This week, Joshua McDowell welcomed us into the brand new Welcome Center.  He spoke about the details of the project, then finished with a tour of the new facility (Pictures below).  

 

The construction of the project cost 3.7 million dollars and the facility is around 26,000 square feet.  Students can register at the welcome center no matter what school or age they are attending.  Six Pence and the education branch of Blue River Community Action are also moved into this location.  Included in the building is an area for tech support, several conference and meeting rooms, a board room, and a few 'break out' rooms for sensitive conversations or meetings.  To help the Six Pence program be more successful, and apartment simulation is also built into the center to help volunteers teach home skills for families in a simulated environment, then families can use those skills at home!  

 

It was projected to open at the end of June, but several challenges changed the grand opening date to this past Monday, November 29th.  As far as plans for the old administration building, no decisions have been made, but Josh mentioned it would be easy to do an Elementary expansion since everything is on that block.  Stay tuned for more developments!

 

   

 

Wednesday, December 8th is the Rotary Christmas Party held at Doane University!  It will be in Perry Campus Center just past the cafeteria (overlooking Cassel outdoor theater and the pond) There will be a social half hour from 6-6:30, dinner from 6:30-7:15, and a trivia game with Christmas carols from 7:15-8.  A cash bar is available for interested members, and masks will be required for all attendees.  Payment is requested the night of the event to Jim Johnson (please make checks out to Crete Rotary Club).  If there are any additional questions please reach out to Janelle Snodgrass, and she will get back to you.