Eastern Cowley County Resource Center

 ECCRC is a 501-C  Non-Profit Community Resource Center in its seventh year of operation.

Eastern Cowley County Resource Center

Serving our local communities with Educational & Social services. ECCRC   PO Box 40, 104 S. Main, Dexter, KS 67038 http://www.freewebs.com/eccrc

eccresourcecenter@yahoo.com    (620) 212-8582

Shown above - Lighthouse erected on site on August 2, 2009.

DONATIONS accepted for the on-site thrift store of gently used household items. To donate, e-mail ECCRC at: eccresourcecenter@yahoo.com

We know that the economy is hard right now & people are lucky & blessed to have any income. We are not soliciting funds at this time but instead ask for your continuing prayers. The Lighthouse Library project is nearing the finish work inside the main library. Other buildings on the site are nearing completion. We are confident once the Treasure Chest thrift store & Grouse Valley Lodge open, they will raise the needed sustaining funds for the project. If all the donated labor & equipment was counted, the project would add up to over $100,000. We raised a total of $35,000 over the past several years and secured a line of credit up to $10,000 for lumber & building supplies at a bank & a lumber yard. The library was built by many $5.00 donations that came with a very nice letter or note of thanks & encouragement. These were priceless & appreciated. We know that one big donation never did come. The miracle is that the library was built on the small donations of many.It was also built by the hard labor of those who stopped by to offer a month, a week, a day, or an hour of help.  Board by board - we built a library together.

ECCRC provides literacy tools for adults & children, Resume writing workshops, job search assistance, Technology Certificate program, computer skills workshops, community food bank & Thanksgiving fox box distribution, E-Bay Workshops, Creative Writing Workshops, AA groups, Grief Support groups,  Job-Loss Support groups, and Case Management services for assistance with GED Preparation, High School online diploma completion programs, and resources for home-school and private school families.

ECCRC's largest community service project is building Lighthouse Library - a community library for the town of Dexter, Kansas. Visit tab information about the project. Includes the Treasure Chest & Grouse Valley Lodge, sustaining projects for the library. Also includes a 25 ft. working lighthouse on the library site. Coming soon - Tiny Heart Chapel - a 24/7 roadside chapel on the site. The courtyard will provide an outdoor family movie theater, Oceanfront Cinema, coming next summer.

Our programs are offered to you free of charge or for a low workshop fee.ECCRC receives no Government funding and these services are made possible by public donations. Pay it forward when you can. THANKS! ECCRC, PO Box 40, Dexter, KS 67038. ________________________________________________________________

To Volunteer for any of the remaining project, call Randy at: (620) 229-3895 or e-mail ECCRC at: eccresourcecenter@yahoo.com   Plumbing project will start  soon. Go to 104 S.Main in Dexter, KS.

A Volunteer Electrician has come forward to wire the Lighthouse Library project & the wiring project has started. A journeyman will assist with the job as will some other volunteers. The Treasure Chest has been wired. The workers will wire the main library next. This is the last major hurdle in completing the building project. The books have been moved from Burden to Dexter. Read the BLOG Tab for the story.

UPDATES: New photos have been added. Check photo tabs for updates.

Words can never express the gratitude to all the volunteers who offered their time and talent to make the Lighthouse Library project and other buildings on the site a reality.

 The 20,000 book collection began the move from Burden, KS to Dexter, KS on August 12, 2009. Half of the books were moved and the other half will be moved on August 13, 2009. The books are being stored in Dexter in a building where space has been donated by the Dexter Outreach Fellowship. This will allow the volunteers to continue to complete the library's interior. The Treasure Chest has been wired and the interior is being completed. The books will be moved to this building soon. (SEE Blog Tab for updates.)

Shown above is the front wall as restored (Old Shadid Store). The antique windows are being restored on top. New windows & door added on bottom sections. See updated photos on photo tabs.

UPDATE: The above missing windows were installed Saturday, Oct. 3, 2009. Ark City Glass was able to match the antique frosted/textured glass almost perfectly. Next, we will paint the trim & the front will be completely restored. Everything behind the front wall shown is new construction. (Click on the Blog Tab for updates.)

Please Note: E-mail address for Micah Norris on Dexter Web page is not correct. Please e-mail Micah about the Dexter City web page at eccresourcecenter@yahoo.com Micah is the Dexter City Webmaster & the volunteer Computer Tech for ECCRC.
DEXTER CITY WEB PAGE: http://skyways.lib.ks.us/towns/Dexter/

Targeted opening for Lighthouse Library - Thanksgiving weekend. Fall computer workshops being scheduled. Writing workshops & retreat - to be announced soon.

FOOD BANK: If you need food, let us know. Our community food bank is available to Dexter residents - or anyone who needs food. Canned food donations accepted. THANKSGIVING FOOD BOX Distribution - Saturday before Thanksgiving. Applicaitons for food start soon. Verification numbers will be given out this year. Turn in when picking up your box. Referrals accepted from any local church or non-profit. Dexter residendents given priority due to funding. Boxes given out according to donations this year. Send applicaitons to: ECCRC, PO Box 40, Dexter, KS 67038. To receive an applicaiton, e-mail: eccresourcecenter@yahoo.com

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JOB LOSS SUPPORT GROUP:

Vent about your job loss. Form an action plan. Meet with like-minded individuals. Non-judgemental group. Many services available. Career Assessments. Resume Writing assistance. Assistance with college entrance or high school diploma completion. Computer skills workshops. eccresourcecenter@yahoo.com to sign up for the group. NO COST. +++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

ECCRC BLOG: Click on BLOG Tab.

Twitter: ECCRCAdvocate

Your continued donations will assure the completion of the many ECCRC Projects. These are difficult financial times for everyone & your financial gifts go 100% to ECCRC programs. ECCRC is run by volunteers with no paid staff. No other organization could appreciate the small donations of $3.00 or $5.00 or $10.00. We understand that in today's economy, it is a huge sacrifice for each donation received. THANK YOU for helping us build a library for our hometown at Dexter, Kansas and for keeping our community food bank open.

THANK YOU to Joe Haggard for his auction service during the ECCRC Benefit Auction. Proceeds go to the Lighthouse Library building project. $1,500 were raised. Also THANK YOU to Rita Krug who served as the bookkeeper. THANK YOU to Hazel Young and Eula Mae Martin for manning the kitchen for the breakfast that morning.

CAR - SILENT AUCTION: We  have a 1989 Blue (original paint) LaBaron with 54,000 actual miles. Was kept in a garage. Runs great!  Car donated to ECCRC for Lighthouse Library fund. To bid on the car, e-mail ECCRC at: eccresourcecenter@yahoo.com and put "CAR BID" in the subject line. 

PLEASE FIX OUR ECCRC VAN: We still need a volunteer to look at our ECCRC Van to get it on the road & working. We need it to haul food for the food bank & to haul books for the library & items for the Treasure Chest Thrift Store. _______________________________________________________________

The Lighthouse Library project, a community library for the small rural Kansas town of Dexter, has been very humbling. Each time things seemed hopeless, an angel appeared in the form of an encouraging letter and a small donation, a neighbor, a hard-working volunteer, a corporation who sent a crew for the day, a business who loaned out equipment or supplies, or someone who donated a delicious  pie to that day's volunteer crew. THANK YOU. You know who each of you are.

 Soon this lighthouse will be set upright on the Lighthouse Library site. A prayer is sent up with each new sunrise until the project is completed. Please join with us in this journey to build a library for our town. UPDATE: The lighthouse is up on the library site.  

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UPDATES ON TWITTER - SHIPWRECKWRITER - http://twitter.com/ShipwreckWriter

ANNOUNCEMENT: Lynn Pettigrew Norris has signed a book contract and has a book coming out soon. The book, WHIPPOORWILL: Journey Through Grief, addresses the subject of loss in many forms. These include Job Loss, Loss of a loved one through death, loss of your health, and many other losses. She tells the story of her loss of a daughter in a wreck.

To reserve your copy of this book, e-mail Lynn at: shipwreck57@yahoo.com  Reserved copies will be signed by the author. Book signings will be announced as scheduled.

Lynn started a Diploma Completion Program that is in three counties in Kansas and she served as the Education Specialist in Wichita for the Mental Health Association of South Central Kansas where she developed and implemented the Education program for that large association. She is a licensed Secondary English Teacher and serves as the Director of ECCRC. She has taught college English courses at Cowley College, KS and at Wayne College, NC. She serves as the Editor/Publisher of the ADVOCATE . Lynn is currently completing a second manuscript,  Get Your College Degree: A Non-Traditional Approach. A portion of the proceeds from Lynn's writing projects go to help fund ECCRC. Follow her on Twitter as: ShipwreckWriter.

E-mail Lynn at shipwreck57@yahoo.com for more information.

 To have your business featured here, please e-mail ECCRC with details of something new that you are doing for our local communities.  Photos welcome. Send to: eccresourcecenter@yahoo.com No fee for publication on web page.

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Click on Side Tabs for ECCRC program information & updates.

EXCITING SUMMER For ECCRC

This summer ECCRC hopes to open their doors to portions of the Lighthouse Library project in Dexter, KS. The Grouse Valley Lodge is nearing completion & summer reservations are being booked. In addition to the lodge, ECCRC has access to RV sites and tent camper sites. These new travel-stay options will be available in the future. One RV site will be available as soon as mid-June, 2009 along with limited tent camping. Proceeds go 100% back into ECCRC projects. For more information or to reserve a room in th lodge or RV site, e-mail ECCRC at: eccresourcecenter@yahoo.com

This summer we hope to accomplish the following:

• OPEN GROUSE VALLEY LODGE
• Erect the 25-Ft. Working Lighthouse on the site. AUGUST 2,2009
• Start accepting reservations for RV Site & Tent Camping
• Open TREASURE CHEST Thrift Store - Donations of quality household items and gently used clothing are currently being accepted. This susataining project helps fund Lighthouse Library & the ECCRC Community Food Bank & Thanksgiving Food Box Distribution. Open in time for Back-To-School Shopping & Vacation shopping.
• Seal in Lighthouse Library Building & move 20,000 book collection onto the site
• Annual Neighbor's Grief Support Group Summer Picnic - Burden City Park

By Early Fall - Join Us In the Following:

• Writer's Conference  -  Three-day event - Learn Creative Writing skills and meet several published writers, guests and speakers for the conference. Check back for more information. We hope to use the glass meeting room for this event. Registration information, cost, speakers, and conference workshops to be announced.
• Computer Workshops - Learn Computer Skills - Sixth Year of providing these workshops to others.
• Continue Job-Loss Support Group  - e-mail ECCRC to request more information.
• Sponsor Third Annual Freedom Flight - Dexter City Park (Click on Freedom Flight Tab on left for more information.
• Host Benefit Breakfast - Fourth Annual - During Blackdog Festival, Dexter - Biscuits & Gravy, Pancakes, Sausage, & more. No Charge - Freewill donation.

By Winter - Come out & help us accomplish the following:

• Work on Oceanfront Cinema until we get frozen out - Brrrr!
• Work on interior library painting projects & other finish work.
• Build bleachers to seat 35 (a good indoor shop project).
• Work out building outdoor furniture for the Cabana. The Cabana is the name for the refreshment area dedicated for the Dolalar Family Movie Nights. The Cabana will provide popcorn & a summer fruit punch drink at each outdoor movie shown.
• Continue the book cataloging project (great winter project!!).
• Host Christmas In The Valley Open House - 1st Sat. in December
• Host Winter Writer's Conference - Before mid-December in time to provide instructions on creating a literary Christmas gift. "Joys of Journaling".  Look for reservation information since there is limited space for participants at this fun conference. 2-Day event.
• Children's Christmas Vacation Book Club. A mother's day out book club. Drop your child off for this day-camp while you are freed up for time to Christmas shopping. The club will be held directly before Christmas. Check back for exact date & more information. The fireplace in the glass meeting room will be fired up. Children will join Mrs. Claus and some of the Elves for this fun-filled Day Camp. Children will creat a gift for someone special while at the camp. Small fee to cover craft supplies, and educatinoal materials. Limited group size. E-mail ECCRC for more information and to place your child on the waiting list. Children ages four to twelve are welcome. Older children and youth may apply to become volunteer/helpers.

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See what the media is saying about ECCRC Projects:

Winfield Courier: http://www.winfieldcourier.com/main.asp?Search=1&ArticleID=29370&SectionID=1&SubSectionID=&S=1

Ark City Traveler Articles: http://www.google.com/search?q=lighthouse+library&hl=en&domains=www.arkcity.net&sitesearch=www.arkcity.net&filter=0

Sites for Beccy Tanner, Wichita Eagle - "Out of the Rubble - A Library For Dexter" article: http://www.google.com/#hl=en&q=out+of+the+rubble%2C+a+library+for+dexter%2C+wichita+eagle&fp=1

Check out our area shopping. "Shop till you drop" in our own area!!! Check out the possibilities at: http://www.ecccok.com/

Visit Black Dog Web Page at: http://www.blackdogfestival.net/

Visit Dexter, Kansas at: http://www.skyways.kumc.edu/towns/Dexter/index.html

Visit Cambridge, Kansas at: http://skyways.lib.ks.us/towns/Cambridge/index.html

Visit Burden, Kansas at: http://skyways.lib.ks.us/towns/Burden/

Visit Atlanta, Kansas at: http://skyways.lib.ks.us/towns/Atlanta/index.html

The Tisdale community is part of Rural Eastern Cowley County. Tisdale Methodist Church has a great web site. Visit it at: http://www.gbgm-umc.org/tisdale/