Heifer in Phoenix

Blog Action Day 2011: Food

2011-10-16T13:02:00.000-07:00

You may be thinking, "What's Blog Action Day?" Well, bloggers around the world band together and for one day, they blog about one topic. The topic this year is food. Various writers for Heifer's main blog have written posts for this year, but this is the one that caught my eye and heart. Read Brooke Edwards post entitled, "Waste Not, Want Not: Stop Wasting Food" here.

Goodbye to Summer!

2011-10-03T21:05:00.000-07:00

Hello! As summer winds down, Heifer Phoenix starts to come back to life again. Look for changes and get ready to staff a booth in early November! More details will come soon.

Volunteer Spotlight

2011-04-16T17:53:00.000-07:00

Our monthly feature is back after a hiatus! This month's spotlight is on Paul Hopkins. He will soon be our new Phoenix Area Volunteer Coordinator!

What is your favorite Heifer animal and why? I would have to say it is the cow. Seeing first-hand how it miraculously changes family groups and villages, I am impressed by the versatility and sustainability.

What favorite world-food recipe would you like to share? Favorites include cooking from India and Thailand. Mostly curries that incorporate Peanut Butter......

What is your most inspiring Heifer moment? While visiting a village in Zambia, a grandmother appreciated our work so much that she laid down on the ground face down, arms outstretched and prayed before our feet. I cried uncontrollably. She received was a calf from passing on the gift.

What other organizations do you volunteer for? Human Rights Campaign, NPR/KJZZ, University Learning Center - Haiti, Colonial Williamsburg.

If you could meet one person, who would it be and why? Madeleine Albright. A strong woman that promotes negotiations, plain speak and embodies global citizenship.

Volunteers Needed--04/30/11!!

2011-04-16T17:45:00.000-07:00

Hello! Volunteers are needed for the following event. Please email us immediately if you are interested in working this.

What: Arizona Science Center's Global Awareness Day (it's like their version of Earth Day)

When: Saturday, April 30, 2010

Time: event runs from 11a-4p; if you'll be setting up/taking down, you'll need to be a little earlier/later

Place: Arizona Science Center (downtown Phoenix)

This is a GREAT opportunity to talk about the "caring for the Earth" part of Heifer's mission statement.

CANCELLED 04/02/11 Volunteer Meeting

2011-03-31T12:41:00.000-07:00

The Volunteer Meeting scheduled for Saturday, April 2, 2011 has been cancelled.

Show you're WiLD in Spring!

2011-03-28T22:45:00.000-07:00

Spring is the season to Pass on the Gift to Heifer's WiLD projects! What does that mean, you ask?? Spring 2011 is the time to help Heifer empower Women in Livestock Developement (WiLD). Be creative and fun with finding new ways to support Heifer! Want to see some ideas that others have had? Click here! Be sure to add your own idea to the Calendar on that site; you might inspire someone else with your idea! Think about this as a great symbol for Mother's Day, too. Most importantly, remember that whatever idea you come up with is one that will change the lives of women and their families.

They'll do their part, but you have to do your's first - TAKE ACTION!

Join Heifer and Stand Up for the Needs of the Poor and Hungry

2011-03-22T19:36:00.000-07:00

In addition to donating to Heifer, have you ever wondered how you can take a stand in support of those that Heifer helps?? Now, you’ve got a chance!!

In the near future, the U.S. Congress will be voting on a budget that includes cuts to critical humanitarian and development programs that save millions of lives every year. Click here to read more about this and the actions you can take, like contacting your lawmakers or writing letters to the editor of your local newspaper. Voices like ours are what create change for those that seem voiceless; I’d hope that someone would stand up for me if the position was reversed---wouldn’t you? Action is just a couple of clicks away!

Reminders!

2011-03-21T19:14:00.000-07:00

-Saturday, April 2, 2011: Quarterly Volunteer Meeting, Palo Cristi Presbyterian Church, Paradise Valley, AZ. See the Calendar below (right side/corner of your screen) for address and time and RSVP by emailing us.

-Saturday, April 9, 2011: Gilbert Global Village Festival--VOLUNTEERS NEEDED! Email us if you're interested in helping out.

Volunteer Spotlight

2011-02-26T09:00:00.000-08:00

This month's Volunteer Spotlight is on Dean S.

What is your favorite Heifer animal and why? A GOAT provides sustenance, friendship, and entertainment.

What book/movie inspired you recently and why? The book CUTTING FOR STONE provided wonderful insight reference Ethiopia (I met Haile Selassie) and more importantly showed that knowledge of fact and true history may lead to forgiveness.

What is your secret passion? My passion is travel and is no secret. It is true that the world is an oyster waiting to be revealed and opening that clam shows a world population differentiated only by the circumstance into which they are born. Actually, I guess, the idea of sharing the wealth is my passion!

What other organizations do you volunteer for? The Phoenix Zoo where I do behavior observations and am a host at Monkey Village satisfies my compassion for animals in a totally relaxed and invigorating environment.

What keeps you volunteering for Heifer? Heifer provides an avenue for fulfilling my real passion, mentioned above. World peace and understanding, I believe, can only be realized by caring and sharing. I know that Heifer shares this view.

Editorial comment: Heifer Phoenix thinks the photo Dean submitted of himself (above) doesn't show enough of his personality, so we're including an additional photo of him at one of our events...

Study Tours for Educators

2011-02-19T11:11:00.000-08:00

Photo courtesy of Stacy Ventola

Do you know any teachers that might be interested in going on a Heifer Study Tour? They need to submit applications soon. These are fabulous experiences to see Heifer's work in-person.

Apply for a Heifer Study Tour for Educators and prepare for a life-changing experience.
These one-week tours, led by Heifer staff, provide an inspiring, first-hand look at the work of Heifer International in Honduras. The trip gives participants the opportunity to become immersed in the cultures and lives of Heifer project participants, witness the root causes of hunger and see Heifer’s approach to sustainable development in action. Ultimately participants come away knowing how they can motivate their students to help build a better world.

Read Lily's Blackboard to hear how Lily Eskelsen, Vice President of the National Education Association, was impacted by her recent Study Tour to Honduras.

In order to qualify as a candidate for consideration, all applicants must complete the Heifer Study Tour for Educators application and return it by March 18.

Summer 2011 Trip Dates:
June 15-23, 2011
June 23-July 1, 2011

Heifer Study Tours for Educators trains participants to develop leadership roles in their local Heifer School Programs. Some pre- and post- trip commitments are expected of all participants. Continuing Education Credit (CEU) is available.

A grant from Heifer International pays for international air transportation, land transportation within the given country, accommodations and meals as well as resource materials for teachers, administrators and other educators. All participants are responsible for their own transportation to and from the U.S. departure city.

To learn more, review our frequently asked questions or complete our contact form.

Year of the Rabbit

2011-02-06T09:51:00.001-08:00

Happy New Year!

Belatedly, that is. February 3, 2011 marked the Chinese New Year celebration and this year is the year of the rabbit. How about ensuring prosperity through abundance by giving gifts of rabbits through Heifer International to ring in the new year? (We all know how rapidly rabbits can become abundant!) Read more about how Heifer's gifts of rabbits help families around the world by clicking here.

(Photo by Jake Lyell and originally appeared on The Official Blog of Heifer International on Friday, April 16, 2010, in a post entitled Kids and Animals.)

Heifer Phoenix-Upcoming Events!

2011-01-30T18:49:00.001-08:00

Here's some of what Heifer Phoenix has going on over the next couple of months. (Hint: for some of these events, more info is on our Calendar at the bottom right of the blog.)

-Fountain Hills Great Fair, Friday, February 25 - Sunday, February 27, 2011. Volunteers are needed for this event so please let us know if you are able to help. Email us by clicking here.

-Tucson Festival of Books, Saturday, March 12 - Sunday, March 13, 2011. All right, this one is actually Heifer Tucson's event, but if you are able to help them out with some volunteering, email them by clicking here and let them know!

-Volunteer Meeting, Saturday, April 2, 2011. This will again be held at Palo Cristi Presbyterian Church, in Paradise Valley, AZ.

-Gilbert Global Village Festival, Saturday, April 9, 2011. Volunteers are needed for this event, so please let us know if you are able to help. Email us by clicking here.

Don't forget that April is Passing on the Gift month! What WiLD event are you planning? Be sure to let us know! Don't know what we're talking about? Check it out here!

Report: Small-Scale Farming Best Cure for World Hunger

2011-01-30T18:35:00.000-08:00

Did you read this post on The Heifer Blog? Well, I'm re-posting it here because it is definitely worth reading. It originally appeared on their blog on January 17, 2011 and was posted by Donna Stokes, World Ark managing editor.

**********************************************************

Check out this article in the UK's Guardian newspaper on the results of the Worldwatch Institute's State of the World report.
By Nidhi Prakash
The key to alleviating world hunger, poverty and combating climate change may lie in fresh, small-scale approaches to agriculture, according to a report from the Worldwatch Institute.
The US-based institute's annual State of the World report, published Jan. 12, calls for a move away from industrial agriculture and discusses small-scale initiatives in sub-Saharan Africa that work towards poverty and hunger relief in an environmentally sustainable way.
The authors suggest that instead of producing more food to meet the world's growing population needs, a more effective way to address food security issues and climate change would be to encourage self-sufficiency and waste reduction, in wealthier and poorer nations alike.
"If we shift just some of our attention away from production to consumption issues and reducing food waste, we might actually get quite a big bang for our buck, because that ground has been neglected," said Brian Halweil, co-director of the project.
"The majority of incentives that governments give to farmers are still tied to the production mindset. The farmers are rewarded for sheer production quantity, with very little guidance for the quality they produce and the impact of their farming practices on the environment and on human health and nutrition ... It is necessary to change these incentives," he said.
The projects explored in the report include community-based initiatives in urban farming, school gardening and feeding programmes, and indigenous livestock preservation.
In Kenya's largest slum, in Nairobi, local women are growing vertical gardens in sacks, providing them with a source of income but also an element of food security for their families.
"They sell their produce and also consume part of what they grow," said Danielle Nierenberg, Halweil's co-director.
"As we talk about all these innovations, it's important to remember that farmers aren't just farmers: they're businesswomen and -men, they're stewards of their land and they're educators passing on their knowledge to others in their communities," she said.

To read more about Nierenberg's year of research in sub-Saharan Africa (shown at right at a Heifer Rwanda project), see our World Ark interview with her in the current issue.
Also look for more insights here after a visit to Heifer International headquarters by Nierenberg in early February.
Photo courtesy Worldwatch's Nourishing the Planet.

Chandler Multicultural Festival

2011-01-29T17:20:00.000-08:00

Saturday, January 15, 2011 was another great day for us at the Chandler Multicultural Festival! This was our 6th year participating and while we were again goat-free, a great time was had by all!

Volunteers Needed and Meeting Reminder

2011-01-09T09:47:00.000-08:00

Calling all Heifer Phoenix volunteers!! Two important dates that need your participation:

Saturday, January 15, 2011: Chandler Multicultural Festival. VOLUNTEERS ARE STILL NEEDED FOR THE HOURS OF 1P-4P. Click here to email us ASAP if you will cover these hours.

Saturday, January 22, 2011: Volunteer Meeting.
Time: 9:30a.m. - 11a.m.
Where: Palo Cristi Presbyterian Church, 3535 E. Lincoln Dr., Paradise Valley AZ 85253 - in the North Classroom. (The church is on the southwest corner of Lincoln Dr. and 36th St./Palo Cristi Rd. The entrance is on 36th St./Palo Cristi Rd., *not* Lincoln.)

RSVPs are requested for the meeting so please email us no later than Wednesday, 01/19/11. (Click here to send email.)

Heifer Experience Video Contest - Vote Now!!

2011-01-08T09:58:00.000-08:00

Remember the Heifer Experience Video Contest that we told you about in our 11/17/10 post?? Well, the entries are in and are awaiting your votes, but you have to hurry: the voting deadline is this week, January 14, 2011!

Click here to watch the videos, then cast your vote! (Technical note: you'll need a YouTube account to vote but that's easy to do.)

Christmas and Beyond!

2010-12-19T18:44:00.001-08:00

Heifer in Phoenix will take a little rest over the next ten days, but we wanted to give you some nuggets to tide you over!

Yesterday, Tracy and Heather finished up 5 days of volunteering this month, a combined total of 33 hours! Two nights at Barnes and Noble and three mornings at the Downtown Phoenix Public Market--whew! (It's a good thing they like each other!) Their time at the Market would not have been possible without Cindy Gentry. Thank you Cindy!!

Let us know how you've helped Heifer during this holiday season; we'd love to hear your stories about what Heifer gifts you chose and why!

Did you hear any of the Heifer ads on NPR this month? Heather said she did and it was fun every time, as well as when she and Tracy met some folks at the Market who'd heard them too.

Did you watch "Nourish: Food+Community" on Channel Eight yesterday? (Or maybe you recorded it...it was on at 5 a.m. after all!) Heifer International was a major sponsor, so if you missed it, consider the DVD. (Check out the link above for info.)

If none of those apply to you, don't despair! :) January 15 is the Chandler Multicultural Festival and once again (this will be our 7th year!), we'll have a booth. Volunteers are needed!! Also, our next volunteer meeting will be January 22 at Palo Cristi Presbyterian Church (like last time). (See the Blog Calendar for times.)

Happiest, deepest wishes to you all. Thank you for helping to make Heifer International's work possible.

Volunteers Needed!

2010-11-28T15:48:00.001-08:00

We've once again been given the fantastic opportunity to have a table at the Downtown Phoenix Public Market for the first three Saturdays in December!

We need experienced volunteers to setup at 7:30 a.m. and staff the table during Market hours of 8:00 a.m.-1:00 p.m. (If you are not experienced but would like to "shadow" an experienced volunteer, please let us know that too.) It would be best to have two volunteers on each date. Please email us by clicking here if you can help.

Unique Ways To Give Heifer Gifts

2010-11-26T14:41:00.000-08:00

As "they" say, "the season of giving is upon us." Here are some unique ways to include Heifer Int'l in your giving.

-Give a Heifer Int'l catalog to your friends/colleagues/family, with a letter explaining why you'd rather receive Heifer Int'l gifts instead of the usual fare. (You could also include the link to the Heifer Int'l website if you don't have catalogs or want to save on postage.) Volunteer Julie offers her copy of such a letter here. I (Heather) also did something similar several years ago and feel it opened the eyes, minds, and hearts of both me and the people I care about in ways I never foresaw.

-As suggested in the Holiday 2010 issue of the World Ark, set aside a certain percentage of your holiday get-together budget and donate that money instead. As the article says, "you--and your guests--will be surprised at how little the 'cutback' affects your own party, as well has how much satisfaction you all get out of the small sacrifice."

-Have a raffle at your holiday party where anyone making a donation receives a raffle ticket for a prize.

-Include a "12 Stones" viewing in your holiday festivities. It's an eye-opening documentary and is short (about 20 minutes) so it still leaves plenty of time for partying! :)

-Ask for donations in lieu of "hostess gifts."

(These last suggestions are courtesy of volunteer Monica, who is incorporating them into her own gathering!)

Heifer Experience Video Contest

2010-11-17T20:12:00.000-08:00

Heifer International is asking, "Why give a Heifer gift this holiday season?" Create a video telling why you should give a Heifer gift this holiday season and the winner receives a trip to see Heifer's work first hand!! Go to www.heifer.org/contest for details!

Adopt-an-Event

2010-11-06T11:35:00.001-07:00

What's this, you ask? We are asking you to "take ownership" of some of the fantastic, annual events that we participate in. We had one brave volunteer accept the responsibility for the Gilbert Global Village that will be in April 2011 and we need one more for the Chandler Multicultural Festival in January 2011.

If you think you are interested in this, please email us by clicking here and we will send you the "job description!"

Volunteer Spotlight

2010-11-06T11:04:00.000-07:00

This month's volunteer spotlight is on Karen Cook (seen below with her husband, Dan).

What is your favorite Heifer animal and why? The bee. They are industrious, beautiful, produce honey (mmmm, good!) and they're responsible for helping make our world more interesting.

What is your secret passion? It wouldn't be a secret if I told you!

What is your most inspiring Heifer moment? It was when my 8-year old granddaughter worked at our booth at the Chandler Multicultural Festival. She took over the wheel that explained the percentages of the world's population that has enough/not enough/too much food, and had adults and children alike hanging on her every word. It made me realize that children are capable of understanding what needs to be done to help the people of the world, which was just what I needed that day to dispel some of my fears about the future. If an 8-year old can 'get' it, there is hope!!!

What keeps you volunteering for Heifer? My commitment to making life easier for the people of the world who have not had my good fortune. I was born to a working class American couple, who provided me with a decent house, enough food, and made sure I graduated from college. I did the same for my two children and wish those things for others.

Tell us anything else you think we should know about you! I've written a novel, which I'm shopping to agents, and one of them has asked to see the entire manuscript (which is HUGE); I'm happily married to Dan; I have two children, two step-children, and six grandkids, and I love to spend time with them; I'm crazy about our Wire Fox Terrier (Rollie) who is now 13 and who has been a wonderful companion all those years. Also -- and perhaps most importantly -- my favorite job is teaching, which is why I like to volunteer with Heifer.

We're on Facebook now!

2010-10-30T13:42:00.000-07:00

That's right---join our group, Heifer In Phoenix. (Don't forget the "in" or, just click on the link in the title above!)

Catching Up and Volunteers Needed

2010-10-30T12:33:00.000-07:00

Thank you everyone who came to our meeting last Saturday. It was a great gathering and we appreciate everyone taking some time out of their Saturday to discuss Heifer Phoenix's efforts.

Recent events:
-A table at the Fountain Hills Volunteer Expo, staffed by Jeff and Judy. They signed up 7 new volunteers!
-A table at the Arizona Social Studies Conference, at ASU West, staffed by Peggy and Chuck. They signed up 28 teachers who will receive Heifer's free educational resources!

Upcoming events:
-Fountain Festival of Arts & Crafts, in Fountain Hills, AZ. This three-day event (11/12-11/14) draws hundreds of thousands of people and is a unique opportunity for us. We still need help staffing this. If you have some experience and are interested in covering a shift, please email Jeff W. by clicking here. If you're new, you may still be able to "shadow" a more experienced volunteer (if you can be flexible with your time), so please let Jeff know that too.

We also need you to discover new opportunities for spreading the word about Heifer International. Is there a farmer's market in your area? Do you know about any alternative gift markets going on? Talk to them about having a table there; we can supply you with materials and possibly some additional volunteers. Are you willing to host a viewing of the documentary "12 Stones"? The viewing can be as simple or lavish as you choose, but it's a nice way to pass on the gift of Heifer's work as we head into the fall and winter holiday season.

Heifer International's New CEO

2010-10-28T13:36:00.000-07:00

Heifer International selected their new CEO today, Pierre Ferrari. "New CEO sees Heifer's brand as a ‘love mark'—doing what's right for others" Learn about him here.

Little Rock - National Heifer U for AVCs

2010-10-24T12:57:00.000-07:00

Heifer Phoenix's co-Area Volunteer Coordinators (AVCs) Tracy and Heather, recently attended the first National Heifer U for AVCs, held at Heifer International's headquarters in Little Rock, AR.

There were 92 (out of 130!) AVCs in attendance from all parts of the country: Hawaii, Alaska, Maine, Florida and all points in between. Some are very new and others have been helping Heifer since the beginning. (There was an actual, "sea-going cowboy" there!)

It was a trip that renewed Tracy and Heather's dedication to volunteering for Heifer International and they hope to be able to pass that on to you! They were able to tour Heifer's headquarters, the Heifer Village, as well as Heifer Ranch, in Perryville, AR. One of the recurring questions of the weekend was, "What nourishes you as a volunteer?" This is a good question for you to ask yourselves too; let Tracy and Heather know how they can help support you. Here are some of Heather's photos from the trip.

10/23/10 - VOLUNTEER MEETING

2010-10-01T18:32:00.000-07:00

Calling all Heifer Phoenix volunteers!! This is as close as we've ever come to a "mandatory" meeting. Please do your very best to attend this important meeting!

Date: Saturday, 10/23/10
Time: 9:30a.m. - 11a.m.
Where: Palo Cristi Presbyterian Church, 3535 E. Lincoln Dr., Paradise Valley AZ 85253 - in the North Classroom. (The church is on the southwest corner of Lincoln Dr. and 36th St./Palo Cristi Rd. The entrance is on 36th St./Palo Cristi Rd., *not* Lincoln.)

This meeting is for us to discuss:
--Fall and Winter Holiday events
--Adopt-an-Event details
--the future of Heifer Phoenix

(Have we piqued your curiousity yet??) Please RSVP by emailing us no later than Wednesday, 10/20/10. (Click here to send email.)

Volunteer Spotlight

2010-10-01T18:31:00.000-07:00

This month's spotlight is on Monica Michelizzi.What is your favorite Heifer animal and why? My favorite Heifer animals are baby chicks because they are easy to give (only $20) and they have a big impact.

What favorite world-food recipe would you like to share? My favorite world-food recipe is for hazelnut mole. It has raisins, apples, plantains, guajillo chilis - and hazelnuts. I make it in a wok because the wok keeps the hazelnuts from getting too hot. I use it traditionally with chicken - but I also use it as a sauce for shrimp. I love that recipe.

What is your secret passion? My secret passion is that I would love to be a chef.

What Heifer goals can we support you in? One of my Heifer goals is to do more public speaking.

What's on your nightstand? On my nightstand is a Frommer's guide book for Argentina and Chile - I would like to see Patagonia.

"12 Stones" Success!

2010-10-01T18:27:00.000-07:00

A heart-felt "thank you" to everyone who attended our recent "12 Stones" viewing! Hopefully, we'll see you again as volunteers for Heifer Phoenix! :)

"12 Stones" Viewing & Volunteer Meeting!

2010-09-01T21:00:00.000-07:00

Happy September!

We hope to see you at the next Volunteer Meeting and 12 Stones viewing, on Saturday, September 18. See the flyer below for details. Please come and invite anyone you think might be interested! RSVP requested by 09/15/10; click here to do so.

(Hint: click on the image above, then click again on the new "page" to enlarge.)

On a separate note, we are excited to once again have a table at the Arizona Science Center's Back to School Resource Fair on Saturday, September 11. If you know any teachers that will be attending, tell them to stop by and check out Heifer's fabulous, FREE, global education materials!

New Feature: Volunteer Spotlight

2010-08-29T23:06:00.001-07:00

In an effort to help you "meet" each other, we are starting a Volunteer Spotlight. Our first volunteer is Laure N.What is your favorite Heifer animal and why? My favorite Heifer animal would have to be the cow, because I grew up on a Dairy Farm in North Dakota, and it was those cows (and my parents of course), who put all 10 of us kids through Catholic school plus college. Not to mention taught us what real work was. I love watching the Heifer videos and seeing how much the Heifer recipients appreciate and love their animals, knowing they are their life-line.

What book/movie inspired you recently and why? A movie that inspired me recently was "The Blind Side." I just think it was so amazing how that family reached out to Michael Orr and just took him in and made him a part of their family. If more people cared like that, instead of just being so selfish and greedy, I think everyone would be so much better off.

What other organizations do you volunteer for? St. Joseph the Worker (they assist the Homeless in helping them find jobs-I teach a job-readiness workshop, help with their fundraiser "Hike for the Homeless," plus other things as needed). I teach Financial Education classes for Arizona Saves. I mentor a young woman in the "Helping Hands for Single Moms" organization. I volunteer at St. Paul's Catholic Church with the youth group, coordinating volunteer outreach opportunities, and am active with the Social Justice Group.

Laure's picture above (pretending to hold up a huge rock during her rim-to-rim Grand Canyon hike this summer), tells you even more about her and her husband, Brad: they love being out-doors and being active, like hiking, cycling, running, and they have a good sense of humor!

Summer in Phoenix

2010-07-04T17:28:00.000-07:00

Howdy!
Part of coping with summer life in Phoenix is looking ahead to when summer is over and that is no different here on the Heifer Phoenix blog!

We wanted to let you know about a cool read and some opportunities:

-Cool read: a blog by Heifer staff with very interesting, diverse posts; check it out when you have some time: www.heiferblog.org
-Quarterly volunteer gathering will be on Saturday, 09/18/10. More details will come as we get closer to the date, but pencil us in for now!
-West Valley volunteer opportunity: We've been invited to have a booth/table at the 2010 AZ Council for Social Studies Conference. It's on Friday, 10/29/10 at ASU's west campus in Glendale, AZ. If you're interested in representing Heifer here, email Heifer Phoenix ASAP and we'll get the ball rolling.

May Fun and Gone Fishin' (sort of)!

2010-05-09T19:19:00.000-07:00

Tracy and I really enjoyed our May 1st breakfast and discussion at The Farm at South Mountain. This was our second quarterly volunteering gathering and volunteers Dean, Dorothy and Nancy joined us. We discussed a few things that we want all of you to think on and get back to us about over the summer:

-create your own speaking opportunity before October 1st! This is especially targeted to everyone who received the speaker training or is willing to do public speaking for Heifer, but all are encouraged to take this up!

-if you or someone you know might be interested in becoming the (volunteer) Area Volunteer Coordinator for Phoenix sometime in the next year, please let us know!

-our next quarterly meeting will be in September (date still being determined), so please plan to attend

Here's another photo from the ACEI event at the end of April. Thanks to Dean and Dorothy and new volunteer Monica for helping out with this!
Since Heifer Phoenix tends to really slow down for the summer, there won't be many volunteer opportunities coming from us (feel free to invent your own!) :) but we will post items to the blog to keep you thinking about Heifer on your travels! Check out some of the other Heifer volunteer blog sites (at the right); something might inspire you or maybe you can help out (or just say hi) if you're in their part of the world. Have fun, be safe, and keep cool!

New Blog, Volunteers Needed and Some Fun!!

2010-04-06T21:45:00.000-07:00

Look at our fancy new blog!! Thanks to volunteers Noland and Bryan with Heifer Portland for coming up with the format and Casey (and team) at Heifer HQ for helping convert our old blog over! Over on the right check out our new Google Calendar (with times and maps!), video and more! Now, on with business...

Volunteers are desperately NEEDED for the following two events. As with all our events, it's first-come/first-serve when it comes to choosing when you want to work. Email us with your plans.

1. Gilbert Global Village Festival, Saturday 04/17/10: one of our big events each year. IMPORTANT NOTE: due to potential scheduling conflicts, Tracy and Heather may NOT be available for this event, so Heifer really needs YOUR help! You don't have to put a goat in your car (unless you want to!), but please staff the booth! Event runs from 10a-4p at Gilbert's Civic Center and people need to be there before/after to set-up/tear down.

2. ACEI Annual Conference, 04/28/10-04/30/10: a new one for us and they requested our presence! Tricky since it's on weekdays but please help out if you can. Our table will be at the Knowledge Fair of Association for Childhood Education International's (ACEI's) Annual Conference. Location is Wyndham Phoenix Hotel, downtown. On the Google Calendar (to the right side of the blog screen), click on any of the days you might be interested in on and hours needed will display. Again, Tracy and I can NOT make this event.

3. Volunteer Breakfast, The Farm at South Mountain, Saturday, 05/01/10: Let's get together, ENJOY each other's company, and discuss Heifer Phoenix's plans for the future! RSVPs by 04/19/10 are required so a reservation can be made. (This is not a "free" event - each attendee will cover their own costs.)

April is Passing on the Gift Month--No Foolin'!

2010-04-01T22:34:00.000-07:00

Remember folks, April is the month that Heifer International has set aside to end hunger! Check out the video to the right and if you're motivated, follow this link for even MORE ideas!

Phoenix Sister Cities WorldFEST

2010-03-29T21:38:00.000-07:00

Well, four of us managed to cover all of the shifts on this three-day event. Huge thanks to Dean and Dorothy for their help! This was our first event with night hours and time will tell if we do this event again next year...We made some potentially interesting connections and have one very enthused student from Arizona School of the Arts now raising funds for Heifer!

Volunteers Needed!!

2010-03-15T22:12:00.000-07:00

We have a new event for us: the Phoenix Sister Cities WorldFEST! This event will be held over three days, Friday, March 26th - Sunday, March 28th. WorldFEST will be held at Heritage Square and Science Park in downtown Phoenix (the area surrounding the Arizona Science Center).We will need volunteers for all three dates and below are the event hours.

Friday, 3/26 - 4p.m. - 10p.m.

Saturday, 3/27 - 12noon - 11p.m.

Sunday, 3/28 - 12noon - 5p.m.

This is a first for us: evening hours! This event has historically drawn tens of thousands of people, so this a great opportunity for Heifer. Please email us with your preferred shifts; we'll need a lot of help! As is typical, we do not yet have the specific booth location or parking info, but should you sign up, we will email that to you once it's provided to us.

Heifer U at Hidden Villa

2010-03-15T21:43:00.001-07:00

On March 4-8, I was at a Heifer U for AVC's (Area Volunteer Coordinator). (Tracy was unable to attend due to a scheduling conflict.) This event was held at Hidden Villa, in Los Altos Hills, CA. In 2011, Heifer expects to break ground on their Global Village Learning Center which will be a fantastic place for us Westerners to go for Heifer classes and such.

This event was attended by other AVC's from all over the western U.S. It was a training, networking and planning session for us, so be on the lookout for new ideas! :)The facility is lovely and there is a hostel (the oldest continually operated hostel in the U.S., in fact) on site for visitors, as well as meeting centers. Below are some photos.

I got to hear from a variety of Heifer staff, including Isaak Egge (Major Gift Officer), Paul Bertler (Field Coordinator, USA Projects) and Tererai Trent (Deputy Director Planning, Monitoring and Evaluation). (Some of you might remember Tererai from her appearance on "Oprah" last fall; here's a picture of her, trying to suppress a smile.)

Amazing Church!

2010-03-02T22:46:00.000-08:00

A big thank-you to Apache Wells Community Church, in Mesa, AZ. This amazing congregation has raised two to three ARKS ($5000 each!), year after year, for Heifer. Catherine Scott and Heather Volkoff spoke to the congregation on February 21, the day they have their Heifer Fair and Ice Cream Social.In all honesty, the photo above was not taken on 2/21, when it was raining! However, that rain didn't stop folks from turning out and helping them raise their largest donation yet. The last count Heather heard was somewhere in the neighborhood of $19,000, all for Heifer's work in Haiti!

Catching Up and Looking Forward

2010-02-28T19:38:00.000-08:00

Hello Again! Boy, time sure keeps rollin' along!
Once again, you helped us make the Chandler MultiCultural Festival and the Arizona Science Center's Global Awareness Day a great success for Heifer International. Here we were at Chandler:

I also spotted this a couple of weekends ago when I was at The Farm at South Mountain. Maya Dailey is a fan of Heifer's and asked us for a stack of brochures when we were at the Downtown Phoenix Public Market in December. (See links for both at right.)

Thank you Maya!! We will have another volunteer opportunity toward the end of March (with EVENING shifts - a first for us) and don't forget that April is "Passing on the Gift" month; tell us how you plan to help Heifer!

Volunteers Needed For Saturday, Jan. 16

2010-01-04T20:27:00.000-08:00

Hello!We hope you all are well! We have two events that we need volunteer assistance with, both on the same date.

SATURDAY, JANUARY 16, 2010
1. Chandler MultiCultural Festival- as in the past, this will be in downtown Chandler. This is always a lively, outdoor event with a lot of opportunities to introduce folks to Heifer. Please consider coming for an hour or two, or more! The booth will be open to the public from approx. 11:00a-5:00p. We can use your help. Email Heather if you're willing.

2. Arizona Science Center's Global Awareness Day- this is the same event they used to have in August (and then moved to April last year). A lively, indoor event, also with lots of opportunities to introduce folks to Heifer. A unique opportunity to share the ways that we work to care for the environment while also ending hunger and poverty. WE NEED SOMEONE TO LEAD THIS EVENT FOR US, AS TRACY AND I WILL BE AT CHANDLER. Setup will need to be finished by approximately 9:30a and the event ends at approx. 4:00p (possibly earlier). Please consider coming for an hour or two, or more! Again, your help is needed. Email Heather if you're willing.

Catching Up!

2010-01-04T19:26:00.001-08:00

So the blog's been a little dry, but our activity has been pretty good! From oldest to newest, here are some photos to catch you up.

In September, we had the always-fantastic APS Back to School Resource day at the Arizona Science Center. We had 122 educators from all over the state sign up to receive Heifer's Global Education and Get It! materials.

In December, Tracy and I staffed the gift wrapping table at Barnes and Noble in Awahtukee. It wasn't as prosperous as in the past, but it was a good opportunity to talk to some folks and each other! :)
Also in December was my table at the Downtown Phoenix Public Market. Tracy and I staffed it the first weekend, then Dean and his wife, and Beth and her husband staffed it the other weekends. We love our Heifer volunteers and their spouses (our unofficial volunteers)!

Tracy's Honduras Study Tour

2009-08-09T18:25:00.000-07:00

What an amazing opportunity to see Heifer's real and effective impact in this part of the world! The Heifer Honduras staff provided us with a broad education on the history, politics and economy of the region then introduced us to families who were benefiting from both the living loan of livestock and community training. I especially appreciated that we were able to visit with folks that were at different points in their journey with Heifer. One community had been involved with Heifer for just a year and half, another was months away from project completion (and so proud of what they'd created for themselves!).

Two of the main initiatives of Heifer Honduras are crop diversity and installing eco-stoves to replace the traditional indoor ovens. As we listened to the families we visited, we heard over and over again how much these two changes had improved their lives. The stoves burn hotter with less wood and the smoke is piped outside the house. In this picture you can see the soot covering the ceiling in Arturo's kitchen. His whole family commented on how much their health has improved with the new stove.
The first picture below shows part of the bounty Gregorio shared with us. The coffee and all the fruit came from his land. He proudly walked us through his land and pointed out many of the crops he was cultivating. Besides what you see on the table there were beans, corn, mango, honey, almonds, quite a few medicinal plants, lime trees and many more. He also had a bio-gas unit (last picture) that powered a 2-burner stove in his kitchen and 2 big vermiculture bins. This was a great example of integrated farming!

Heather's Honduras Study Tour

2009-08-09T17:45:00.001-07:00

If you've followed the blog at all, you'll know that Tracy and I both got the opportunity to go on Heifer Study Tours for Educators this June. Both of us went to Honduras, but were on separate trips, so we both saw different things. What follows are some thoughts and highlights about my trip.

What a terrific experience! After talking and learning so much about how Heifer does its work, it was so valuable to me to see and hear about it first-hand. Our work in Honduras is so much about community development, on multiple levels. First, offering a method for various small groups/clusters of people to come together to build something sustainable and impactful for their lives. Second, our work with other organizations and the strength and expansion of knowledge, for both Heifer and the other organizations. (Below are some of the members of Fundacion Puca, who's Heifer project is mid-way through funding.)

We saw projects at all stages of connection with Heifer: one was only a year or so old, another was mid-way through and the last would be on its own later this year. Below is a photo of Lila and her terraced hillside. She and her husband farm this land and she is very proud of the hard work they've put in. When we were there, they had recently received their Heifer cow, Preciosa.
What was amazing was not only how excited all were from the benefits to their personal lives, but also how excited they were to share their new knowledge with those around them. Another amazing thing was how thankful they were to us. I and others on my trip felt as though the project partners thought we were personally responsible for giving them their Heifer gifts. In addition to sharing their stories with us, they prepared speeches, poems, songs, and meals for us. At one visit, they even gave us beautiful fresh fruit and eggs to take with us. We were all very humbled by such. Heifer's Cornerstones were alive and present everywhere we went.

Changes for Heifer International

2009-06-21T17:55:00.001-07:00

All:
There have been some pretty serious budget cuts at Heifer. You can read their press release regarding such by following this link: http://heifer.mediaroom.com/index.php?s=43&item=34

Over the coming weeks we will be hearing about how this may (or may not) affect what we do here in Arizona. If anything is substantially different, we will let you know.

One other way you can help Heifer is to become a Friend of Heifer. This is an automatic monthly giving program, where the donation is charged monthly to your credit or debit card. You can read about it and also sign up for it here: http://www.heifer.org/site/c.edJRKQNiFiG/b.2613371/

I returned yesterday from my Heifer study tour to Honduras and Tracy started her trip yesterday. We will blog about our experiences after her return, but let me say that these projects need our support more than ever. Heifer does amazing work and really is changing lives. Please help out if you can; no amount is too small.

Summer Slow Down

2009-05-30T21:05:00.001-07:00

Now that summer is at our doorstep, it's a quieter time for Heifer Phoenix. Tracy and I will both be going on separate Heifer study tours to Honduras in June. We are looking forward to seeing Heifer's work first hand! We also look forward to sharing our experiences with you, so stay tuned! In the meantime, keep your Heifer Volunteer hats on and never miss an opportunity to educate the folks around you about our work. Consider deepening your knowledge by watching any of the videos on the Heifer website here:

http://www.heifer.org/site/c.edJRKQNiFiG/b.476481/#

It's easy in these hard economic times to cut out charitable giving and in some cases may even be prudent, but we all know that people who rely on charities, as well as charities themselves, need help more than ever. Please keep in mind the billions of people around the world that do not have access to: schools that don't cost money or your children can't attend; public libraries; medical care; food stamps; solid infrastructure; safe water; public housing; unemployment benefits; free legal assistance and so much more. While far from perfect, even in these hard times, we live in a blessed place. As you move through the summer, spread the word about Heifer's work and how vital it is to so many people. Keep an eye on this blog too!

Some Thank You's

2009-05-30T21:02:00.000-07:00

Thank you to Gretchen Murnane and Beth Larson-Keagy for (respectively) taking the lead on the events at the Arizona Science Center and ASU's Earth Day event. I know Beth will say her students did it but she coordinated with us and we are grateful for that! Thanks to all the volunteers who gave their time and energy to us both days!

Gilbert Global Village Photos

2009-05-30T20:56:00.000-07:00

Our updated table display. Note the new burlap tablecloths, Heifer Hope Honey, and new Q&A cards...(oooohh...ahhhh...)
Our "Haiti Ladies." These women are honorary Heifer volunteers for the help that they have given our busy booth over the years!

Need Volunteers and Passing on the Gift Month

2009-03-30T21:40:00.000-07:00

Hello!
We hope you all are well! We have two events that we need volunteer assistance with, both on the same date.

SATURDAY, APRIL 18, 2009
1. Gilbert Global Village Festival - as in the past, this will be in downtown Gilbert. This is always a lively, outdoor event with a lot of opportunities to introduce folks to Heifer. Please consider coming for an hour or two, or more! We can use the help. Email Heather if you're willing.

2. Arizona Science Center's Earth Day Celebration - this is the same event they used to have in August that they called their Global Sustainability Day. (We think this date and new name make much more sense but hate that it now overlaps with Gilbert Global!) :) A lively, indoor event, also with lots of opportunities to introduce folks to Heifer. A unique opportunity to share the ways that we work to care for the environment while also ending hunger and poverty. Please consider coming for an hour or two, or more! Again, your help is needed. Email Heather if you're willing.

APRIL - PASSING ON THE GIFT MONTH
This is the first year of what will become a great Heifer tradition! By now you should've gotten a letter from Heifer, a catalog, an email, or something :) explaining what this is all about. If not, read more by clicking here! Get event ideas, see what else is happening in your area, and check out videos and other resources to help you (help Heifer) be successful. What a great way to kick off Spring! We'd love to hear about your plans (in addition to posting them through Heifer's website)--email Heather!

Chandler MultiCultural 2009

2009-01-30T21:32:00.000-08:00

A big thank you to our friends at Superstition Farms for loaning us Oreo for the day! Our regular "goat provider" only had a very pregnant goat (watch for possible baby goat pics from Gilbert this year), so we checked with Casey at Superstition Farms and voila, Oreo! :)

Holiday Wishes

2008-12-20T11:52:00.000-08:00

Hello to our wonderful volunteers (and anyone else who might be reading)! This post is to express warm holiday wishes to you and yours. Tracy and I thank you for all you've given to Heifer this year; we've enjoyed your company and greatly appreciate your time and effort.

To all: if this hasn't already occurred to you, please take a moment to think on this. This year, please consider making a charitable donation as part of your gift-giving. People will need help from charities more, and charities will need the help of donors (whether service or money). If you want to give to Heifer, check out the links on the right side of this blog (one for general Heifer and one for our Heifer Team page). The truth is that charitable giving is us reaching out to our community - whether it be the community we live in or the one our hearts are touched by. Let's build community this special season.

Thank you again and look for messages in the coming weeks about the Chandler Multicultural Festival!

Warmly,
Heather and Tracy

Updates!

2008-11-09T21:01:00.001-08:00

Hello All!

Wow - it's been quite a while since the last update...time flies! :)

The Coconino County Fair and both of the events at the Science Center were terrific; we're so grateful to have the opportunities to be able to talk about Heifer!! In late September, we were asked to speak at a local chapter of Dining for Women, a very interesting organization that chose to raise money (nationally) for Heifer that month. Learn more about Dining for Women at: http://www.diningforwomen.org/. We had a great time in early October at MooMoo Palooza too - again, another great opportunity to share Heifer's mission! Thank you to our friend Don Titmus, from Phoenix Permaculture Guild, for inviting us, and to Melrose at Superstition Dairy for letting us come. We had a couple of great evenings at St. Mary's Rock and Box events and learned some very sobering statistics about hunger in Arizona. Tracy and I send a heart-felt thank-you to all of the volunteers that helped out with each of these events! We couldn't do it without you!!

So what great opportunities do we have now? It's a little quiet but that's where you all have the chance to dream great stuff up on your own! For instance, we have 3 (that I know of) volunteers giving presentations to various groups (a school, a church, and a Rotary club chapter) about Heifer. Can you think of anyone that you could share Heifer's successes with?

Tracy and I will once again be gift-wrapping-for-Heifer at Barnes and Noble this year. For those of you not familiar with the idea, Barnes and Noble (and other stores also), allows non-profit groups to do their (B&N's) in-store gift wrapping for their customers, in "exchange" for letting the non-profits talk with customers about the non-profit, as well as receive donations for the gift-wrapping. Barnes and Noble provides the supplies; last year Tracy and I raised just over a $100.00 for Heifer! Check with a store near you if this is something that might interest you or take the idea and make your own event at your church or school!

With such hard economic times for so many, the need for outside assistance will be higher than usual for many families. In addition, donations will probably down for most of the organizations that help those families---including Heifer. If you don't already, please consider making this holiday season a more meaningful one by talking to your family members about making donations instead of just buying more "stuff" (that most of us probably don't really need). If you decide you would like to donate to Heifer (or have donations made in your name), consider adding yourself as team member to our team donation page (see link at right) to track your success!

After the holidays, in early January, we will be partnering with our friends at akaGreen to co-host their Green Drinks event; stay tuned for more details!

Volunteers Needed!

2008-08-09T12:38:00.000-07:00

We need your help for the following events:

Saturday, August 16, 2008: Global Awareness Day, Arizona Science Center. Staff our table and help teach folks about how Heifer works around the world not only to end hunger and poverty, but also to care for the planet in the process. The event runs from 10a-4p and we need volunteers who can stay for at least one hour. Admission to the Center is free for volunteers; please let us know if you’re interested ASAP!

Tuesday, August 26, 2008: St. Mary’s Food Bank Rock & Box. Join the Heifer Phoenix volunteer team going to St. Mary’s to help fight hunger locally. The event runs from 5p-9p and dinner will be provided. We will be working in the warehouse to help St. Mary’s pack emergency food boxes. The radio station 98.7 The Peak will provide the “rock” part of the evening! An advance RSVP is required for this event; please email Tracy or I if you plan to join in. You must be 12 or older to participate. The warehouse is located in Phoenix at 2831 N. 31st Ave.

Friday, August 29 – Monday, September 1, 2008: Coconino County Fair. Want to get away to the high country AND help Heifer out? Join us at the Coconino County Fair! Just south of Flagstaff, the fairgrounds are easy to get to and we may even be able to help you out with overnight accommodations, due to the generosity of our Flagstaff volunteers! (Accommodations are limited so contact us ASAP if you’re interested.) You could also camp for the weekend or just come up for the day and help out at the Heifer booth. Email Tracy or I soon if you’re interested.

Add Them To Your Calendar!

2008-06-15T14:42:00.000-07:00

While we all adjust to summer (and summer vacations for some) in the desert, keep these Heifer activities in mind while you're planning!

Thursday, July 17 - Heifer Discussion - topic and location still up for grabs! If you have any ideas or preferences, let us know! (No discussion planned for June.)

Tuesday, July 29 and August 26 - St. Mary's Food Bank - Rock & Box - Help Heifer help locally! See flyer below for details but "register" with Tracy or myself if you are interested in going as part of the Heifer Phoenix Team. (NOTE: The Heifer Team will *not* be participating on June 24.)
August and beyond: In addition to the August Rock & Box, watch for updates about our annual trips to the Arizona Science Center for both Global Awareness Day and Back-to-School Resource Day.

5/20 Discussion Group - Food Sovereignty

2008-05-13T21:25:00.000-07:00

On Tuesday, 5/20 join us at 5:30p.m. at The Fair Trade Cafe for this month's Heifer Discussion Group. This month's topic is Heifer projects in the U.S. that address food sovereignty. Here is a link for the Cafe that will give you their location information: http://www.fair-trade-cafe.com/

RSVP's are not necessary but if you do come, please remember that you are to come prepared to learn, as well as to teach. If you need more info, email me at heatherwithheifer@cox.net.

Heifer Phoenix Goals - Coming Your Way!

2008-05-04T19:27:00.000-07:00

Tracy and I just returned from a fabulous Heifer U for Area Volunteer Coordinators and have set some new goals for our volunteer group. It is truly our desire and intention to create a sense of community between all of us while we also work to further education about and fundraising for Heifer International. Stay tuned for more about what new things are coming!

4/24 Discussion Group Results

2008-04-25T19:02:00.000-07:00

Two people attended - me and Tracy! Hopefully, we'll see more of you in the future. The more tools (knowledge) you can have in your Heifer bag, the more people you can reach and that is what this is about. Here are some of the articles presented, if you'd like to deepen your own knowledge:

Preserving Their Land Through Integrated Farming - http://www.heifer.org/site/pp.aspx?c=edJRKQNiFiG&b=201615&printmode=1
Water: More Precious Than Gold - http://www.heifer.org/site/pp.aspx?c=edJRKQNiFiG&b=1700345&printmode=1
Saving Romania's Endangered Furioso Horse - http://www.heifer.org/site/pp.aspx?c=edJRKQNiFiG&b=201610&printmode=1
Barbara Kingsolver's article, "Compartir Recursos" - Not Just to Get, But to Give, July/August 2005 World Ark (specifically, pages 9 and 10) - http://www.heifer.org/atf/cf/{E384D2DB-8638-47F3-A6DB-68BE45A16EDC}/JULYAUG%20WA%2005%20WEB.PDF

Heifer International Discussion Group - NEW!!

2008-04-19T14:48:00.000-07:00

Tracy and I have decided to start a discussion group to deepen our knowledge of Heifer International's projects and practices, as well as issues that our project partners might be facing.

Here's how we think it will work: approximately once a month, we will choose a spot where we can meet and discuss a given topic. Anyone who is interested may join in, no rsvp's required. The only rules are that you come prepared to learn and teach! :) Feel free to share this with others you know that might be interested. We'll try to have some sort of Heifer-logo thing with us so we can be identified......

WHEN: this Thurday, April 24th at 6:30 p.m.
WHERE: email for details - heatherwithheifer@cox.net
WHAT: the topic will be how Heifer practices sustainability in our projects and helps to protect the planet while ending hunger and poverty. Be prepared with specific examples and to share your sources! (You might want to check out some of the Heifer videos and/or back-copies of the World Ark. FYI, old World Ark's can be found online in pdf format at http://www.heifer.org/site/c.edJRKQNiFiG/b.1009907/ .)

Check Us Out!

2008-04-19T14:42:00.000-07:00

Well, both the Speaker Training and the Gilbert Global Village Festival were big hits and we had a great group of volunteers turn out for both. A big thank you from me and Tracy goes out to Bob, Dean, Neeltje, Carol, Dawn and Glenda for all of your help!!

Once again our goat ambassadors-for-a-day were a great draw to our booth and helped us start many conversations about Heifer! Sophia and her 2-month old daughter, Cookie (as we called her) were very well-behaved for their first foray into a day like this.

New Stuff!

2008-02-17T19:31:00.000-08:00

Hello All!
The Chandler event was great! Talked to dozens of people and our goat ambassador, Baaaaa-b (hard to see in this pic), was so well-behaved!

We have some new dates to tell you about:
Saturday, March 29, 2008 - Heifer Speaker Training and Orientation
Learn how you can make a difference by informing people about Heifer within your own community. This training is designed for new AND experienced Heifer volunteers who are interested in becoming part of our Speakers Bureau. Email me for more information - heatherwithheifer@cox.net .

Saturday, April 12, 2008 - Gilbert Global Village Festival
This is another terrific festival that gives us the opportunity to talk about Heifer to globally-minded folks! Please consider joining us; details will be forthcoming.

Ark Presentation
Volunteer Nancy D. went to Prescott recently to present an ark plaque to Sacred Heart School for raising $5206.17 for Heifer! Thank you Sacred Heart and thank you Nancy!

Heifer Receives $42.8 Million Grant From Gates Foundation!!!
This is the largest single grant to Heifer in its 63-year history!!

"LITTLE ROCK, Ark., Jan. 25, 2008 – Heifer International today announced a four-year $42.8 million grant from the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation to fund a project to help poor rural farmers in East Africa double their incomes by increasing their production of high quality raw milk to sell to dairies..." Follow this link to read the rest of the article: http://www.heifer.org/site/c.edJRKQNiFiG/b.3842753/

Happy New Year!

2008-01-04T10:40:00.000-08:00

Happy New Year Heifer Phoenix Volunteers and read on for new Heifer Phoenix news!

SAVE THE DATE - Saturday, January 19th
It's time again for the Chandler Multicultural Festival! We need at least 5 volunteers to help staff our booth at this lively festival. Booth hours will be approximately 10a.m. - 4p.m. (this includes setup and breakdown time; the festival is from 11a-4p). The festival will be held in downtown Chandler, near the library complex (Arizona Ave and Chandler Blvd).

Can't do the entire shift? Please consider an hour or two - this really gives a great break to the folks that stay all day! Check out "Older Posts" (bottom of the page) for photos from last year! Email heatherwithheifer@cox.net as soon as possible if you're interested in working or for more details.

TEAM HEIFER PAGE CREATED!
What's Team Heifer? It's a great web tool that Heifer International has created to allow folks to hold their own Heifer fundraising event. I set up a page for us so that we can track donations that are made through our efforts (well, at least some of them!). We have a "team" page and then each team member can also set up individual pages; the "team" page will track not only donations made to the entire team but also each member. The goals I've set are somewhat arbitrary, but I'm hopeful! Please check out the team page and consider joining! http://heifer.kintera.org/faf/search/searchTeamPart.asp?ievent=178641&team=2681405

LASTLY, the Barnes and Noble gift wrapping dates were a success! Tracy and I ended up staffing all of the gift wrapping times ourselves and received a total of $150 in donations for Heifer because of it! We will do it again and encourage you to try it also - it's a great "excuse" to gab with a friend while ALSO helping Heifer and all of those shoppers! Now THAT'S some multi-tasking! :)

Heifer Profiled in Clinton's New Book, Giving

2007-11-10T11:08:00.000-08:00

Former President Bill Clinton's just-published book Giving: How Each of Us Can Change the World features both Heifer International and our Read to Feed Program in Chapter Seven: "Gifts that Keep on Giving." The book takes an inspiring look at how individual endeavors can save lives and solve problems. Through the stories of amazing people and dedicated organizations, President Clinton offers compelling examples of both citizen and corporate activism at work in the world today. Learn more.

Golf anyone?

2007-10-08T21:59:00.000-07:00

4th Annual Roc and Manuch Golf Tournament

Proceeds will benefit the Heifer Foundation in the name of Mara Miskovsky

Friday, October 26, 2007

Stonecreek Golf Club, Phoenix, AZ

Registration ends Friday, October 12, so register soon! Click here for details.

Volunteer Needs

2007-09-28T21:51:00.000-07:00

The 10/21 Global Hunger Event has been cancelled. As you can see in the post below, however, there are other volunteer opportunities still available!

Upcoming Events and Volunteer Opportunities

2007-09-06T21:01:00.000-07:00

Hello Heifer Phoenix (and beyond) Volunteers! We're back with more news for you.

Upcoming Events - Volunteers needed!
If you are interested in volunteering for any of these, please email heatherwithheifer@cox.net

10/21 - Global Hunger event - more details coming soon but we will need a couple of volunteers to help staff a booth in the afternoon. (West Valley location.)
12/7 - 5p-9p - gift wrapping station at Barnes & Noble bookstore on 48th and Ray Rd. in Awahtukee. See below for more info!
12/14 - 5p-9p - another night of gift wrapping at the same store!
12/16 - 3p-7p - one more night of gift wrapping at the same store :)

FYI - Upcoming Events - no volunteers needed
09/29 - Back-to-School Resource Fair - Arizona Science Center. (No additional volunteers required for this event.) However, if you know any teachers interested in attending, send them to this website for free registration (required for attendance): http://www.azscience.org/
10/28 - information booth at Mountain View Presbyterian's Mission Fair.
11/15 - speaker presentation at Mesa Community College's Engagement Day event.

Planning-Stage Events and Ideas for You to Grow!
*We are planning to host our own Alternative or Living Gift Market approximately 12/1 or 12/8. More information will be forthcoming but please keep these dates in mind as we may need volunteer assistance.

*Bookstore gift wrapping: If you've been searching for a fun and easy way to talk to people about Heifer International, your local bookstore might offer the perfect opportunity. Barnes & Noble and Borders have a wrapping table at the front of the store through the holiday season. These are staffed with volunteers who are welcome to accept donations, hand out brochures and talk to people about their organization while they are wrapping up the gifts purchased at the store. (Wrapping supplies are provided by the store.)

Please join us at one of our scheduled times listed above OR secure your own spot with a store near you!! Let us know if we can help you with Heifer materials or contacts for a store in your neighborhood.

Coconino County Fair - what a great time!

2007-09-06T20:54:00.000-07:00

The Coconino County Fair was terrific! In addition to working with our magnificent Flagstaff volunteers, Joyce, Nancy & Kent (pictured below), those of us from the Valley got to escape to the high country and enjoy the cooler temps......ahhh..... :) We introduced Heifer to a lot of folks and reminded those who already knew us. Those who already knew us were glad to see us and glad for the reminder as they get ready start their holiday purchasing. A HUGE thanks to Joyce, Nancy & Kent for their work in organizing this and for hosting us.

8/28 Sustainable Environments - success!

2007-09-06T20:48:00.000-07:00

What a great turnout we had! According to AKA Green (http://www.akagreen.com/), this was the best turnout they've had for this/similar classes! Thanks again to AKA Green for generously donating their space (and snacks!) and to Don Titmus for presenting.

SAVE THESE DATES!

2007-07-12T22:41:00.000-07:00

Upcoming Phoenix-Area Heifer International volunteer opportunities:

08/18/07 - Global Awareness Day , Arizona Science Center. Volunteers are needed to staff tables between the hours of 10a-5p. If you can't do the entire day, please consider an hour or two (or three!).

08/28/07 - Sustainability and You - Listen to Don Titmus, a local permaculutre designer and teacher, discuss the practice of sustainability. This will be held at AKA Green in Scottsdale, from 6-8p and an RSVP is a must. Don't miss out!! (Curious now? Check out www.permaculture.net/phxguild and http://www.akagreen.com/)

08/31/07 thru 09/03/07 - Coconino County Fair. Volunteers are needed to staff the booth each day from 10a-10p (except on the last day, when the hours are 10a-4p). We really need your help! If you're interested but worried about the distance, please email us anyway as we may be able to work out some ride-sharing or accomodations for you.

If you're interested in any of the above, please email heatherwithheifer@cox.net.

Down the road a little.......
09/29/07 - Back-to-School Resource Fair , Arizona Science Center
10/21/07 - Global Hunger event

Heifer Phoenix 2007

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Here are some photos from our booths and events this year:

January - Chandler Multi-Cultural Festival
Great Heifer volunteers and our great goat ambassador, Snowy.
It's fun transporting goats in mini-vans! Don't you want to try?
April - Gilbert Global Village FestivalAnother fantastic event and Snowy's week-old baby girls (Blondie and Brunette) kept us running!and here we are at the end of the day, ready to head for home again......

Welcome to Heifer Phoenix!

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Hello - this is our first step into the blogosphere. Give us some time and we'll have you all up-to-the-minute with the latest. Please come back often and tell your friends about us!

Thanks,
Heather and Tracy
Phoenix Area Volunteer Coordinators
Heifer International

Heifer in Phoenix

Blog Action Day 2011: Food

Goodbye to Summer!

Volunteer Spotlight

Volunteers Needed--04/30/11!!

**CANCELLED** 04/02/11 Volunteer Meeting

Show you're WiLD in Spring!

Join Heifer and Stand Up for the Needs of the Poor and Hungry

Reminders!

Volunteer Spotlight

Study Tours for Educators

Year of the Rabbit

Heifer Phoenix-Upcoming Events!

Report: Small-Scale Farming Best Cure for World Hunger

Chandler Multicultural Festival

Volunteers Needed and Meeting Reminder

Heifer Experience Video Contest - Vote Now!!

Christmas and Beyond!

Volunteers Needed!

Unique Ways To Give Heifer Gifts

Heifer Experience Video Contest

Adopt-an-Event

Volunteer Spotlight

We're on Facebook now!

Catching Up and Volunteers Needed

Heifer International's New CEO

Little Rock - National Heifer U for AVCs

10/23/10 - VOLUNTEER MEETING

Volunteer Spotlight

"12 Stones" Success!

"12 Stones" Viewing & Volunteer Meeting!

New Feature: Volunteer Spotlight

Summer in Phoenix

May Fun and Gone Fishin' (sort of)!

New Blog, Volunteers Needed and Some Fun!!

April is Passing on the Gift Month--No Foolin'!

Phoenix Sister Cities WorldFEST

Volunteers Needed!!

Heifer U at Hidden Villa

Amazing Church!

Catching Up and Looking Forward

Volunteers Needed For Saturday, Jan. 16

Catching Up!

Tracy's Honduras Study Tour

Heather's Honduras Study Tour

Changes for Heifer International

Summer Slow Down

Some Thank You's

Gilbert Global Village Photos

Need Volunteers and Passing on the Gift Month

Chandler MultiCultural 2009

Holiday Wishes

Updates!

Volunteers Needed!

Add Them To Your Calendar!

5/20 Discussion Group - Food Sovereignty

Heifer Phoenix Goals - Coming Your Way!

4/24 Discussion Group Results

Heifer International Discussion Group - NEW!!

Check Us Out!

New Stuff!

Happy New Year!

Heifer Profiled in Clinton's New Book, Giving

Golf anyone?

Volunteer Needs

Upcoming Events and Volunteer Opportunities

Coconino County Fair - what a great time!

8/28 Sustainable Environments - success!

SAVE THESE DATES!

Heifer Phoenix 2007

Welcome to Heifer Phoenix!

CANCELLED 04/02/11 Volunteer Meeting