Scouting and Venturing December 28, 2007 Volume 07, Issue 1
Dr. Robert James “Jim” Van Patter (1934-2007) By Stephen Lynn ~ Crew 300
Inside this issue:
Schedule of Events
2
Letter from Race Host
2
Letter from Webmaster
2
History of the White River 3 History of 4 Crew 300 and Crew 2117 2008 Pre-Registration Form
5
Word Search
6
List of Important Registration Forms Pre-Registration Press Release (New) Local Tour Permit National Tour Permit Medical Form
He was called RJ and Jim, but if you were one of the hundreds of Scouts who came to know this man, you knew him simply as “Doc”. I first met Doc at the 1973 Buffalo River Explorer Scout Canoe Race. It was my first canoe race, and the canoe I sat in and the paddle I used were both provided by Doc. He seemed to be everywhere that weekend. He organized the race, provided nearly all the equipment for the teams, b r o u gh t m o s t o f th e participants, and he paddled in the race. His energy level never dropped, and I couldn’t say the same for myself. I was hooked on canoe racing after that weekend and have been involved in the sport ever since. Three Russellville Explorer Scouts in that race 34 years ago are now advisors for Venture Crew 300. Doc was a man of many talents including swimmer, paddler, scuba diver, pilot, cook, outdoorsman, and of course an innovative practicing veterinarian. Doc didn’t just do things half-way either. He once broke a world record in a freestyle swimming event while at Oklahoma A&M (now Oklahoma State). As a competitive paddler, he never lost an Aluminum Class
event and he competitively raced until he was 53 years old. He was bow hunting before it became fashionable and hunted with the great Ben Pearson. He served as the Little Rock Zoo’s veterinarian while he operated his own private practice, Cantrell Animal Clinic. He was the secretary/ treasurer of the Arkansas Veterinary Medical Examining Board for 10 years, and was named Arkansas Veterinarian of the Year. Doc’s greatest impact, however, was on Scouting. He was one of the early founders of the White River Canoe Race. Much of the great success the race enjoyed in the 1970’s can be attributed to his efforts. As the advisor of Post 8 in Little Rock, he traveled all over the country pulling his ten canoe trailer behind his Dodge truck to places like the Nantahala River in North Carolina and the Snake River in Idaho. There probably were not too many streams in Arkansas that he and his Scouts didn’t float or race on. When his group showed up for a race, you had a big event and competition to boot. Although our Explorer Post 300 from Russellville was normally competing
against his Scouts, Doc would be the first to offer assistance or equipment. Doc bought the first racing canoes that came to Arkansas and operated an outdoor store, Canoeland, out of the basement of Cantrell Animal Clinic. The canoe shop became so popular in canoe and kayak circles that he had to sell it because it had gotten too big to manage by a solo veterinary practitioner. In 1973, Doc received the Silver Beaver Award, Scouting’s highest service award for adult leaders. In 2002, at the White River Canoe Race, a tribute was held for Doc in Mountain View. Scouts with ties to the race told stories about the race, their experiences, and about Doc, and presented him with an award for his founding the race and his many years of unselfish service to Scouting. Because of Alzheimer’s disease in his last 7 years of life, Doc did not get to see the resurgence of the White River Canoe Race. Because of his influence on Scouts and on others, you can rest assured that we will continue to build The White River Canoe Race into one of the greatest Scouting events in the country. We will miss you Doc.
Page 2
White River Canoe Race
Schedule of Events
Letter from the Race Host
January 1 - Pre-Registration Starts July 1 - Last Day to Register with $5 off. July 23 - White River Canoe Race Bull Shoals - Registration July 24 - White River Canoe Race Bull Shoals - Norfork July 25 - White River Canoe Race Norfork - Allison July 26 - White River Canoe Race Allison - Batesville
Relative Events Buffalo Point to Rush
By George Latus ~ Crew 320 As most of you are finishing up the fall semester with school, I hope you are all doing well. Also, I hope you can take a little time to enjoy this special Holiday Season. During this time of year, I will begin to get awards and trophies ready for the upcoming 2008 Canoe Race. Currently I’m trying to find sponsors for first place traveling trophies for all the divisions: Boy’s Aluminum, Gir ls Aluminum, Coed Aluminum, Coed Cruising, Girl’s Cruising and Open Cruising.
Volume 07, Issue 1
These will be traveling trophies that will be awarded to the fastest team in the division, regardless of class. Example: Boy’s Aluminum Advanced and Novice teams would still be recognized for the their place in their class, 1st, 2nd or 3rd. But it’s possible for the 1st place Novice team to be awarded the traveling trophy for the fastest canoe in the division if their time is better than the Boy’s Advance team. This should make the race more competitive. Beginner teams do not qualify, because they canoe fewer legs.
The overall championship will be awarded to the cruising division as it has been in the past. We still plan to recognize all the classes 1st, 2nd, & 3rd place in Advanced, Novice, and Beginner classes (sorry for the confusion last year). Remember, if you plan to win one of these traveling trophies, you must plan to bring it back the following year. If you have any questions or suggestions please feel free to contact me. May each and every one of you have a joyful Holiday Season. Respectfully, George
North Fork River Race Calico Rock to Boswell Shoals Aluminum Nationals
Letter from the IT Support By Robert Latus ~ Crew 320
There are many changes which will take place this upcoming year. One of the major changes is the way that teams pre-register on the website. This option will be available from January 1 to July 1, 2008. Since we may have a significant increase in the number of teams for 2008, we have changed the on-line registration to help streamline the process.
We are also trying to get a GPS system built-in to the website. This system will allow user from home to track the race from home. We had one last year but it didn't work as planned. Many of you have been asking if you can use the information posted on the website for school projects or other education events. You are more than welcome. The more you use it, the
more our name will get out about the race. It is highly encouraged that you pre-register your team for 2008. Not only will you save $5 per entry, but you will help us streamline the whole registration process and speed up check-in at Bull Shoals.
Online Registration registration.whiterivercanoerace.com
White River Canoe Race
Volume 07, Issue 1
Page 3
History of the White River By: Wikipedia The source of the White River is in the Boston Mountains of northwest Arkansas, in the Ozark-St. Francis National Forest southeast of Fayetteville. The upper portions of the river are fast, cold, and clear and are internationally known for producing world-record trout. The river flows northwards from its source in northwest Arkansas, loops up through southwest Missouri near Branson and then travels back into Arkansas and on generally southeast to its mouth at the Mississippi River. Once the river enters the Mississippi River Delta
r e gion ne ar Batesvil le, Arkansas the river becomes navigable to shallow-draft vessels and its speed decreases considerably. The final 10 miles of the river serves as the final segment of the McClellan-Kerr Arkansas River Navigation System; this part of the channel is deeper than the rest of the river. Despite being much shorter in length than the Arkansas River, it carries nearly as much water, over 8200 cubic feet per second normally, and as much as 40,000 ft続/s during flooding. A controversial plan to deepen the navigation channel of the river (above the
McClellan-Kerr segment) is under consideration though it is opposed by many Arkansans. The lower portion of the river contains a multitude of wildlife species including bear, turkey, songbirds, and over 160 species of fish. More mallard ducks winter on the lower White than any other place in the world. Many residents of Arkansas believe that deepening the navigation channel will adversely affect the wildlife which is a major source of tourism in the area. However, many farmers along parts of the White support the proposal for economic reasons.
White River near Flippin, AR
Canoe Joke A lovesick canoeist wrote to a dating service explaining that he had specific criteria for a potential mate and would not accept anyone that doesn't meet his standards. He went on to explain the young lady must be cute, short, enjoys cold water and paddling. He received a reply the following week. It contained a picture of a penguin.
Tell us how we did.
Overall Race (Boating Categories, Timing System, Meetings) Excellent
$5 Off Pre-registration will begin January 1, 2008 to July 1, 2008. During this period teams will be allowed to register and get a $5 discount for each racer or advisor registered. After July 1, 2008 the discount will expire and you will have to pay the full entry fee of $35. The entry fee includes a T-shirt, four evening meals, and camping. This is quite a bargain these days!"
Comments:
Excellent
Normal
Normal
Need Improvement
Need Improvement
Camping (Bull Shoals, Norfork, Allison, Batesville)
Special Offer
Food (Gaston, Pizza Night, Batesville Dinner)
Activities (Talent Show, Ham Radio Night)
Excellent
Excellent
Normal
Normal
Need Improvement
Need Improvement
Name Address
To register please visit our website at: www.whiterivercanoerace.com or call Stephen Lynn at (479) 885-1037
Phone
Mail to George Latus or Email: info@whiterivercanoerace.com
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White River Canoe Race
Volume 07, Issue 1
Crew 300 ~ Russellville, Arkansas By Stephen Lynn Russellville began competing in the National Invitational White River Canoe Race in 1971 as Explorer Post 300 and had teams in the race every year until 1975. Our biggest year during that span was 1974 when we had a Boys Cruising team, a Girl’s Aluminum team, and a Boy’s Aluminum team. The top teams in those days were from Las Cruces, New Mexico and Little Rock, Arkansas. In the 1970s it was not uncommon for over 50 teams to participate in the race. Post 300 was also active in backpacking and sailing, but when the water was up, they were usually on one of the area’s creeks or streams such as Big Piney, Illinois Bayou, Mulberry, or the Buffalo. The post gradually dissolved as members got older
or relocated and no new members filled the void. The White River Canoe Race was the highlight of the year for us and it was always the talk when some of the old scouts got together. During the 1990 race, an unofficial reunion of past participants was held bringing in 20 ex-scouts from all over the country to paddle and hang out. Several of the scouts from Post 300 continued canoe racing throughout the 1980s and 1990s placing well in National and International competitions. By the year 2000, the race had fallen on hard times. After a low water cancellation in 2000, the race only had 9 teams show up for the 2001 race. For the many of us that had such great memories of the event, we decided that we needed to get involved to help save this fantastic
and unique event. The next year ex-scouts participated in an Old Timers class at the race and it was then that talk started about forming a new Post from Russellville and bringing back the “Glory Days” of the race. Russellville Crew 300 was formed in 2002 and entered one Novice Boy’s Aluminum team in 2002. Over the last four years, Crew 300 has had the largest number of scouts paddling in the race. Crew 300 organized the race in 2006 and shared that responsibility with Crew 320 from Batesville for 2007. This past year, 38 teams completed the race showing that the race was back on track to a successful future and new crews would add their own chapter to the “Glory Days”.
Crew 2117 ~ Duluth, Minnesota By Kjell Peterson Post 301 from Faribault Minnesota first attended The White River National Invitational Canoe Race, also known as the Arkansas race, in 1985. By 1988 they were dominating the race, winning all seven classes which at that time included a class for open aluminum. With the untimely death of their head coach Sumner, they continued under the helm of Bruce Sanborn whose children raced on the team. During that time I took up paddling and raced in `95 and `96 on the open cruising team. By 1997 I was too old to race in Arkansas, but loving the sport I continued to be involved with the team in
what ever way I could .At this time we enjoyed a fierce yet friendly rivalry with Post 313 from Bogalusa Louisiana (who also has a long tradition at this race). In the late 90's Post 301 was sending only one team to Arkansas and attended the race for its last time in 2002. The history of these two teams and the fun I had participating in the race has fueled my desire to once again see Minnesota involved. My ultimate dream is to see Minnesota fill all the classes in Arkansas and to be as competitively tough as we have been in the past. In 2005 we brought a co-ed cruising team, then again in 2006. This past summer we had a girls cruising and a boys cruising team compete!
Our team is now called Crew 2117 and is based out of Duluth MN. The greatest challenge has been generating enough interest with kids from Duluth, so we decided to draw from a larger state-wide pool. Our growth has been slow, but I think we are starting to see the possibility of filling each class in the near future. It's been a big thrill attending this race again and it is great to see Bogalusa still running strong! There are also new faces such as Russellville. We are excited to see this race continue to grow and be around for future generations of young paddlers to enjoy its traditions while creating memories of their own.
White River Canoe Race Official’s Addresses Race Director
Race Host
Stephen Lynn P.O. Box 99 London, AR 72847
George Latus P.O. Box 91 Sulphur Rock, AR 72579
(479) 885-1037
(870) 799-3690
Crew 300- Russellville, AR
Crew 320 - Batesville, AR
Email: ozarksjl@centurytel.net
Email: arlatus1@yahoo.com
Come and join us in one of the most unique, challenging, and fun scouting events in the country. The National Invitational White River Canoe Race will take you down some of the most scenic country in America. The race is an adventure of over a hundred miles from the heart of the Ozark Mountains near Bull Shoals Lake to the foothills of Batesville, Arkansas. The event is more than just a race though. There are many special activities for
We’re on the Web! www.whiterivercanoerace.com 2007 canoe race had 38 boats racing over 120 miles
everyone.
Canoe Race Word Search Words to Find:
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