Fort Smith group takes ‘magic’ act to Tampa
by June 11, 2009 11:36 am 111 views
Tracy Winchell is hoping at least one more bunny can be pulled from the hat.
Fort Smith was named in late March as a finalist in the 2009 All-America City Award program sponsored by the National Civic League. The 32 finalist cities will compete June 17-19 in Tampa for the 10 awards given by the NCL. This year marks the 60th anniversary of the All-American City award program. Of the 32 cities selected, two cities have dropped out. Of those competing, 10 will be chosen.
Winchell, an economic development staffer with the city of Fort Smith, worked with city staff to apply for the award. The application focused on how the region came together to keep the 188th Fighter Wing based in Fort Smith, successfully recruit the U.S. Marshals Museum, and support the Community Clearinghouse, Winchell explained.
According to the NCL, an All-America City has “a proven capacity for community-based problem solving, grassroots civic engagement and cooperation between sectors (public, private and nonprofit).”
Winchell has shepherded the effort to take a group to Tampa and conduct a presentation she hopes will convince the NCL judges to place Fort Smith in the exclusive group of 10 All-American Cities for 2009.
About $11,000 has been raised from private sources to fund the travel to Tampa and other expenses. Sponsors include Arkansas Best Corp., Fort Smith Advertising & Promotion Commission, Fort Smith Regional Chamber of Commerce, Manufacturing Executives Association and Kraft-Planters.
Ruth Wood, a class member in the current Citizens Academy class and a travel agent with Universal Travel, helped set up all the flight plans. She also loaned Winchell two stuffed bunnies in a magic hat as a good luck token on the trip.
“So, with the bunnies, I just think of all the people who have done what they could to pull bunnies out of hats to make this happen,” Winchell said, explaining that the magic also included saving the 188th and recruiting the Marshals Museum to the area.
Those planning to travel to Tampa are: representatives of the 188th; Chris Chaney with Wilson Bros. Construction; Jessica Hayes, U.S. Marshals Museum; Sue & Sonny Robison, Community Services Clearinghouse; Sandy Jones and Roney Jones, Katrina evacuees helped by the Clearinghouse; City Directors Andre Good and Kevin Settle; Fort Smith City Administrator Dennis Kelly; Claude Legris, director of the Fort Smith Convention & Visitors Bureau; Lorie Robertson, Rightmind Advertising; and Winchell.
Winchell said most of the group will arrive in Tampa June 16. A on-site practice of the presentation is planned for June 17, with the formal presentation made the morning of June 18 and the awards ceremony scheduled for the evening of June 19.
Winchell will post updates on the event at this Twitter link.