NORTHERN LIGHTS : Contest win dawns for Daybreak Rotary team
- Bobby Ampezzan
Posted on Sunday, February 1, 2009
BENTONVILLE - "The Happy Bookers" from the Bentonville Public Library, their heads bent over a Scrabble board like honeybees on an iris, finagled the word "quixotic" from a pile of tiles, a 26-point letter tally. It was enough to impress one of their own, but not one of the judges of the Literacy Council of Benton County's second Scrabble Wars! fundraiser.
"They're doing great," said Ginni Wietecha of her library teammates. "Some of the words I've never heard of - quixotic?"
"OK, folks, there's way too much thinking going on," barked Keith Aubele, a member of the council's board of directors whose job as judge was to take bribes for letters or spellings, money that is coughed up for the coffers at the end of the night.
The Jan. 24 event at the Bentonville Doubletree Guest Suites attracted about 180 people and raised more than $15,000 without any large corporate sponsorships.
"There's something about a board game that brings out the most competitive nature," said Maxie Carpenter. It starts with "families that get around the table ... it's a chance for parents to find out which kid is the most talented, which kid is ... the most deceptive, which kid wears their feelings on their sleeves."
It doesn't diminish with age, said event judge John Middleton. "It gets wild and woolly at the end of the night - they all want to win."
With about 400 more points than the Wal-Mart "Lettergators," the Bentonville/Bella Vista Daybreak Rotary fought and bought their way to a win. The "Ladies of the Round Table" took home the spirit award, which they won last year as well. Of course, those spirits most uplifted by the evening's success were those who work regularly with the literacy needs of the county.
"From the beginning of our knowledge, it comes about because someone read to you," Mary Middleton said about why she got involved. "Once you learn to read you can know anything, and you can go as far as you want."
With three employees and about 45 active tutors, the council's yearly budget is just about $158,000. According to the most recent data from the National Assessment of Adult Literacy, about 12 percent of Benton County residents lack basic English literacy. There are about 203,000 people in the county, according to the U.S. Census Bureau's most recent estimate.
To sweeten the pot, organizers put together an interesting collection of silent and live auction items. They offered more than 100 books signed by authors big and small, including John Grisham, Mike Huckabee and David Baldacci. In the live auction, White Wing Loft owner Julie Robins offered 25 doves for release at a party of the winning bidder's choice, and Summit Aviation donated a one-hour airborne flying lesson.
Harris McKee organized and kept score for the Bentonville/Bella Vista Daybreak Rotary Club team, which won first place, at the Scrabble Wars held at the Double Tree Hotel in Bentonville Saturday. The event was held to raise money for the Literacy Council of Benton County. The team members were all connected with Bella Vista and consisted of Mary and Harris McKee, Carole Westby, Jean Anderson (executive director of College at the Crossing), Andra and Duane Atteberry and Jim and Eunice Van Tuyl. - Andra Atteberry/The Weekly Vista /
Finally, here's a link to a seven minute video from Scrabble Wars created by Barbara Rademacher that is posted on the internet. Link to CNN i-report on Scrabble Wars: