Springdale Rotary Club will give away FREE books to children on Saturday, December 14, 2025, at the Jones Center in Springdale from 12 noon until 5 p.m. There is no charge for this event.

Books that are not claimed will be used for the Springdale Rotary Club’s book barrels throughout the next year.

There are approximately 4,000 used books in very good condition for children to choose from during this Santa Claus Used Book Fair. Most are in English, but there are Spanish books available as well. The books are appropriate for children up to 12 years old. Thanks to The Jones Center for making this Santa Claus Used Book Fair possible!

Since 2003, the Rotary Club of Springdale and Rotary District 6110 have been involved in purchasing and delivering wheelchairs around the world to those that need a wheelchair and cannot get one.  Since we started this project, we have been able to purchase over 10,000 wheelchairs to provide mobility to those in need.
 
There are a lot of things that we take for granted, such as pre-natal care, and technological advancements, that are not as common elsewhere in the world.  The results are birth defects, and disabilities among children and adults.  Each year club members, at their own expense, help deliver the chairs to people in a different city. We have been able to have distribution trips to over 20 locations in Mexico and Central America to personally see the miracle of mobility in action.  We have also been able to provide wheelchairs to those in need here in Springdale and Northwest Arkansas.

Each chair costs $150.00, and Springdale Rotarians conduct an annual campaign to help raise money for this project. Each wheelchair affects the lives of more than 10 people who support the mobility-challenged individual; over 100,000 people have benefitted from this gift of mobility.

We are currently in the process of planning a trip to Mexico City in the spring of 2025. A gift of $150.00 can change a life and the lives of those around the recipient.  If you are interested in joining us in bringing the gift of mobility to those in need, contact us here.

The Four-Way Test

Of the things we think, say or do:

1. Is it the TRUTH?
2. Is it FAIR to all concerned?
3. Will it build GOODWILL and BETTER FRIENDSHIPS?
4. Will it be BENEFICIAL to all concerned?

Attention High School Students in Springdale

The Rotary Club of Springdale, Arkansas invites high school students from the Springdale community to present a speech on the subject of Rotary’s Four-Way Test. Participating students are asked to select a subject and apply the Four-Way Test to their thoughts or decision. The Four-Way Test is one of the key elements of Rotary.

The top three students receive a cash prize. The winner of the Springdale Rotary contest will then go on to compete at the District level.  Winner at the District level contest will receive a significant college scholarship.

Would you like to participate in the contest? Contact us today!

The Rotary Club of Springdale has completed a project providing water to 13,000 people in India made possible with a grant from the Rotary Foundation.  The grant was a project of Club Member and Past District Governor John Brodbeck, recently deceased.  The ever-outgoing John met Rotarian Pankaj Patel at Rotary's International Convention and learned of the drought conditions in rural India some 75 miles from Mumbai.  Scarce water required women to take long treks to fetch it for their families, and farmers were virtually unable to grow crops. 

A plan to add ten water retention ponds in several tribal areas was developed by the Pune Far East Club and Rotary District 3131.  Funds from the Springdale Rotary Club of $1,900 were provided, and an additional $5,000 of District 6110 designated funds were committed with Foundation Chair Ed Hardesty's assistance. With these matching funds and the Rotary Foundation, the entire Global Grant totaled $96,415. Other partners included the Pune Central Rotary Club, Pune University and District 3131.

Here is an excellent short video that the Rotarians put together - it is quite well done and worth your time to watch. Click here: Water project

The project stores water in the ponds during the monsoon season which is then used for drinking water and farming throughout the year. The deeper storage facilities also increased water percolation and raised the water table of numerous wells in the vicinity. About 500 acres of agricultural land in the area benefitted from this project, which enabled villagers to have water for drinking purposes for their cattle & agriculture (irrigation) year-round, thus raising the local economy (multiple crops per year) & reduced migration to the urban areas. 

With the approval by the Rotary Foundation of the grant, construction began swiftly and was completed in the Spring of 2021.

The ponds will be maintanied by a Rotary Community Corps in the villages.  A Rotary Community Corps (RCC) is a group of non-Rotarians who share our commitment to changing the world thru service projects. This provides the project with the sustainability required for all Rotary Foundation Global Grant projects.

Rotarians support the Rotary Foundation, and their contributions help people all around the World!  Here is a specific example of our fellow Rotarians making life better for more than 13,000 people!

The Rotary Club of Springdale announced its latest project to improve the lives of people in Springdale: three Little Free Pantries stocked with nonperishable food items. The Three Little Free Pantries are installed at Springdale's Senior Center, the Youth Center, and adjacent to the Rotary Adventure Park on 48th Street.

From President Greg Collier: "This Project wouldn’t have happened without the help of Springdale Rotarians, and I’d like to take a moment to recognize some of them. Again, these are ALL Springdale Rotarians! Steve Miller was instrumental in helping get the project off the ground! He provided materials for the pantries and purchased the first pantry himself. Heather Lind and Cram-A-Lot assembled and delivered the Pantries. Ron Amos with Minuteman Press donated and installed the signage. Jeri Hill provided the Rotary plates. Steve Langton with Ace Handyman, permanently installed the structures. Mayor Sprouse and Patsy Christie gave their blessing from the City to do this project. And then finally, our membership gave of their money in the form of dues to purchase and stock the pantries.

"Our hope at Springdale Rotary is that those in our community needing assistance will use these pantries, and those in our community that are able to, will help stock them. This has been a blessing to our Club, and we look forward to continuing to serve our city, state, and beyond."

Those in need are invited to take what they need. We invite the community to join us in supporting the health and nutrition of our community by contributing what they can to the pantries. All items should be nonperishable and packaged in non-glass durable packaging.

The Rotary Club of Springdale supported our First Responders and Frontline workers through the COVID-19 pandemic by providing meals for our police department, fire department, medical personnel at Northwest Health, the Community Clinic, the city's Senior Center, and Public Works. We are honored to provide meals for these critical workers as a way to show our community's appreciation as they live out Rotary's motto of Service Above Self. The Club provided over 2800 meals through the Community Lunch Program.

For the third year in a row, the Rotary Club of Springdale distributed groceries to families of students at Lee and Jones Elementary Schools in Springdale to help combat food insecurity over the Christmas holiday school break.  The Club orders the groceries weeks in advance, selecting items to be both nutritious and kid-friendly. Members meet the week before school dismisses for the holidays to sort and sack groceries and deliver them to the elementary schools. School counselors then distribute the bags to students' families. Since beginning in December 2018, this project has doubled each year, and in 2020, we were proud to be able to deliver 800 bags of groceries to Springdale students. 

Each year, the Rotary Club of Springdale purchases three books for each third grade student in the Springdale Public School District. Students who have books to read at home are likely to read more than students who do not, and reading is critical to student success. Books are selected for the students based on the students' individual reading levels as assessed by their teachers. Members of our Club visit each classroom to talk with students about Rotary and community service, the importance of reading and education, and to present the books to the students. Book Delivery Day is one of our Favorite Days in Rotary!

So you will ask, and we can tell you that there is this devastating disease called POLIO that has killed and paralyzed hundreds of thousands of people all over the world, mostly children under five. There is NO CURE for polio, but there is a VACCINE, and thanks to a vaccine, the United States saw its last case of polio in 1979. But while the United States was polio-free, children around the world continued to suffer, so in 1985 ROTARY launched its PolioPlus program, the first initiative to tackle global polio eradication through the mass vaccination of children. Since 1988 we have reduced the number of cases 99.9%, and in 2020, the World Health Organization certified the African region wild polio-free!

While this is a huge accomplishment, it is not enough, because unless polio is completely eradicated, it could come roaring back with as many as 200,000 new cases a year within 10 years! No child is safe, because polio is literally only a plane ride away. Around the world Rotary and its partners are working to vaccinate every last child against this devastating illness, and children’s pinkies are often marked in PURPLE to show volunteers that they have received the vaccine.

The Rotary Club of Springdale joins Rotarians all over the world in marking World Polio Day each year. On Tuesday, October 24, 2017, Mayor Doug Sprouse proclaimed World Polio Day in Springdale. Rotarians gathered at Jose's Bar & Grill for an End Polio Purple Margarita Special, and, for every purple margarita sold, Jose's donated $2 to the Rotary Foundation's PolioPlus fund to help rid the world of polio. In 2018, the Club raised money for PolioPlus with the sale of our Polos for Polio. In 2019 and 2020, the Club held a Happy Hour fundraiser at the Odd Soul in Downtown Springdale. The Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation matches every dollar raised 2:1!

WHEN we eradicate polio, it will be only the second human disease eliminated from the world. Come join us and help make history!

The Rotary Club of Springdale, Arkansas presents two academic scholarships to graduates of Springdale public high schools each year. The Willard Walker Scholarships are $2000 each and are renewable up to four years. Additionally, the Club’s Rotary Workforce Scholarships are $1000 each for students interested in seeking a degree or certificate in a program that does not terminate in a Bachelor’s or Master’s degree.

The Club's Scholarships are administered by the Springdale Public Schools Education Foundation and are awarded to Springdale students each Spring.

Since 1950, members of the Rotary Club of Springdale have served as ushers for the annual Rodeo of the Ozarks held in Springdale each summer. Ushers direct attendees to their seats, answer questions, represent our city and our club, and earn funds for our many projects in Springdale. We are proud to be a part of this Springdale tradition!

The Springdale School District's Robotics Team at the Don Tyson School of Innovation was the winner of the national robotics competition.  The team will represent the entire United States at the international competition in Dubai later this month.   The Springdale Rotary Club's Charitable Trust donated $5,000 to the team along with other community donors to assist with cost associated with transportation of the team and their equipment to Dubai.  Initally, not all team members could go due to the expense of travel and freight.  The students have also been doing fundraising on their own to help with expenses.  Springdale Rotarians pictured with the team from left to right:  Treasurer Sabra Jeffus, Secretary Clinton Bell, Randall Harriman (in back), President Heath Ward presenting the check to the team, and far right, Rotarian and State Representative Clint Penzo.                         

The Rotary Club of Springdale's "Book Barrels" are our version of the Little Free Library Project, where people are invited to "Take a Book" and "Share a Book." Designed by Springdale Rotarian and architect Steve Miller to complement the Rotary Adventure Park, the accessible playground rededicated by the Club in 2013, the Book Barrels are large enough to hold books for both children and adults. Rotarians painted, assembled, and installed 5 Book Barrels around Springdale. The colorful Barrels emblazoned with the Rotary wheel are attractive ambassadors for the Club and Rotary International. The Book Barrels were dedicated with a picnic and ribbon-cutting at Rotary Park on June 4, 2018. Club members monitor the Book Barrels to replace books as needed. This project combined Springdale Rotary's traditions of projects focused on parks and literacy.

Updated June 30, 2018.

The Rotary Club of Springdale and the Rotary Club of Fayetteville joined forces to present A Day of Awareness to End Human Trafficking Monday, April 30, 2018, at the Jones Center for Families in Springdale. This program, sponsored in part by the Jones Center, was designed to bring awareness, attention, and understanding to the issue of human trafficking in Northwest Arkansas.

Thank you to all our presenters, attendees, and volunteers who made this Day of Awareness possible. Together, we can make a difference in this issue in Northwest Arkansas.

Human trafficking, sometimes called modern slavery, is the use of force, fraud, or coercion to obtain labor or services or a commercial sex act. Any commercial sex act involving a person under the age of eighteen is unlawful in Arkansas and under federal law. Sex trafficking is better recognized and more frequently prosecuted, but both sex and labor trafficking are a growing concern in the United States, and in Northwest Arkansas. In order to address a problem, we first must recognize it exists: that knowledge was the purpose of Rotary's Day of Awareness.

Speakers addressed a wide range of perspectives. Topics included general information on human trafficking; incidences of trafficking in Arkansas; recognizing trafficking in various setting; remedies and assistance for survivors; and protecting children online and in social media. Two hours of continuing education credit for licensed counselors and social workers, six hours of continuing legal education credit, and six hours CLEST credit were available.

Additional resources are available below.
 

PROGRAM                         CLE AGENDA                         SPEAKERS                         FACILITY GUIDE                         RESOURCES

8:30 – 9:00 Welcome

Mayor Doug Sprouse
City of Springdale, Arkansas

United States Senator John Boozman
Arkansas

9:00 – 10:00 Session 1—Select one of the following:

Human Trafficking 101 - Chapel
Annie B. Smith, Associate Professor of Law, University of Arkansas, Fayetteville
One Hour General CLE credit

Investigating Sex Trafficking - Room 260
(Law Enforcement Only; Must Bring Appropriate Credentials)
John Ahrends, Department of Homeland Security, in cooperation with the Arkansas State Police Division of Internet Crimes Against Children

10:00 – 10:10 Break

10:10 – 11:15 Session 2—Select one of the following:

Human Trafficking in the United States - Chapel
Duane A. Kees, United States Attorney for the Western District of Arkansas
One Hour General CLE credit

Recognizing Human Trafficking for Counselors - Room 226
(Hour One of Two CE Credit Hours)
Dr. Michael Flowers, Clinical Director, Youth Bridge, and
Gretchen Smeltzer, Director, Into the Light

Recognizing Human Trafficking for First Responders - Room 227
Jason Edwards, First Responder and Into the Light Volunteer

Recognizing Human Trafficking in a Medical Setting - Room 228
Robert Allen, Federal Bureau of Investigation

Investigating Labor Trafficking - Room 260
(Law Enforcement Only; Must Bring Appropriate Credentials)
John Ahrends, Department of Homeland Security

11:15 – 11:30 Transition/Lunch is Served - Conference Center 226, 227, 228

11:30 – 1:00 Joint Rotary Meeting of Sponsoring Clubs and All Participants

Leslie Rutledge
Arkansas Attorney General

Kathy Bryan
Director of Elevate Academy, Author, Consultant, Advocate, and human trafficking survivor
One Hour General CLE credit

1:00 – 1:10 Transition

1:10 – 2:15 Session 3—Select one of the following:

Sex Trafficking in Northwest Arkansas - Chapel
Robert Allen, Federal Bureau of Investigation

Vulnerabilities of Immigrant Populations and Available Relief - Room 260
John Ahrends, Department of Homeland Security

Recognizing Human Trafficking for Counselors - Room 226
(Hour Two of Two CE Credit Hours)
Dr. Michael Flowers, Clinical Director, Youth Bridge, and
Gretchen Smeltzer, Director, Into the Light

Protecting Children from Sexual Predators Online and in Social Media - Room 227
(First Hour of Two Hour Session)
Barbara Gregory, Founder, Executive Director, Parents Against Child Trafficking (PACT)

Civil Remedies for Trafficking Survivors - Room 228
Annie B. Smith, Associate Professor of Law, University of Arkansas, Fayetteville
One Hour General CLE credit

2:20 – 3:20 Session 4—Select one of the following:

Tales of Arkansas Labor Trafficking - Room 260
Annie B. Smith, Associate Professor of Law, University of Arkansas, Fayetteville
One Hour General CLE credit

After-Care for Survivors of Sexual Trauma - Room 226
Carolyn Bates, Magdalene Serenity House

Protecting Children from Sexual Predators Online and in Social Media - Room 227
(Second Hour of Two Hour Session)
Barbara Gregory, Founder, Executive Director, Parents Against Child Trafficking (PACT)

Traps of the (Sex) Trafficker - Chapel
Kimberly Hank, Into the Light

3:20 – 3:25 Break

3:25 – 4:30 Panel Discussion and Question/Answer Session on Human Trafficking - Chapel
                  One Hour General CLE credit

Moderator: Duane A. Kees, United States Attorney for the Western District of Arkansas
Panel Includes: Brenan T. Despain, Federal Bureau of Investigation
John Ahrends, Department of Homeland Security
Sheriff Tim Helder, Washington County
Annie B. Smith, Associate Professor of Law, University of Arkansas, Fayetteville
Kathy Bryan, Director of Elevate Academy, Author, Consultant, Advocate, and human trafficking survivor.
Dr. Michael Flowers, Clinical Director, Youth Bridge
Kevin Metcalf, Deputy Prosecuting Attorney, Washington County
Jenny Sorey, Founding Director, Hub of HOPE
Gretchen Smeltzer, Director, Into the Light

6:00—8:00 Encore Presentation

Protecting Children from Sexual Predators Online and in Social Media - Room 227
(Two Hour Session)
Barbara Gregory, Founder, Executive Director, Parents Against Child Trafficking (PACT)

SPEAKERS

Speakers include:

	John G. Ahrends Resident Agent in Charge Homeland Security Investigations John G. Ahrends is the Resident Agent in Charge for Homeland Security Investigations’ Fayetteville, Arkansas office, which encompasses nine (9) counties in Northwest Arkansas. Mr. Ahrends has 21 years of federal law enforcement experience. Additionally, he is a combat veteran and retired from the U.S. Army Reserves.   Before being assigned to HSI Fayetteville as the SAC New Orleans 287(g) Program Manager, Mr. Ahrends had assignments as a criminal investigator in HSI Northern Kentucky (Fort Mitchell, KY), Louisville, Kentucky and Oakdale, Louisiana. Prior to being assigned as the Resident Agent in Charge, he had assumed the duties of Group Supervisor in Fayetteville. He is an alumnus of Illinois State University with a Bachelor of Science degree in Criminal Justice.
	Robert Allen Special Agent Federal Bureau of Investigation SA Robert Allen is a Special Agent with the FBI, assigned to the Fort Smith Resident Agency of the Little Rock Division.  He has over twenty years of law enforcement experience.  Agent Allen works all federal matters, but specializes in Child Exploitation and Sex Trafficking cases.  He is part of a child exploitation task force, and has specialized in child exploitation and sex trafficking cases for many years.
	Carolyn Bates Community Outreach Coordinator Magdalene Serenity House   Carolyn Bates was born and raised in Akron, Ohio. She relocated to Fayetteville, Arkansas in July of 2015 and now serves as Community Outreach Coordinator of Magdalene Serenity House in Fayetteville. Carolyn was previously the United States Veterans Initiative Outreach Director in Houston Texas. As the Outreach Director, she provided resources to hundreds of veterans, both homeless and at-risk, equipping them with the skills needed to achieve self-sufficiency.   Magdalene Serenity House is a sanctuary for women survivors of human trafficking, childhood trauma, and addiction. It is a free, two-year residential program that gives women a safe place to recover, heal, and reintegrate in a stress-free and financially stable environment.   Carolyn serves as a crucial part of the Magdalene team by building partnerships across Northwest Arkansas and supporting the program in a variety of ways. She is passionate about the quality of care and support services available to women survivors of human trafficking, childhood trauma, and incarceration. Carolyn herself has overcome many of these obstacles, which gives her the exemplary abilities to serve and educate others.
	United States Senator John Boozman Arkansas John Boozman is Arkansas’s senior U.S. Senator and the dean of the state’s Congressional delegation.  Raised in Fort Smith, John graduated from Northside High School and went on to play football for the University of Arkansas Razorbacks while completing his pre-optometry requirements. He graduated from the Southern College of Optometry in 1977 and entered private practice that same year co-founding a family business with his brother that would ultimately become a major provider of eye care to Northwest Arkansas.  Decades of experience as a successful healthcare provider and a small business owner guide John’s approach to governing. He is committed to advocating for economic policies that help Arkansas’s small businesses continue to grow and add jobs to our state’s economy. And since agriculture accounts for nearly one-quarter of Arkansas’s economic activity, John has been a consistent champion for our state’s farmers, ranchers and loggers and was instrumental in the fight for an equitable farm bill. As the son of an Air Force Master Sergeant, John learned at an early age about the sacrifices of our men and women in uniform, as well as the unique challenges military families face. He brings these values with him to Washington where he is committed to enhancing the quality of life for both our veterans and their families. John has authored provisions to extend successful federal homeless veteran programs, expand treatments for our wounded warriors and modernize educational benefits under the GI Bill. John serves on five committees in the 115th Congress: Agriculture, Nutrition and Forestry Subcommittee on Commodities, Risk Management and Trade (Chairman) Subcommittee on Rural Development and Energy Subcommittee on Conservation, Forestry and Natural Resources Subcommittee on Nutrition, Agriculture Research and Specialty Crops Appropriations Subcommittee on Military Construction and Veterans Affairs and Related Agencies (Chairman) Subcommittee on Homeland Security Subcommittee on Financial Services and General Government Subcommittee on Commerce, Justice, Science and Related Agencies Subcommittee on State, Foreign Operations and Related Programs Subcommittee on Transportation, Housing & Urban Development and Related Agencies Budget Environment and Public Works (EPW) Subcommittee on Fisheries, Wildlife and Water (Chairman) Subcommittee on Clean Air and Nuclear Safety Subcommittee on Transportation and Infrastructure Veterans’ Affairs Along with these committees, John serves on the Commission on Security and Cooperation in Europe, commonly referred to as the Helsinki Commission, and the Congressional Study Group on Europe (CSGE), a bipartisan organization dedicated to frank and candid dialogue between American lawmakers and their peers in European capitals and Brussels. He also serves as one of six Congressional Regents on the Smithsonian Institute's Board of Regents. First elected to the Senate in 2010, John was sworn in for a second term on January 3, 2017. Prior to serving in the Senate, he represented the people of the Third District of Arkansas in the U.S. House of Representatives. Active in his community, John has served on the Rogers School Board, the Benton County Fair Board, established the low vision program at the Arkansas School for the Blind in Little Rock and worked as a volunteer optometrist at an area clinic that provides medical services to lowincome families. He successfully raised Polled Hereford cattle that were competitive in the showring, as well as in bull testing at Oklahoma State University. John, is married to the former Cathy Marley and they currently reside in Rogers. The couple has three daughters, two granddaughters and a grandson.
	Kathy Bryan Director of Elevate Academy Author, Consultant, Advocate, and human trafficking survivor Educate. Encourage. Empower. Kathy's subject matter expertise, personal experience, and passion combine to yield empathetic mentoring, and engaging trainings that do just that. A speaker, advocate and author, she has worked with Rebecca Bender Initiative since it was founded. Kathy is currently the Director of Elevate Academy, the online resource especially for human trafficking survivors, and the Lead Mentor. She is also a consultant for the Department of Homeland Security's Blue Campaign. She has trained thousands of medical professionals, law enforcement, community service providers, and faith-based communities across the nation, and mentored hundreds of trafficking survivors. Kathy testified before the Arkansas House and Senate in support of Human Trafficking Legislation, which was subsequently passed and became law. Kathy is also a member of both the National Survivor Network and the Survivor Leader Institute. Having survived two years of sex trafficking as a young teen, Kathy knows intimately how real trafficking is in America, and how difficult the journey to true healing and peace is, if one survives. She has been an active leader in her local church providing supportive listening, lay counseling, and small group leadership for over 20 years. There is much to be found in her wheelhouse, ultimately, though, her heart beats for helping people understand each other, which fosters empathy and a foundation for unity. She and her husband, Keith love spending time with their family, offroading, and traveling this beautiful world.
	Brenan T. Despain Federal Bureau of Investigation Brenan Despain joined the FBI in 1999 after working two years for the Department of Defense. His first field office was San Francisco where he worked Counterintelligence matters. In 2006, he was promoted and became a Supervisory Special Agent assigned to FBIHQ. Shortly after his transfer to D.C., Despain and family were transferred to China where he was detailed to the Department of State and tasked with safeguarding the construction of the new U.S. Embassy Beijing which was finished in 2008. He was then transferred to Guam where he worked with the Department of Defense to protect U.S. military bases safe from foreign adversaries. In 2009, he was transferred back to China where he worked for four years in the FBI's Legal Attaché Office covering China and Mongolia. In 2013, he transferred to Fayetteville, AR and worked National Security matters until being promoted as the Supervisory Senior Resident Agent in charge of the Fort Smith and Fayetteville Offices from 2015-2018.
	Jason Edwards First Responder and Volunteer, Into the Light Jason Edwards lives in Northwest Arkansas and is currently a middle school teacher. He worked as a paramedic in EMS for 10 years. He and his wife, Jamie, have been volunteers with Into the Light for two years. They have developed important 1stresponder and medical training curriculum that allows these men and women to see the red flags and intervene on behalf of the victim. Jason is passionate about bringing awareness to the issue of sex trafficking through this curriculum. Jason presents his training annually to the paramedic program at Northwest Arkansas Community College in addition to training throughout the year. Jason and Jamie have been married for 17 years and have two children. His hobbies are hanging out with his family, playing golf and watching movies.
	Michael C. Flowers Director of Clinical Services Youth Bridge Michael C. Flowers is the Director of Clinical Services for Youth Bridge which has offices in Fayetteville, Rogers, Berryville, Harrison, and Mt. Home.  He earned a BSE in English at Arkansas State University, and he taught high school English.  ?Dr. Flowers earned his PhD/MA in Marriage and Family Therapy from University of Louisiana at Monroe.  He is a Licensed Professional Counselor.  At Youth Bridge, Dr. Flowers works with a dedicated team who provides quality service care for children and families in the areas of substance abuse counseling, behavioral health therapy, working with juvenile courts, foster care programs, residential substance abuse treatment, and shelter care for homeless and displaced youth.  Youth Bridge is a non-profit dedicated to working with children and families who are considered our community's most at-risk.  Youth Bridge collaborates with many children-centered partners such as schools, Division of Youth Services, Department of Children and Family Services, and many others.  Dr. Flowers conducts training for educators, behavioral health providers, and other children service providers in the areas of behavioral health interventions for children, suicide prevention and intervention, substance abuse issues, and bully prevention.  He lives in Fayetteville with his wife, Lara, and two children.
	Barbara Gregory Founder, Executive Director Parents Against Child Trafficking (PACT) PACT's Founder, Barbara Gregory, has an evident passion for people and for justice. When she learned that her own daughter was at risk for being trafficked simply because she wasn't aware of the dangers that surrounded her daughter and other teens every day, she knew she had to take action. She couldn't imagine living the nightmare of losing a child and was going to do everything in her power to equip parents to avoid that same fate. Parents Against Child Trafficking or "PACT" was founded in 2016 as a result of that passion. Barbara graduated Summa Cum Laude from Pittsburg State University with a Bachelor’s Degree in Education and a Minor in Psychology. Barbara wholeheartedly believes that one person can make a difference, and her 15-year professional career at Walmart has only served to reinforce this message. After two years in Sustainability, Barbara transitioned to the Responsible Sourcing division, where she managed supply chain investigations into such matters as forced labor and child labor. This work opened her eyes to the hidden nature of modern day slavery and the impact it had on real people around the world. Today, Barbara is focused on influencing the social compliance industry toward meaningful change through collaboration with a broad spectrum of stakeholders around the world. In 2017, Barbara was selected to co-lead the internationally-based Sedex Forced Labor Working Group. She has been active in the Walmart Women’s Resource Council and is a current member of Toastmasters International. In the community, Barbara is a dynamic force when it comes to raising awareness about trafficking, facilitating at victim services trainings, and sponsoring trafficking prevention activities in partnership with Hub of HOPE and Homeland Security Investigations (HSI). In a society where phones are closer than friends and relationships are managed by text messaging, “ultimate safety can only be achieved by forming a close bond with our children.” PACT is the only organization of its kind – an organization that equips parents to encourage, enable and support one another “to protect their children against the advances of child traffickers and other predators.”
	Kimberly Hank Into the Light Kimberly began volunteering for Into the Light in 2015 presenting our Traps of the Trafficker prevention program in local Juvenile Detention Centers. Her love and passion for working with victims and survivors quickly grew. Kimberly is now Lead Advocate of Northwest Arkansas mentoring victims of sex trafficking weekly, presenting our prevention program, and providing training on the issue of sex trafficking to law enforcement. Kimberly is excited to see how Northwest Arkansas is growing in awareness of minor sex trafficking and hopes this community will lead the way in abolishing this issue in our state.
	Sheriff Tim Helder Washington County, Arkansas   Sheriff Helder was inducted into the 1stAnnual West Fork Alumni Hall of Honor in 2016. He is past president of the Arkansas Sheriff’s Association and past chair of the Washington Regional Hospital Board of Directors. He is also past chair of the Gulf Coast High Intensity Drug Trafficking Area (HIDTA) Task Force and currently serves on the Board of Directors, which includes the states of Alabama, Arkansas, Louisiana, Mississippi, Northwest Florida, and the city of Memphis, TN. Governor Asa Hutchinson appointed Sheriff Helder to the Legislative Criminal Justice Oversight Task Force in April of 2015. The task force’s purpose was to reduce prison overcrowding through sentencing and parole reforms. In April of 2017, Governor Hutchinson appointed Sheriff Helder to the Arkansas State Crime Laboratory Board. The board appointment will expire in January of 2024. In March of 2018, Governor Hutchinson appointed Sheriff Helder to the Arkansas School Safety Committee.   Sheriff Helder began his law enforcement career in 1979 with the Washington County Sheriff’s Office, working in communications as a dispatcher. He later attended the Arkansas Law Enforcement Training Academy and continued to work for the Sheriff’s Office as a field deputy, patrolling the southern area of Washington County for two years.   1982 Sheriff Helder was hired by the Fayetteville Police Department as a patrolman and was later transferred to the Criminal Investigation Division. In 1986 he was promoted to Sergeant and supervised both the patrol and the Criminal Investigation Division. He was then promoted to Lieutenant in 1989 and continued to supervise patrol and the Criminal Investigation and later was transferred to Administration. In October of 2002 he was promoted to Deputy Chief at Fayetteville Police Department.   During his years of law enforcement, Sheriff Helder has attended some of the most prestigious training available. Probably the most notable being the FBI National Academy, a 10-week training course for police administrators from across the globe. Along with the training he has been provided opportunities to develop and manage programs such as the Drug Task Force, Bike Patrol, Office of Professional Standards and Physical Fitness for law enforcement.   After 21 years of service with the Fayetteville Police Department, in April of 2003, Helder returned to the Washington County Sheriff’s Office as chief deputy for then Sheriff Steve Whitmill. Helder entered the race for Sheriff after Whitmill accepted a position with Tyson Foods. He was subsequently elected, and began his first term on January 1, 2005. On January 1, 2017 he began serving his seventh term. Sheriff Helder is honored to be the longest serving Sheriff in the history of Washington County.   Since becoming Sheriff, Helder has undertaken the responsibility of managing the detention facility, which houses a maximum of 710 detainees. Along with the facility’s opening the Sheriff’s Office recruited and hired 85 new employees during his 1styear as Sheriff. Currently, 320 employees work for the Washington County Sheriff’s Office. Additionally, patrol services have increased by adding field deputies and utilizing state and federal funds allowing the Sheriff’s Office to add extra deputies in the rural communities. Through similar grant funding and sharing resources with Federal and local law enforcement the Washington County Sheriff’s Office has taken the lead in technology, training and facilities.
	Duane "Dak" Kees United States Attorney for the Western District of Arkansas Duane “DAK” Kees was nominated by President Trump to be the U.S. Attorney for the Western District of Arkansas on September 22, 2017, and was confirmed by the U.S. Senate on December 20, 2017.  Previously, DAK spent more than eight years on active duty in the United States Army as both an enlisted soldier and a Judge Advocate General’s (JAG) Corps officer.  While on active duty, DAK deployed to both Afghanistan and Iraq, where he earned two Bronze Stars.  As a member of the JAG Corps, he served as both a prosecutor and defense attorney where he tried cases ranging from drug distribution and sexual assault, to murder. He also prosecuted crimes involving international law. Upon leaving active duty, DAK joined the Asa Hutchins Law Group, PLC where he continued to represent service members stationed throughout the world.  DAK also developed a complex litigation practice centered around business litigation and international law.  Prior to starting his current position as U.S. Attorney, DAK was a Director in Global Ethics and Compliance for Wal-Mart Stores, Inc.  There, he was responsible for Global Ethics and Compliance functions related to case management and governance of Ethics’ policies, with a particular focus on matters relating to the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act, the U.K. Bribery Act and general Anti-Corruption Compliance issues. DAK earned his Juris Doctorate from the University Of Arkansas School Of Law.  He is a graduate of the U.S. Army Judge Advocate Officer Advanced Course, U.S. Army Judge Advocate Criminal Law Advocacy Course, Advanced Trial Advocacy Course as well as the U.S. Navy Complex Litigation Course. DAK currently serves in the Arkansas National Guard as a Brigade Judge Advocate at the rank of Major.
	Kevin Metcalf Deputy Prosecuting Attorney Washington County, Arkansas Kevin Metcalf served as a law enforcement officer in local and federal positions from 1989 to 2011. He obtained his law degree from the University of Arkansas School of Law in 2010 and has served as a deputy prosecuting attorney for the 4th Judicial District of Arkansas since 2011. His interest in the criminal use of computers and cellphones led him to training provided by the National Computer Forensics Institute (NCFI), the FBI CAST (Cellular Analysis Survey Team) Unit, and the National White Collar Crime Center (NW3C) among others.
	Leslie Rutledge Arkansas Attorney General Leslie Rutledge is the 56th Attorney General of Arkansas and first woman elected to the office.   General Rutledge believes face-to-face conversations lead to real solutions. Since taking office, she began a Mobile Office program for all 75 counties, a Military and Veterans Initiative, a Metal Theft Prevention program and a Cooperative Disability Investigations program to stop fraud in Social Security Disability.   Along with making the office more accessible, General Rutledge’s priorities have included creating more awareness of the office’s services, such as consumer protection and internet safety education; leading efforts to combat domestic violence; and focusing on making the office the top law firm for Arkansans.   In addition to her state responsibilities, Rutledge actively works on multi-state issues with other attorneys general to include serving as Chairwoman of the Republican Attorneys General Association and Vice Chairwoman of the National Association of Attorneys General Southern Region. She also re-established and co-chairs the National Association of Attorneys General Committee on Agriculture.
	Gretchen Smeltzer Director and Co-Founder Into the Light Gretchen Smeltzer is the Director and a co-founder of Into the Light. Established as a 501 (C) 3 non-profit organization in 2015, Into the Light uses a three prong approach of prevention, identification, and advocacy to address the issue of minor sexual exploitation. Addressing the issue of sex trafficking and exploitation became a calling of Gretchen’s while in the process of adopting her son from China. Seeking to stop sex trafficking and bring awareness to the issue was a natural extension of caring for and serving the orphan and the child in foster care, as they are, the most likely to fall victim to sex trafficking. Partnering with other national organizations Gretchen has helped bring the, Trapsof the Trafficker, a prevention program geared toward minors, to the state of Arkansas. Currently, this program is consistently shared in four Arkansas juvenile detention centers and to girls on probation in Benton County. Gretchen enjoys working with Into the Light staff, volunteers, law enforcement, social services, and community organizations to establish resources and initiatives to address the issue of sexual exploitation of minors. Her relationship with God is her constant source of strength and hope. Gretchen is married to her husband, Jon, of 16 years and a mother to her three children. She enjoys running the roads and trails of the Natural State.
	Annie B. Smith Associate Professor of Law Director, Civil Litigation & Advocacy Clinic University of Arkansas School of Law Annie Smith is an associate professor of law and directs the law school’s Civil Litigation & Advocacy Clinic. She is also the founding director of the Human Trafficking Clinic.  Prior to joining the University of Arkansas faculty, Professor Smith served as a Friedman Fellow, visiting associate professor of clinical law, and interim director of the International Human Rights Clinic at The George Washington University Law School. While at George Washington, she and her students represented a group of guestworkers in Magnifico, et al. v. Villanueva, et al., 783 F.Supp.2d 1217 (S.D.Fla. 2011), a suit alleging forced labor and human trafficking and resulting in a $13.5 million judgment.  Professor Smith practiced at Legal Services of New Jersey where she was the inaugural recipient of the Cole Fellowship. The fellowship recognizes extraordinary commitment to securing social and economic justice for people in poverty.  Professor Smith and her students have represented numerous low-wage employees in unpaid wage, human trafficking, and other employment matters. Committed to community legal education, Professor Smith has led trainings for workers and organizers, conducted outreach to farmworkers and day laborers, and authored know-your-rights publications. Professor Smith's research interests include language access and the expansion and enforcement of guestworkers’ and immigrant workers’ workplace rights.  Professor Smith is the former chair of the AALS Section on Poverty Law. She is currently a member of the section’s executive committee. She also serves as a board member of the Northwest Arkansas Workers’ Justice Center and Legal Aid of Arkansas. She is admitted to practice in Arkansas and New Jersey.
	Jenny Sorey Founding Director Hub of HOPE Jenny Sorey is a wife, mom, educator – and she works as a modern day abolitionist – fighting the issues of human trafficking and modern day slavery across the globe. She is the founding director of Hub of HOPE, a not-for-profit organization based in Northwest Arkansas focused on providing Healing and Opportunities to victims of human trafficking and Prevention and Education to the community. Jenny serves as the Northwest Arkansas representative for PATH – Partners Against Trafficking Humans based in Little Rock, AR. She also serves as a community partner with the CRU Justice Coalition and resides on the Advisory Council for Freedom58 Project based in Erie, Colorado. Jenny speaks on school campuses, churches, for civic and health organizations – truly to anyone who will lend an ear to hear the message of justice as it relates to freeing the oppressed.
	Doug Sprouse Mayor City of Springdale, Arkansas Doug Sprouse was born in Ft. Smith and moved to Springdale with his family at age of 8. He attended Springdale schools and graduated from SHS in 1975. He then attended the University of Arkansas. In 1977, he married Sandy Hunt. They have three children and eight grandchildren, all residents of Springdale. Doug and Sandy have been active members of Cross Church Springdale for over 40 years, where he has been involved in the teaching and music ministries for most of that time.   From 1999-2008, he served on the Springdale School Board. He served as president of the board from 2005 to 2007. In November of 2008, he was elected mayor of the City of Springdale. He was re-elected in both 2012 and 2016 without opposition. He is currently serving on the nine member State Street Aid Committee. He also represents Springdale as a member of the Arkansas Municipal League's Executive Committee and is currently serving as president of the League.

RESOURCES

Note: The following resources and links will take you to websites unaffiliated with the Rotary Club of Springdale or Rotary International. The materials and content belong to the organizations noted.

 

Human Trafficking 101 (slides from the presentation at Rotary's Day of Awareness to End Human Trafficking, 4/30/2018)

National Human Trafficking Hotline

https://polarisproject.org/get-assistance/national-human-trafficking-hotline

 

Screening Tools:

 

Adult tool for service providers generally:

https://www.acf.hhs.gov/sites/default/files/otip/adult_human_trafficking_screening_tool_and_guide.pdf

Child victims:

http://www.dcf.state.fl.us/programs/humantrafficking//docs/HumanTraffickingOfChildrenIndicatoTool0109.pdf

 

Healthcare providers:

https://humantraffickinghotline.org/sites/default/files/What%20to%20Look%20for%20during%20a%20Medical%20Exam%20-%20FINAL%20-%202-16-16_0.pdf

 

Educators:
https://humantraffickinghotline.org/sites/default/files/Educator%20Assessment%20Tool.pdf

Runaway and homeless youth:
https://humantraffickinghotline.org/sites/default/files/Assessment%20-%20Runaway%20and%20Homeless%20Youth.pdf

Domestic violence and sexual assault programs:
https://humantraffickinghotline.org/sites/default/files/Assessment%20-%20Domestic%20Violence-Sexual%20Assault%20Programs.pdf

 

Organizations

 

Polaris Project
https://polarisproject.org

 

National Human Trafficking Resource Center

https://humantraffickinghotline.org

 

Human Trafficking Legal Center
http://www.htlegalcenter.org

 

Coalition to Abolish Slavery and Trafficking

http://www.castla.org/human-trafficking

 

Office for Victims of Crime

https://ovc.ncjrs.gov/humantrafficking/publicawareness.html

 

Toolkit for Students on College Campuses

http://traffickingresourcecenter.org/sites/default/files/Student%20Engagement%20Toolkit%20-%20NHTRC.pdf

 

Human Trafficking for First Responders in Arkansas (Video)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1bIEQYIRbOQ

 

http://www.ccasa.org/take-off-the-cape/

Department of Homeland Security BLUE Campaign
https://www.dhs.gov/blue-campaign/share-resources

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It’s more Than Baseball - The Miracle League gives children and adults with intellectual and/or physical disabilities plus their families and friends an opportunity to enjoy America’s favorite pastime – Baseball!  The Miracle League is a national organization based out of Atlanta of which our league, the Miracle League of Arkansas, is a part.  The Miracle League of Arkansas has a field in Little Rock and, because of the Rotary Club of Springdale and many of our generous partners, we have a field in Springdale that will serve all of Northwest Arkansas.  The Miracle League of Arkansas is run by Peggy McCall and a Board of Directors.  Additionally, there is an advisory board for the Northwest Arkansas league.

What makes The Miracle League field so special is that it provides a totally barrier-free field. This field is integrated into the Randall Tyson Sports Complex promoting inclusion and better understanding of all individuals who want to enjoy the sport of baseball. If you want to be involved as a volunteer in NWA, please contact miracleleaguenwa@gmail.com or donate online and learn more about the Miracle League of Arkansas at www.miracleleaguear.com. We need your help as buddies, donors, and much more. Don’t wait! Get involved today!

In 2012-13, the Club partnered with the City of Springdale to re-build the existing playground for children with disabilities located just south of the Miracle League fields on the east side of Tyson Park. The goal was to design a place where people of all ages and abilities can come together and have a fun adventure.
 
The existing play equipment was removed and the site leveled to allow for better visibility. New play equipment and individual learning stations are connected by a series of accessible ramps leading up to an elevated central pavilion. The play equipment along adventure path is designed to engage children in not only physical activities, but to stimulate discovery of their world through experiencing a series of stations exploring seven different senses.
 
Fabric canopies and trees provide shade during the hot summer months.  The area around the play equipment is covered with a shock absorbent rubberized material that is ADA compliant and designed to reduce danger from falls.

Our Club is proud of this conribution to the City of Springdale where everyone can play!
 

1984-85 - Club members began exploring additional ways to serve the community and a fitness trail was chosen as a viable project. Willard Walker suggested the Club coordinate the project with the City.

Don Tyson donated 40 acres of land. Willard and Pat Walker donated an additional 30 acres, and 70 acres were available for a park. In the Fall of 1984, the City Council accepted a plan to use 58 acres for youth and adult recreation fields, and 12 acres which Rotary would develop into a Family Park. The Club later purchased an additional 5 acres for the Family Park.

The City of Springdale committed over $2,000,000. The Schmieding Foundation and the Tyson Foundation contributed generously for concession stands and tennis courts. Gerald and Marge Tweedy gave over $100,000 to begin Rotary Park. The Club invested over $300,000 in the park. Gerald Harp gave the handicap accessible playground in memory of his late sister, Judy Harp Van Hoose.

On a cold October day, Club members planted 125 trees purchased by Gerald Harp. Rotarians spent hours clearing the area, planting the trees, and grooming the park.

Finally, it was ready, and officially dedicated on Labor Day, 1990.

“Dreams do become reality! If you don’t believe it, drive out to the Park and see the results. I hope that as far as our Park is concerned Rotary will continue to dream and that years from now Rotarians will be working on a beautification project for the park. While working on these new projects, they will undoubtedly pause and read the names of the Rotarians that dared to dream years before and made this dream a reality.” Don L. Gibson, Park Project Co-Chairman, May 2, 1990.