The Social Work Department has just received the good news that the Department’s BSW accreditation has been officially re-affirmed by the Council on Social Work Education for the maximum eight-year term (with no conditions or interim reports required).

On Oct 2 and 3, three Dana professors and five students attended the 2007 Nobel Conference held at Gustavus Adolphus College in St. Peter, Minnesota. This year’s topic was “Heating Up the Energy Debate.” Speakers dealt with the possibilities for future sources of energy and their environmental consequences. Faculty attending were Dr. Tammy Clark, assistant professor of chemistry, Dr. Carla Delucchi, professor of biology, and Dr. Mark Sand, professor of mathematics and physics. Students attending were Kevin Bane, Ross Milam, Tony Palmer, Patrick Revard, and Beth Richmond.

Eight Dana Social Work students and Professors Jo Peterson, Richard Potter, and Jan Potter attended the Annual Conference of the National Association of Social Workers, Nebraska Chapter, on October 5. The students attending the Omaha conference were Keith Block, Heidi DeGodt, Marcos Martinez, Brooke McCabe, Pablo Montoya, Amy Nichols, Danielle Schmersal, and Randi Toft. Danielle Schmersal is completing her first semester senior practicum as an intern at the NASW Office in Lincoln. Jan Potter served as MC for the conference awards luncheon.

The Dana College Women’s Golf team placed fifth in the two-day GPAC tournament last week. The golfers shot a team total of 708. Sioux Falls won the team race with a two day total of 666. The top five team finishers will all advance to the NAIA Region III Championships on April 28 and 29 in Sioux Falls, South Dakota, at the Elmwood Golf Course. The top five conference teams automatically qualify for the regional meet.

Potential college students and their parents have gained a new and distinctive resource for exploring and comparing private colleges and universities. U-CAN, the University & College Accountability Network, is the first national consumer information resource created and provided directly to students and parents by colleges and universities themselves. Over 600 private colleges and universities, including Dana College, have signed on to participate in the initiative. <MORE>

Nebraskans will get a rare chance to learn about the Arab-Israeli conflict when Dr. Afif Safieh, the Palestinian delegate in Washington, D.C., visits Nebraska during the weekend of November 1-3, 2007. Prior to coming to the U.S., Dr. Safieh was the Palestinian General Delegate to the Vatican.

The Dana Nebraskans for Peace organization is hosting Dr. Safieh at Dana on Friday, November 2, at 2 p.m. in Trinity Chapel. His presentation is entitled, "Justice: The Critical Element for Lasting Peace in the Holy Land."

The first production of the Dana College Theater season is the award-winning musical, “Little Women.” This delightful show is appropriate for all ages. It opens on Oct. 26 at 7:30 p.m. in the Lauritzen Theater on the Dana College campus. Additional performances are Oct. 27 at 7:30 p.m., Oct. 28 at 2 p.m., Nov. 2 and 3 at 7:30 p.m. and Nov. 4 at 2 p.m. Admission is $7. Faculty and staff can pick up two free tickets from Sandy in the Campus Center during regular business hours.

The show is directed by Todd Brooks, who recently directed “Zanna Don’t” for SNAP, and choreography is by Michelle Garrity, whose work has been seen at the Omaha Community Playhouse, the Ralston Community Theater and many other local theatrical venues. This lighthearted musical retelling of the Louisa May Alcott classic tale showcases many of the talented students in the Dana College Musical Theater program. The music is wonderful and the romantic story will make you yearn for the beautiful simplicity of a bygone era. Bring your friends, your kids and your mom to this charming theatrical experience.

About every two seconds, someone in America will need blood for a medical procedure include trauma, surgery or cancer treatment. It takes you to help all of us ensure that blood is there when life depends on it.

Here’s an opportunity.Campus Activities Board’s Fall Blood Drive will be held Thursday, Oct. 25 from 10 a.m.-4 p.m. in the Cooperman Atrium of the Gardner-Hawks Center. Donors and volunteers are needed! Email Brandi Sestak with a time you can donate or volunteer today.

A Mothers of Preschoolers group has been formed at Dana. The group is open to all mothers with children from birth through kindergarten (expectant moms are welcome as well). The group will meet the third Saturday of each month from 9:30-11:00 a.m. in the Linden Room of the Campus Center. The first meeting will be this Saturday, October 20. Please join us for presentations, discussions, coffee, and – perhaps most importantly – community.

This week's speaker will talk about fire safety – things that can be done to make homes safer and ways to teach children about fire safety. Look ahead - next month (11/17) there will be a presentation on holiday crafts you can make with your kids.

Every February, a group of medical personnel travel to Nicaragua to run a clinic. Thousands come to take advantage of their services, however the need is often times too overwhelming to meet. How can YOU help?
By bringing in Prescription bottles…those little plastic, amber-colored things that you usually throw away. (Please remove the labels before donating them.) Help us collect pill bottles to send to Nicaragua! Collection boxes located at: Student Center, Library, Durham Center, Cooperman Atrium, and Science Hall. Effort sponsored by the Dana Business Club.

Flu shots will be given by Memorial Community Hospital nurses on November 1 from 3:30-5:30 p.m. in The Forum. No sign up is necessary.
Cost is $20.00. The hospital will be the only source of vaccine this year. This change is due to the late arrival of pharmacy order vaccine in the past.

If you have any questions call Health Services at 7320 and leave a message.

Staff Council is sponsoring a coat drive to benefit individuals who are less fortunate. Gently used coats, sweaters, hats, gloves, etc., can be brought to the Financial Aid office between now and Nov. 1. All sizes are welcomed, from infant through adult. The items will be donated to the Goldenrod Hills Community Action, where each year they open their doors to anyone in the community who is in need, at no cost to the recipient.

You are invited to hear Dana College organ student Shane Krepp in performance at the Orpheum Theater, 409 South 16th St., Omaha on Sunday, October 28 at 3 p.m. This is a presentation of the River City Theatre Organ Society, and Shane will be the first of several members of the organization to perform on the program.

The program is free, although RCTOS asks that you bring a donation of canned food or a monetary gift for the Omaha food bank

Dana students may attend all our MasterWorks and Chamber concerts at the Omaha Symphony for $10 cash, a student ID, and a completed voucher the day of the show. For more information, click here.

You are all invited to a Chamber After Hours event this Friday, from 5-7 pm, at the new Southern Ridge Development (west of Blair on Hwy 30). The event is sponsored by Washington County Bank, Urban Homes, and Your Home Town Team.