USM Acknowledges the Volunteers of 2004-05!
First Year Readers Lynne Nettifee ('04) and Trudi White ('03)—two of USM's hundreds of Volunteers, honored at this year's Service Convocations.Summer is a time of great jubilation at USM. And for the community of beloved Volunteers who have been supporting the First and Second Year classes, it is a time of celebration of another exceptional year of loving commitment—to themselves, to the students and faculty, and to Spirit.
USM’s President, Ron Hulnick, shared, “USM volunteers stand out from the crowd! With their levels of love, commitment, fortitude, selflessness, and strength-of-heart, they are contributing to expanding the sum total of loving on the planet.”
29,000 Hours of Loving Service
This year alone our volunteers have given over 29,000 hours of service! To help put that contribution into perspective, if the University were to hire an employee with the goal of having a similar impact, and they were to work a 40-hour week, that person would need to work over 15 years to accomplish what USM’s amazing volunteers have done during the past 9 months!
This generosity of Spirit that our volunteers consistently demonstrate each month also has a profound and positive effect on the experience of the faculty (and staff who support them) as well—one that resonates in their hearts long after the weekends of service are complete.
“It’s not often that I am at a loss for words,” shared USM’s Academic Vice President, Mary Hulnick. “The depth of gratitude Ron and I feel for the ways in which USM’s volunteers share themselves is best communicated in the language of the heart! Their generosity of Spirit, willingness, and the heartfelt commitment they share in loving service in support of Soul-Centered education are truly remarkable gifts of love.”
A Heartfelt Celebration and Luncheon
At a sumptuous luncheon given by USM to acknowledge the volunteers, USM’s President, Ron Hulnick, heard several people share of the gifts they are receiving as they volunteer. “To listen to some of them share about the value they receive through serving as a Reader or Assistant is very inspiring,” he said. “Our volunteers are very smart! They come each month to stay in the energy field and replenish themselves on many levels.
“Each year, our incoming class of students stands on the shoulders of the class that went before them, and the volunteers are just the same. This planet is a more loving place as a result of the work they are doing.”
A Community of Loving Service
USM’s volunteers create a unique, cherished, Spirit-centered community for themselves—one that they can draw upon for support in every area of their lives. Their unwavering enthusiasm and loving support of the students, each other, and the University and its mission are an integral part of each class weekend throughout the academic year. Through sharing in the blessings of service, the volunteers develop a sincere, deep, joyful, and lasting connection with each other. They often joke that they’ve “finally found the family they’ve always wanted.”
USM’s dedicated volunteers make a highly valued contribution to the University— opening themselves to receive the inspiration, guidance, and Light of Spirit. They then give those gifts forward to the students, to each other, and to the world. This is the miracle that is the cycle of giving and receiving.
To all of those who have given of themselves in service to the University this year, we say, “Thank you!” We are truly grateful for the way in which you have shared the best of who you are. The University is blessed, and each one of you is a blessing!
Join Us!
This coming October will see USM’s 25th year of classes, and the 25th year of volunteers who come to USM to support them. For those of you who are called to join our Service Community for 2005-06, please contact us at the e-mail addresses below, or call the University at (310) 829-7402. We would love to hear from you and to share the incredible opportunities for continuing education that are available in our Volunteer Program!
