Group By Is Not Returning One Record Per ID

FYI: I'm new to Access, but have some knowledge of SQL and VBA. I'm using Access 2000.
I've looked through past posts to no avail.

I have a form which allows users to supply one or more criteria to subset a
recordset. The "Execute" button on the form kicks off VBA which builds and
runs a SQL statement using the selections made in the form.

The recordset that the SQL runs against can have multiple rows for each
ProjectID -- based on a combination of a couple of fields. For instance, the
following is possible:

ProjectID---StartDate---Employee---ProjectCategory---... <other fields>
1-----------01/01/05---Herman-----App Dvlpmt
1-----------01/01/05---Hortence---Consulting
1-----------01/01/05---Herman-----Consulting
1-----------01/01/05---Hortence----App Dvlpmt

If the user wants to select ProjectIDs where Employee="Herman" -- without
making a selection on ProjectCategory -- I want only one of the two
"Herman" rows above to be returned. And I don't really care which one.
(Similarly if the selection is only on ProjectCategory)

The problem is that, using the code below on the example above, both
"Herman" rows are returned. I've tried numerous approaches -- this being
the most recent. The SQL statement is being built as I expect, and it's executing.
It's just not giving the results I want/expect. Also, I've hardcoded selections
into a stored query similar to the one below, and it works. Any ideas on what am I doing wrong?

Private Sub cmdExecuteQuery_Click()
Dim strSQL As String

strSQL = "SELECT ProjectID, first(ProjectName), " & _
"first(StartDate), first(EndDate), first(ProjectActive), " & _
"first(Sector1), first(Sector2), first(Sector3), first(ClientShortName), " & _
"first(Employee), first(ProjectCategory) " & _
"FROM qryProjectsForReport WHERE (ProjectActive = "
Select Case optStatus
Case 1
strSQL = strSQL & "True) "
Case 2
strSQL = strSQL & "False) "
Case 3
strSQL = strSQL & "True or ProjectActive = false) "
End Select
If Len(cmbCategory) Then strSQL = strSQL & " AND ProjectCategory =
" & cmbCategory
If Len(cmbMember) Then strSQL = strSQL & " AND Employee = " & cmbEmp
If Len(dtStartDate) Then strSQL = strSQL & " AND StartDate >= #"
& dtStartDate & "#"
If Len(dtEndDate) Then strSQL = strSQL & " AND EndDate <= #" &
dtEndDate & "#"
If Len(cmbClient) Then strSQL = strSQL & " AND ClientID= " & cmbClient
If Len(cmbSector) Then
Select Case cmbSector
Case 1
strSQL = strSQL & " AND Sector1 = True"
Case 2
strSQL = strSQL & " AND Sector2 = True"
Case 3
strSQL = strSQL & " AND Sector3 = True"
End Select
End If
strSQL = strSQL & " GROUP BY ProjectID ORDER BY ProjectID;"
MsgBox strSQL
OpenReport strSQL, chkDatasheet

End Sub

Thanks in advance!
DM1968