February Board of Director's Meeting

[Aturnip]

We'll be having our February meeting this year at the new lodge at Lake Fort Smith State Park. We have the lodge from 4pm on Friday the 20th till 11am on Sunday the 22nd. The actual meeting will be after the potluck supper on Saturday night (always a treat). This weekend is a great opportunity to catch up with your friends in the club as well as to explore the new park and surrounding area.

Cost for lodging and food will be $15 per person per night. Camping is also available at the park. The cabins at the park aren't ready yet, but there are some for rent just up the road at Deer Hollow Cabins (800-833-5351).

The club will provide breakfast on Saturday and Sunday and lunch on Saturday. For the potluck Saturday night, bring something tasty to share.

This weekend getaway meeting is always a fun one, so make plans to join us. We'd love to have you.

Driving Directions from I-40

http://maps.google.com/maps?f=d&hl=en&g ... =UTF8&z=11

Start at: Exit 12

1. Head north on Exit 12 - 0.3 mi
2. Merge onto I-540 N - 9.1 mi
3. Take exit 29 toward Mountainburg/AR-282 - 0.3 mi
4. Turn right at Dollard Rd - 0.4 mi
5. Continue straight onto AR-282 - 1.5 mi
6. Turn left at US-71 - 1.8 mi
7. Slight right at Lake Fort Smith Rd - 0.7 mi


Driving Directions from I-540

http://maps.google.com/maps?f=d&hl=en&g ... =UTF8&z=13

Start at: I-540 S

1. Head southeast on I-540 S toward Exit 34 - 1.1 mi
2. Take exit 34 for AR-282 toward Chester - 0.3 mi
3. Turn left at AR-282 - 1.0 mi
4. Turn left at US-71 - 0.2 mi
5. Turn right at Lake Fort Smith Rd - 0.6 mi
6. Turn right to stay on Lake Fort Smith Rd - 0.7 mi

[T Yamashita]

Do you need to RSVP if you're going and staying the night?

Thanks, ty

[Aturnip]

Ty,

I do need to get a reasonably close head count before the meeting. I would appreciate an RSVP emailed directly to me at accpres@arkansascanoeclub.com telling me which nights you'd be staying.

Thanks,

[boba]

As to the pot luck saturday night, what is the situation concerning kitchen facilities? microwave, regular oven, etc?

[nike54_la]

The lodge has a microwave and a regular oven that you'd find in any home. It also has a grill (small family style) that you can use out back if you bring your own charcoal.

[Fish]

A couple of us (Joe and I at least) may be at the NW Chapter roll session on Saturday morning (the 21st), but will come to the lodge after that. We'll announce the board meeting at the roll session too.

And if anyone is still in town Monday night (23rd) NW Chapter will feed you pizza at our meeting in Fayetteville.

- Fish

[Aturnip]

If you want to attend the meeting but haven't RSVP'd to me yet, it's not too late to do so and we'd love to have you there. We won't buy the food until Thursday or Friday, so there is still time to get you on the list. Just drop me a note at accpres@arkansascanoeclub.com. The cost again for food and lodging is $15.

Come join us for a fun weekend.

[Fish]

NW Chapter has a roll session in Springdale on Saturday morning from 9:00 - 11:30, so if anyone wants to head up there, we'll put you in a boat for sure. Or if you bring your boat with you, Mulberry is a possibility - most likely running low, but the lower section is about 45 min away from the lake (or so). Also, I'll be sleeping up at my house, and have a futon and couch if anyone needs a free spot to crash.

[nike54_la]

The coords for the park are 35* 41' 72.1" N/ 94* 07' 14.1" W if that helps anyone.

Hope y'all have a good weekend up here!

[Eric Esche]

Someone needs to redo the directions and maps to the park that Amos posted at the beginning of this string of posts. THESE ARE NOT THE CORRECT DIRECTIONS NOR MAPS TO WHERE WE ARE MEETING as it has all been moved up HW 71 North to where the old Shepard Springs Park was.

Eric

I went there for a past joint RiverValley and NW Chapter meeting just before they officially openned the park and was only copying down directions so Susan would know where I was in case of an emergency when I said to myself "it was a lot farther than that" and then pulled up the map to look.

[nike54_la]

Ok, I didn't even notice that. If you type the coords in to google map, they will show you how to get to the park. Here are the directions to the best of my abilities:

Traveling south on Interstate 540 (from fayetteville):
Take exit 34 at Chester.
Turn left onto HWY 282.
Travel about a mile or so to the intersection of Hwy 71.
Turn LEFT on hwy 71.
Travel about 4 miles north.
Look for the sign that says "Lake Fort Smith" and turn on the next road to the right - Lake Shepherd Springs Road
Travel down the road for about 2 miles. Arrive at park on RIGHT.

Traveling north on I-540 (From Fort Smith or Little Rock)
Take exit 29 - Mountainburg
Turn Right on hwy 282.
Travel to the intersection of Hwy 71 ( I'm not sure how many miles, you can't miss it)
Turn Left onth Hwy 71. Travel about 6 or 8 miles north on 71. (sry - I don't know the exact milage)
Look for the Lake Fort Smith sign on the right side of the road. Turn RIGHT on Lake Shepherd Springs Road.
Travel about 2 miles down the road and arrive at Lake Fort Smith State Park on the right.

If anyone has trouble, call 479-369-2469 (the park office) and they will get you there.

Again, the coords above are correct and you can type them into google maps.

[Eric Esche]

Thank you!

Not your fault as you were NOT the one who posted the original post and "he" seems to be too busy to answer his e-mails.

Susan won't be able to make it as she is working again but she likes to know where I am and how to contact me in case of an emergency. Thanks again, and from Susan as well. We will get her back out on the water one of these days, and y'all are still invited up here.

Eric

ps - anything you think I should bring, as long as I am driving down in the Suburban, besides food? got lots of wood in the yard, fire tongs, starter, charcoal grill and lump charcoal, cabelas gas cooker and propane bottle, big pots for reheating food and utensils. Seem to remember the park being well stocked with tables and chairs. I promise NOT to bring a blow log, but I thought folks might like a fire in the fireplace, given the forecast of possibly 1-2" snow.

[nike54_la]

There is a fire place in the lodge, so firewood might be nice. There are also some grills out back that take charcoal so it really depends on what y'all plan on eating I guess.

Otherwise, there are pots and pans, dishes, chairs, and tables there.

Someone might want to bring paper goods - napkins and such - but there are plenty of dishes and dish towles for a large crowd.

[Renee H]

Very productive and fun meeting Congrats to the new Arklatex Chapter - look forward to having you guys as part of the club.

[Cowper]

Very productive and fun meeting Congrats to the new Arklatex Chapter - look forward to having you guys as part of the club.

I heard Purdy's been at work, and they've already got 47 members now...