BLOG particpant list slowly growing

Our BLOG participant list is slowly growing. 60 new invitations were sent out last week and several have accepted the invitation. My busy travel schedule has prevented me from posting new messages very often but I hope the ones that have appeared are interesting and informative to you. Your feedback is helpful so don't be afraid to respond!

Next Newsletter

We are working on the next issue of our Midwest Volunteer newsletter. I'm hoping to get it out by Nov. 1. This issue has more articles from other volunteers (smile). I'll be out of the office most of the rest of this week (going to Florida to celebrate my mom's 90th birday with the family.) Rowena is back in the office from her 3 week vacation in London (her home town) and we are certainly glad to have her back. I sent 60 more invitations to Midwest volunteers to join our BLOG so we should be having increasing activity. If anyone wants to post an article, just send it to me and I'll get it on.

AVC Meeting in Chicago is Huge Success!!

32 Volunteers and staff from the 11-state Midwest Region met at Techny Towers retreat Center (northwest of Chicago) this past weekend to discuss new ways of organizing and supporting our Midwest volunteer network. The idea of creating volunteer "communities" of volunteers led by Area Volunteer coordinators received strong support from the group and many new and innovative ideas on how to recruit, train, motivate, and support volunteers were generated. Rex Enoch and Jan West Schrock from Heifer's education department assisted Midwest staff members, Dave Boothby, Jason Bergmann, Alyson Sowers and Rosemary Larson during the weekend. Kelly Doppelhammer from the Africa program team did a presentation on Heifer's HPI/Aids initiative. Everyone went away from the weekend with new enthousiasm for Heifer and the Midwest Volunteer program.

Wisconsin Volunteer Workshop

A very successful volunteer workshop was held in Stevens Point, WI on Sept. 29th and 30th. 15 attendees were present to hear Midwest Regional Director, David Boothby, update people on the work of Heifer International. Thanks to Jack Curtis and his wife Joan Honl for hosting the event. 5 new volunteers "signed on" following the meeting. Rich and Mary Alice Rubach were presented with 10 year volunteer service pins and Diane Burkholter receivced her 5 yr service pin. The Wisconsin "Read to Feed challenge" was highlighted at the meeting along with presentations about Heifer's field and education programs. Wisconsin Volunteer Coordinator, Mary Alice Rubach talked about the statewide volunteer network and the many events and presntations that volunteers do during the year.

Upcoming workshops

Oct. 6-8 Lead volunteer workshop, Techny, IL

Oct 14 Springfield, IL

Oct 28 Brighton, MI

Oct 28 Nov 12 Georgetown, KY

for more information, contact the Midwest Regional office.