The Buffalo River and Beyond Networking Event

On March 31, 2022, the members of the Highlands Chapter (Fayetteville) and the Sugar Creek Chapter (Bentonville) of the Ozark Society hosted “The Buffalo River…and Beyond,” a networking event at the Mt Sequoyah Bailey Center in Fayetteville.  Attendees at the event included approximately 

• 100 members of the Highlands and Sugar Creek chapters
• 40 persons representing 22 non-profit conservation groups in Northwest Arkansas
• 10-20 guests

The objective of the event was three-fold:

• Celebrate the 50th anniversary of the Buffalo National River and other collaborative successes of environmental groups
• Foster awareness of like-minded conservation organizations through networking
• Encourage future partnerships between Northwest Arkansas non-profit organizations to reach bold conservation goals as a conservation community

      The keynote speaker was Rex Nelson, Senior Editor at the Arkansas Democrat Gazette and one of the most high-profile writers and speakers in the state.  

Lucas Parsch, MC of the meeting

     The capacity crowd (approx. 155 people) was treated to a sit-down dinner catered by Spring Street Grill of Springdale AR.  The event was sponsored and funded by the two chapters with the help of generous donations from several members of the Highlands Chapter.

Ken Smith of the Ozark Society and Mark Foust, Superintendent of the Buffalo National River Park

      The Networking Event Planning Committee (Peggy Bulla, Lowell Collins, Jerry Dorman, Kim Dutton, Lisa Ferguson, Pattie Heitzman, Victoria McClendon, Janet Parsch, Luke Parsch, Tom Perry, Brian Thompson) wishes to thank the Highlands and Sugar Creek chapters for sponsoring the event and everyone who attended for making the evening a success.  We look forward to future partnerships between Northwest Arkansas non-profit conservation groups.

Lucas Parsch of the Ozark Society and Rex Nelson of the Arkansas Democrat Gazette