BY JACQUE L. SMITH, Union College public relations director

n August 30, just one week after starting the semester, Students and faculty at Union College in Lincoln, Nebraska, put down their notebooks and course outlines and picked up brooms, shovels and spatulas. Classes were canceled, labs were postponed and committee meetings were rescheduled to allow volunteers to share their time, sweat and muscles with social services agencies throughout Lincoln. The 2001 Project Impact event marked 20 years of launching the school year with a volunteer community service day. This year, an estimated 600 college volunteers worked at 45 different sites including a dozen public schools. During the past two decades, nearly 10,000 students and staff have participated, putting in more than 35,000 hours of volunteer service at more than 600 sites.

Project Impact is completely student-run. Students coordinate the project, solicit sponsors, and ultimately make the day a success by volunteering their time. Gina Jacob, Project Impact student coordinator for the past three years and this year's Associated Student Body president, said Project Impact is her favorite day of the school year. "Even though I'm only one person, and it's only one day, I can still make a difference for that day," said the math education major. "It's so incredible to see how excited the students get about the event."

Jacob and other Campus Ministries staff begin contacting 60 to 70 Lincoln area agencies in May each year, asking if they need volunteers. Through Project Impact and subsequent year-round volunteer service, Union students and staff have developed a reputation as quality volunteers, said Rich Carlson, campus chaplain.

For example, Linda Maly, volunteer and youth services director for the Lincoln American Red Cross agency, is grateful her organization is a recipient of Project Impact. "We always look forward to the Project Impact volunteers coming to our agency because no matter what we ask them to do, they always complete it, and they're always cheerful," Maly said.

This year, commemorating Union's 20 years of volunteer service, Project Impact's principal sponsor was Adventist Development and Relief Agency International (ADRA). In addition to funds for Project Impact T-shirts and other financial support from ADRA, Michelle Oetman, ADRA's public relations manager, visited with students about their motivation for volunteer service. Following the day filled with outreach opportunities, Tereza Byrne, ADRA's bureau chief for marketing and development, continued the focus on volunteerism through two Power Pac Weekend presentations.

Union's Project Impact is the second phase of an ongoing commitment by the college to be involved in volunteer work for the Lincoln community. In 1981, Union College initiated and completed Project BRUSH (Beautifying Residences Using Student Help), with the goal of painting 100 homes for elderly and disabled Lincoln residents before the college's centennial celebration in 1991. The goal was realized and exceeded with 113 homes painted by Union students and staff.

Directly following the success of Project BRUSH, Project Impact was launched in 1992 with the goal of continued service to the Lincoln community, but from a different angle. Community service agencies were asked if they could use help for one day in the fall. The response was overwhelmingly positive; and now after 20 years of impacting the Lincoln community, campus volunteer participation rate is approximately 80 percent.

According to Carlson, Project Impact is only the beginning for many Union students who choose to volunteer at soup kitchens, day care centers, homeless shelters, and other agencies throughout the year. Through the Joe Mertz Center, a volunteer placement service on campus, community service is more than just a one-day event for Union students whose impact continues throughout the year.

Barb Gaither, executive director for Lincoln's Northeast Family Center, said she always looks forward to having volunteers from Union visit the parenting and family-focused support center. "We spread the news in the service community that Union College volunteers work harder than any others," she said. "Union students always show up on time, work hard and are willing to do anything that needs to be done." Gaither joked that her agency saves up the most complicated and sometimes dirty and heavy jobs for Union students, their most trusted volunteers.

Randy Harmdierks, graphic design major from Albert Lea, Minn., who helped haul toy shelves and rearrange play areas at the family center, didn't mind the tough tasks. "As a Christian, my job is to promote what Christ's investment in my life does," he said, "even if the work isn't easy." Bliss McClellan, sophomore from Avon Park, Florida, agreed. "Christians can truly make an impact when we're out helping people and organizations in need," she said while spooning canned dog food into foam containers at the Capital Humane Society. "Volunteer projects, whether big or small, show the community we are serious about living out Christ's example in our lives."


David Dennis Lawsuit Resolved
All legal claims against the General Conference (GC) and other defendants arising from the 1994 termination of a GC auditor have been either dismissed or voluntarily withdrawn, reports the Office of General Counsel of the GC.

In a lawsuit filed February 1995, David Dennis, former director of the GC Audit Service, claimed wrongful termination, breach of contract, and defamation, naming as defendants the GC, a number of church leaders, and a "Jane Doe."

On August 2 this year, the Circuit Court for Montgomery County, Maryland, granted summary judgment against Dennis, dismissing his claim of defamation against all church defendants. The court had earlier ruled in the church's favor on Dennis' claims of wrongful termination and breach of contract.

The final matter in the six-year-long legal dispute was resolved September 14, when Dennis voluntarily withdrew, with prejudice, all his claims against defendant "Jane Doe."

"There was no financial settlement involved between any parties to this litigation," says Thomas E. Wetmore, associate general counsel for the GC. "Dennis has voluntarily withdrawn all remaining claims made by him, including any rights of appeal from the judgments entered in favor of the other defendants." This represents a final resolution to the Dennis lawsuit, explains Wetmore.

In December 1994, Dennis was dismissed from his position and his ministerial credentials were revoked for conduct unbecoming an ordained minister of the Seventh-day Adventist Church. --Adventist News Network.

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