National Service Secretariat (U. S.)

The National Service Secretariat is a private non-profit organization whose purpose is to act as a clearinghouse for information regarding national service and to promote the idea that young Americans can serve their country and humankind as effectively in civilian service as in military service. The organization was founded in 1966 by Donald J. Eberly, who served as its Executive Director from 1966-1994. His National Service for Peace proposal of 1958 was one of the sources of Senator Hubert Humphrey's Peace Corps legislation, and his convening of the first National Service Conference in 1966 launched a nationwide debate on the issue.