By Cathy Weaver

Working as a volunteer with poor children at The Place inspired Nancy Dinka to accept the position as the new director of Rural Social Services in Cumming, Ga.

Miss Dinka, a 31-year-old graduate of the University of Florida, became director of The Place October 5.

Rural Social Services, better known as The Place, is a division of Catholic Social Services of Atlanta and is the only comprehensive social service provider in Forsyth County. Its mission is to listen compassionately to those deprived of basic needs and together with them find creative ways to alleviate their suffering.

RSS offers programs which include emergency assistance, parenting classes, a medical fund, cash match fuel fund, food pantry, elderly assistance, thrift shop, Hispanic outreach and the youth enrichment program in which Miss Dinka was first a volunteer.

During the summer, Miss Dinka spent time weekly taking local kids to the lake and helping with other activities to help build the children's self-esteem.

The program is one in which young adult role models plan and supervise enrichment activities to such places as the High Museum and the Theatre of Puppetry Art. The children are invited on hiking trips, picnics and seasonal parties.

"It was wonderful how loving the kids were," she said. "I got so much out of it every week. It was so rewarding to see the kids open up over the course of the summer."

Miss Dinka has a bachelor's degree in psychology and received her master's degree with a specialization in community counseling from the University of Florida. Upon completing graduate school, she worked in Gainesville, GA, as manager of a consulting service program and then as director of the employee assistance program at a local hospital.

Miss Dinka then served as director of the counseling center of Charter-Peachford also in Gainesville. She built the program from the ground up, developing programs and marketing them to the community.

Miss Dinka became the case management director for Big Brother/Big Sister of Metro Atlanta. Her job included supervising 10 case managers who screened volunteers, interviewed parents and children, and matched them.

Miss Dinka is the first lay person to hold the position of director of Rural Social Services. She succeeds Sister Kathryn Cliatt, OP, one of the foundresses of The Place.

Sister Cliatt was recently elected prioress of the Mid-Atlantic chapter of the Adrian Dominican Sisters. Although she has given up her position as director of RSS, she will remain a north Georgia resident.

Sister Cliatt spent time with Miss Dinka, introducing her to key supporters of The Place in the community. "She has given me a good orientation of the background of the various programs at The Place," says Miss Dinka.

Miss Dinka's responsibilities include overseeing the administration of the present programs, managing the budget, supervising staff and professional staff development.

The director's job will also entail determining programs needed by low-income families in Forsyth County and seeking staffing and funding for these future programs.

Miss Dinka also participates as a member of the program directors' council, which is part of the managerial team of CSS. She will also give presentations to parishes throughout north Georgia and various Protestant churches to seek support for RSS programs.

Miss Dinka is the staff member who works with the Board of Consultors, which raises money for The Place through community fundraisers.

Miss Dinka reports to the executive director of CSS, Steve Brazen, who will be leaving his position on December 14.

"One of the reasons Miss Dinka was hired is because of her strong management background with her rural experience," says Brazen. "Another reason is that she works well with staff."

"I'm looking forward to seeing her expand on the work that Sister Kathryn did," Brazen commented.

A key staff person at The Place, Sister June Raciot, OP, served as acting director of RSS during the three-month interim period. She was one of the foundresses of The Place and has been a part of the staff for 17 years.

Assistant director of The Place, she coordinates specific programs such as youth enrichment and parenting, oversees intake staff and community service workers, coordinates volunteers, emergency assistance programs and is in charge of maintenance and grounds among other duties.

"She has been a wonderful support to me as well as a confidante," Miss Dinka commented. "She is a real backbone here."

Miss Dinka says that her first goal as director of The Place is to "try and learn as much as I can about what we do here. I've been here a month and still have a lot to learn."

"My second step is to build relationships with all the staff members so as to have a sense of unity among us," she says.

The staff consists of 12 people who take on various roles such as managing the Thrift Shop, outreach to Hispanics, administrative duties and cooking for the clients. Some staff are paid while others are volunteers.

"I am aware that it is hard on staff members to adjust to a new director," Miss Dinka commented. "I need to give everyone time to adjust."

Finally, she hopes to make the best use of The Place's resources.

"It's exciting to me to be working in a position that is openly a ministry," Miss Dinka said.

Miss Dinka is a member of All Saints parish in Dunwoody, which is also her hometown. She has been a youth group volunteer in the parish.