Compiled Interview Questions & Answers from Tammy Nosek (ASCE Turner Project Chair) 

How did you find out about Jennifer’s Dream?

My mother read the article in the newspaper and recognized Jennifer right away.  I actually grew up in Rumford, Maine only a few miles from Jennifer and my family still resides there.  Jen and I went to school together, stayed in Girl Scouts together, went to camp together and even went down the aisle at graduation together!  As soon as my Mother emailed me the article, I called Jen’s Mother to try and get in contact with her.  It has been years since we spoke or even saw each other.  My intention was to reconnect with her and see if there was any way I might be able to help while she waited for the house to be completed. 

(Maiden Name Tammy Milligan, Rumford High School Class of 1988, Daughter of Robert and Diane Milligan of Rumford Point, Maine.  Jennifer Turner, Rumford High School Class of 1988, Daughter or Craig and Lillian Turner of Hanover, Maine)

Why did you decide to propose Jennifer’s project to ASCE?

While conversing with Jen, I kept track of the progress of things with the house situation.  She would tell me the good news of volunteers and grants coming in and it was great!  Then things started to fall apart with finalizing the house design due to the drainage design issues and it became quite apparent that the City and Jennifer were going to need additional resources than I originally thought.   They were going to need engineering volunteers in order to get through the design obstacles and I knew I could get those resources down here in New York and that is why I got ASCE involved.  I knew that my connections to other engineers would allow the momentum to keep going.  I brought it up to the Board Members at the next meeting and they immediately approved the formation of a subcommittee to focus on we now call the “Turner Project”.  Our first intention was to get through the design obstacles with the house, the foundation system as well as the land drainage issues.  Those items are now complete with the volunteer efforts of three engineering companies; Tectonic Engineering & Wilbur Smith Associates, located in New York & GeoDesign, Inc. located in Connecticut.

Once the basic design was completed, our focus then turned to fundraising efforts.  ASCE is a national non-profit organization and that gives us the ability to reach out to many more resources than an individual could possibly handle.  We have sent out over 400 portfolio mailings to date and used local elementary and high school students as volunteers to assemble the packages for mailing.  A lot of church schools require the children to perform some sort of community service during the year and my Stepdaughter Erin came up with the idea and rallied her friends to help.  It is truly amazing how everything has come together.

Why are you committed to it? 

I believe that at some point in everyone’s life they will be presented with an opportunity to help someone else; to be that someone who is able to sway the scale back into the green zone between hope and utter despair.  Some people turn their heads and look away convincing themselves that they cannot help while others look the issue in the eye and know that there has got to be a way that they can lend that helping hand.

Do you do other volunteer work?

Yes, besides the ASCE-Mid Hudson Branch, I am currently active in the Engineering E-Week Organization Committee for the Mid Hudson area.  On a more personal level of volunteering, I am an active Earth Angel for the Angel Flight NE organization and a trained puppy sitter for the Guiding Eyes for the Blind.

Why do you volunteer so much with such a busy schedule? 

I personally believe that there is a common thread that runs through most volunteers and that is how they were raised.  I guess you could say that it is the childhood conditioning of attitudes and how to spend one's time that is the most influential factor in determining if a person will likely volunteer his or her time to the community.  Jen and I grew up in an environment where freely lending assistance when someone was in need was commonplace.  Obviously that is not always the case, but my personal experience has taught me that fact.

I wish more people would come to realize that you do not have to do something luxurious to make a difference in someone’s life; it could be as simple as talking to someone or cleaning out your closets and donating your clothing.  There are actually volunteer organizations out there where all they need you to do is pick up the phone and make a phone call to someone once a day for ½ hour.  Anyone with a phone can do that!  Every time I hear the country song “Moments” sang by Emerson Drive, I can’t help thinking how this situation, although an extreme case, is the “opportunity presenting itself” that I was referring to earlier.  Every person out there can swing the scale, including a homeless man; it is just a matter of recognizing how you can help.

What are some of those things you are talking about?

In the small rural town of Lewiston-Auburn area alone there are many volunteer organizations available to people, including:

http://www.volunteermaine.org/national/index.php retirees and senior volunteer groups.

http://www.volunteermatch.org/search/ you can search by Town or virtual opportunities.

http://www.auburnmaine.org has a volunteer page describing various volunteer committees.

http://www.charity-charities.org/charities/ME/Auburn.html local charities

http://www.angelflightne.org/ Earth Angel volunteers drive children and adults from the local airports to hospital so they can access medical care.

http://volunteer.guidingeyes.org/ Guiding Eyes for the Blind- Volunteer to be a puppy sitter for the weekend or raise a puppy for 16 months!

http://www.cityoflewiston.org/index.asp?NID=148 City of Lewiston Police Department- volunteer to call the disabled/elderly and just say hi!

Local Animal Shelter- volunteer to walk, brush, feed, clean or just play with the animals

Local Nursing Homes- volunteer to visit those who just want to talk or maybe play cards!

Volunteer Firefighter- both social and firematic positions available!

Assisted Living Complexes- volunteer to go visit or bring them to the grocery store or another function they are unable to get to…..bingo, church, etc.