Pam Carter's Blog
Pam's Final Blog
The 2008 Fort Smith Classic is history. I just moved the last truck load from the Volunteer Trailer (which was my home for 7 weeks) and closed the door for the last time.
I want to personally thank my co-chairman, sister in heart, confidant and true friend Carolyn Teague. That little red head is the hardest working person I have ever known and I could not have made it through this tournament as a first year Volunteer Coordinator without her. Even though I know the infrastructure of the volunteer area of this tournament like the back of my hand, this year proved to be very trying with all of the new input, the weather, the wedding, and Mother's Day all playing a huge part in this tournament. Carolyn was there every step of the way with the encouragement I needed, the shoulder I needed and the slap on the wrist when I needed it.
And, I want to thank Sheila Freeman and Debbie Findley for their help and support in the Volunteer area and for the wonderful Volunteer Party Sheila coordinated. These two gals are so special. Thank you Hank Fawcett for your faithful help with the volunteer on-course food delivery... couldn't do it without you. And, Marcus Moody and Elton Benton..... I can't even begin to say enough about these young men from Arvest Bank who did all of the volunteer cooking for the week. They brightened my day every morning at 5:30 A.M. and did a terrific job of taking care of the volunteer food needs.
ALL of the Chairmen of this tournament are like family to me and I want to say a huge THANK YOU to all of them for doing their part, which I personally know that on some days was not easy. They are all priceless and precious to me and to this tournament.
PGA TOUR guys and gals, thank you for your guidance, kindness and most of all your understanding that the Fort Smith Classic volunteers are the heart and soul of this tournament.
And last, but certainly not least, THANK YOU VOLUNTEERS OF THE 2008 FORT SMITH CLASSIC!!!!! You are all my heroes. Some of you were asked to go way beyond the call of duty of a volunteer and you did not waiver. BLESS YOU !!
Pam Carter, Volunteer Coordinator
May 10, 2008
WOW!!! It is Saturday, May 10, 2008, with just one more day before the 2008 Fort Smith Classic will be history. It seems like just yesterday that I entered the first application that I had received from a volunteer, and I was SO EXCITED!!!
Well, this morning, I entered number 790, and I’m still SO EXCITED!!! We have had sunshine, rain, sunshine, rain, sunshine, rain, sunshine, rain (with a little golf in between) Even so, our Volunteers have been here on time every day to fulfill their obligation and to share their time for this very worthwhile cause of giving to our children’s charities.
Have I mentioned that we have the GREATEST Volunteers?! Well, I just been called on the radio that I am needed, so I’m out of here for now, until we meet again ………………
May 1, 2008
WELL, HELLO!! I deliberately put May 30 in my blog yesterday, just to see if anyone was actually reading them!!! Our 19th Hole Director, Kris Hope wins the prize, because she caught it!! And, if you believe that I deliberately put in it in there, I've got ocean front property to give away on Rogers Avenue!! With as many directions as my brain is going right now, it's a wonder I didn't put December 30!
We are busy, busy in the Volunteer Area. I now have tents, tables, chairs, ferns (I'm still waiting on the wet bar for my trailer ??) and it looks like we are getting ready to have a golf tournament. We have been getting lots of volunteers, but we still need more. So, please give me a call for information about volunteering 479-459-4327, or download the application from this website and bring it by the Volunteer Office or Tournament Office at Hardscrabble. We will get you fixed up with a great volunteer goodie bag, a beautiful blue volunteer shirt and you will give us your precious time as a volunteer for our children's charities that this tournament supports.
So, COME ONE, COME ALL TO THE GREATEST SHOW ON EARTH !!! I'll be like the Wal-Mart greeter, meeting you at the door with a smile and a volunteer application!!! I'M SOOOO EXCITED!!! Until we meet again (soon I hope!!)
Wednesday, April 30, 2008
It is Wednesday May 30, hours away from the 2008 Fort Smith Classic!!! We had our Volunteer Meet & Greets on Monday night and last night, and we had many, many volunteers show up for that. If you were not able to attend either of the M & G's, please feel free to come by the Volunteer Office at Hardscrabble to pick up your Volunteer package and Shirt. We will be at the Vol. Office from 5:30-9:00 tonight, Thursday night, and Friday night. e will be in the office from 9:00 A.M. until 5:00 P.M. Saturday and Sunday. And then, starting Monday, May 5, 2008, we will be in the office from 6:00 A.M. until 6:00 P.M. daily.
If you haven't filled out your Volunteer Application to volunteer, please do so. You can down load a copy from this website, or pick up an application at the Tournament Office or Volunteer Office at Hardscrabble Country Club. We're ready to Rock & Roll!!!! I'M SO EXCITED!!!!
HEY... I'M TOO BUSY TO BLOG!!!!! We are exactly one week away for the 2008 Fort Smith Classic and I'm busier than the "trailer cat" covering up (If ya know what I mean)!! We are having the Volunteer Meet & Greet tonight and tomorrow night in the 19th Hole at Hardscrabble from 5:30-7:00, so I am on my way to get ready for that. The Volunteer Shirts arrived just about an hour ago (WHEW !!!!) with 3 hours to spare. I was sweating that one!!! We still need volunteers, so down load an application from this websie and get signed up for the time of your life !!! Well, got to run... until we meed again. (Oh, yeah... I'M SO EXCITED!!!!!)
Tuesday, April 22, 2008
YIKES !!!! We are only 13 days away from the 2008 Fort Smith Classic!!! Oh, well, 13 has always been my lucky number, so I just know when I get to the volunteer office today, I will have hundreds of volunteer applications!!! I'M SO EXCITED !!!
We had a wonderful Sponsor Breakfast this morning...... and our tournament director, Patricia Brown, did a GREAT job with her speech to the sponsors. It even made me want to dig in my purse (which I had left in the car), or my pockets (I had no pockets) or somebody else's pocket (that was Kevin Coney next to me and he probably wouldn't have appreciated that!!). But, anyway, I was very inspired by her speech.
We will be doing the Radio-thon tomorrow (Wed. 23rd), and you can tune in to hear "yours truly" at 7:00 A.M. on KWHN. I will be talking in my sleep, so there's no tellin' what I'll be saying. I only hope it has to do with telling all of your listeners how much we need you to volunteer for this wonderful tournament that gives soooo much to our wonderful children's charities. (Oh, me, I haven't been up at 5:00 A.M. since the shark attacked me at Lake Tenkiller last summer !!) Now, that's another story!! I'M SO EXCITED!!!! Until we meet again.................
Wednesday, April 16, 2008
OH, ME.... OH, MY !!! Only 20 days until TEE OFF !!! What an exciting, BUSY time for the Volunteer Office. The volunteer applications are coming in daily, and if you have not sent yours in, please do so today. I don't want you to miss out on the great experience of being a Fort Smith Classic volunteer. There will be lots of sunshine, the azaleas at Hardscrabble will be in full, beautiful bloom, the smell of grilled burgers will be in the air, there will be the hustle and bustle of all of the volunteers going about their jobs, the professional golfers and caddies will be everywhere, (the Chairmen will be asleep under the trees), the par-tees will be "jivin" at night ........ and, then.............. and then......., our children's charities will be the recipients of YOUR great experience!! What a DEAL!! Please sign up today, so that you can be a part of this wonderful, exciting PGA Nationwide Tournament. If you have questions, or need information, please give me a call at 479-459-4327. And remember, you can download a volunteer application from this website, and mail to the address on the application. I'M SOOOO EXCITED !!!
Friday, April 11, 2008
HELLO ALL OF YOU GREAT VOLUNTEERS OF THE FORT SMITH CLASSIC !!!! I so much appreciate those of you who have sent your volunteer applications in. THANK YOU, THANK YOU, THANK YOU !! But, we need more. If you did not get an application in the mail, or you don't know where to sign up, PLEASE give me a call at 479-459-4327 and I will personally see to it that you get an application. Or, I will sign you up over the phone. You can also download an application from this website, or pick up an application at the Fort Smith Classic tournament office.
The volunteers make this tournament happen and with just three weeks left to go before the tournament kicks off, I'm asking you to please volunteer today!! Even if you can only volunteer for one morning or one afternoon shift just one day of the tournament, you will make a HUGE impact. If you've never volunteered before and you have questions, please give me a call at the number above. I can assure you that it will be an experience of a lifetime for you. And, YOU will make a difference in the lives of the children of our wonderful charities. I'M SOOOOOOO EXCITED!!!! Until we meet again ..............
Tuesday, April 8, 2008
Well, now I'M REALLY EXCITED !!!! The volunteer applications are coming in daily, but we still need many, many more. So, if you have not returned your application, please do so as soon as possible.
I had my tournament moment last night, when I was entering applications into the computer, and THERE IT WAS.... Ray Wilson's application!! Mr. Wilson has been a volunteer for this tournament for the past 10 years and is the hardest working man in show business. A few years back, Ray was diagnosed with cancer. That year, he called the volunteer office and said he wanted to let us know that he was very sick and wasn't sure that he would be able to volunteer that year. Well, when tournament time rolled around, there he was. And Ray is not just any volunteer. At age 70, he is a standard bearer !! If you aren't familiar with the job of a standard bearer, let me tell you, they carry the signs with the players names and scores on them around the entire 18 holes of play. I know a lot of young guys who can't do that. And as soon as he comes off the course from his round, Ray always wants to know what he can do next!!! He's amazing.
These are just the type of people who give so generously of their time to volunteer for the Fort Smith Classic... to give back to our deserving charities. And, these are the people who make my job as Volunteer Coordinator so worthwhile.
So, keep those applications coming and get ready for a great PGA Nationwide Tour tournament May 5 - 11. Until we meet again ........
Friday, April 4
WE ARE ONE MONTH AWAY FROM THE FORT SMITH CLASSIC!! WOO HOO !! The volunteer applications are coming in daily. If you have received your application and are concerned that it says to have them returned by the end of March, please disregard that. We will be taking applications up until tournament time, May 5, 2008.
Also, if you have not received an application in the mail, you can click here to download a volunteer application. Send it in to the address shown on the back. You can also give me a call at 479-459-4327, and I will send you an application. Even though we have been receiving volunteer applications, we still need many, many more. So, please sign up to volunteer, and I can assure you that it will be a wonderful experience for you. And, you will be helping our children's charities at the same time. Until we meet again ........ (And, yes, I'M SO EXCITED)
Wednesday, April 2
If any of you were wondering where I've been... well, let me tell you !!! We have been moving into the Volunteer Headquarters at Hardscrabble and all that that implies !! My co-chairman and friend, Carolyn, with the help of our GREAT Operations Team, moved into our new home last weekend.
Well, we had everything looking soooo good and then we turned on the vacuum cleaner from (you know where) and it exploded out the back with, what seemed like 2 tons of shredded paper!!! I looked at Carolyn and she looked at me and we both had micro shredded paper particles in our mouths, eyelashes, hair and up both nostrils... not to mention all over the room !!! When we had both recovered from shock, I threw the vacuum cleaner under the trailer porch (I know this sounds like something from a Jeff Foxworthy joke) and to K-Mart I went. I bought the brightest yellow vacuum cleaner you have ever seen. Well, I didn't know we had to put the thing together (I guess I thought it was a"compact"!!). Anyway, it was obvious Carolyn has worked with tools before, because after 4 hours, we had that sucker (literally) working like a charm. I vacuumed her, she vacuumed me, and we just about sucked somebody's cat (our new best friend) into it!! A very pretty tiger looking cat had sneaked into the trailer.
Now that brings me to last night. Carolyn and I were entering all of our new volunteer applications into the computers when we heard a strange noise. Well, me being the brave one of the two (WHATEVER!!), I started creeping down the hallway, when, all of a sudden "the cat" jumped from the closet over my head..... I screamed, it screamed, and the last time I saw it, it was running as fast as it could run across the 18th fairway!!!
Anyway, the volunteer applications are coming in daily....WE LOVE IT !!! I spoke to a wonderful group at St. Edward last night and they all seemed very excited about volunteering for the Fort Smith Classic.
I will keep you posted............ until we meet again...... (I'M SO EXCITED!!)
Friday, March 28
It is Friday, March 28 and we are 39 days away from the greatest golf tournament on earth!! We had a wonderful Chairmen's Meeting yesterday and it was soooo good to see everybody. After 11 years with this tournament my fellow chairmen and the volunteers really are like family to me. And, I just love 'em all to death!! Well, the Volunteer trailer is here - YIPEEEEE !!! Our incredible Operations team has done a terrific job in getting everything underway at Hardscrabble. Our trailer has electricity, has freshly shampooed carpets, has some friendly (I hope) wasps in the ceiling. It has a real commode (no water in it yet, but that's coming!!) My co-chairman, Carolyn Teague, and I will be moving in tonight and through the weekend. I hope to be up an totally functional by Sunday night- YIPEEEEE !!! The Volunteer Trailer will be open Monday-Friday 5:30 P.M. to 9:00 P.M., and on Saturdays and Sundays 1:00 P.M. to 6:00 P.M. I have had some great calls from Volunteers who have received their volunteer applications in the mail... most of them just to say "Hi", and to tell me that they are sending their applications in, and looking so forward to being back out to volunteer again. ONLY 39 DAYS....YIPEEEEE !!! (Did I forget to say I'M SO EXCITED??)...... until we meet again.
Monday, March 24
GOOD MORNING!! (I am not going to say I'M SO EXCITED!! but I am !!) It is Monday, March 24, 2007, and the Volunteers are getting their new home today !!! Our trailers are being delivered today.... not quite as nice as the Huckabee's double-wide "manufactured home," but they certainly meet our needs to take care of the Volunteers... and for that we are so thankful. The Volunteer shirts are ordered and they are very nice. Everything is happening so fast now, and we are 43 days away from the Fort Smith Classic.... YOOOO HOOOO!!! The next 43 days will be like a whirlwind, but we love every minute of it. Get those Volunteer Applications in and give me some feed back on my blogs. Talk about why YOU volunteer for this tournament, because I would love to know and perhaps you will encourage someone who has nevered volunteerd to join our tournament family. (And don't tell anybody, but I'M SO EXCITED)....... until we meet again !
Thursday, March 13
Good morning !!! It is March 13...... 53 days from tournament !! I'M SO EXCITED!!!! We had a wonderful meeting with Tommie Sheridan of the PGA on Tuesday. He will be our advance PGA representative this year (meaning he will arrive here in advance of the tournament to get the PGA trailer, etc. ready). He is as excited about our tournament as we are, and once again (as we hear a lot from the PGA) told us that our tournament in Fort Smith is one of the favorites on the tour. It's just 'cause we're so danged nice 'round these parts...... and it just might have a little to do with the fact that we have the GREATEST Tournament staff, Chairmen, and Volunteers on the tour. The Volunteer Applications are going out this week, so PLEASE get them filled out, and returned. I always get so excited when I see the volunteer applications coming in, and see all of the names of the former volunteers who have become my very DEAR friends over the years. It's like I'm getting ready for a big family reunion, and I'm the Grandmother of them all !! I'M SO EXCITED !!! ...... until we meet again.
VIEWER COMMENT Pam is SO EXCITED!
Tuesday, March 11
Good morning !! It is March 11 (what in the world happened to the 7th, 8th, 9th & 10th??), and we are 55 days from TOURNAMENT TIME!!!! I'M SO EXCITED !!! I need to let all of you know that the Volunteer Application online looks a little different that it has for the past month or so.....reason being that we have had to add a waiver to it. If you have downloaded the old one, and have already sent it in, that is okay. I will check all of them, and if you have sent one in without the waiver, the Volunteer staff will have you sign one when you check in to work your volunteer shifts. THANK YOU !! The Volunteer Applications will be going out in the mail to all of the 2007 volunteers this week. Please get them sent back in as soon as possible, because we want to get you placed in the area you want to volunteer in. I have had several inquiries from volunteers about why they have not received their applications in the mail, and it is because we had to wait for the waiver to be added to the application, which has now been done, and they are on their way!!! If you have any questions about the Volunteer Application, or anything else, please give me a call at 479-459-4327, or you can blog me at this website. Until we meet again .........
Thursday, March 6
IT'S SNOWING !!! Welcome to Arkansas.... I wore my bikini (a little exageration) to work yesterday, and my snow suit today!! I just had a call from a wonderful lady at St. Edward Mercy Medical Center wanting me to come speak to them, because they are wanting to volunteer as a group for the Fort Smith Classic. I will be speaking with them in April with Volunteer Applications in hand. What a wonderful idea !! If there are any clubs, organizations, businesses, etc. who would like more information about volunteering, please just give me a call and I will be MORE than happy to come visit your group with Volunteer Applications in hand. Call me at (479) 459-4327 and I will be more than pleased to speak to your group about the wonderful experience of volunteering for the Fort Smith Classic. IT'S STILL SNOWING!! ...Until we meet again
Wednesday, March 5
Good morning ..... it is Wednesday, March 5 (what in the world happened to March 4??), and the 2008 Fort Smith Classic is exactly 2 months away.... I'M SO EXCITED!!! The Fort Smith Classic is something the citizens of Fort Smith can take so much pride in. The PGA is very selective of the cities they choose to host their tournaments, and what an honor it is for us to have a PGA Nationwide Tournament right here in our great city! It gives our citizens, and the citizens of the surrounding area an opportunity to get up close and personal with the professional game of golf, the professional golfers, caddies, and the PGA support staff who will be right here at Hardscrabble Country Club the week of May 5 - 11. And, as a volunteer for the Fort Smith Classic, when one of our tournament winners goes on to win a major PGA tournament, you might just be the volunteer who was volunteering as a standard bearer, carrying the sign with his or her name on it, or you might be the volunteer spotter who helped him or her find their ball, or you might be the volunteer marshal who kept the gallery quiet while they putted, or you might be the volunteer scorer who turned in their score card, or you might be the driving range volunteer who stacked their balls up for them to practice, or you might be the volunteer caddie who carried their bag, or you might be any one of the other volunteers who make this tournament happen. And, as long as this tournament happens in Fort Smith, Arkansas, our wonderful charities will benefit from it....what an experience for you that you will keep for a lifetime!! So, please get your volunteer application in, and know that YOU are about to make a difference in the lives of the precious children of our charities, the lives of the professional golfers who play in this tournament, the PGA staff, our local tournament staff, the volunteer chairmen, and most of all you are about to make a difference in YOUR life..... and for that I personally THANK YOU!!! Until we meet again ..................
Click here for the 2008 Volunteer Application
Monday, March 3
Good morning!! It is Monday, March 3, 2008 (what in the world happened to March 1st and 2nd???), and the days are ticking right on by. Only 21 days until my home away from home (the volunteer trailer) will be on the grounds at Hardscrabble Country Club, and I, together with the rest of the Volunteer Office staff and the tournament staff, will get to watch the Fort Smith Classic come together piece by piece. What a wonderful experience !! I'M SO EXCITED!!! Hopefully, the Volunteer Applications are going out in the mail this week, so please get them back in as soon as possible.
I have to take this time to Mimi brag. "Mimi" is how I am darlingly (if that's a word) referred to by my beautiful granddaughters. And no, Kevin, you cannot call me that!! My youngest granddaughter is an up and coming Olympic gymnast and was named "Best All Around" for her age group in Level 4 at the gymnastics meet in Little Rock this past weekend!!! Now I know you are probably saying "whatever," but let me just tell you, we will see her on the top of the podium wherever the Olympics will be in a few years.... I just know it.... I can already hear them warming up for the Star Spangled Banner to play. And, my other granddaughter gets her braces this week...YUK!! She's very excited about it (little does she know what she's in for).
The Fort Smith Classic is right at 60 days away, and I'M SO EXCITED !!!!! Until we meet again ............
Monday, February 25
I'M SO EXCITED !!!!! We have 6 volunteer applications turned in and the application has only been accessible to volunteers for a few days now!! We only need 994 more... so, please get those applications filled out and sent in !!! The first 1000 volunteers to sign up win a FREE... good time and a lot of gratification knowing that you volunteered your time to give to the wonderful charities of the Fort Smith Classic and the precious children they serve in Fort Smith. If you have questions about the volunteer application, the volunteer positions and duties, the tournament in general, or how to make a great enchilada casserole, please give me a call @ 479-459-4327, or the tournament office, 479-782-3410 (now the girls there won't be able to give you the enchilada casserole recipe, but they can answer your questions)... I'M SO EXCITED !!!! ...until we meet again ....
Thursday, February 21
Humm?? I guess I should formally introduce myself. I've already told you that I am the new Volunteer Coordinator for the 2008 Fort Smith Classic, but I'm actually one of the "old" (oh, there's that awful word again that I try not to use!!).... I must train myself to use the word "former"..... I am one of the former Volunteer Coordinator Co-Chairmen. I have lived in Fort Smith for 35 years, and I am a paralegal for the Milligan Law Firm. Of course, from March until May every year, I tell my boss to look for me when he sees the whites (red) of my eyes, and so far, when I get back to work every year after the tournament, my little chair is still waiting on me. My boss, Phillip Milligan, is just as proud of the Fort Smith Classic as I am. If fact, he has always encouraged my participation.
This will be my 11th year with the Fort Smith Classic.... having spent the first two years as a 19th Hole volunteer with my best buds, Sherry McKinney and Vickie Marts, and then moving to the other side of the tracks to the Volunteer trailer with Janet Matlock and her crew. And, once you have that "trailer life" experience, you never want to leave!! The past 8 years, working with the volunteers of the Fort Smith Classic, have been some of the most rewarding times of my life. This is probably where I'm supposed to say "other than the births of my children"....well, I don't know about you other mothers, but the births of my boys (first one weighed 10lbs 4ozs, and second one weighed 8lbs 7ozs) ....are not exactly what I would call having a great day!! Now, don't get me wrong, they have both given me GREAT rewards since their births..... especially my two PERFECT granddaughters !!
Anyway, I have some wonderful memories from my years with the tournament. One, in particular, is the morning, a few years back, when all of the morning shift volunteers had checked in, and we had breakfast pastries out under the tent for them, and all of a sudden the skies opened up, and we had 5 inches of rain on top of a tent covering 300 or so volunteers and their pastries (the tent was only big enough to cover about 75). Well, I don't have to tell you what happened next ..... one corner of the tent gave way, and we had 300 + drenched volunteers and pastries!! I happen to be one of those who acts first and then thinks about it later ...... so we sent someone to pick up biscuits from anywhere and everywhere they could get that many biscuits, and to Sam's to pick up industrial sized gravy mix. I went into the kitchen at Hardscrabble, rolled up my "wet" sleeves, and told Ryan (the chef) to move over. I grabbed every large pot in the kitchen, and made 10 gallons of hot gravy. The volunteers, huddled like wet ducks, gathered around "Mama Duck, Pam", and had hot biscuits and gravy..... and at that point, they didn't even seem to mind that it was the worst rain we had had in Fort Smith in years. And, did I mention that not a one of them left? .... the sun came out, and we played golf. That experience speaks volumes for our volunteers. Even under adverse circumstances, they took their commitment to volunteer seriously, and stuck it out. Have I told you that we have the BEST VOLUNTEERS ON THE PGA TOUR in Fort Smith, Arkansas?? If not, I sure meant to !! Until we meet again .......
Monday, February 18
Well, it is Monday, February 18, the sun is shining for the first time in a week, and I feel a golf tournament in the air !! The Volunteer Application is on the website, and the application will be mailed to all previous volunteers in the very near future. So watch your mailboxes, get your application filled out, send it in, and get your game face on !! I am so excited about the tournament this year, and hope that we have more volunteers than ever. If you have never volunteered for the Fort Smith Classic, please come out and join our tournament family. It will be an experience you will never forget. It is a fun week, and you will go away with a very rewarding feeling, knowing that you played a very important role in a PGA TOUR tournament that gives to some of the most worthwhile charities in Fort Smith, Arkansas. And, if you have volunteered before, you already know what an experience it is, and you already know me, and what a FUN, FUN time you are in for the week of May 5 - 11. I can't wait to see all of my "old friends", and am very excited about meeting my "new ones" !! Until we meet again....... Pam Carter, Volunteer Coordinator
Saturday, February 16
Wow !! The moth balls in my brief case didn't even get to a full fume, and we are less than 90 days from tee time !! As the new Volunteer Coordinator, I am sooo excited about the new challenge. There will be some new faces in the Volunteer Area (and some old ones - mine), and that has absolutely nothing to do with wrinkles... no thanks to the picture Kevin Coney took of me in the massage chair last year !!! The volunteer trailer will arrive at Hardscrabble sometime in the middle of March, and we will be rockin' and rolllin' there every night until tournament. So, if you can't find anything exciting to do in Fort Smith (LOL), drop by and say hello, have a soft drink and watch us do our thing !! Nothing like watching the backs of our heads looking at the computer screens.... FUN time. Until we meet again .....
