FAYETTEVILLE ARTS FESTIVAL WILL BE BEST YET!

Festival Set for First Two Weekends in September

Fayetteville, Ark – July 10, 2006 – The 2006 Fayetteville Arts Festival will span two weekends, September 1, 2, 3, 8 and 9. Special to this year’s festival is the first weekend’s new location. Traditionally held around the Walton Arts Center and West Avenue, September 1 through 3 will still focus on the visual arts and will be located at the Fayetteville Town Center. The second weekend focuses on the performing arts and will be held at the Walton Arts Center’s Nadine Baum Studios and other Dickson Street locations.

This year’s Fayetteville Arts Festival will kick-off with the very first Open Space Art Party on Friday, September 1, beginning at 6:00 PM, at the Fayetteville Town Center. The party will feature the music of the nationally known Lyrique Quintet, and as the night progresses, party goers can dance to the awesome DJ’s from Dancenhance. Bordinos, Ella’s Restaurant and Emelia’s Mediterranean Kitchen will provide food, and beverages will be provided by Post Familie Vineyards, St. John Wines and Hog Haus Brewing Company. There will also be an auction for an original sculpture by local artist Steve Hoover. The Open Space Art Party is a ticketed event that allows attendees the first chance to purchase artwork before the festival goes full throttle on Saturday and Sunday. Tickets cost $25, and proceeds benefit the Fayetteville Arts Festival.

The first weekend will feature artwork both inside and outside the Fayetteville Town Center. In addition to the 41 featured artists selling original work, the festival will have installation pieces by Leilani Law, Community Access Television and Art Amiss. The New Design School will host the Experiential Technology and Design Lab where festival-goers can create digital graffiti that will project inside the Town Center. Ceramic Cow Productions will perform Cow Paddies throughout the weekend, which are excerpts from the wildly popular and hysterical Dupont series. The FAF Main Stage will feature dance and poetry as well as other play and literary readings.

Public art installations are a major component to the 2006 Fayetteville Arts Festival. Local artist Leilani Law will install a grand walkway to the Fayetteville Town Center. Made of colored fabric, this piece will offer a dramatic entry point for the festival.

Community Access Television will create an installation featuring a giant CAT head, equipped with a video camera and microphone. Festival goers can sit in the head and make statements, performances…whatever they like. These video pieces will broadcast the following week on CAT.

An ongoing installation of the festival’s public art component is the currently running Gallery Without Walls, featuring sculptures by Hank Kaminsky. The Gallery Without Walls began on June 16 and will culminate on the festival’s first weekend with a speech by the artist. The Gallery Without Walls highlights five pieces of Kaminsky’s work located at the Fayetteville Town Center, the Arvest Bank Plaza on the Downtown Square, the entrance to the Fayetteville Public Library, Walton Arts Center’s West Avenue Garden and St. Paul’s Episcopal Church’s Meditation Garden. The organizers’ goal is to promote the importance and appreciation of public art while offering an opportunity for artists of large-scale artwork to exhibit and sell their work through this “gallery”. The gallery is a major piece to the public art component of this year’s festival. In addition to the festival’s art installations, current works of public art will be highlighted in the artist catalog, and festival goers will be encouraged to view these works, hopefully cultivating a public expectation and support for future public art pieces.

In addition to installing a public art piece, Art Amiss, a Fayetteville Arts Festival partner, will hold their fall event the evening of Saturday, September 2. Art Amiss is a local artists’ collective who utilizes semiannual events and their website (www.artamiss.org) to promote emerging artists living and working in or who are from Arkansas. Their events are extremely popular and feature artists from multiple genres, including 2D and 3D visual art, film, fashion and music.

Seven Hills Homeless Center, Flat Rock Clay Supplies and Gallery and George’s Majestic Lounge will also have their first “Bowl-A-Thon” at the Fayetteville Arts Festival on September 2 and 3 as part of their Empty Bowls Project 2006. Flat Rock Clay Supplies and Gallery will provide the materials, and the public will have the opportunity to make handcrafted bowls. Participants can glaze the bowls at Flat Rock on the following Saturdays, or Flat Rock will finish them by the first of November. The bowls will be donated to Seven Hills Homeless Center and used on November 14 as part of a benefit show at George’s Majestic Lounge, where local chefs will prepare and serve soup. Proceeds and donations from this event will benefit Seven Hills Homeless Center.

The Fayetteville Arts Festival will once again partner with the Fayetteville Farmers’ Market on September 2 at the Historic Downtown Square. The Fayetteville Farmers’ Market has become one of the most anticipated cultural events of the year. By moving the first weekend of the festival to the Town Center, organizers further strengthened this partnership between two cultural entities, creating one huge event for Northwest Arkansas.

The second weekend of the Fayetteville Arts Festival, September 8 and 9, will be a weekend of performance. Last year’s hugely successful 24-Hour Play Festival returns to the Walton Arts Center on September 9. Participating teams must create and perform an original short in just 24 hours, following the Very Important Meeting where certain guidelines are given to the teams. Due to last year’s sellout at the Starr Theatre, this year’s play festival will be in the larger Studio Theatre at the Nadine Baum Studios.

Due to the success of and interest in last year’s 24-Hour Play Festival, Fayetteville Arts Festival’s organizers created the first 40-Hour Youth Play Festival, which will also be held on September 9. Teams consisting of youth between the seventh and twelfth grades will follow very similar guidelines to the adult teams. However, each youth team will be partnered with professional theatre mentors through the play development and rehearsal, but the work and performance is entirely created by the young people. This is a unique opportunity for youth to work with a theatre professional and enrich their theatrical craft.

The second weekend will also highlight the birthday celebration of a Fayetteville Cultural Icon. George’s Majestic Lounge’s 79th Birthday Party. The party will feature music by Oreo Blue, Cate Brothers, Nace Brothers, Steve Pryor, Herring Rogers and Sipe, and more. Join the Fayetteville Arts Festival all weekend in celebrating this legendary venue for music and the performing arts.

The McCoy Gallery at the Walton Arts Center’s Nadine Baum Studios will have a special exhibit during both weekends of the Fayetteville Arts Festival. It might be called a window on a community, a portrait of Northwest Arkansas – it is more; it is less. A Second Glance: Photography by Don House will be on display from August 28 through December 29. During the 2005 Fayetteville Arts Festival, Don House setup a temporary studio and recruited participants to have their photograph taken. Over 360 images were made of 291 humans and 9 dogs over a period of eight hours. A selection of that collection will appear in the McCoy Gallery.

More events and activities will be announced as the festival draws close. Be on the lookout! For more information, go to www.fayettevillearts.org or call (479) 571-3337.

The Fayetteville Arts Festival is produced by Fayetteville Downtown Partners and supports their mission to lead in the continual creation of the Fayetteville Downtown Experience. Fayetteville Downtown Partners believes that the arts are at the heart of Fayetteville’s identity as one of the most livable communities in the United States and vital to a dynamic, diverse and sustainable downtown.

Assorted Job Opps

Job Opening: Full-Time Professional Position in the Individual Development Account (IDA) Program
EOA of Washington County is accepting applications for a full-time professional position in the Individual Development Account (IDA) program. A BA in social work, education, business administration or equivalent education or experience is required. Responsibilities include teaching economic literacy classes, providing case management services to adult clients, and maintaining client records and files. Must have excellent computer and communication skills. Competence in Spanish a plus. Competitive salary and fringe benefits.

Mail resume to EOA of Washington County, 614 E. Emma, Suite M401, Springdale, AR 72764, ATTN: Janet Wills, or fax: 479-872-7482.

Job Opening: Clerical/Travel Agent
Position open at Travel Inc Co. in Rogers for a clerical / travel agent. This can be a full or part time position. Contact Dave Collins of Travel Inc Co. at @ dave@travel-inc.net or 636-0682. He is flexible and will work with the person's schedule needs.

Job Opening: Cost Accountant and Staff Accountant
Resumes for the cost accountant and staff accountant positions should be emailed to ericbarnes@aert.cc.

Job Opening: Senior Tax Accountant and Full Charge Bookkeeper
Resumes for the senior tax accountant and full charge bookkeeper positions should be emailed to kevin_fulcher@beall-cpa.com.

A Place for Your Summer Fun

Summer is upon us! If you've started thinking of great places for you and your family, church, company, and scouting or youth organization to camp, fish, and float on the river, then I'd like to introduce you to the perfect place! Skelly Park - RV Resort & Campground, as well as their floating operation, Oklahoma River Runners, is located on the scenic Illinois River just 25 minutes southwest of Siloam Springs, AR. Learn more about Skelly Park at www.skellypark.com. After looking over the information, if you have any questions or would like to make a reservation, contact Sheila Carter, Marketing Director, Waggoner & Co., 479-381-6474, sheilakcarter@yahoo.com.

Shoot for Success at the Eighth Annual Northwest Arkansas Business Women’s Conference

Our special guest and keynote speaker will be Hall of Fame Coach, Pat Summitt.

The Northwest Arkansas Business Women’s Conference is for women at all career levels and will provide an excellent environment for networking and professional development. Learn how to “Shoot for Success” at all levels of life – home, business, financial and personal.

Hosted by the Bentonville/Bella Vista Chamber of Commerce and the Rogers/Lowell Area Chamber of Commerce, the 2006 conference is scheduled for Tuesday, September 26th at the new Hammons Convention Center in Rogers. Tickets for the daylong event are $85 per person, including continental breakfast, elegant lunch, Speaker's Reception, and conference materials. Individual keynote speaker tickets only may be purchased for $35. A corporate table of 10 and corporate sponsorship may be purchased for $1250. To order tickets or for more information on corporate sponsorships, contact the Bentonville/Bella Vista Chamber of Commerce at (479) 273-2841 or e-mail ndesler@bbvchamber.com.

Along with a day full of information-filled focus groups, the prestigious Louise M. Thaden Woman of the Year Award will be presented during lunch. In addition, a broad showcase of business booths and a silent auction will take place throughout the day. Proceeds of the auction will benefit the Benton County Women's Shelter. Closing the events for the day will be a wine and cheese reception and a book signing by Pat Summitt. Auction winners will be announced at the reception. For more information on focus groups, the Louise Thaden Award, a business booth or donations for the silent auction, please contact the Bentonville Chamber of Commerce at (479) 273-2841 or e-mail ndesler@bbvchamber.com.

The conference is presented by Mercy Health System. Additional sponsors include Revlon, SBC, and Village Home Centers. Sponsorships are still available for this exciting event. For sponsorship information, please contact the Bentonville Chamber of Commerce at (479) 273-2841 or e-mail ndesler@bbvchamber.com.

Don’t miss this chance to network and grow with women across Northwest Arkansas! Last year we sold out, so get your tickets today to hear what Pat Summitt and other successful women have to share!

Summertime Cleaning Discounts

Are you looking around you and seeing everyone out enjoying the summer or are you inside cleaning your home or business? Beary Clean Homes has the savings you need already and is offering an even better deal -the BEARY HAPPY DAYS OF SUMMER! For the entire months of July and August, all residential and commercial cleaning is 15% off the regularly listed prices, and for the seniors (55 +), we offer a cutback to 20% from the regularly listed 15% off.

You say you want to hear more? Well! Also during July and August, gift certificates are on sale for $35.00. One (1) gift certificate will entitle somebody to a full cleaning for one day - residentially or commercially.

Gift certificates are great gifts for such occasions as: baby showers, bridal gifts, birthdays, a thank you to a new tenant or perhaps you want purchase one or a few as door prizes or for other various functions. Let's not forget that Father's Day is coming up rapidly. Perhaps you know a Dad that needs a break too. What better way to say thanks!

So why not give us a call today and ease into your Beary Happy Days of Summer and leave the dirty work to us!
BEARY CLEAN HOMES Cleaning Service
Residential & Commercial
Leslie Baker, Owner
For more information and rates call: 479-795-8971

NWAtalent promotes CDs

NWAtalent is putting together Promotional POST CARDs featuring music CDs of NWAtalent members. If you know a group or someone who wants to promote their CD, tell them to sign up for NWAtalent.com! There's no extra charge for the CD promotion! What's next?...a sampler CD of NWAtalent's musical talent!!! Go to www.nwatalent.com or www.ardome.com for more information.

RLCOC Chamber Members Invited to Northwest Arkansas Business Showcase & Convention Center Grand Opening

Enjoy the grand-opening celebration of the John Q. Hammons Convention Center while visiting hundreds of area businesses at the Northwest Arkansas Business Showcase on July 27-28. Chamber members are invited to join VIP guests for special convention center grand-opening activities on July 27 starting at 5 p.m., presented by the Pinnacle Group, Embassy Suites of Northwest Arkansas, and the John Q. Hammons Convention Center.

The Showcase opens at noon to 7 p.m. on July 27, and from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. on July 28 at the convention center. Over 200 area businesses will display their most innovative products and services. Plan to spend time at the showcase gaining contacts for your future purchases. For more information or questions on the NWA Business Showcase, contact Leslie Seawright at 479-619-3195 or leslie@rogerslowell.com.

“What You Don’t Know Might Get You Sued” at Next RLCOC TGIF Lunch & Learn

Chamber members Scott Summers and Eva Madison, lawyers with Wright, Lindsey & Jennings, LLP, will offer information how to avoid some common mistakes made by employers when it comes to human resources policies and practices. Bring your lunch on Friday, July 21 for the seminar, which will start promptly at noon at the Chamber. The session will also offer suggestions for how to improve your employment practices and how to avoid the potential for a lawsuit by a disgruntled employee.

TGIF Lunch & Learn is a members-only, one-hour brown-bag seminar designed for today’s businessmen and women, and built to fit into busy schedules. (What a great reason to join the Rogers-Lowell Area Chamber of Commerce.! The event is free, but please RSVP to Angela Balch at 479-636-1240 or abalch@rogerslowell.com.

Enjoy the Second Blue Moon Trail Walk and Blossom Way Trail Grand Opening

A one-mile looping segment of the Blossom Way Recreational Trail will be officially opened at a ceremony on July 20 at 6 p.m. at the trailhead located near Rogers High School, 2300 S. Dixieland Road. Supporters of the Rogers Trail System will host a ribbon cutting ceremony and family trail walk for the model recreational trail which was completed through a grant for stream restoration. The 10-foot wide concrete trail is easily accessed by a short bridge from the south parking lots at Rogers High School.

Cafecito

Multicultural Committee hosts “Cafecito” networking coffee in Spanish – Structured like the Creative Referral Network coffees, the Multicultural Committee of the Chamber hosts a networking coffee in Spanish each Thursday from 8-9 a.m. at Panaderia Vega, 115 N. Dixieland Road in Rogers. To learn more, contact Vilma Dominguez at the Chamber at 479-619-3186 or vilma@rogerslowell.com.

Check Out the Cancer Road Challenge Photos

The fourth annual Cancer Road Challenge Poker Run and Motorcycle Show was a success. We raised $19,000 and had over 300 bikes. View photos from the event at www.nwabiker.com.

Personal Safety for Women Training

The Crisis Center is hosting two Personal Safety for Women trainings this summer and fall. The trainings will be held on July 8 & August 12 from 9:00 a.m. - 2:00 p.m., Detective Debbie Crews of the Rogers Police Department will be the trainer for the program. "The SHARP Program is considered the state-of-the-art program in women's safety training. This program is divided into three parts: Prevention Psychology, Managing Unwanted Physical Contact, and Assault Countermeasures."

The training requires a $25 registration fee, loose, comfortable clothing, and tennis shoes. The class is highly recommended for women age 15 and up. Class sizes are limited to 20 participants and are registered on a first come first serve basis. Fax or mail your registration form to: Fax 756-2338, or 614 E. Emma Ave. Suite 213, Springdale, AR 72764, or call 756-1995 for more information.

HOT TOPIC! -- Learn About the Clean Indoor Air Act

To help members learn how the state’s new Clean Ihttp://www.blogger.com/img/gl.link.gifndoor Air Act will affect their business and how to implement a smoke-free worksite, the Community Health Investment Program of the Rogers-Lowell Area Chamber of Commerce will host four information sessions in July. The first session will be held on July 11 from 3-4:30 p.m., repeating on July 12, July 19, and July 20 from 8:30 to 10 a.m. each day.

The session will address what the act is, what it is not, and how it will affect your business and your customers. The act restricts smoking in all public worksites to protect employees and the public from the harms of secondhand smoke. These free educational sessions will explain the new law, its intentions, and requirements, and will provide a “Business Toolkit” to help in implementing the requirements in your workplace.

The sessions are free, but please register by calling the Chamber at 479-636-1240. For more information on the Clean Indoor Air Act, visit www.arcleanair.com or contact Melissa Ayers at 479-619-3193.

Free Seminar: Career Management and Progression This Wednesday!

Mary Powell will present a seminar on career management and progression. It will focus on leadership development, empowering individuals and recognizing personal and company true intentions. She will show how proper planning can lead to breakthrough results in your career and business.

Mary is a vice president at Innovational Services in Haverford, Penn. where she is responsible for three key areas: career transition/planning/management, executive coaching and leadership development programs and services.

Innovational Services, Inc. specializes in career transition, executive coaching, and leadership development, empowering individuals and organizations in order that their true intentions become realized. They bring expertise, resources and knowledge that move individuals and organizations beyond the results of their current thinking and into the world of possibility.

Prior to her association with Innovational Services, she served as the administrator of both government and private medical group practices and has participated in negotiations with national healthcare corporations as well as the merger of a large group practice. Her healthcare experience spans 25 years and has given her a broad understanding of the diversity in organizations.

Mary holds a MBA in leadership and ethics from John Brown University, a bachelor of arts in English and a bachelor of science in physiology from Oklahoma State University. She resides in Siloam Springs with her husband.

The seminar will be from 9 to 11 a.m. on Wednesday, July 19 at the Bentonville/Bella Vista Chamber of Commerce, 202 E. Central. The seminar is free to Chamber members and $10 for non-members. Please RSVP to Kendra Carlson at 273-2841 or kcarlson@bbvchamber.com. Tyson is the Chamber Business College series sponsor.

Job Openings: Bilingual Loan Officers, Loan Processors, And Real Estate Agents

We at Dixie Development are looking for bilingual loan officers, loan processors, and real estate agents. We have an excellent benefits package, salary/commission plan and a great company to work for. We are developing a "Plaza del Sol" project here in NWA and looking at other areas in Arkansas, Oklahoma, and Missouri. This is a great opportunity for someone who wants to get into the real estate business or in the mortgage business.

What is Plaza del Sol. A shopping center targeting but not limited to Hispanics/Latinos. We plan to build stages, bring in monthly entertainment, and do promotions throughout the year. Merchants will sell everything from Mexican Arts and Crafts, tamales, clothing, restaurants etc.

If you have a real estate license, great, but if you don't then we can help you get one. Please send resumes to lcruz@dixiemgmt.com

Job Opening: Producer’s Administrative Assistant

Producers Administrative Assistant needed at Clement Financial Services/Mike Russell and Associates or our New Name: Kalos Financial Group. Our motto: Making a difference in the lives of people.

Primary Function and Overall Responsibilities:

Assist Producer in preparing financial reports for clients.
Setting up accounts and tracking transfers from one account to another.
Basic client service work.
Copy & produce catalog of reports for Producer to present to the client.
Set up files for the different investments, insurance, education investments, all investments.
Skills and Abilities:
Multi-tasking and diverse interaction skills capable of facilitating the needs of a wide variety of contacts.
Oral and written communication skills
Driven, self-motivated, well organized
MS Office proficient, Word, Excel, e-mail usage.
Basic standard equipment and office machines used
Work Environment: Office Building (New 2005)
We are located at 2400 SE C Street Bentonville AR
If you are interested in applying for this position please call Sparkie Scarbrough at 464 5055 or e-mail your resume to

New Networking Group on Mondays in Springdale

Start ‘em off right! There’s a new networking group to add to the list starting July 10. It will meet Monday mornings from 8:15 to 9:15 at the Pontiac Coffee House in Springdale. For more information, contact Ray Latham at . These networking groups are all grass roots groups run by volunteers. http://www.blogger.com/img/gl.link.gif

2006 Executive Summary Guidelines Due July 20, 2006

2006 AVF Executive Summary Guidelines
Arkansas Venture Forum

For consideration to present to investors and entrepreneurs at the Arkansas Venture Forum on November 16 and 17, 2006, companies must submit by e-mail an Executive Summary, which should be a maximum of five (5) pages, in 12 point font size, including any tables, graphs, photos and financial projections. The Executive Summary should highlight the most important points of your business that will convince potential investors that your venture will succeed. The criteria weights below were developed by sophisticated investors from around the country and indicate what emphasis investors place on various parts of your Executive Summary.

The Company (10% Weight)
o Define business purpose
o Provide summary of your company's history and current status, including whether the company is publicly or privately held.

o State overall corporate strategy and objectives (i.e. to go public, to command a certain market share or reach a given level of sales in an established time frame, etc.)

The Products or Services (20% Weight)
o Describe important features and benefits - relate to market needs and to the competition.
o Describe existing products and status of new products (project release dates, expected product life, potential revenues etc.)

o Discuss pricing and margins for both your products and your competitors products
o Explain proprietary position - trademarks, patents, trade secrets, special production skills, process etc.
o Articulate any relevant regulatory or environmental issues

The Market and Marketing Strategy (30% Weight)
o Market analysis - size, anticipated growth, key changes, trends, etc.
o Market strategy - How are you going to reach the market? What are your channels and costs of distribution, promotion, pricing etc?

o Product/service - what makes you different? What gives you a special advantage?
o Evaluate competition - Who are they? How much of the market do they control? What are their advantages/disadvantages?
o Discuss the issues or circumstances that drive or create the market - What compels people to buy?

Management (30% Weight)
o Give brief backgrounds of key individuals - specifically why they add value to the company, their past successes and achievements, etc.

o History of working together as a team.
o Identification of immediate and future personnel needs and initial organizational structure.

Financial Summary (10% Weight)
o Provide revenues, income and expenses projected over 3-5 year period. Justify your financial assumptions. Include any past financial history.

o Define funding requirements - how much is needed at each stage of development within the next five years.
o Describe the history of previous investments
o Indicate an exit strategy (i.e., mergers, acquisitions or initial public offerings). Compare with similar businesses and their results.

A Cover Page should also be prepared to list the following (this will not be counted against the five (5) page limit):
o Company Name
o Contact person
o Address
o Telephone numbers - fax number and e-mail address

Finally, if you have questions or would like to participate in a workshop to help prepare your Executive Summary, contact Tim McFarland at 800-705-9295 in Fayetteville, Sam Walls III or Leslie Lane in Little Rock at 800-216-7237 or email tmcfarland@arcapital.com, cs3@arcapital.com, or llane@arcapital.com.

Please submit the Executive Summary by e-mail to: Slayton Fry (sdeefry@sbcglobal.com).

Tuesday Morning Kick-Start

Please Join us each Tuesday morning for Networking. We meet each Tuesday Morning upstairs at the Iron Horse Cafe from 8-9:00 AM. We each take a minute to tell about our business and hand out business cards ect. then we take a second minute and answer a fun question of the day. This is a great way to make new business contacts as well as some new friends.

Professional Dental Assistant Wanted

We are seeking an experienced professional dental assistant for our progressive dental office.

Applicants should be career minded, personally stable and health centered in their lifestyles.

We value organizational skills with focus on warmth, maturity and expert communications with our patients.

We emphasize personal and professional development through continuing education with full participation by members of our team. Cross-training in other areas of the office will be required.

If you would prefer to be a part of a small, proud team that delivers the highest levels of dental care, Call Dr. Randy Lais @ 479-845-1225 or fax a resume to 479-845-1227. Confidentiality requests will be honored.

Thanks so much, Jackie Lais, Studio 55