Rapidly changing demographics, economics, and land use patterns in the Auburn community are altering the rural nature and agricultural character of the Auburn community. As newcomers come to this area, drawn by its natural beauty and other benefits, they are unaware of many of the assets and resources that exist there. Conversely, current residents are unaware of the assets newcomers may possess.

The goal of the Auburn Kellogg Team was to develop a virtual community center as a focal point for improving communications and relations within the community and to serve as a vehicle to launch a cultural and telecommunications center.

The team created the virtual community, AVENUES (Auburn-Virtual-Enterprises-Networking-Unique-Exciting-Services), in an existing log cabin on the Auburn district high school grounds. AVENUES is used to preserve and to disseminate information on the history and on the environment of the area. It also connects cottage industries, farmers and businesses with markets via a bulletin board and a newsletter. As part of their project to preserve local history they have involved local high school students in the gathering of oral histories, which eventually should be added to the AVENUES website.

MIRA and AVENUES have had several impacts on the community:

• Increased community awareness and appreciation of the "bread basket" of Montgomery County.
  
  
• Increased communication between and among the generations.
  
  
• Increased communication between long-term residents and newcomers.
  
  
• Created greater awareness of agricultural roots.
• Created a CRITICAL MASS to found historical society or museum board.
  
  
• Caused greater understanding of origins to guide us as we step into 2000.
  
  
• Created in the log cabin museum a center of focus for working with community issues