You may have wondered where I have been…or most likely not. lol Humor is allowed in blog writing. Well, I have been working with the rest of  the TVFCU team getting ready for Riverbend Beach 2010!  That’s right-we are doing it again this summer!  For those of you who missed it last year, check out our Riverbend 2009 photo gallery. You are in luck because we are bringing the beach to Chattanooga again along with our fabo community partners!  We are all working hard to add new additions to this wonderful experience for you.  No, it’s not too early to be announcing this. Yes, check your calendar and step outside.  It’s already getting warm and it’s going to get even hotter by June.  To jump start Riverbend Beach and a hot summer, TVFCU just launched a new website www.tvfcuatriverbend.com

We literally went live with this just a few days ago, and are constantly adding new content.  Sooo…go ahead and add it to your Favorites and bookmark this evolving website.  I’ll be posting new updates as we quickly approach Riverbend Beach 2010!

Do you remember those creative, painted table tops at the Tennessee Valley Credit Union Stage last summer at Riverbend ’09?  Now is your chance to purchase them during a silent auction at the Dinner and the Arts event, Thursday, January 28^th beginning at 5:15pm.  The table top artwork was created by art students from Chattanooga School for the Creative Arts.  All proceeds go to benefit the school’s art department.  These one of a kind art pieces are perfect for a small table, your wall or any other create idea or space you find.  Get creative and support local art education!

After months of brainstorming and planning, TVFCU debuted Riverbend Beach last summer during the Riverbend Festival.  Hard work does in fact pay off.  Friends of the Festival have been awarded the bronze 2009 Pinnacle Award for Best Sponsor based on TVFCU’s sponsorship!  Through our partnership with Friends of the Festival, we are honored to receive this recognition from the International Festivals and Events Association.  The Riverbend Festival was ranked against some of the largest festivals from around the world including the Kentucky Derby, Portland Rose Festival and festivals in Canada, South Korea, Netherlands, Singapore and Slovenia.

In addition, Friends of the Festival won the silver 2009 Pinnacle Award for TVFCU’s Riverbend Beach print design.  This design was created by our very own local artist, Jimmy Johnston. 

Did you miss the 180 tons of sand that was sculpted by Team Sandtastic artists last summer?  View photos in our Riverbend 2009 album below.  Team Sandtastic sculpted the headline acts for each Riverbend Festival night.  Who knew that Willie Nelson could look that great in sand? 

We are excited to announce that TVFCU will present Riverbend Beach again this summer at Riverbend Festival 2010.  Do you think Team Sandtastic should sculpt the headline acts again at Riverbend Beach?  Or do you have a sand sculpture idea?

Tennessee Valley Federal Credit Union is teaming up with Riverbend, WDEF News 12, and The Doubletree Hotel to present Riverbend Beach, the festival’s newest attraction. “Coming to Riverbend and going to the beach are favorite summer traditions for many families. Now you can enjoy them both at Riverbend Beach,” says W. Blake Strickland, TVFCU’s President & CEO.

Located right on Riverfront Parkway at the Walnut Street Bridge, Riverbend Beach will feature a 100-ton sand sculpture created by Team Sandtastic of Sarasota, Florida during the first six days of the festival. The sculpture will be a creative representation of the sights and sounds of Riverbend. “We’re excited to work with our partners to bring this new experience to our community,” added Strickland. To see pictures of Team Sandtastic’s creations go to www.teamsandtastic.com.

Riverbend Beach visitors can view the sculpture up close from the TVFCU’s deck or step inside their air-conditioned Mobile Experience and register to win a five-night, six-day vacation at the Hilton Melbourne Beach Oceanfront Hotel, provided by Doubletree Hotel, Chattanooga. WDEF News 12 will be broadcasting the nightly news live from Riverbend Beach and offering free souvenir beach photos that can be emailed to family and friends. Kids will enjoy the Creative Discovery Museum’s sandbox, where they can try their hand at sand sculpting or paint their own beach visor. The Team Sandtastic sculptors will also be there each night at 5:00 p.m. to offer free sand sculpting lessons.

In the movie, “Pay It Forward”, a young boy is challenged by his teacher to do something that will change the world. He decides that instead of repaying kind deeds, he will pay them forward by doing something nice for someone else. When beginning work on this project, TVFCU contacted Monteagle Sand and Gravel whose owner, Bill Ramsey, immediately caught the vision of “Riverbend Beach” and offered to donate the sand. TVFCU contacted Carlock Construction, who volunteered to remove the sand, free of charge and deliver it to the City of Chickamauga’s recreational ball fields, allowing hundreds of children and youth to benefit from “Riverbend Beach” once the festival is over. “This is another great example of local companies working together to benefit the community and it illustrates our credit union philosophy of People Helping People,” added Strickland.

This year’s Riverbend Festival is June 5-13.