Little Rock notebook

Museum forum set on legacy of WWI

The Arkansas World War I Centennial Commemoration Committee will host a seminar on the legacy of the war in the state at the Old State House Museum at 3 p.m. Saturday.

“The War to End All Wars: The Legacies of WWI and Arkansas” will cover topics ranging from training at Camp Pike in North Little Rock to how the war affected the women’s suffrage movement.

The cost for the seminar is $15 and includes lunch. Those interested in attending can email tanya.canada@arkansas.gov or call (501) 324-9685 to register.

Visitors bureau CEO lands spot on board

Gretchen Hall, president and chief executive officer of the Convention and Visitors Bureau, has been appointed to the Destinations International 2018-2019 board of directors.

The global destination marketing organization has more than 6,000 professional members and 575 destination organizations, according to a news release from the city. Hall serves on the Destinations International finance committee.

Hall has worked at the Convention and Visitors Bureau for nearly 17 years, becoming president and chief executive officer in May 2011. She is also the president of the Heart of Arkansas Regional Tourism Association, president of the Arkansas Travel Council and an executive committee member of the Downtown Little Rock Partnership. She also serves on the board of directors for the Little Rock Regional Chamber of Commerce.

Registration opens for Fire Academy

Registration for the Fire Department’s annual Citizens Fire Academy opens Monday, according to a news release from the city.

The program runs from Sept. 13 to Oct. 4. It allows residents 21 and older to learn about how the department is organized and how it operates. The class meets at the training facility at 7000 Murray St. every Thursday at 6:30 p.m. for four weeks.

Topics covered in the course include the department’s hiring and training process, the equipment used, hazardous materials, urban search and rescue, fire tactics and strategies and CPR certification training.

Those interested can contact the department’s Fire Prevention and Community Outreach Division at (501) 918-3710. Registration closes Sept. 5.

Training offered on use of city websites

The city will host several sessions to train residents on the use of the Open Data Portal and Citizen Connect sites.

Attendees will learn what information is available and how it can be used for different jobs. The sessions will be taught by Melissa Bridges, the city’s performance and innovation coordinator, and take place at the Fire Department’s training building at 7000 Murray St.

Training lasts one hour and will take place Aug. 21 at 9 a.m.; Aug. 30 at 3 p.m.; Sept. 4 at 9 a.m.; Oct. 9 at 9 a.m.; Oct. 25 at 3 p.m.; Nov. 8 at 3 p.m.; Nov. 13 at 9 a.m.; and Dec. 4 at 9 a.m.

5 appointees to fill positions on panels

The Board of Directors made several new appointments to boards and commissions in an executive session on Tuesday. They include:

Paul Parnell to the Arts and Culture Commission.

Austin Grinder to the Civil Service Commission.

Clay McGeorge to the Port Authority board of directors.

Sharmin Moody to the zoo’s board of governors.

Michael Mason to the Rock Region Metropolitan Transit Authority.