Echad Joining Efforts To Start Something New When the fall semester was still young, word seeped out of a new social club. This seemed to follow the natural flow of events since Delta Omega, a men's club, had disbanded September 16. Death of one social club usually meant the birth of another , but his new club was bound to be different. "Echad?" , people asked. Yes , Echad , and twenty-four students were determined to make it the ve ry first co-ed social club on Harding's campus. Echad was formed by men from . Delta and other interested students. According to Austin Miller , former President of Deltas, the men wanted to form a new service-oriented club, and the idea of adding women to the new club just popped up during discussion. It quickly inflated until they could see no better way of accomplishing their goals toward service . Kimberly Hunter emphasized that better communication would be made possible if both men and women worked together as one unit. Eddie Campbell, Dean of Men, backed this up by saying, "It had some possibilities that might be good for us. Starting this new club wasn't easy. Expected differing opinions on the need for a service-oriented club to be co-ed seemed to overshadow the real intent of the founding members. The students formulated a constitution and eventually obtained the approval of the Student Affairs Committee. They were granted co-ed status on January 22, 1985 by the SAC headed by Dr. Ted Altman, the Vice President of Student Affairs. Sal Marafioti , the president of Echad, expected many rewarding results from the new social club. Echad didn't waste any time in beginning their endeavors as a continuous service club. Plans immediately started for a program to help summer campaigners raise money. This first major project illustrated their purpose in forming the club. Echad coordinated efforts with the Missions Department and conducted a work-a-thon for the students to raise money. The money was raised by asking people to spon- . sor them on an hourly rate to wl>rk. Sponsor sheets were taken home during spring break so students could get donations from their families and home congregations. This enabled them to work for Searcy's elderly at no charge. The work-a-thon spanned over two Saturdays with a chance to work for ten hours. Over 30 students participated in the work-athon , and over $2,500 was raised in the effort. Echad hoped that the campaign work-a-thon would become a Harding tradition . Echad also stressed much spiritual emphasis since Christianity and service go hand in hand. The club shared in devotionals which helped to stengthen and encourage each member . Echad planned on continuing this pattern which they had begun , eventually growing and encouraging others to follow in their footsteps of continued service . t-:iL~ Echad. Front row: Marafioto , Caudle , Newland . Second row: Ford , Dean , Go re . Third row ; Rogers, Morris. Smith . Back row: Bynum. Holder. - photo by James McCreary. Echad 109
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