Calling K-8 Teachers & Students!
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“Education for Real Life” Volume 12, Issue 1 March 2012 Economics Arkansas Board Officers Calling K-8 Teachers & Students! and Executive Committee Members Once again, Economics Arkansas and the Federal Lou Graham Reserve Bank of St. Louis are partnering to offer the Chairman of the Board Economics Calendar Program for Kindergarten Dr. Jim Rollins through 8th grades. This will be the 5th year for the President competition that gives students the opportunity to Diane Tatum illustrate an economic concept they have learned in Vice-Chairman school. Economics and art intersect in this creative Bob Watson Vice-President and educational program! James C. Fourmy, Jr. At least 15 entries will be chosen for the 2013 Immediate Past Chairman Calendar. Each student, plus his/her teacher, will Dr. Laura Bednar receive a $50 gift card in addition to copies of the Immediate Past President calendar. Cover of the 2012 Economics Concept Del Rush For additional information about the Economics Calendar drawn by Juliet, grade 8, Treasurer Calendar Program (including entry forms), visit our Jessieville Middle School. Jay Bradford website at www.economicsarkansas.org/Programs Secretary and click on the Economics Concept Calendar listing. You may also contact our office at Bill Reed VP/Agriculture 501-682-4230. All entries should be postmarked by Friday, May 11, 2012. Jim Walton Mail entries to: Economics Arkansas VP/Business, Industry P. O. Box 3447 Sen. Johnny Key Little Rock, AR 72203 VP/Government Winners will be notified by May 23rd! Shane Broadway VP/Education John Dews “Double Your Impact” Grant for Arkansas Teachers Donna Galchus Dr. Benny Gooden Economics Arkansas has partnered with DonorsChoose.org to provide $100,000 in funding for Luke Gordy teachers in Arkansas Public Schools using DonorsChoose.org to help make their economics and per- Bob Harper sonal finance lesson plans a reality! Thanks to a generous grant from the Walton Family Foundation, C. E. Ned Hendrix III projects submitted at DonorsChoose.org of $800 or less and focusing on economic education will fund Bruce Munro the final half of the teacher’s project after donors fund the first half ! Dr. David Rankin Allison Richardson Dr. Jane Wayland Teachers: Any public school teacher or front-line student worker employed by a public school can submit a project. Potential requests can include any hands-on materials, technol- ogy, books or supplies that will help your students learn economics and personal finance. You can see Inside this issue: ideas for economics projects that other teachers across the nation have posted at DonorsChoose.org. Submit a project today! Once a project reaches its funding goal, DonorsChoose.org will deliver the Welcome, Claudia! 2 materials to your school. Teachers Can Win $1,000! 3 Donors: Your donation given to an Arkansas educator to help teach economics or personal fi- nance concepts is automatically DOUBLED! This “Double Your Impact” opportunity helps fund K Thru 2 Curriculum 4 qualifying classroom projects. No money is sent directly to teachers; rather, DonorsChoose.org pur- chases the materials requested and has them delivered to the schools. To view some of the projects Summer Conference 5 available for funding, visit http://www.donorschoose.org and click Search Projects. Under “Location,” choose “State” and then choose “Arkansas.” You will receive updates and notes of appreciation from Thank you, State Farm! 6 participants during the project period! Double Your Impact today! Fall 2011 SMG Winners 7 Our 50-Year Legacy Economic Education Sue Owens, Executive Director Advocate Award Consider the following: When describing Chuck Spohn, the global economy has experienced some Winthrop Rockefeller, phrase “going the distance” comes to mind. fairly significant turbulence, with no guaran- Charles H. Murphy, Jr., Chairing fundraising events, serving on the tees for what lies ahead. In order to be William H. Bowen, Dr. board, supporting our programs ready for the days, years and Arch Ford, Dr. George financially and with his presence, decades to come, we must pre- Fersh, Cass Hough, educating the business commu- pare now, and no better place to Wilbur D. Mills, W.R. nity about Economics Arkansas start than with our youth. We Stephens, B. Finley Vin- and its mission to promote eco- must arm them with weapons of son, Kenneth Pat Wil- nomic literacy to fellow Arkansans knowledge, creativity, compas- son, Al Pollard, Dr. M.H. Russell, and the through the school system—these sion, understanding and basic list goes on….what do these individuals are just a few reasons Chuck has worldly skills—like how to bal- have in common? These Arkansas leaders been named our Economic Edu- ance a checkbook, understand- gave generously of their time, energy and money to cation Advocate! ing the economic impact of wants establish an outstanding economic education pro- Chuck has served on the Eco- and needs, how to invest in the gram in America – a quote from a 1977 pro- nomics Arkansas board of direc- stock market, understanding th gram celebrating our 15 birthday. These tors since 2006, plus he has served as a dividends, and so on. And that’s just what individuals, among many others, were member of our Pulaski County Trivia Chal- E-A does! E-A provides fundamental teach- credited with giving this organization life. lenge Committee for 8 years, chairing the ing platforms for K-12 which are presented The program goes on….Three leaders who event four times! He believes this event in such a way that students can relate and created a model economic education program which provides an excellent opportunity for com- retain these essential skills.” has been copied across the nation and around the panies to build employee morale and team- Chuck has been a marathon runner for world are: Dr. Arch W. Ford, Director of the work and to show their pride and compete 35 years. He and his wife, Becky have Arkansas Department of Education, Dr. George in a wholesome fashion for intellectual been married 19 years, and they have two Fersh, Associate Director, Joint Council on Eco- bragging rights, plus it’s a fun way to raise children. Chuck is in his 15th year as VP nomic Education, and Dr. Bessie B. Moore, money! Be ready, he may be calling you to and General Manager for Fox 16. He is Executive Director of the Arkansas State Coun- compete in this year’s Trivia Challenge also president of the Little Rock Downtown cil on Economic Education. Bessie’s inspired scheduled for Thursday, April 26th at the Partnership, a member of Rotary Club and leadership was credited with lifting our economic education program to No. 1 in Wyndham Hotel in North Little Rock! the Central Arkansas Executives Associa- America! When asked about his passion for Eco- tion. One very obvious change is how we nomics Arkansas’ mission, he shared: “I Thank you, Chuck, for your insight and deliver economic education today versus in see the need for the business community to consistent ability to “go the distance” in all the past—previously, teachers attended invest in our collective future. Of late, our that you endeavor. Congratulations! two and three week workshops! The de- mands of educators have changed dramati- cally, and we are changing our delivery to Welcome, Claudia! meet their needs. One thing that has not Claudia Utley is the new face (and accent) at Economics changed is the critical need for economic Arkansas. She joined our staff in January as Development Coor- literacy in Arkansas and the nation. The dinator. Her duties include event planning, grant writing, imple- following is a quote from our 1976 news- menting publicity efforts, and supporting administrative and pro- letter: gram tasks as needed. We live in a country committed to an economic Previously, she served as Public Information Officer for the system based on individual decision-making in the Department of Arkansas Heritage and as a grant contract writer market place, and to a political system based on for UAMS and contract public relations specialist for various individual decision-making in the voting booth. If non-profits. Claudia earned a Bachelor of Arts Degree in English the decisions people make are based on under- from UCLA and an MBA from UALR. standing and logical reasoning, we can hope to Since she arrived at Economics Arkansas, things sound a little manage our affairs wisely and find solutions to the different around here. Claudia grew up in Germany (west), and crucial problems that confront society….The although she has mastered the use of “y’all” like a true Arkie, her quality of decision-making is therefore crucial. accent does not reflect the accustomed twang. Some might say that’s a good thing. So Economics Arkansas teaches “the while she may not sound like she’s from around here, she surely loves many things science of decision-making” to Arkansas Southern: cornbread dressing and pimento cheese (not in the dressing!), the Delta land- students, but in this very important elec- scape and crepe myrtle trees, hiking in the Ozarks and biking along the Arkansas River. tion year, perhaps our state and national Claudia sings with Top of the Rock, the Central Arkansas chapter of Sweet Adelines leaders might need a little brush-up on the International, and serves as an active member of the Pulaski County Master Gardeners. “economic way of thinking” to make more She is married to Tom Utley, a Midwesterner, and they have two children, Lucas (16) informed decisions on our behalf. and Louisa (13), who speak English and German with a genuine Southern accent! Page 2 The Fourth “R” 12 Teachers Set to Win Join Our Thinkfinity Program $1,000 Each! Community Calendar The Seventeenth Annual Bessie B.