Clubs and organizations
Hot Springs Toastmasters
Hot Springs Toastmasters Club 7643 is a nonprofit educational, cooperative self-improvement organization founded Sept. 1, 1989. It is affiliated with Toastmasters International, which was founded unofficially in 1905 and officially in 1924. The purpose of the organization is to improve members’ speaking and leadership skills by attending and participating in meetings. Cost is modest.
Leaders must not only accomplish, they must communicate. By regularly giving speeches, gaining feedback, leading teams and guiding others to achieve their goals in a supportive atmosphere, leaders emerge from the Toastmasters program. Supported cooperative selfhelp methods involve learning together, with a focus on the individual member and the local club. Current access to Toastmasters educational material is primarily via online, though it is also available in print.
Executive officers for the 2018-19 program year are Bob Driggers, president; Nancy Britt, vice president for education and vice president for membership; Shane O’Brien, vice president for public relations; Amy Johnson, secretary; Steve Hinsley, treasurer; and Michael Blythe, sergeant at arms. Officer elections are held annually, with terms beginning July 1.
Meetings are held at 8 a.m. Saturdays at National Park Medical Center, 1910 Malvern Ave., usually for one hour. The meetings are held in the east wing of the hospital complex, to the left when looking at the campus from Malvern Avenue. Most Saturdays, this will be in the Maurice Room, second Saturday of the month, check for which room we’re in, but it’s close by. The added meetings at one time held Tuesdays at Smokin’ in Style Barbecue are not currently being held.
For further information, email Bob Driggers at bobdriggers@icloud. com, or Nancy Britt at nmbritt@aol.com. In Hot Springs Village, you may also contact Jake Christopherson, amyjakecc@gmail.com.
Literacy Council of Garland County
Literacy Council of Garland County is a nonprofit adult education organization that is 36 years old this year. The purpose of the organization is to enhance success in daily life by building literacy skills, and to provide free tutoring for any adult who wishes to read, write or speak better English. Programs include Adult Basic Education and English as a Second Language.
Executive officers are Kenyann Lucas, Dan Sampson, Shari Coston, Terry Diggs, Kiley Sims and John Simpson, M.D. Julie Hart is the director and Gail Elsea is the bookkeeper.
Executive board meetings are held monthly at 119 Hobson Ave. For information, email garlicocouncil@gmail.com or call 501-624-7323.
Lupus Foundation of Arkansas
Lupus Foundation of Arkansas Inc. is a nonprofit charity 501(c) (3) statewide organization, based in Arkansas since October 1993, working as volunteers, hiring a part-time office clerk to work 20 hours per week periodically. In accordance with our Mission Statement, we provide patient education, advocacy, and support to all affected by lupus, increase public awareness of the debilitating disease, and help raise research dollars to find a better diagnosis, a better treatment, and a cure. This organization has and still is increasing awareness of this cruel, debilitating disease lupus. We have raised money to donate to the National Lupus Office for lupus research. We help lupus patients throughout Arkansas.
For a list of events and fundraisers for the year, visit http://www. lupus-arkansas.com. Support group meetings are being moved to the Garland County Library.
Executive officers include Jamesetta Smith, president; Mae Robinson, board chair; and Traci Spencer, secretary.
Call Smith at 501-525-9380 or email lupusarkhs@direclynx.net for information.
Melting Pot Genealogical Society
Melting Pot Genealogical Society is a nonprofit genealogical and historical organization founded in September 1976. The purpose of the organization is to collect, preserve and make available genealogical materials for the use of its members and the general public.
Executive officers are Anita Millard, president; Doug Gallaher, vice president; Cindy Faulk, treasurer; Charleen Nobles, secretary; Barbara Erdmann, librarian; and Margie Hill and Sharon Hill, trustees.
Meetings are held at 12:30 p.m. the fourth Tuesday in March through June and September through December at the Melting Pot Library, 649-B Ouachita Ave.
Call Barbara Erdmann at 501-624-0229 for information.
New Horizons Band
The New Horizons Band of Hot Springs was founded in 1999 as an affiliate group of the Hot Springs Community Band. Its purpose is to provide adult musicians (mainly retirees) an opportunity to play in a band as they did back in their school days. There are more than 200 New Horizons Bands around the country and overseas with a total membership approaching 10,000. Playing in a band promotes social, emotional and physical well-being. The Hot Springs New Horizons group will perform eight to 10 times during a calendar year in assisted living facilities, retirement communities and various outdoor events. The band is currently directed by Bill Crook and rehearses on Wednesday mornings at Creekside Community Church, 1010 Shady Grove Road. Email Crook at bill@ crooksmusic.com or call 501-623-2848 for information.
Ouachita Behavioral Health and Wellness
Ouachita Behavioral Health and Wellness has been servicing our community mental health needs for over 50 years. Our mission at OBHAW is to bring hope and healing to our community, one life at a time. Some of the services that we provide are individual/group counseling, psychiatric treatment, medication management, substance abuse, psychological and neuropsychological evaluations, an EAP program and even a handyman service for senior/disabled adults. Call Renee Bartholomae, marketing director, 501-624-7111, for more information.
Single Parent Scholarship Fund
Single Parent Scholarship Fund of Garland County is a charitable organization founded in 1992. The purpose of the organization is to effectively break the cycle of generational poverty through assisting single parents, men and women, in obtaining a postsecondary education. Almost one in five Arkansas families are led by single parents. In 2018, we awarded scholarships to 53 single parents for a total of $36,875.
Executive officers are Kay Ekey, chair; Helen Bumpas, co-chair; Mandi Krauss, treasurer; Kay Ekey, county chair for regional leadership council; Sara Brown, county chair for regional scholarship committee; and Vicki Cook, county chair for regional program committee.
Meetings are held at 9:30 a.m. the first Monday on odd months at Garland County Library. Call Bumpas at 501-620-0348 for information.
Traditional Art Guild
Traditional Art Guild of Hot Springs — Celebrating art and supporting artists since 1963. That is our tradition. It is the artists that get to decide what “makes art art.”
This year we are expanding our definition of “art” to include 3D, fiber art, paper constructions, quilting, pottery, and we will provide opportunities to explore and experiment with some of these varied art forms.
Meetings are held on the third Thursday of each month at the Garland County Library in Hot Springs (September through June with other opportunities to create together during our three-month summer break). Coffee and community at 9:30 a.m. with meetings going from 10 a.m. until noon. Each meeting includes opportunities for individual artist feedback and an hourlong demonstration of a topic of interest.
Executive officers are Suzanne Lamoureux Kriesant, president; Rebecca Totten, vice president; and Glenda Perry, secretary.
Search “Traditional Art Guild” on Facebook to find us and information about our meetings and workshops. TraditionalArtGuild@gmail.com.
U.S. Coast Guard Auxiliary
U.S. Coast Guard Auxiliary, Lake Hamilton Station is a volunteer organization, with Flotilla 15-07 established in 1969 and the Coast Guard founded in 1939. The purpose of the organization is to promote boating safety; provide public education courses; conduct marine safety patrols; and offer free vessel safety checks for recreational boaters. The auxiliary needs quality members who are U.S. citizens, 17 years of age and older.
Executive officers are Flotilla Commander Doris Ayers and Vice Flotilla Commander David Keyser.
Meetings are held at 6 p.m. the first Monday of the month at the Lake Hamilton Coast Guard Auxiliary Station, 4928 Albert Pike Road.
Call Wanda Thorp, FSO PA, at 501-282-3269 for information.