December 6, 2007
Mennonite Disaster Service (MDS) leaders and volunteers from the U.S. and Canada gathered at Hesston College for a leadership training workshop November 28-29.
Cathie Kearsley, director of Human Resources at MDS, said the agency holds this workshop at the college each year. “We provide training for MDS volunteers who are interested in leadership positions,” she said. “They want to know how to get more involved and serve long-term.”
Kearsley indicated that MDS considers long-term to be one month or more. Leadership positions include project directors, construction foremen, cooks, and office managers. MDS, based in Akron, Pa., is a bi-national volunteer network through which people can respond to those affected by disasters in Canada and the U.S.
“We also like to conduct this workshop at Hesston College because of our partnership in the college’s Disaster Management program,” Kearsley said. This fall marks the third year for the program, with 12 students enrolled.
According to Kearsley, eight people attended the workshop, including some from the Kansas MDS unit. Some of them met one day in Greensburg, Kan., with K. John Klaassen, board president of the Kansas MDS unit. “The visit helped us get to know the project a bit better,” she explained. “Two of the trainees, Leonard and Lenora Penner, are living and working in New Orleans for a year as MDS coordinators. The visit provided them an opportunity to see a different MDS response than in New Orleans.” Greensburg was devastated by a tornado last May.
Russ Gaeddert, director of Hesston College’s Disaster Management program, expressed gratitude that the workshop was held on campus. “It’s a tremendous opportunity for our students to hear information from MDS people out there at MDS projects,” he said. “It helps them know what’s going on at the various project sites, and to discuss issues such as working with clients, cultural diversity, and building a strong volunteer team.”
Gaeddert said that the nine students in the MDS Culture I class, a course for freshmen in the Disaster Management program, were required to attend a certain number of hours during the workshop, depending on their schedules and their interests.
“They’ve heard some of the workshop speakers before,” Gaeddert continued. “So they’re becoming more familiar with MDS people and the organization itself.
“Like we heard from Jerry Grosh, MDS director of Field Operations, and others, flexibility is the key with MDS work,” Gaeddert said. “Every situation where MDS works is different.”
Hesston College Disaster Management Program