The chapter sponsored the Arkansas State Convention, 27-28 Aug 99. In conjunction with the convention, several events were executed to support aerospace education and industry in Northwest Arkansas. All events were centered around our very special guest, General George Babbitt, Commander of Air Materiel Command.
General Babbitt was the semester's first speaker in the Sam M. Walton College of Business Administration's "Distinguished Speaker Series". He also participated in an informal information exchange session with selected members of the Transportation and Logistics departments faculty and students.
A seminar was also sponsored for area businesses and local elected officials. The theme of "Competing for DoD Contracts: Manufacturing, Distribution, Maintenance and Services" was discussed in depth by the panel made up of the General and representatives from 3 of the area's leading aerospace companies. The event was attended by members of mayoral staffs in the area, the Director of the Aerospace Technology School in Fayetteville, members of three local Chambers of Commerce, University of Arkansas officials, military members from Little Rock AFB and the Arkansas Air National Guard, and others.
The General also toured facilities at the Wal-Mart corporate headquarters in Bentonville, AR and the Pratt & Whitney Propulsion Systems Division in Springdale, AR.
The Convention closed with an awards banquet Saturday afternoon. US Congressman Asa Hutchinson was the guest speaker.
The weekend was one of the most comprehensive "aerospace event" this area has ever seen. It took a great deal of effort on the part of University officials, Chamber of Commerce members, and Razorback Chapter members to pull off. All who participated were both amazed and proud that the interest was there to support such a weekend. It was a risky operation going in, but paid back in huge dividends.