1986

This column is going to focus on the volunteering efforts of our class-mates. I give credit to Christine Goss for the idea, and e-mails came pouring in!

First, one correction: I mistakenly referred to L.J. Briggs as Lany in a prior column. L.J. graduated from the University of Connecicut Medical School in 1995. After an unhappy stint as a surgical resident at UConn, he saw The Light and switched to radiology. He finished his residency in diagnostic radiology at Hartford Hospital (Hartford, Connecticut) in June 2001. He is now fulfilling his Navy commitment, serving as department head in radiology at the Naval Hospital in Jacksonville, Florida. He was promoted to lieutenant commander in January 2002. L.J. got married on July 27 to Maria Gluch (Connecticut College '89) at St. Michael's Ukrainian Catholic Church in Hartford. The couple honeymooned in Alaska.

Chris Brown and his wife, Stephanie DemosBrown, are lawyers who volunteer for a program called Lawyers for Children in Miami. They represent foster children whose parents' parental rights are being challenged due to various prob- lems that might make them unfit parents. Chris said, "It's unbelievable howoften a foster child's welfare would get completely overlooked if not for a pro bono lawyer in the courtroom to look out for the child's interests." Onarecent case the Browns represented a 2-year-old foster child who was the product of the rape of 15-year-old foster child at the hands of her foster father. Due to the miserable circumstances of her own life, the mother was hardly fit to be a parent herself. Her daughter, with some guidance through the Florida child welfare system and the love of a family that was willing to adopt her, is doing well.

Susan McCormack wrote: "The Boston alumni club makes it very easy for us here in the hub. We get together about four or five times a year for a volunteer activity. The last one I did was in June. About 25 of us showed up to help build three attached homes in Roxbury. Volunteers put up vinyl siding, framed windows, nailed up supports for kitchen cabinets and fireproofed stairwells. Its amazing how much work a dedicated volunteer team can accomplish in one day." Susan is also involved with a group called Boston Cares, which is part of a nationwide organization with chapters in several major cities. Its goal is to find volunteer opportunities for people who don't have much time to give or who can't make an ongoing commitment to an activity. (Perfect for those with hectic lives.)

With three kids and a job, Mary Frances Sabo doesn't have much time for volunteer work now, but she is on the board of Northeast Career Planning, an organization that helps people with barriers to employment find jobs. These barriers include developmental and physical disabilities, psychiatric problems, alcohol or substance abuse or a sketchy employment history, i.e., coming off of welfare. Mary wrote: "The organization is wonderful because it does so much more than help people find jobs—it provides on-going job support, testing to determine inclinations and transportation. I really feel like we are making a contribution since work is so important in this era of welfare reform."

Julie Spiegleman spends most of her volunteer time at her children's preschool, which is a cooperative preschool. For the past three years she has sat on the board and handled admissions. Julie called it "a rewarding but stressful experience.The pastyear was difficult because of these changes but it has been a great learning experience."

12 Kings Row, Ashland, MA01721;(508) 231-8 813; davida@dinerman.com