The Murphy Keller Center is the new Education Center planned for next to HQ. The “ground-breaking” ceremony was back in the spring and construction will start this fall. Below are some facts/info.

Quick Facts on the Murphy Keller Education Center

• 15,886 sq ft. mixed-use education center and conference facility ·
• Future gateway to a global village
• Immediate use as exhibit hall, Fair Trade international gift market and conference facility
• Interactive learning center and exhibit space where the public can come to learn about the root causes of hunger, poverty and environmental degradation and the sustainable solutions that Heifer International and others provide to millions of families worldwide
• Conference facility will have space for more than 200 people to gather for seminars, conferences, special events and international celebrations
• The Education Center and Commons area will be a place for local and international staff, partners from around the world, volunteers and visitors to gather to learn from each other as well as seek solutions to major global problems resulting from hunger, poverty and environmental degradation. The Commons will be Heifer’s “town square” with landscaped space for outdoor markets, international festivals and other events.
• Will include a food service area and outdoor tables for dining “al fresco”
• Cost of building construction: $7.5 million; total cost of project: $13.5 million
• Architects: Polk Stanley Rowland Curzon Porter, Architects, Ltd., of Little Roc
• Construction company: CDI Contractors, LLC of Little Rock
• Principal architect: Reese Rowland, who designed Heifer’s headquarters building
• Construction start date: Fall 2007
• Construction completion: 2009

The Murphy Keller Education Center will offer a variety of exhibits to stimulate thinking about hunger, poverty, and the environment.

As a gift from Bill and Margaret Clark of Little Rock, the entrance to the center will introduce visitors to Heifer International: its history, mission, cornerstones, and vision.

In the Global Solutions Gallery, students, teachers, and partners of Heifer International will learn that assumptions and stereotypes of poverty are untrue. Visitors will experience the creative solutions implemented by Heifer and other like-minded organizations to produce an equitable society through Health-Care, Education, Infrastructure, Fair Markets, and Sustainable Agriculture.

The inspirational stories in the Hall of Success will be a reminder that people matter and individuals can make a difference! The Make a Difference Gallery will show visitors just how they too can make difference and help eliminate poverty and hunger.

Area Volunteer Coordinators meet in Goshen

Area Volunteer Coordinators from around the Midwest Region met at the Midwest Regional office on Saturday August 4 to develop strategies for working with volunteer communities in their areas. Attending the meeting were Howard and Wilma Lord and John and Saundra Brockschink Iowa, David Kellogg NE, Robert Reed (Mn), Richard and Mary Alice Ruback (Wi), Al and Nancy Lewis (MI), Gordon and Nancy Spalenka (MI) and Gene Gardner (OH). Staff present were Midwest Director David Boothby, Adminsitrative Assistants Rowena Impey and Margaret Vandal, Northwest Area CRC Chris Quinlan and consultant Nikki Kelly

During the session, the overall mission of Heifer International was reviewed by Dave Boothby and the importance of the volunteer program was emphasized. Dave then presented the emerging plan to develop “volunteer communities” as a means of linking volunteers together for better communication and support. Each volunteer community is headed by an Area Volunteer Coordinator whose role includes recruiting, training and supporting the volunteers in his/her area.

In the afternoon session, Nikki Kelly reviewed the work she has been doing following interviews with each AVC and then working with a task force to develop tools that Coordinators can use to recruit train and keep records of volunteer activity in their area. AVC’s not able to attend the meeting will get a packet of materials from the meeting. Following the afternoon session the group had dinner together at an Amish style restaurant (Das Duchman Essenhaus) in Middlebury. Thanks to all who came and shared their ideas and pledged their support for this new program.