Former SUSA club up for reinstatement

Net Impact, a club formerly recognized under the umbrella of the Smith Undergraduate Student Association (SUSA), will be up for reinstatement next semester after some shakeups behind the scenes.

Net Impact is a chapter at the University of Maryland of "an international non-profit organization with a mission to inspire, educate, and equip individuals to use the power of business to create a more socially and environmentally sustainable world," according to the Net Impact website.

Dylan Benach, formerly a general club member, said that he had been working with Net Impact President Aaron Wertman to get the club back on its feet.

"By the end of the semester, there was just a general lack of communication," Benach said of last spring. Board members were falling off the grid and Wertman had to concentrate on schoolwork. Benach, said the club was dormant – not dead – for that semester.

Daniel Horowitz, one of the founders of Net Impact at University of Maryland, approached Benach this semester about taking control of the club. Since then, they have worked with Wertman to bring Net Impact back.

SUSA President Chris Coraggio (until the Dec. 6 elections) listed the requirements for any club to be recognized as a part of SUSA in an e-mail. Aside from some logistical requirements, every club must have a constitution and 25 active members, be voted on by the presidents of the other clubs and contribute to the SUSA community "as judged by the SUSA executive board."

Benach was confident that the club would meet the requirements. He said it should meet the membership count through former members and a Facebook group with more than 80 people in it. Coraggio also confirmed the approval of the other clubs' presidents.

Benach has been putting together events for Spring 2011. Benach said he's putting together a speaker event with Kevin Hedges of KDH Consulting, an environmental consulting firm that works with companies to provide profitable, green solutions to various problems.

The rebirth of the club makes Net Impact a unique opportunity. "Because its just starting up again, there's plenty of positions available and opportunities to advance through the group quickly," said Benach.