UNITED WAY SPOTLIGHT:  JOE VAN ANDEL AND SPECIAL 
TRANSIT

In the next several weeks, Staff Notes will be featuring staff members 
who have volunteered for, or been helped by, United WayÐsupported 
agencies in Boulder County.

The Boulder County United Way provides a myriad of services for 
several different segments of the community.  As an example of how 
one of these services works, we spoke with Joe Van Andel, a senior 
software engineer in the Remote Sensing Group of the Atmospheric 
Technology Division.

Last March, Joe, an avid bicyclist, hiker, and computer scientist, found 
himself in a serious bicycle accident involving a drunken driver only 
a few blocks from the Foothills Lab.  In a matter of seconds, Joe's life 
was transformed from one of great independence to one that entailed 
a significant amount of assistance to do the most basic tasks.  He 
suffered leg injuries that left him unable to drive his own car for such 
trips as visiting the doctor, attending physical therapy, getting to 
work, and shopping.  Since he chose to continue his busy schedule 
while rehabilitating from his injuries,  Joe used the Special Transit 
buses extensively.  (You may have seen these white-with-blue-trim 
buses at the library, doctor's offices, shopping centers, and other 
public areas around town.)

Joe says that this United Way - sponsored service enabled him to get 
around and continue working.   The drivers not only help get riders 
on and off the bus at the correct time, says Joe, they also pay special 
attention to their clients' needs.  For instance, if someone has two or 
three doctors to see in a row, Special Transit makes sure that each 
driver knows the location of their offices and the points where the 
Special Transit van is to pick up its client.

As Joe recovers from his ordeal, he has only good things to say about 
the Special Transit buses and how they have helped him keep a near-
normal schedule until he is able to drive his own car.  "The buses are 
punctual, and they're operated by some very helpful drivers that 
understand the special needs of mobility-impaired people."  --David 
Erickson, United Way Committee

This Week's Winners
Each week during this year's campaign, the United Way Committee 
will be drawing names for prizes from among pledge forms returned 
by staff.  This week:

Leeann Fields (COMET) won a massage
David McFarland (ATD) won an NCAR T-shirt
Will Piper (ATD) won Sunday brunch for two at the Oasis Brewery & 
Restaurant
Janice Powell (ACD) won two passes to the Basemar Cinema Saver 
Theater