Hometown Hospitality Hero- Mike McKeown-Organizer/Developer for the Southeast Global Shootout Baseball Tournament

Once a quarter, our staff selects a member of the Fort Smith community to be named a Hometown Hospitality Hero.

Fort Smith and our region benefit tremendously from conventions and events brought to our area. Attracting and retaining these happenings relies on the efforts of everyone in the hospitality industry. Often, Fort Smith attracts these conventions, events, and tournaments after individual local citizens decide they’d like their group’s event to be held in Fort Smith and take the initiative to bring a potential event to our Convention & Visitors Bureau’s attention. We work with these citizens to win the bid, attract attendees and help their idea come to life. The citizens that our staff feels have brought the most positive exposure and economic impact to our city we name Hometown Hospitality Heroes. We appreciate these people and all of those who help us bring more visitors to Fort Smith more than we can say!

 

Every event that takes place in Fort Smith has a dedicated individual behind it, and a compelling story that lead to its creation and success.  Mike McKeown and the “Southeast Global Shootout” baseball tournament are a perfect example.

In the fall of 2011, Mike McKeown lost his job in Northwest Arkansas. Married with three children, he had always kept a plan B in the back of his mind should the family sustain a sudden drop in income. As a baseball enthusiast, he had formed friendships with other coaches and parents whose sons were involved in baseball. He loved the game and wanted to put a tournament together and now he had the time and the motivation.

He felt compelled to make it happen quickly, and by the end of October, 2011 the event was coming together. He set up a website, http://www.arkansaspremiertournament.com/to serve as the cornerstone of his marketing efforts. Mike followed up his on-line marketing efforts by making lots of personal contacts with friends that he had connections with in the USSSA baseball league for boys ages 7-14. Local teams and buddies within the region helped him to expand the tournament. Mike is so dedicated to great customer service and being responsive to inquiries that he makes it a point to answer his phone 24/7.

 

Mike utilizes the Kelly Park, the church league fields. He tells us that without the Fort Smith Church League fields; this event would not be possible. He is also grateful of the support he has received from all the lodging establishments that house the teams that play in the event.

 

The “Southeast Global Shootout” was an inaugural event in the spring of last year. When Mike McKeown, event organizer, began to organize this event, he had the expectation of having approximately 36 teams participating. To his surprise, it quickly surpassed that number and kept growing into a 126 team event with teams coming from seven states: Arkansas, Kansas Missouri, Oklahoma, Texas, Tennessee, and Louisiana. To their surprise, this tournament was grabbing national attention in the baseball world.

 

Mike uses Fort Smith as the host city. The hotels and Kelly Park are centrally located for the visiting teams. This tournament serves AA teams to Major Ball Teams. Throughout this three day event, Mike uses a number of fields to accommodate each team, meet their standards and expectations 80% (Approximately 1500 Room Nights) of all teams traveling in from outside the River Valley, will stay in Fort Smith. The 1500 room nights results in $225,000 in direct economic impact and $675,000 in total Economic impact.

 

Mike tells us, “I will make a tournament that you cannot resist!”…and we agree. We are grateful that you were inspired to bring the Southeast Global Shootout back to Fort Smith in 2013. The event is scheduled for April 19-21, 2013 and as of February 22, 2013, 90% of the lodging establishments are already full that weekend. Mike wants to grow the event even more ….he just needs some more hotels….investors are you out there?

Thanks Mike McKeown and volunteers for continuing to bring Southeast Global Shootout Baseball Tournament to Fort Smith!

 

 

 

Union Pacific Railroad’s Boy Scouts of America Commemorative Locomotive makes a stop in Fort Smith, Arkansas.

The brisk wind and overcast sky was not enough to keep Boy Scouts and train enthusiast away from the Fort Smith rail yard Saturday, January 9^th. Why is this, you might ask? Because the Union Pacific No. 2010 Boy Scouts of America Locomotive was on display!

The amazing GE 4400-horsepower, 207 tons locomotive was unveiled in 2010 as a tribute to the Boy Scouts of America’s 100th year anniversary. Commemorative locomotives are very rare and a true honor. Union Pacific has created only 14 commemorative locomotives over the past 150 years. This train has a distinct purpose; it was designed to raise awareness about the values of Scouting, engage more youth and volunteers in Scouting activities, and reconnect millions of Scouting alumni.

Fulfilling their pledge to promote Scouting, Union Pacific’s locomotive has been touring the country for the last three years. Fort Smith was privileged to have the locomotive on display for the Boy Scouts of America’s 103^rd anniversary and it showed!

The Fort Smith Pavilion (adjacent to the rail yard) was in celebration high-gear. Booths ranging from Boy Scout info/registration, train safety, and model train displays were all set up for the special event.

Talk about a huge crowd! Within minutes of starting, the Pavilion was packed with Boy Scouts and train enthusiasts young and old. It was quite obvious which displays attracted the most attention…the model trains had the youngsters captivated. As conductors talked about the model train, kids listened intently…it was definitely a lesson parents didn’t have to coerce their children into learning!

It was the main display though, which brought people downtown. The Union Pacific No. 2010 Boy Scouts of America Locomotive was a sight to see! The locomotive is decorated with the national Boy Scouts of America logo, the BSA’s 100^th Anniversary logo, the words “100 Years of Scouting,” ten emblems representing stages of Scouting and the 11^th emblem for the 2010 National Scout Jamboree.

Fort Smith is proud of our local Boy Scouts who live by the Scout Oath and promise to demonstrate strong character, integrity, and leadership while serving their community and neighbors! Keep up the great work!

Hometown Hospitality Hero – Susan Fiori, Founding Member and Sustaining Supporter – Fort Smith Irish Dance Council

Once a quarter, our staff selects a member of the Fort Smith community to be named a Hometown Hospitality Hero.

Fort Smith and our region benefit tremendously from conventions and events brought to our area. Attracting and retaining these happenings relies on the efforts of everyone in the hospitality industry. Often, Fort Smith attracts these conventions, events, and tournaments after individual local citizens decide they’d like their group’s event to be held in Fort Smith and take the initiative to bring a potential event to our Convention & Visitors Bureau’s attention. We work with these citizens to win the bid, attract attendees and help their idea come to life. The citizens that our staff feels have brought the most positive exposure and economic impact to our city we name Hometown Hospitality Heroes. We appreciate these people and all of those who help us bring more visitors to Fort Smith more than we can say!

Our newest hometown hospitality hero is Susan Fiori, Past Board Member of the Fort Smith Irish Dance Council, and long time organizer and supporter of the River Valley Feis and the Irish Dancing School that is supports. In the late 90′s, she and a small group of enthusiastic Moms who wanted to bring Irish Dance to the River Valley worked with Linda McDonough to start and Irish Dancing School.

Soon there was a need for permanent space and a certified instructor. In February 2001 Judy McCafferty and her husband PJ, both certified Irish Dance teachers and adjudicators, moved to Arkansas and agreed to travel to Fort Smith to teach the 40 or so students who were ready to learn.  As the school grew, lessons were held in school gyms, stages and various locations.  Permanent space to conduct lessons was needed as well as the funding to procure and operate the space. 

To obtain necessary funding for this activity, the Fort Smith Irish Dance Council, a 501C3 was formed. Susan Fiori was a founding member. Many types of fundraisers were held including an annual Irish Festival. On the horizon though was always the dream of holding an Irish Dance competition called a Feis (fesh).

In 2006 it was decided to partner with the Fayetteville branch of the McCafferty Irish Dance School to work together to host the first River Valley Feis. This combined effort went well and the Fort Smith Irish Dance Council gained confidence. In 2009 The Fort Smith School decided to host it themselves and the Fayetteville group hosted an event of their own in Branson, Mo. Since 2009, the FSIDC has hosted 4 competitions on their own. Each event has grown and become a popular one on the dancing competition circuit. Susan says, “I attribute that popularity to the hospitality and kind spirit that the Fort Smith community shows towards our guests. Each year we get feedback from our competitors showing how much they appreciate and enjoy their trip to the city.”

This has become an Annual Event at the Fort Smith Convention center. The first event was held for about 200 dancers from surrounding states. This year in 2012 the event has grown to over 350 dancers and their families. Room nights are estimated at about 100 for our out of town participants result in about $15,000 direct economic impact and $45,000, total Economic impact created by this event. With the growth curve that this group has created, continued growth in economic impact is a given.

(Photo by: Linda Kaufenberg at The City Wire)

Looking back on all the effort that has moved this organization forward, Susan reflects on those years: “My daughter having danced since the age of 4 was entranced with Irish Step Dance the first time she saw the McDonough girls perform. She turned to me and said, ‘ I want to do that’.  No longer actively involved, she danced from the age of 12 thru college. She and I, like those still involved, are passionate about the art and see it as a great addition to the Fort Smith cultural scene. That is why I am still involved and find it important to continue to support the FSIDC and the McCafferty School of Irish Dance”. 

Thanks Susan Fiori and the Fort Smith Irish Dance Council for continuing to bring Irish Dance and the River Valley Feis to Fort Smith!

Fort Smith Named #1 “Top True Western Town” by True West Magazine for the year 2013!!!

 

 

Fort Smith is excited and truly honored to be recognized as 2013′s Top True Western Town by True West Magazine! Our City will be featured in the True West February issue, on newsstands January 1, 2013.

This is the eighth year that the 60 year old monthly publication has named its top ten True Western Towns. “True West is one of the best sources for travel and tourism for fans of the Old West,” says David Turk, Historian for the United States Marshals Service. “It’s been considered one of the very best western history magazines for many years,” says Turk.

According to a True West “there are thousands of great towns in the American West, ones that exemplify the spirit and dedication of the pioneers who built and developed them. But 10 of them stand out—and they are the True Western Towns of 2013.”

Fort Smith – #1!!!

Fort Smith contains a treasure trove of rich history and unforgettable tales of the early Wild West frontier. Those days of the Old West are not forgotten and, today, this City lives and breathes its past! Fort Smith Convention & Visitors Bureau’s slogan says it all: “Where the New South Meets the Old West.”

Our intriguing history has caught eye and inspired the imagination for many books and movies such as True Grit, Hang’em High, and Lonesome Dove, shaping Fort Smith into its important place in American Culture. Although, it is our true history, and our dedication to preserving Fort Smith’s Old West heritage, that have earned Fort Smith the #1 ranking of Top True Western Town of 2013.

“The ghosts of the Old West still walk the streets of Fort Smith,” says True West Executive Editor Bob Boze Bell. “Thanks to the efforts of the local residents, the old haunts still live. Fort Smith is truly the Top Western Town.”

The mentioning of ghosts in Fort Smith will definitely get a bunch of folks talking, residents and tourist alike, and the talk will almost always start with the Fort Smith National Historic Site. Why is this? Maybe because one of the first sites that will grab your attention is the replica of the famed Fort Smith gallows were 80 were hanged by “Hanging Judge Parker.”

Judge Isaac C. Parker

Since 1817, when the area’s first fort was established to promote peace between the warring Indian tribes, the area became known for its unruly Wild West ways. During the latter part of the 19^th century, U.S. President Grant took notice of the rugged and turbulent region and sent Judge Isaac C. Parker to restore civility. In order to accomplish this, strong measures were taken. The federal court at Fort Smith became the center of law and order for the U.S. Marshal Service’s hundreds of U.S Deputy Marshals in the territory. Territories west of Fort Smith became a mecca for people hiding out from the law. When the Marshals caught up with them in the western regions, outlaws, bandits and other lawbreakers were brought to Fort Smith to be tried for their crimes. So many people ended up in the small, cramped federal jail here at Fort Smith that the prison here became known far and wide as “Hell on the Border.”

Deputy U.S. Marshals  –   Gallows at Fort Smith National Historic Site  -  Rufus Buck Gang – Hanged 1896

This is just part of the many interprets at the Fort Smith National Historic Site. Exhibits take you on a journey back into Fort Smith history. Historic programs and events take place throughout the year to inform and make visitors active participants in Fort Smith’s heritage. Restoration of the Fort Smith National Historic Site will continue in 2013.

Other reasons why Fort Smith was named #1 Top True Western Town by True West:

Bass Reeves! The name alone was enough for the infamous female outlaw, Belle Starr (“The Bandit Queen”), to turn herself in when she heard legendary Deputy U.S. Marshal Bass Reeves was coming after her. Bass Reeves became a fugitive slave during the Civil War and sought refuge in Indian Territory, first becoming a scout for the Deputy Marshals before becoming one himself. Reeves was 6’2″, 180 pounds, and famous for bringing in criminals by the dozen. He was one of the first black lawmen west of the Mississippi River, becoming a legend in his time, and is still regarded as a legend today.

This year marks the 175^th anniversary of Bass Reeves birthday and in order to commemorate his legacy, Fort Smith erected a striking bronze statue entitled “Into the Territories” created by Harold T. Holden. The amazing statue stands tall at Pendergraft Park and is one of the first things people will see as they head over Garrison Ave. Bridge coming from Oklahoma into Arkansas. The bronze statue was devised completely through fundraising and private donations. Typical of Fort Smith, our citizens were as passionate about this project and its importance to our heritage, as they have been about our past for many decades!!!

Miss Laura’s -In 1903, Miss Laura’s Social Club opened on the banks of the Arkansas River, one of seven houses of ill-repute in this wild little city. Laura Zeigler built it with money she borrowed from a local banker and it later became the “Queen of the Row” and one of the most celebrated bordellos in the Southwest.  By 1910, growing voices within Fort Smith called for the closing of the commercial houses and, in 1911,  Miss Laura sold the house to Bertha Gale Dean for $47,000.00.  An ordinance passed in 1924 made prostitution illegal in Fort Smith; this caused business to slow down and the neighborhood declined to slum status.

In 1973 the building was selected for inclusion in the National Register of Historic Places, the first former bordello to be listed on the Register.  Following restoration in the 1980’s, it became the  official Visitor Center for Fort Smith in 1992.  The clapboard structure is a simple, yet elegant, example of baroque Victorian architecture with a mansard roof trimmed in wrought iron and oeil-de-boeuf (eye of the ox) dormer windows.  Inside, the stained glass windows are true to the style that marked the house in its youth and the “guest” rooms upstairs have transoms over each door bearing the name of some favored lady. We are pleased that our brothel “still takes care of visitors” but don’t expect any original hospitality!

Fort Smith is the future home of the U.S. Marshals Museum, which recently starting its national fundraising campaign! According to the U.S. Marshals Museum Website, “Fort Smith was the natural choice to host the new Museum. Not only did the city leaders and the regional population lobby for its presence, Fort Smith is a place of true authenticity. It was the gateway to the Old West, an era ingrained in the American Imagination. Outlaws and lawmen alike passed through Fort Smith headed into Indian Territory.” The U.S. Marshals Museum will be a 50,000 square foot building with 20,000 square feet of exhibition space.  In addition, the Hall of Honor will recognize those U.S. Marshals, Deputy U.S. Marshals, and Special Deputies killed in the line of duty. A meditative garden and reflecting pool will bring the Hall of Honor outdoors. The Museum will also house a Museum store and café.

The Fort Smith Museum of History, located at the 1907 Atkinson-Williams Warehouse Building, has been acquiring, preserving, and exhibiting local objects and stories that follow the founding and growth of Fort Smith. This place is amazing…if you haven’t been, it should be on your places to visit. How many Museums have a working 1920′s era soda fountain! This one does!

Dedicated and highly involved citizens who make Fort Smith’s heritage a priority!

The True West “Top Ten True Western Town” designation is based upon an extensive application which was completed by a committee of individuals most familiar with how Fort Smith has preserved its history and heritage. The credit for Fort Smith’s selection goes to many individuals and organizations according to Claude Legris, Executive Director of the Fort Smith Advertising and Promotion Commission. “Our community has always placed a high priority on preserving our colorful past and making sure that appreciation is passed on to future generations,” says Legris. “We have ‘branded’ Fort Smith with our frontier heritage since the Convention and Visitors Bureau was established two decades ago. It’s a ‘natural’ brand for Fort Smith because it’s who and what we are,” he says.

Okay, above are just a FEW of the reasons why we are the Top True Western Town. The list could go on forever!

The best way to find out why Fort Smith was named #1 – Come Visit Us!

I have to say though; reading doesn’t do Fort Smith justice. (And, we are all about justice here!) You have to visit our city to truly understand what all the fuss is about. Last year, Fort Smith had nearly one million visitors. I bet most of those visitors call recall some Wild West story about Fort Smith…we are really that memorable!!!

For more information on Fort Smith, please visit www.fortsmith.org

You never know when you’ll find                                  “Miss Laura” greets groups to the

Authentic live music on the grounds                               Fort Smith Visitors Center.

of the Fort Smith National Historic Site!

Polar Express Family Time is back again this year!

Last year, the first annual Polar Express Family Time event held at the Fort Smith Trolley Museum was a huge success! Organized entirely through a Facebook Group called “Positive People of Fort Smith,” the event will be repeated this year from 4 p.m. to 9 p.m. on Friday, December 14^th.

 

 

 

 

 

Children and their families will enjoy a reading of Chris Van Allsburg’s classic Christmas story, The Polar Express, in the vintage railroad dining car. They will then be treated to hot cocoa and cookies. After a visit and photo shoot with Santa, they can take a ride on the Trolley. Children are encouraged (though not required) to wear their pajamas, as the children on the train in the story do.

This is a free event provided by volunteers, sponsors, and the Trolley Museum. The free Santa photos are provided by Bedford Camera and Video. They will be available for pick up after the event at their store, located at 2801 Rogers Avenue. Santa’s visit to Fort Smith is sponsored by BancorpSouth.

Spread the word…This is a wonderful event we hope to make a Fort Smith tradition!

The Polar Express will come to life at:

The Fort Smith Trolley Museum
100 South 4th Street
Fort Smith, AR 72901

For additional information, please contact: Bradley Martin at 479-650-5456 or www.fstm.org

Always something different going on at the Fort Smith Convention Center!

Did anyone happen to drive by the Convention Center this morning and wonder why the parking lots were so crowded?

Well…October is the month of the Holy Rosary and six area schools took time from their daily school studies to participate in the One Million Children Praying the Rosary around the world. The idea began in Caracas, Venezuela in 2005, and has flourished international every since. The goal is to gather 1,000,000 children in order to pray for Unity and Peace under the protection of Virgin Mary.
This endeavor took off and the number of students participating continues to grow each year. The main motivation of this idea is to spread the need of praying for the internal peace of each human being, as well as for the unity and peace of the family, the country and the whole world.

A hushed reverence filled the packed Fort Smith Convention Center Auditorium as prayer began a little after 9 a.m. The realization that millions of children were praying at that very same moment was moving. Area schools that participated in this event include: Christ of King, Immaculate Conception, St. Boniface, Trinity Junior High, St. Joseph’s, and Subiaco Academy. The prayer was followed by the Subiaco Jazz Ensemble, conducted by Deacon Ray Goetz. These guys are amazingly talented, and it made my day to their music set!

New Hometown Hospitality Heroes: Mackey Yokem and Becky Neighbors

Once a quarter, our staff selects a member of the Fort Smith community to be named a Hometown Hospitality Hero.

Fort Smith and our region benefit tremendously from conventions and events brought to our area. Attracting and retaining these happenings relies on the efforts of everyone in the hospitality industry. Often, Fort Smith attracts these conventions, events, and tournaments after individual local citizens decide they’d like their group’s event to be held in Fort Smith and take the initiative to bring a potential event to our Convention & Visitors Bureau’s attention. We work with these citizens to win the bid, attract attendees and help their idea come to life. The citizens that our staff feels have brought the most positive exposure and economic impact to our city we name Hometown Hospitality Heroes. We appreciate these people and all of those who help us bring more visitors to Fort Smith more than we can say!

Our newest hometown hospitality heroes are Fort Smith residents Mackey Yokem and Becky Neighbors for their work and assistance with the United Methodist Church State Convention held in June of 2012. Mackey Yokem, is the District Superintendent for the Northwest District Office of the United Methodist Church and Becky Neighbors is the District Administrator. As pastors, spouses and families came to Fort Smith, they helped to assemble convention packages, organize groups for community services and gave direction to convention attendees who were not familiar with Fort Smith.

And speaking of community services programs, the United Methodist Church State Convention built in a variety of community service projects in their convention format. All sorts of individuals needs were considered in the development of these projects, so even if an attendee had a mobility issue, there was a project that they could contribute to that would best suit their needs. Monday, June 11, 2012 was designated Mission Day. Some of the projects attendees participated in included: working at the Women’s Crisis Retail Shop on Lexington Avenue, assisting with local graffiti cleanup, Knitting for a Cause, Stop Hunger Now (at the Convention Center, teams constructed over 40,000 packaged meals to feed the hungry), the creation of Tornado Tubs (to aid in sorting and recovery of personal items following destructive storms) volunteering at the River Valley Food Bank, local nursing homes, Midland Heights UMC Clothes Closet, and the Imagine No Malaria Campaign (a denomination-wide effort to eradicate this preventable and treatable disease by 2015).

The United Methodist Conference had a significant economic Impact on our community. The event resulted in a direct economic impact of over $372,000. Industry experts state that the effect of a new dollar spent in the market “rolls over” three times, which would make the total economic impact of over 1.1 million dollars.

We hope to host the United Methodist Church State Convention in Fort Smith again in 2016.

The Fort Smith hospitality team thanks Mackey Yokem and Becky Neighbors for their hard work in being the Fort Smith connection to attendees of the United Methodist Church State Convention.

Contact the Fort Smith Convention & Visitors Bureau to see how you and your group can be recognized as a Fort Smith hometown hospitality hero. Call Sherry Scorby @ (479) 783-8888.