Salem TCRC Represents “Gateway to Knowledge” For the Ozarks 4/20/2006 back to headlines The Salem TCRC is an educational center associated with the University of Missouri Extension’s TeleCenter Network. The Salem TCRC is located in a former Missouri National Guard Armory originally under a cooperative lease agreement between the City of Salem and the Missouri National Guard. The Guard merged the Salem detachment with a Rolla unit in 2003 and in 2004 the state of Missouri transferred ownership of the Salem Armory to the City of Salem. The facility was subsequently renamed the Salem Freedom Activity Center. TeleCenter Network sites offer credit and non-credit educational programs from the University of Missouri and other colleges, universities, and state and national agencies. The Salem TCRC allows learners to take courses and participate in programs without having to travel a great distance. Public access computer terminals at the Salem TCRC also provide area citizens free access to the Internet. The Salem TCRC was established through a Memorandum of Agreement in February 2000 between the Bank of Salem, City of Salem, Salem Memorial District Hospital, Salem R-80 School District, Town and County Bank, U.S. Foodservice and University of Missouri Extension. The Salem TCRC’s open house was held in November 2000. Salem was the ninth TeleCenter Network site to be developed. Other TeleCenter Network sites include: Camdenton, Jefferson City, Kirksville, Mexico, Nevada, Park Hills, Poplar Bluff, Portageville, and Reeds Spring. The Salem TCRC offers hands-on computer training, non-credit continuing education, public Internet and e-mail access, satellite downlinks, videoconferencing and access to college programs courses and degrees in the Interactive Television (ITV) format. Programming highlights for the calendar year 2005 included: • New classes on Buying and Selling on eBay, Using GPS, Image Editing Software, and Digital Video Editing with Microsoft Movie Maker • Workshops on Using QuickBooks • Credit courses from Southwest Baptist University and University of Missouri – St. Louis • POST Law Enforcement Training from Missouri Southern State University • Workshop series on Profitable Cattle Production • School Board Candidate Session hosted by the Missouri School Board Association • Series of one-on-one clinics for Non-Profit Organizations through University of Missouri – St. Louis’ Non-Profit Management Institute • Facility use by various community groups and organizations including: Salem Rotary Club, Salem Area Chamber of Commerce, Top of the Ozarks Resource Conversation District, Salem Area Community Betterment Association, and the Mid-Ozark Court Advocate Special Advocates The year also included a special event where a local family did a videoconference through the Salem TCRC with a family member deployed to Iraq. Many of the programs offered in 2005 will be offered again in 2006 as well as the following programs: • Farm and Small Business Estate Planning • QuickBooks • Business education workshop series • Missouri Master Wildlifer workshop series • Human Resources for Small Business: Avoiding the Landmines • Osher Lifelong Learning Institute courses for the over-50 adult. • Workshops to Improve Youth Computer/Technology Literacy • Missouri Woodland Steward Course Since opening in the fall of 2000, Salem TCRC programs and events have numbered over 1,000 with nearly 9,000 participants.