Unfortunately, due to lack of interest in this blog, we are suspending our posts here.

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We have rescheduled the Wiggle & Giggle Fishing Derby to Next Saturday, May 11th 10am-1pm.

On that same day the Boys & Girls Club is having their 5K Run.  Since this event will have the roads closed through the park until about 9:30am, we will start the derby at 10am.

The Great Cornbread Debate!

Our Rotarians Thurman & Pete began, what is to be a fun event, while on the A&M Excursion train with the GSE Team from Algeria.  The front of the car was heavy with discussion about who could make the best cornbread.  "Lets have a club cornbread challenge day to benefit our scholarship fund" says the retired judge & attorney.  The back of the car began plotting their entry as they overheard the plans.

Anyone can participate in the CORNBREAD CHALLENGE.  Winner gets to hold the title as "CORNBREAD CHAMP".  All losers pay $50 to our scholarship fund.  Bring enough cornbread samples for about 30-40 Rotarians & guests.  You may also bring complimentary sides for your cornbread.

We will have ham, turnips, turnip greens, beans & salad to go along with our championship cornbreads.

Winners will be determined by you voting with your dollars.  You may add as many dollars as you wish to each of the participants kitty, all voting monies going into the scholarship fund as well. 

Pork on the table!

Thanks to Rotarian Jay Clark's bidding skills and AOG's checkbook our Van Buren Rotary Club raised just over $2100 today at our annual "Hog Auction"  The processed hog, who notably had 4 hams?!, was auctioned off by our own Rotarian Warren Blaylock and his buddy Jan Nordin.  The hog was purchased at the Crawford County Fair in Mulberry last month.  The livestock in the auction were all raised by the steadfast caring hands of Crawford County youth.  The money paid for the livestock at the auction goes to the kids who have raised these show quality animals.  The money raised today by our club will provide education and leadership skills to these same young and rising stars of Crawford County. Thanks again Jay Clark & Arkansas Oklahoma Gas Corporation.

Algerian GSE Team Visit

What a whirlwind of activity for our Rotarians of Van Buren.  After a great evening at Altus to pickup our team Friday evening, we rode the A& M Excursion Train to Winslow and back, then took a guided tour (thank you leader Dwight Hopkins) of Historic Downtown VB. After the host families and their team had an eventful Saturday evening we met at the Janet Huckabee Arkansas River Valley Nature Center on Sunday afternoon.  Chad Lowe gave us a tour of the facility and an outdoor walk around Wells Lake.  After a hearwarming thanks to our team and host families for a memorable time we parted with our new Algerian friends and sent them on their way to the Fort Smith Rotarians.

Wiggle & Giggle Kids Fishing Derby Pictures

 The Wiggle & Giggle Kids Fishing Derby was a success!  Kids had a blast and even though it was a hot morning, everyone had plenty to drink & eat.  Facepainting and games in the shade were a big hit as well.  Looking forward to next year now!

No dinner caught this time!

If this fish Wiggles they are going to Giggle!

Rotarians Providing Refreshments

Our Troop 45 Boy Scout Volunteers

COMING SOON, JUNE 23rd! 9am-1pm

The Wiggle & Giggle Kids Fishing Derby is            

 expected to be a fun event hosted by the                                          

Van Buren Rotary Club.  Arkansas Game & Fish have

committed to stocking Lake Cap Bedell located in the Van Buren

City Park.  That is where as many youth as we can pack around an 11 acre lake will have the opportunity to catch those whiskery catfish!  All fishing and all other activities will be free of charge to the kids.  Lunch and drinks will be available at a family friendly price.

Please join us in making this wholesome activity a memorable event by participating with our suggested amount of $75.00, or “any amount that you wish” or our suggested package amount of $75.00 plus the donation of a prize you think best represents your company.

Thank you for your generous contribution to support the Wiggle & Giggle Kids Fishing Derby.   Please be assured 100% of funds raised will be used exclusively to benefit area youth.  To assist in planning, the suggested date to receive contributions by is June 15, 2012.

Please mail your gift to:  Van Buren Rotary Club- Wiggle & Giggle Kids, PO Box 1502, Van Buren, Arkansas, 72957-1502.  All gifts will be recognized with a thank you from the kids and a receipt.

We also invite you and all the fine folks you work with to bring youngsters out to the park on this exciting day.  Feel free to copy the derby flyer and share!

Please contact us if you would like us to pickup a company related prize for the children.

The Wiggle & Giggle Kids Fishing Derby is expected to be a fun event hosted by the Van Buren Rotary Club.  


Arkansas Game & Fish has committed to stocking Lake Cap Bedell located in the Van Buren City Park.  That is where as many youth as we can pack around the 11 acre lake have the opportunity to catch those whiskery catfish!  


All kids under age 16 are eligible to fish, participation is free.  Children must be accompanied by an adult.  Please bring your own fishing pole, but a limited number of fishing poles are available for use during the derby.  


Experienced guides will help teach kids to fish.  


Date:  Saturday June 23
Hours:  9am - 1pm
Place:  Van Buren City Park, Lake Cap Bedell


Updates will be posted asap.

Old Timer's Day

No less than 21 Rotarians will be on hand this weekend at the Old Timer's Day Festival.  We are sharing our Rotary Avenues of Service to all who stop by our booth and purchase raffle tickets to win a variety of unique prizes.  Topping off the items is a Remington 870 Shotgun, Stainless Steel BBQ Tools, Butcher Boys Gift Certificates, and on and on.  Please come by and give us a visit!

Clarke Moore MC's the awards presentation

It was a great night on April 12th when our own President Clarke Moore announced the winners during the 67th Annual 4H Achievement Banquet.  Crawford County Judge John Hall congratulated and presented the awards.  Our very own Rotarian Warren Blaylock recieved a recognition award for his committed service through the 4-H Foundation, most recently as Treasurer.  The crowd at this event was scattered throughout with Rotarians.  Thanks to ALL who attended and we send our congratulations to the 4-H members and leaders who work so very hard.

Next big event is our 18th Annual Van Buren Rotary Invitational Golf Tournament.  Along with other projects, our focus is to award graduating high school seniors in Crawford County scholarships.  Please participate in our events so we can continue to support Crawford County.

Highway Commissioner Trammel points out the importance of good roads to Arkansas

Dick Trammel, one of the five members of the Arkansas State Highway Commission, was the guest speaker at the Thursday, Sept. 16, 2010, meeting of the Van Buren Rotary Club. His purpose on Thursday was to talk about Arkansas Highways. However, several of the Rotarians in the audience warmly remembered Dick Trammel as the District Governor of Dist. 6110 in 1985-86, and Dick spoke with the authority and enthusiasm of someone who as a Rotarian for 50 years has spent most of his adult life involved in public service in one form or another and at the same time, built a very successful business career along the way.

According to Commissioner Trammel, Arkansas State Highway and Transportation Department is the 5th largest state agency with 3,618 employees who are responsible for Arkansas' 16,438 miles of roads and highways. Last year, the Commission received $267 million to maintain all those roads. The 2009 American Recovery and Reinvestment Act was projected to provide an additional $351,544,468 for highways and bridges, of which $28 million was set aside for transit capital grants and $10 million for local city and county projects. So far, Arkansas has used the balance to complete 121 major projects covering 273 miles and only six project are not finished at this point. To put some of those costs into perspective, the latest 2009 revision shows the following Estimated Costs per Mile for highway construction:
4 Lane Freeway - urban area w/ no bridges -   $10,350,000/mile
4 Lane Freeway - rural mtns w/ no bridges -     $12,250.000/ mile
Add new interchange to existing Freeway  -     $11,130,000

Currently, fifty-two percent of the money to maintain Arkansas roads comes from the Federal Government. Congress has added an additional $36 million toward additional highway repairs over the last three years. But overall, the current system, which dates from when gasoline was only a dollar a gallon, is outdated and doesn't match the current need to maintain highways and bridges all over the nation.

Arkansas' Blue Ribbon Committee, seeking to find acceptable ways to increase the funding for highway construction and maintenance, also faces the reality that highway construction costs have tripled over the past six years while a fixed $0.21/gal. gas tax for Arkansas highways generates less money as people are motivated to drive more economically and travel less. Even without an estimated $8.7 billion necessary to meet anticipated construction needs, close examination also shows a need for an additional $200 million per year just for maintenance to keep our roads at their current level.

Commissioner Trammel also introduced Joe Shipman, the District 4 Engineer based in Fort Smith, who reviewed the current highway projects in the Van Buren area. The district expects to spend about $13 million on local highway projects this year, and has already spent $72 million in the Van Buren area over the last 10 years. Hwy 71 improvements and I-49 construction projects are expected to cost $424 million.

Commissioner Trammel added with his characteristic smile, "I won't see I-49 in my lifetime, but I'll start it! Someone else can finish it."

Growing a part of history at Fort Smith National Historic Site

At the Thursday, September 9, 2010 Van Buren Rotary Club meeting, Ranger Keri Powers,  First Bloom Coordinator at Fort Smith National Historical Site, provided some of the background behind the new garden that has been growing over the past two years near the former officers' quarters at the historic site. The family-style garden features the vegetables, herbs and flowers that would have been found at the historic site in 1860. The soil is tilled with hand tools typical of the same period and the gardeners use no herbicides or insecticides that were not available for the inhabitants of Fort Smith in the 1860's.

What makes the garden so special are the gardeners. Girls Incorporated partnered with the national historic site and the young girls from the Fort Smith area wear period dresses, aprons and bonnets while working in the garden. The girls have already won an award for their efforts, with a trip to the White House and meeting with members of the Arkansas congressional delegation. First Bloom projects around the country also compete for the top prize - a $15,000 trip to a national park such as Yellowstone or Mount Rushmore to plant a First Bloom garden.

The Fort Smith First Bloom project is the only one of its kind in Arkansas or Oklahoma. Starting with a 4' x 40' raised bed two years ago, 30 young volunteers have worked every Wednesday after school and during the summer to expand the plot to its present 44' x 40' size. The garden's produce is either cooked and sampled or shared among the participants in the project. Besides learning about gardening, the girls also learn about their heritage and the unique history that made Fort Smith one of the gateways to the Southwest.

Expressing her pride in the effort made by the local group, Ranger Powers explained. "The kids really got involved." She also mentioned that the project is also looking for additional partners to help make the Fort Smith project even better. Interested parties may contact Ranger Powers at 479-783-3961.

Ranger Powers also invited the Van Buren Rotarians and members of the community to visit the Fort Smith National Historic Site and see how the First Bloom garden has grown. For more information about the FSNHS First Bloom project:
http://www.nps.gov/fosm/parknews/first_bloom_contest.htm
FSNHS First Bloom Project slideshow:
http://www.nps.gov/mwr/_cs_apps/fls_photoGallery/customcf/display-slideshow.cfm?gID=236733
For more information about the many activities at the Fort Smith National Historic Site, visit: http://www.nps.gov/mwr/fosm/

Everyone benefits by thinking regionally

Lea Taylor, Regional Executive Director of the Fort Smith Regional Alliance, explained the goals and purpose of the new economic development organization at the Thursday noon meeting of the Van Buren Rotary Club on Sept. 2nd. Economic development issues and benefits don't follow arbitrary boundaries or even state lines. "There are no boundaries," Taylor said. "We're all in this together."

Ms. Taylor cited several examples where economic development projects initiated in one county have spilled over into one or more neighboring communities to everyone's benefit. The alliance was formed in early May of this year and includes 14 cities and chambers in LeFlore and Sequoyah counties in Oklahoma and Crawford, Franklin, Logan and Sebastian counties in Arkansas.

Van Buren High School Pointers ready for 2010 season

"I have never been more proud to represent our football program than I am today," Coach Mike Lee said with a certain intensity that conveyed that football was a serious topic. At the Van Buren Rotary Club on July 29th, Coach Lee opened his review of the 2010 Van Buren High School football season talking about how proud he was of his players and "the tremendous commitment by these young men, particularly at the level football is played in Arkansas."

Football starts in the spring with players on the practice field by 5:30 A.M. and in the weight room at 7:20 A.M. Coach Lee explained that each player works hard to earn his pads at Van Buren.  Coach Lee added that his 68 players this year are in excellent condition and the all the coaches and players are looking forward to the 2010 season.

Van Buren Pointers will conduct a preseason scrimmage on August 23 at Greenwood with the JV starting at 6:00 P.M. and the varsity at 7:30. The Pointers' officially open their 11 game schedule against the Alma Airedales in Alma on September 3rd at 7:30 P.M. Click on the blue link for the complete 2010 Van Buren Pointer schedule.

Van Buren School District Fine Arts Center 2010-2011 schedule opens with Three Dog Night!

Van Buren Fine Arts Center - Saturday, Sept. 18, at 8:00 P.M.

Tom Watkins, Director of the Van Buren School District's Fine Arts Center, distributed brochures with the center's 2010-2011 schedule and ticket order form on July 22nd at the Rotary Club luncheon. Talking about the productions on the schedule, Watson said that in previous years, "the quality of programs has exceeded expectations." With the mix of professional artists and entertainers with local school groups scheduled for the current season, the center seems assured of extending that record.

The season starts on September 18th with Three Dog Night, one of the most popular rock bands of the early 1970's, and continues into October 2nd with Mark Nizer's 3D Comedy and Juggling, and the classic tale of Cinderella, "Happily Ever After" for the entire family on October 23rd. Bring your own special person to the Valentines' Day performance with Robin Spielberg's "Moonlight and Lovesongs". March hosts a variety triple-header: The Hunt Family on March 11 with mix of Celtic, bluegrass, and inspirational music and dancing; then on March 13, the Gilbert and Sullivan Players full-length production of "The Pirates of Penzance" and on March 31, "The Tartan Terrors" with a program of traditional Scottish music and dancing, "...and a wee bit of rock and roll." The season ends with the Spectrum Brass Gershwin Review on April 8, with popular instrumental and vocal selections from Broadway productions. On December 17th, a special program performed by former soldiers, "4 Troops" has also been added to the list of professional events.

The VBHS Theater will present the family musical, "Peter Pan" scheduled for November 12-14, and "Radium Girls" on March 4-5. A smiling Watkins assured the Rotarians that the local school actors would earn their wings and actually fly using special effects during the production - a first for the Fine Arts Center. The production of "Radium Girls" tells the tragic story of young women employed to paint the glow-in-the-dark numbers on watch dials used by the military in 1917.

Mixed in between productions and in conjunction with several of the programs, the Fine Arts Center also offers special free performances for groups of elementary school students to experience dramatic arts and music.

The full season schedule with dates, times and ticket prices is available online at: http://www.vbsd.us/fac/season.aspx  Season tickets are available and a special "family pack" increases the savings. Tickets may be ordered online or by calling the box office at 479-471-4017.

Van Buren High School Band hosts the "Battle on the Border" July 20th

Van Buren High School's Assistant Band Director, Justin Chambers, updated the Van Buren Rotarians on the band's Fall music and marching program on Thursday, July 15th. Noting the band's "significant progress on overall performances", Mr. Chambers also explained that band members are now doing more detailed work with individual and sectional rehearsals.

Mr. Chambers also provided a preview of the July 20th "Battle on the Border VII" which will be held at Van Buren's Blakemore Field at 7:30 P.M. Tickets range from $17 to $25 depending on location with a $3 surcharge if purchased the day of the performance. For advanced tickets, community members were urged to call 479-459-1268 or 317-275-1212. Tickets can also be purchased at the stadium on the day of the show.

Drum Corps International's World and Open Class units that will perform on Tuesday night include:
The Cadets - Allentown, PA
Santa Clara Vanguard - Santa Clara, CA
Colts - Dubuque, IA
Crossmen - San Antonio, TX
Teal Sound - Jacksonville, FL
Music City - Nashville, TN
Forte - Grand Prairie, TX

For more information, visit the "Battle of the Border VII" website.