Volume 5 Issue 1 Published monthly by the Arkansas River Valley Tri - Peaks Region August 2007 Cross-selling Effort Launches at Welcome Centers Cross-selling efforts for all portions of the state have launched in the Texarkana and Van Buren/Fort Smith Welcome Centers. The Arkansas Welcome Centers Cross-selling Program includes large, plasma TV screens scrolling text on area attractions. The screens also feature video and still photography showcasing the local area and a statewide calendar of events that is updated semi-monthly. Additionally, “fun maps” of the area have been created with a listing of area attractions, along with a short description and cartoon depictions on the map. The program will be expanded this fall into the Corning and El Dorado Welcome Centers and seeks to help encourage travelers to visit attractions and destinations in those areas and all across the state.For more information visit www.arkansas.com Reprinted from Arkansas’ Industry Newsletter      8th Annual Bargains Galore on 64 The River Valley of Arkansas is proud to host another Bargains Galore on 64 yard sale extravaganzas. This annual event is held on Thursday, August 9th through Saturday, August 11th, 2007. Come and join in the fun of selling or buying along this antiques and “stuff” shop-a-holic’s highway of markets with bargains galore! There is something for everyone and each community will give you a warm welcome!For more information call 1-888-568-3552 or visit them online at www.bargainsgaloreon64.com The following communities will be participating: Fort Smith Van Buren Alma Ozark Altus Clarksville Russellville Atkins Morrilton Conway Vilonia Beebe     FAMILY FUN DAY @ LAKE DARDANELLE STATE PARK   Lake Dardanelle State Park has hundreds of exciting activities available year round, and they'll be showcasing many of them August 2nd, 2007. Bring the entire family to participate in arts and crafts, scavenger hunts, and workshops of all kinds! Contact the park for a detailed program schedule. Admission: Free From 1-4 pm on August 2nd, there will be a Kayak Demo. If you've ever wanted to paddle a kayak, come by and get your chance! From 5-6 pm, learn to make a Corn Husk Doll Design.What did early Arkansas children do in their spare play-time? Many made corn husk dolls. Join the folks at the park to try this traditional activity. From 6-7 pm, learn about Soap Making. Early Arkansans, including those that inhabited the area many years before it was a state park, made most of their own household supplies, including soap. You can make some nicely-scented soap in unique nature shapes. Even the kids will like THIS soap! All hands-on activities are great for families with children! Note: You don't have to be an overnight guest at the park to take part in their programs--locals and day-visitors are welcome! Large groups are asked to call ahead so they can be prepared for you. For more information call 479-967-5516 Lake Dardanelle State Park     LABOR DAY FUN @ MOUNT NEBO STATE PARK August 31st through September 3rd Summertime is coming to an end and Mount Nebo State Park celebrates once again. They’ll have an ice cream social, hayride and lots of nature programs. Don’t miss your chance for one last dip in the pool and join the folks at Mt. Nebo for some LABOR DAY FUN! For more information call the park at 479-229-3655 HANG-GLIDER FLY-IN SCHEDULED August 25th - August 26th 14th Annual End of Summer Hang-Glider Fly In @ Mount Nebo State Park(Sunrise Point) Join the Central Arkansas Mountain Pilots (C.A.M.P.) at Sunrise Point this weekend to watch and learn as they hang glide throughout the weekend. Due to the sport’s high dependence on weather and wind, no times will be announced for the flying however, weather and wind permitting, the pilots fly throughout Saturday and Sunday beginning in the afternoon. For more information call the park at 479-229-3655 Admission: Free     Ozarks PBL group shines at National Conference   Clarksville, AR– University of the Ozarks Phi Beta Lambda Beta members took home four awards and numerous other top-10 finishes in the 2007 Phi Beta Lambda National Leadership Conference, held June 23-27 in Chicago. Twenty-nine PBL members representing U of O earned a total of 17 awards at the PBL National Conference. In addition, Ozarks was awarded the Gold Seal Chapter Award of Merit and took second place in the 13-state Southern Region in the category of Largest PBL Local Chapter. The Ozarks PBL organization had 108 active members during the 2006-2007 academic year. “I could not be more proud of the way our team represented Ozarks,” said Dr. Robert Hilton, head advisor of Ozarks PBL group. “We competed against universities that were much larger, but we more than held our own. For example, in the Community Service Project category, we beat California-Berkley for first place. That gives you an idea of the type of schools that were there. Twenty-four of the 29 students who competed for Ozarks won an award, and that is unheard of. It was an outstanding overall effort by our students”. Reprinted from www.ozarks.edu.   A Hero Within- Your Life & Your Legacy In partnership with the Arkansas Hospitality Association- A Hero Within Your Life & Your Legacy is a program consisting of three beneficial elements: The Inner Workings of a Hero, Providing Heroic Customer Service and Presenting a Heroic Message. Experience results… Become more aware and committed to unleashing your inner heroic qualities! Begin establishing your own legacy in providing exceptional customer service! Never again allow the fear and intimidation of public speaking to stand in your way! Primary Areas of Focus- 8-Hour Program Unit I- Teamwork and leadership philosophies Essential communication skills Critical goal setting strategies Unit II- What “Heroic” customer service truly means Providing effective security measures Handling more than one customer at a time Unit III- Creating a complete all-around-message Your approach and delivery of the message Your rapport with the audience For times, locations and registration, contact Kristen Smith at 501-376-2323 or email Kristen@arhospitality.org. ARKANSAS’ LAKES Greers Ferry Lake A vast majority of recreational vacations are water-related, and Arkansas is ready. With 600,000 acres of Arkansas lakes, there’s plenty of space for fishing, swimming, sailing, power-boating, scuba diving and more. The great fishing lakes of Arkansas are among its most prized possessions. Constantly fed by cold-flowing springs and creeks, the mountain fishing lakes are among the cleanest in the world. Scuba divers and underwater photographers marvel at the water clarity, while fishermen are happy with the trophy-sized lunkers they hook in the same waters. The Ozarks offer Bull Shoals, Greers Ferry, Norfork, Beaver, Dardanelle and other small lakes. The Ouachita Mountains boast DeGray, Greeson, Hamilton, Catherine, Nimrod and Ouachita lakes. And, south Arkansas boasts Lake Millwood, White Oak, Chicot (the state’s largest ox-bow cutoff from the Mississippi) and other lakes in Arkansas. Houseboats, sailing rigs, party barges, fishing boats, rafts, parasails and jet skis are just some of the watercrafts enjoyed on Arkansas’ lakes. In addition, trout fisherman and nature lovers use the popular flat-bottomed johnboat to navigate the shallow tail waters below the big power dams. For more information on Arkansas’ lakes visit them online at www.arkansas.com. Reprinted from Arkansas’ website   Tri-Peaks Board of Directors   President: Vicki Lyons- Johnson Co. 1st Vice President: Buddy Hoelzeman- Conway Co. Secretary/Treasurer: Betty LaGrone- Pope Co. Wally Scherrey- Conway Co. Karen Hofford- Conway Co. Baxter Sudduth- Conway Co. Carol Martin- Johnson Co. Pat Kowalewycz- Johnson Co. Nancy Rogers- Johnson Co. Bro. Mel Stinson- Logan Co. Becky Bariola- Logan Co. Lynn Wright- Logan Co. Doug Brandon- Perry Co. Bill Greene- Perry Co. Ron Knost- Pope Co. Andy Thomas- Pope Co. Lou Vitale- Pope Co. Patty Styles- Yell Co. Carole Tackett- Yell Co. Mike Hall- Yell Co. Please Note: The next Tri-Peaks Board of Directors meeting will be held Tuesday, September 11th, 10:00 a.m. at Lake Dardanelle State Park.These meetings are open to the public. Tri-Peaks Members   New & Renewing Members American Realty, Inc. America's Best Value Inn & Suites Arkansas River Valley Arts Center Arkansas State Parks Arkansas Tech University Arkansas Valley Farmers Assoc. Arkwest Communications, Inc. (formerly Yell Co. Telephone) Best Western Inn-Russellville Best Western Sherwood Inn- Clarksville The Copper Outlet Catfish "N' Centerville Dragway, Inc. Chamberlyne Country Club Chambers Bank Chart Bank City of Atkins City of Morrilton City of Paris City of Perryville City of Russellville Clarksville-Johnson Co. Chamber of Commerce Coffee Creek Resort & RV Park Collector's Gallery Comfort Inn-Clarksville Comfort Inn-Russellville Conway Co. Wholesale Beer Dist. Cranford Johnson Robinson Woods Cyber Creek Design Danville Area Chamber of Commerce Dardanelle Chamber of Commerce Days Inn Morrilton Dixie Cafe' First Electric Cooperative Fairfield Inn & Suites Feltner's Whattaburger First National Bank-Paris First Security Bank-Clarksville Frannie's Cabin in the Ozarks Great Arkansas Pig Out Hampton Inn-Clarksville Hampton Inn-Russellville Heifer International Lake Dardanelle State Park Liberty Bank Morrilton Area Chamber of Commerce Mt. Magazine State Park Mt. Nebo State Park Museum of Automobiles Oppelo Flea Market Ozark Advertising & Tourism Paris Area Chamber of Commerce Perry County Perry County Economic Development Corp Petit Jean Meats Petit Jean Mountain Petting Zoo & Trail Rides Petit Jean State Park Post Familie Vineyards & Winery Regions Bank-Clarksville Regions Bank-Russellville Riverfront Antiques & Galleries Russellville APC Russellville Area Chamber of Commerce Russellville Boys & Girls Club Russellville Marina Boat Repair & Cabins Satterfield Oil Company Savanah's Riverfront Cafe' Stoby's Subiaco Abbey & Coury House Super 8 Motel-Morrilton Super 8- Russellville The Grapevine Restaurant The Winthrop Rockefeller Center TJ's Country Store University of AR Community College-Morrilton U.S. Forest Service-Clarksville U.S. Forest Service-Russellville U.S. Forest Service Mt. Magazine Ranger Dist. United Country All Star Real Estate University of AR Division of Continuing Ed-Fayetteville University of the Ozarks-Clarksville Wiederkehr Wine Cellars Yell County Mt. Magazine State Park Committee Yesterday's Restaurant & Bar Betty Selman Charles Gordon Russell Lyons Ron Knost Lou Vitale * Denotes New Member SCHEDULE OF EVENTS Clarksville August 7: "National Night Out" 4-9 pm at the Marvin Vinson Center Call the Clarksville Chamber @ 479-754-2340 for more information Dardanelle August 25-26: End of Summer Hang-Glider Fly-In @ Mt. Nebo State Park August 31-September 3: Labor Day Fun @ Mt. Nebo State Park Call 479-229-3655 for more information Morrilton August 3-4: Great Arkansas Pig Out For more information call 501-354-2484 Russellville August 8: River Valley Expo For more information call 479-968-2530 Please contact your area Chamber of Commerce to confirm event dates August Quote Imagination is more important than knowledge…Albert Einstein (1879-1955)