Message From McKeever

Friends of McKeever,

I want to take this opportunity to update you on what’s happening at the McKeever Center.

1. McKeever’s Website – I want to thank you for your patience as we move towards providing Hemlock Pathways as an electronic newsletter. We removed your name from our postal mailing list. You will be the first ever to receive Hemlock Pathways as an online newsletter. If you happen to receive a hard copy of the Spring 2012 newsletter, it is because we had a difficult time figuring out who to remove from only an email address. When you signed up for the online newsletter, we did not ask for your name, only your email address. Therefore, we are having trouble matching the email address with the postal mailing address. If you happen to receive a hard copy in the mail, to correct this, you can simply drop us an email with your name and we will make sure to remove you from our postal mailing address.

Our website was developed by Greg Barker, a former SRU student. Greg shares a passion for McKeever and provides us with technical assistance all of the time, at little or no cost. We are trying to manage the site ourselves, but this has always been a difficult task. We are environmental educators, not computer technicians. We just finished the spring 2012 edition of Hemlock Pathways. You should be receiving your online newsletter within one week. Again, thank you for your patience. Once we figure this out, it should go much smoother in the future. This is the first one ever for us.

2. We are putting the final touches on a brand new gift shop at the McKeever Center. It will be ready June 18, 2012. We are expanding the shop to include t-shirts, sweatshirts, hoodies, hats, water bottles, coffee and travel mugs, books, CD’s, tote and field bags, and much more. We now have Earthkeepers and Sunship Earth t-shirts. Please consider supporting this new gift shop. I need to find ways to bring in more revenue; we’re hoping this new gift shop brings in more money.

3. We are nearing the end of our fiscal year. As with many state institutions, we’ll find out about our funding once the state legislature and governor pass that information along to the PA State System of Higher Education (PASSHE). PASSHE will then determine our funding for 2012-13. We will operate as a 9-month facility next year.

In closing, please stay in touch with us. We had a very good year. We appreciate your interest and support. People always ask, “What can I do?” My answer is spread the word. Let people know that the McKeever Center offers exceptional environmental education programs and you can rent the center for all kinds of events and functions. Thank You,