Northwest Arkansas FACES
Posted on Sunday, July 13, 2008
Heroes Luncheon hosted by Red Cross The Northwest Arkansas Chapter of the American Red Cross held its first "Everyday Heroes Luncheon"on June 25 at the Holiday Inn Convention Center in Springdale. The luncheon was an hourlong event designed to illustrate the services offered by the Red Cross, share heart warming stories about everyday people saving the lives of their co-workers, friends and family, and inspire individuals to volunteer and give back to their local community.
Ruthanne Hill, executive director of the Northwest Arkansas Chapter in Tontitown, said "This event is important because it helps us to merge our mission with the passion of our donors. The National Disaster Relief Fund is critically low at this time due to the number and size of disasters since January of this year. The Arkansas disasters alone have cost over $ 800, 000 more than we have raised. That's money that's not there to help the Midwest right now when they need the help. The economy is making it hard on everyone right now, but we still have to help these people. Many of them have lost everything."
Ninety-five people attended the luncheon, resulting in $ 78, 000 in monetary donations.
The local chapter hosts a monthly Everyday Heroes Tour at its office in Tontitown. The morning breakfast tour runs from 7: 30-8: 30 a.m. and provides a visual snapshot of what is required to serve the 19 counties of Northwest Arkansas in the Red Cross' primary service areas of preparedness, response and recovery. For details, call the local office at 306-4688 ext. 214.
Local seventh grader wins in essay contest Brandyn Young, a seventhgrade student from Fayetteville, was awarded first place in the seventh- to ninthgrade category for his essay in the Stamp Out Smoking "Clean Air Avengers"essay contest. Entries were divided into three categories: grades two to three, four to six and seven to nine, with a first-, second- and third-place winner in each category. Nearly 1, 000 entries were received for the contest. Stamp Out Smoking (SOS ) is the media and public relations campaign for the Arkansas Department of Health Tobacco Prevention and Cessation Program. Each year the program hosts an essay contest encouraging Arkansas youth to write essays about the heroes in their lives who exemplify healthy and tobacco-free lifestyles. An independent panel of judges from Stephen F. Austin State University's English department in Nacogdoches, Texas, scored the entries and selected the winners. All winning essays are posted on stampoutsmoking. com. Boy Scout receives highest rank Fayetteville High School graduate Mike McAlister was awarded the highest rank in Boy Scouting, the Boy Scout Eagle Badge, on May 24 at the First United Presbyterian Church in Fayetteville. He became a Tiger Scout in first grade, moving to Cub Scouts as a Webelo. He later transferred to Boy Scout Troop No. 142 of Fayetteville. Mike's Eagle Scout project was a beautification of the rest area in Brentwood. He led a team of volunteers for more than 200 hours to refurbish and repair parts of the rest area, including building a post fence, repainting curbs and handicap parking slots and installing new signs. The scoutmaster, scouts and parents of Troop No. 142 and Cub Scout Troop No. 95 of West Fork assisted in the beautification. The entire project would have cost more than $ 4, 000 without the donated labor and supplies.
In order to be considered for the rank of Eagle Scout, a Scout must earn 21 merit badges. Fewer than 2 percent of the 1. 8 million boys in the Scouting program attain the Eagle Rank badge. Among those expressing congratulations were President and Mrs. George W. Bush and U. S. Rep. John Boozman. McAlister plans to attend the Tulsa Welding School in July. He is the son of retired Air Force Lt. Col. David McAlister and his wife, Carol.
Librarian selected as fellow to institute Michele Raine, manager of reference services at the Fayetteville Public Library, has been selected to participate in the Lifelong Access Libraries Leadership Institute at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. Participants in the program will be trained to lead the nation's libraries in enhancing services for older adults with opportunities for active learning, creative exploration and meaningful community engagement.
Raine is one of 19 librarians from 15 states selected because of her commitment to providing library programming that engages active older adults.
The Institute, which will convene July 27-30, is cohosted by the School of Information and Library Science and the Institute on Aging, both of which are housed at the University of North Carolina in Chapel Hill. The Institute offers an opportunity for librarians to learn about the latest theories and practices in lifelong learning, healthy aging and civic engagement and to examine successful service innovations in other fields.
"It is exciting to develop library services for all age groups in our community," Raine said. "Northwest Arkansas is teeming with baby boomers with years of experience behind them and years of energy ahead. They want to find meaningful projects for themselves and the community."
At the Fayetteville Public Library, services and programs for older adults include book clubs, computer classes, genealogy workshops and a variety of speakers.
"I hope to learn from the best practices of others and bring new opportunities to Fayetteville," Raine said.
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