Eighty Northfield residents gathered at St. Olaf College for the launching of the 5th Bridge “Utter Joy” campaign. As a volunteer, donor-focused organization the mission of 5th Bridge is to enhance individual and community life in Northfield by encouraging the habits of volunteerism and philanthropy. 5th Bridge was introduced to the community by its board of nine advisory members in April of this year.
Speaking to a room full of community volunteers from all sects, or “Moo-ers and Shakers,” as identified by the board, 5th Bridge co-founder, Justin Stets, talked about the role 5th Bridge will play in enlarging the circle of those volunteering in Northfield. Stets explained, “If you are ‘plugged into’ Northfield, you can be overwhelmed with opportunities to serve. However, if you are not engaged in or attached to one of the traditional nodes of contact, you are effectively ‘out of the loop’. Our belief is that there are many Northfield residents who are not actively involved in any existing service-oriented delivery channel. They might very well engage if presented the opportunity or the invitation or, they saw names of individuals whom they respected in volunteer action.” Which led to an announcement of the “Utter Joy” campaign by co-founder, Greg Carlson.
The “Utter Joy” campaign endeavors to “make volunteerism a way of life” for all Northfielders and asks pledgers to commit five (5) hours of time per month in service to others. The pledge puts no criteria on the nature or focus of the volunteer service, and counts hours contributed in any community. 5th Bridge has a goal of getting 150,000 hours pledged by the end of 2006, and as added incentive, Carlson Capital Management will match each of the first 10,000 hours pledged with a $1 dollar contribution that will go back into the Northfield community ($10,000). Progress will be tracked with a milk bottle featured on the 5th Bridge website.
Carlson said, “The power of volunteering that we are seeking comes from a transformation, not to the recipient of a generous act (though that is important), but from the changed life of the giver; because, as the giver experiences the ‘Utter Joy’ of their action, they will want to do it again and again…”
5th Bridge Executive Director, Candy Taylor, summed up the leadership’s ambitious vision, “Our goal is to have every man, woman and school-aged child in Northfield volunteering at least five hours per month.”
Though guests at the luncheon event had to tolerate their fair share of cow puns, all was not lost. “I don’t know which I enjoyed more, Jeff Eckhoff’s explanation of how 5th Bridge endeavors to ‘steer youth in a positive right direction,’ or Jennifer Sawyer’s version of the ‘ecowlogy of volunteerism,’” said community volunteer, Emily Monaghan.
