Bidness As Unusual

by Paul Flemming

Keep in mind that the 1998 River Rescue is for a good cause. It may be tough.

Can doing good really be this much fun?

The June 13 event a float and cleanup of the Finley River, followed by dinner and music by Big Smith at Ozark City Park raises money for The Victim Center. In the six previous River Rescues, more than $32,000 has been raised for this important agency.

The Victim Center, a member agency of the United Way of the Ozarks, helps people who have been victimized by violent and sexual crimes. Begun in 1976, the center has a 24-hour crisis hot line, provides individual counseling, has therapy groups and serves as a victim advocate in the legal system.

Last year the center provided crisis intervention help to 365 children and 789 adults. Also in 1997, the center helped 396 children and 1,049 adults with ongoing counseling and advocacy services.

Prevention is also an important part of the group's work, and last year it educated more than 14,000 people through school- and business-based programs.

All of these services are provided free of charge to clients.

Which doesn't mean it doesn't cost anything. United Way of the Ozarks, government and private grants and special-events fund raising all contribute to The Victim Center's budget.

The River Rescue is one of those special events.

Participants in the float are asked to raise at least $75 each on behalf of the center. For your efforts, you get everything you need to paddle down the Finley from Linden to the park just upstream from Ozark: canoe, paddle, life jacket and expert instruction and help if you're a novice on the river.

The Victim Center is an easy organization to raise money for. Prizes are given to participants who prove inordinately successful. Those incentives begin for those who raise more than $200. The top three money raisers will vie for an Old Town solo canoe, an evening at Chateau on the Lake and Sawyer wood paddles.

The float has proven to be a big hit and is always loads of fun. An afternoon in a canoe is a God-given right to us in the Ozarks, one that can always be taken without a whiff of guilt about yard work, housework or any other kind of work left undone. If, however, any vestigial work ethic remains, it can be easily assuaged by the fact that this floating is done in the name of a Good Cause.

But let's assume, for some incomprehensible reason, you can't put paddle to water during the day of June 13. You can still participate in the River Rescue.

Dinner under the pavilion of Ozark City Park begins at 5:45 and is served until 7. Big Smith begins playing at 6. Ten bucks gets you dinner and good times. To help with planning, please call in advance to announce your intention to eat and listen. The Victim Center can be reached at 863-7273.

The River Rescue has long been supported by Jody Bilyeu and his family, members of which comprise Big Smith. River Rescue folks can say they beat the bandwagon by loving the music Jody and his kin play in years past.

Now Big Smith has a new album of its hillbilly music out and packs venues throughout southwest Missouri and northwest Arkansas. And the band, not yet too big for its overalls, will continue its participation with a boot-stomping good time.

River Rescue organizers are not above capitalizing on a moving bandwagon, and it's hoped a big contingent of Big Smith fans will join the floaters for the evening. If you have yet to hear and dance to this group's music, this would be the perfect time and place.

My floating mojo is revving up and my feet are tapping just thinking about it. That it's for something that will help our community only makes everything better.

If you want more information about the good time for a good cause, please call Kathy Finke at The Victim Center, 863-7273.

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