details will be sent to those who register when arrangements are complete.

Cost of this trip will be $370. This covers bus cost, food on work days and a $75 donation to the project. Cost for those driving on their own will be $225. Click to download and complete camp registration form. Co-Leaders are:

  • Co-Leader - Tom Andres, S7658 Lucille Lane, Merrimac WI 53561; 608-493-2526; Cell 608-345-1368
  • Registrar - Charles Wedemeyer, 8389 N. Ivy St., Brown Deer WI 53223; 414-354-8285; Cell 414-517-5576

Joplin Tornado Damage (Missouri, April 15th - 21st, 2012)

Our team will leave from the United Methodist church in Platteville on Sunday, April 15th for the one day trip to the First UMC in Carthage, which is a twenty minute drive from the damaged area in Joplin. We will return on Saturday, April 21st. The team will sleep upstairs in classrooms on our thick VIM air mattresses. Showers may be at the "Y" in town or in the school across the street. Our cooks will prepare our meals in the large well equipped church kitchen and eat in the dining area.

Cost of this trip will be $350. This will cover bus cost, food on work days and a $100 donation to the project. Cost for those driving to the worksite will be $200. Click to download and complete camp registration form. Co-Leaders are:

  • Registrar - Jim Houwers, 2608 Riverdale Ave., Sheboygan WI 53081; 920-458-4764
  • Co-Leader - Bob Clingan, 1738 Decorah Rd., West Bend WI 53095; 262-334-7423

Chain Saw Training Course for Beginners (Pine Lake United Methodist Camp, Westfield, WI, Saturday, May 19, 2012)

Anyone using a chain saw as a volunteer must have certified training. Chain Saw Training Course for beginners and experienced cutters with emphasis on safety and working with basic hazards evaluation.

  • Time: 9:00 a.m.
  • Lunch: Will be provided
  • Cost: $35.00 per person
  • Limit: 10-15

This course covers:

  1. Personal protective equipment
  2. Equipment inspection / safe handling of equipment
  3. Chain sharpening
  4. Basic hazard evaluation / storm damage
  5. Tree felling evaluation
  6. Working with trees and branches under spring pressure

Nathan Stanford is an Independent Chain Saw Safety Trainer who is highly qualified. Please bring helmet, ear and eye protection. Also bring work boots, gloves, chaps and chain saw if you have them. Dress for the weather. You will receive a wallet card for participating or attending a basic chain saw safety course.

Write the check to VIM Camps. Please send your name, address, email address, and money to: Chuck Wedemeyer, 8389 N. Ivy St.Brown Deer, WI 53223, Phone-414-354-8285. Deadline is May 7, 2012.

Pine Lake United Methodist Camp (Westfield, WI, May 20-25, 2012)

Come join us for a great week of working together! We will be staying in the Bishop Sharon Zimmerman Rader Retreat Center with "hotel like" rooms with showers. Our construction projects include: putting in docks, piers, & slips, adding handrails on the sides of the ramp that replaced railroad tie steps leading to Amphlett Hall; replacing windows with screens on Amphlett Hall; painting the office/nature center exterior; clean up logging branches; electrical work in Wildwood, variety of clean up jobs and more. See you at Pine Lake!

Cost: $150.00 per person. Click to download and complete camp registration form. Leaders are:

  • Carol Culbertson, 243 W Main Street, Evansville, WI 53536; 608-882-0136
  • Don Mevis, Westfield, WI

Red Cliff Reservation (Bayfield, WI, June 17-23, 2012)

This will be a repeat trip to that site to continue to serve the residents of the reservation and deepen the relationship with the Native American community there. There is something for everyone to do as the needs vary from repair to ramp construction to helping with daily tasks when needed. This will be an adult/youth trip. There is always an abundance of cultural exchange on this trip.

Cost is $150.00 for the week. Click to download and complete camp registration form. Co - Leaders are:

  • Registrar Joan Harvey, 502 N. 12th St., Wausau, WI 54403; 715-845-1544
  • Bruce Koch

Minot, North Dakota (July 15-21, 2012)

Minot suffered devastating floods in 2011 when 4,100 homes were flooded. Some are repairable but most will need to be rebuilt. There will be homes in all stages of repair and construction. You can be assigned to a stage of construction where you feel you will be most comfortable and useful. The team will leave by bus from Eau Claire on Sunday morning for the one-day trip to Minot. We will most likely be staying at a Volunteer Village that the churches of Minot have set up. Showers and meals will be provided.

Cost of this camp will be $300. This will covers bus, housing and meal cost and a donation for materials. Cost for those driving on their own will be $200. Click to download and complete camp registration form. Co-leaders are:

  • Don Bastian, 1240 St. Hubert's Drive, Hubertus WI 53033; 414-467-5015
  • Registrar Bruce Ellis, 4818 Wood Duck Way, West Bend WI 53095; 262-644-1680 (cell-262-424-3663)

Adult & Sr. High Youth VIM Mission Trip (Fairbanks, Alaska, July 28th-Aug. 6th, 2012)

Participants will work with Next Step Ministries to serve the Athabasca Native American community. Projects include working at the Bear Spear Retreat Center about 15 minutes from Fairbanks, building and refurbishing cabins. Tribe leaders, Will & Yvonne Mayo hope to build a retreat center that they can raise up spiritual leaders from the local villages in. These leaders can then go back to their own communities and minister to their people. There might also be a youth camp that needs some construction work or family homes that need repair if the group is large enough to split up.

This 10-day mission trip includes two travel days, five work days, and two excursion days. Lodging will be at the Door of Hope Church in Fairbanks. Cost of the trip is $1,500.00 which includes airfare from Minneapolis, lodging, hotel costs, transportation while in Alaska, most meals and sightseeing excursions. A $750.00 deposit is required before April 1 st , 2012 to hold your spot, as we are only able to take the first 40 that register. The balance is due on April 26th , 2012 (no exceptions). For more information contact Lisa Buchmeier or the Mauston United Methodist Church.

Volunteers can expect to fall in love with the families, while strengthening their own faith. Volunteers will be meeting the community's physical needs by working on moderate to heavy building projects such as flooring, roofing, siding and cabin repair. On Saturday & Sunday volunteers will trade in their hammers for tourist gear as they spend two days relaxing and sightseeing in the nearby villages and Denali National Park.

Get ready for an exciting week of cultural immersion, worship, great fellowship and challenging building! Click here to download the Mauston UMC registration slip.

United Methodist Children's Services & Transitional Living Program (Milwaukee, WI, August 6-10, 2012)

This will be a return trip to a very worthy agency on the front line of efforts to deal with folks with major life issues relating to poverty and lack of basic life opportunities. This is always a rewarding trip as the agency has been in existence for years and is very dynamic in the community there. It is possible we will be helping with some phase of their new building program or assisting in the repair and maintenance of the existing facility. This will be an adult/youth trip.

Cost is $125.00 which includes your meals and lodging. Daily rate and daily participation will be encouraged as well. Click to download and complete camp registration form.

  • Leader Bruce Koch, 1560 Meadowlark Ln., Prairie du Sac, WI 53578; 608-643-3962 (cell phone 608-370-2083)
  • Registrar Jeff Virchow, 585 5th St., Prairie du Sac, WI 53578; 608-643-6356

Joplin Tornado Damage (September 23-29, 2012)

This will be a repeat trip to Joplin to help in the rebuilding after the tornado of 2011 that destroyed a major portion of the city with over a 150 fatalities. The team will again leave from the United Methodist church in Platteville on Sunday morning September 23rd for the one day trip to Joplin. We are tentatively scheduled to again stay at the First UMC in Carthage. The team will sleep upstairs in classrooms on our VIM air mattresses. Showers will most likely be at the "Y" in town. Our cooks will prepare our meals in the large well equipped church and eat in the dining area.

Cost of this trip will be $350. This will cover bus cost, food on work days and a $100 donation to the project. Cost for those driving on their own will be $200. Click to download and complete camp registration form. Co-leaders are:

  • Charles Wedemeyer, 8389 North Ivy Street, Brown Deer WI 53223; 414-354-8285 (cell 414-517-5576)
  • Registrar Kathleen Schneider, 8835 W. Bennington Court Mequon WI 53097-3441; 262-242-5982 (cell 262-617-8072)

Camp Lucerne (Wautoma, WI, September 30-October 5, 2012)

This is a beautiful time to be at Lake Lucerne in central Wisconsin, moderate temperate days and cool nights are ideal work and fellowship times as we support this WI conference camp. The projects include painting, roofing, carpentry, winter camp preparations, and cleaning the 50 plus buildings on the camp site. The jobs are plentiful for all skill levels and ages and we encourage you to come and share the beauty of this camp. We gather Sunday evening for supper and conclude our week Friday after lunch. Accommodations are provided by the Camp, as we are housed in Ridgecrest lodges which are modern and comfortable.

Cost: $150.00 - includes lodging, meals, work supplies and donation to camp. Registration deadline is one week before camp begins to insure adequate planning. It is an excellent experience for 1st time VIMer's! Click to download and complete camp registration form.

Mount Eagle Retreat Center (Arkansas, October 29 - Friday, November 9, 2012)

Climb on the bus as we head to central Arkansas to enjoy fall all over again. Fall color should be at its peak on the beautiful grounds of Mount Eagle as we gaze out from the deck of the main lodge. From this vantage point we can look hundreds of feet down the steep hillside at the Little Red River winding its way along the valley floor. Mount Eagle Retreat Center is a ministry of the Arkansas United Methodist Churches located in the foothills of the Ozarks in Stone County, Arkansas. Although they have a small staff of part time employees, most of the work is done by volunteers and they are the lifeblood of their ministry. Housing will be in 24 double occupancy bedrooms in lodges, with meals prepared by our cooks in the Kaetzell Lodge kitchen.

Our project possibilities are many and varied. They range from building picnic shelters benches and tables to constructing a carport, interior painting, heavy cleaning, trail clearing or even helping run the camp sawmill that provides the lumber for their various projects. There will be many interesting choices of things to see and do on the weekend we are there as well. Details will be sent to those who register as decisions are made.

Cost for this camp will be $435.00 This covers bus and motel cost, food on work days and a $75 donation to the camp for materials. Cost for those driving on their own will be $300. Click to download and complete camp registration form. Co-Leaders for this camp are:

  • Tom Andres - S7658 Lucille Lane, Merrimac WI 53561; 608-493-2156 (cell 608-345-1368)
  • Registrar Barb Ramsden, E3952 Martal Way, Spring Green WI 53588; 608 588 9106 (cell 608 588 2156)

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