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Quick Links: Quiz Tips & Sample Questions | Procedure & Rules for Quiz-O-Rama
The History of Quiz-Time Systems
 Don Glaske, an army veteran of World War II, had studied business and was a materials handling engineer at the Voice of Music (VM) Corporation in Benton Harbor, Michigan, where record players and tape recorders were made.
Don started Berrien County Youth for Christ (YFC) in 1954 after attending a Youth for Christ International Convention at Winona Lake, Indiana. He did both engineering and directing of the monthly Saturday night rallies for 9 years before being full-time in YFC.
Three men would stand at the back of the High School auditorium with cards in front of their eyes to see whose head of the 20 quizzers on stage appeared above it first. A physics teacher in St. Joseph, where Ibba taught elementary art, later helped Don to make an electric box to use in the rally. A Michigan YFC director begged Don for 3 years to make one for him ... but it was too delicate and too expensive. So in 1961 he finally agreed to make a Quiz Box ... the very first ... and it had 15 seat pads and was battery-operated. (During those years, once Berrien County's senior high team and once their junior high team won the Quiz Finals at the YFC Convention at Winona Lake.)
Don didn't realize this would become the Quiz-Time Systems business, since only YFC groups were quizzing. Then some church denominations began, and so did several schools. He made pretty much everything from scratch and almost single-handed (including sawing, gluing and covering the wood cases with red fabric), along with some help from his parents and sister. While Ibba continued teaching school another nine years, the CYM Teenarena was built in 1968 next to their home. Quiz-O-Ramas were held one weekend before each monthly rally at the High School, and the top 20 quizzers then competed on stage.
Making the Quiz-Time Systems Quiz Boxes battery-operated was a wise decision, since these can be used indoors or outside, and no electrical adaptor is needed when used overseas.
After 20 years in YFC, the youth work became Christian Youth Ministries, Inc. (CYM), still continuing the teen and family style Saturday night rallies, which included a Bible Quiz every month, music, speakers, and Christian films, and Bible verse backdrops that glowed in black light during the invitation at the end of each rally.
Every 7 years, the questions Don Glaske wrote are reused, and some young quizzers are even "second and third generation" whose parents met as quizzers during past years.
Thirty three years of YFC/CYM Rallies were interrupted in March 1987, when Don had emergency surgery for a malignant brain tumor. He was still able to make 106 Quiz-Time Systems Quiz Boxes during his illness, and his final Quiz Box was a Model 450, that a California AWANA director took to Capetown, South Africa. He died in January 1988, one month after the second surgery.
A few weeks later, Ibba decided to continue making the Quiz-Time Systems Quiz Boxes, since there were still 113 orders awaiting fulfillment. Many people were needed to do the various processes, and it took almost two years to fulfill the orders while also learning what Don had been able to do alone. They sometimes work in the Glaske home, in their own homes or the CYM Teenarena. Many Quiz Boxes and parts are always in the process of being built. Ibba continued making all three sizes for 10 years just like Don did and, in fact, Model 250 is to this day still made of particle board covered with red fabric. In recent years, some stages are being carried out by local companies, seat pads are now dip molded in one piece, and red plastic cases are molded by a company in Ohio.
The local CYM Quiz-O-Ramas had also resumed in October 1988, as other volunteers faithfully served as Quizmasters and scorekeepers in the Teenarena. The Quiz questions Don had written during 33 years of rallies (on 20 of New Testament books) can be accessed on-line click here. During their 50th year in 2004-05 Mark and I John were studied, part of a seven-year cycle, with 3 chapters each month during a Quiz Season. Each year is culminated with "Quizzers' Revenge" in April, when even adults get to Quiz over the last 3 chapters, learning what it's like for quizzers all year long.
Ibba Glaske is thankful Don was doing worthwhile things that could be continued, both the CYM quizzing and Quiz-Time Systems Boxes. In addition to the standard seat pad models produced for years, new handheld switches have been added in March 2005. Whether people use their equipment or someone else's, she's glad they're working with quizzers and considers it a privilege to "serve others who are serving".
When celebrating "50 YEARS of YFC/CYM" on June 26-27, 2004, a catered REUNION BANQUET was held on Saturday in the Teenarena, and Steve and Maria Gardner presented an enjoyable program of familiar songs and some new ones they had written. Photos displayed from over the many years were arranged by Steve and Linda Churchill, and he also coordinated the Sunday evening program of "MUSICAL MEMORIES" at Calvary Bible Church in Benton Harbor. Many singers from the rally music groups were back, and former directors Don Clements, Ken Biastock and Carol (Albrecht) Conrad led them in songs they had performed during 33 Years of Rallies at Benton Harbor, Watervliet and Bridgman High Schools. Arlene Clements, Fran Cooke-Avery and Vicki Behr were the pianists, along with some taped accompaniment.
The battery-powered quiz boxes Don had invented in 1961 resulted from a local need, as well as nationally and overseas, and thus Christian Youth Ministries Bible Quizzing is naturally related. Still battery-powered, they are regularly ordered from Quiz-Time Systems in Benton Harbor, and even the older boxes continue being used by replacing batteries or other needed parts.
During 21 years through 2012, eighty-one Varsity quizzers benefited from "The New 1991 CYM College Scholarship" provided by a generous will. To qualify, quizzers in grades 9-12 participated in at least 4 Quiz-O-Ramas in one year and earned at least 800 points to receive $300 for one year of college. Those participating in 2 years or more during 9-12 received $300 for up to 4 years of college. Also, a one-time award of $100 was added if they had quizzed 4 times in one year before grade 9. Since funds had run out, the CYM Board decided to end the scholarships, except for a few who had qualified by 2012, and had attended college. When available, checks will be sent to them.
While Charles VanderZwaag, Jr. was Quizmaster, he taped all 7 years of Quiz-O-Rama questions on cassettes and they were used many years. In recent years, Quizmaster Chris Cowgill began converting them to MP3s. Starting in 2015, "Quote this Verse" questions have been added to Varsity material.
The 10-seat panel of Model AJ 250 is now in the same red plastic case as the 15 and 20-seat panels. A white marker board fills the space next to the control panel, and is over the battery. All 3 models may be ordered with either Standard Seat Pads or Custom Handheld Switches. See the Replacement Parts list where you can order items needed to maintain your own quiz equipment.
A Free "Quiz-Time Kit" is offered for the very first time in 2017. It includes MARK 1-3 and I JOHN 3-5 and provides full materials and instructions to help anyone to start Bible Quizzing ... anywhere in the world! You can be part of this effective way to help others learn God's Word. These 6 chapters are a part of 21 chapters for a 7-month season. In MARK Jesus is represented as a Servant ... with words about his ministry as "straightway" and "immediately." I JOHN 5 gives assurance that "ye may know that ye have eternal life" and "This is the true God, and eternal life." To get the FREE Quiz-Time Kit, click the link or you may mail your request to Quiz-Time Systems, 252 E Napier Ave, Benton Harbor, MI 49022 You are invited to take advantage of this FREE offer!
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