I don’t love candidate forums. There are way too many of them and they are rarely informative, more like pageants really, sans the fancy dress. And what candidate doesn’t claim to be for world peace? Besides that, I’ve already made up my mind to vote March 10 for David Morgan, written him a check and put his sign in my yard. But I had one more garden bed that needed covering located conveniently near the Downtown Sarasota Alliance’s Thursday night District 2 candidates’ forum at the Church of the Redeemer, and out of respect for the DSA and their moderator, my friend Peter Fanning, off I went into the bitter cold.

The older I get, the less patient I become with the “blah blah blah”—the endless talk about what we will or won’t, can’t or shouldn’t do about whatever it is we are talking endlessly about. On this night it was Eileen Normille’s politically pat non-answer to the question of homelessness that, despite my best intentions to sit quietly taking notes through to the end, sent me shortly, mumbling and shaking my head, out the door and smack into the human face of that question. 

I was leaving the Redeemer heading toward the little side street that led to my truck parked outside Caragiulos on Palm Avenue when I heard a slight commotion from behind some rollie waste cans next to a dumpster across the way. Someone was back there.

“Hey, are you okay? Do you need help?”  “No, I’m alright.”  “I can call someone to bring you to the Salvation Army.”  “No, I’m not allowed back there until April 1.”  “Really? I’m sure they would let you in tonight.”  “No, No they won’t – I’ll be okay.“

In my truck there was one more heavy blanket meant to cover my last fragile flowerbed. I grabbed it up and went back. The man was quite large and in a wheelchair; the front of his body and head were covered in a fleece throw. “May I lay this blanket across your back and shoulders?” He peeked out and nodded. His eyes were tearing, and as I rolled away the cans to step in to cover him, I saw the genius hidey-hole he had made. The lid of the dumpster, open and leaned back against the wall, created a windbreak, an enclosure he could would wheel himself into and perhaps survive night. He had done this before. This was his home.

It was so cold in my leaky, hundred-year-old cottage this morning that no amount of covers or cats could warm me up. It was 11 o’clock before I ventured out to drive my neighbor for a haircut and then begin uncovering all my gardens. I didn’t go look for the man. If he perished I’ll hear about it. I have to believe he survived and that I did the best I could.

Sarasota may be special, but her problems are not unique. On March 10, we have the opportunity to elect bright, capable individuals who understand that truly great, enduring and inclusive public policy cannot be built on the ever-shifting complaints, prejudices and narrow personal preferences of others, nor on the pretense that what has worked elsewhere will not work here. It’s time.  

SRQ Daily Columnist Diana Hamilton, after living 35 years in Sarasota, labels herself a pragmatic optimist with radical humorist tendencies and a new found resistance to ice cream.

Tech entrepreneur turned philanthropist Peter Diamandis opens his new book, BOLD, with an extended metaphor for survival in what he calls “the age of exponentials.” Like the lumbering dinosaurs displaced by more adaptable and agile “small, furry animals” after the Cretaceous Period’s big asteroid bang, today's plodding, linear-minded businesses and organizations are being superseded by nimbler, exponentially oriented upstarts. And accelerating technology is the asteroid.

To illustrate, Diamandis examines how an iconic, 120-year-old company like Kodak could go into bankruptcy at the same time that 13-employee, 18-month-old Instagram sold for $1 billion. He describes—much more insightfully than this—Kodak’s failure to recognize how the exponential growth (i.e., doubling on a regular basis) of digital photo power would disrupt its business.

Kodak, it seems, lost sight of its business model: not making film or even cameras, but making memories convenient to record. Instagram, meanwhile, rode the exponential acceleration of camera-enabled smartphones and leveraged the crowd to make recording and sharing memories instant, easy and ubiquitous.

When it comes to organizational and community leadership, understanding these characteristics of exponential change, which Diamandis makes so accessible, is crucial. Besides technologies, tools like crowdsourcing, crowdfunding and incentive competitions give today’s “exponential entrepreneurs” and leaders unprecedented advantages. As Diamandis states simply: “[F]or the first time ever, a passionate and committed individual has access to the technology, minds, and capital required to take on any challenge.” If that assertion excites you, I highly recommend BOLD, whose aspirational subtitle is “How to Go Big, Create Wealth, and Impact the World.”

But community leadership requires other skills as well. To be leaders, visionaries can’t just stay ahead of the curve; they must get others to follow. So let me recommend another learning opportunity: the Gulf Coast Leadership Institute. (Full disclosure: Gulf Coast Community Foundation created and funds the program.) This 10-week leadership-development class taps aspiring and experienced leaders across the region, from Manatee County down to Boca Grande, and brings them together to enhance their individual knowledge and skills while connecting them as a network. From there, it’s up to the leaders to take action.

The Leadership Institute’s application process is selective, as Gulf Coast aims to assemble a group that reflects the diversity of our region’s communities and our public, private, and independent sectors. (Think young professionals to mature volunteers and anyone in between.) The curriculum covers effective communication, group decision-making, leading community change, and more—all capabilities that, when infused with a “bold” appreciation for exponential growth, grand-scale thinking, and crowd-powered tools, can equip you to go big, create good, and impact the world, starting right here on the Gulf Coast.

You can learn more and apply for Gulf Coast Leadership Institute at GulfCoastCF.org.  

SRQ Daily Columnist Teri A Hansen is president and CEO of Gulf Coast Community Foundation.

The determination about whether a race is partisan or not is made by the entity holding the election—in this case the City of Sarasota. That decision is set forth in our city’s constitution, the City Charter (Article III, Section 2):“All elections to the office of city commissioner shall be conducted on a nonpartisan basis without designation of any political affiliation of any candidate on any ballot.” 

While there is a clear prohibition in the words of the Charter on a candidate’s personal electioneering as a party partisan, one could argue there is wiggle room for a party itself to support a candidate with volunteers and expertise.  However, there are limits.

After reading the Charter language, do you think it permissible to hand out score sheets to voters as they enter polling places in a nonpartisan election so they can decide how to vote based on party? Of course not. That would be a clear violation of the plain language of the City’s constitution (among other legal violations). But that is exactly what one party has done with absentee ballots in this race. One party sent out emails and continues to make phone calls to its members to coincide with the arrival of absentee ballots. These communications make  sure the voter knows  who was who by party. So much for the words of the City Charter.

It is naïve to think a D or R (or anything else) next to a candidate’s name will give the “full transparency” Ms. Nilon craves when you “want to know more than what the candidate is telling you on the campaign trail.”  Why not fully vet candidates instead of depending on party designation to say it all?

In November, I was appointed to fill the District 2 seat on the City Commission, chosen from a field of 10 applicants—one of whom was Liz Alpert. Should Commmissioners have chosen Ms. Alpert simply because she was a member of a particular political party? Where has she stood on important city issues? What has she accomplished on her advisory boards other than “participation?”  Has she ever assumed a level of authority on any board or organization she joined? Or does her party affiliation give her all the credentials and “transparency” anyone needs?

I could not be more proud of the fact that I have overwhelmingly nonpartisan support. That support is based on my accomplishments on the Independent Police Advisory Panel, the Bird Key Homeowners Association and my investment of time and effort in bringing clarity to major issues confronting the city. Does a D or R or NPA negate who I am or what I’ve done?

If you want to be a City Commissioner in the City of Sarasota it is incumbent upon you to read the City Charter and abide by its tenets.  If someone—or some political party—violates the Charter on your behalf, then it is your duty to speak out publically about it and put a stop to it.  

Eileen Normile is a Sarasota City Commissioner running in District 2, and is responding to Susan Nilon's column in the Feb. 14 edition of SRQ Daily

Head to Saks Fifth Avenue Sarasota this week and celebrate the final days of the 'month of love' with luxurious pampering beauty products and an apres-shopping glass of bubbly. Saks Fifth Avenue's Beauty Week, which runs through February 28, is the perfect place to upgrade your look with complimentary first-class makeovers and a charming carryon filled with Jet Set beauty samples, your gift with any $125 beauty purchase. Sophie's at Saks Fifth Avenue is hosting a very bubbly February with it's Veuve Cliquot Happy Hour every Monday through Friday from 4-6pm, serving up sparkling flutes of Veuve Cliquot Brut Yellow Label and Rose' by the glass or the bottle. Cheers! 

Sophie's At Saks Fifth Avenue

Don’t miss the Selby Gardens tradition, Plant & Garden Festival today and tomorrow, February 21and 22 from 10am-5pm. A beloved annual Selby Gardens tradition, the festival is a horticultural extravaganza that draws an enthusiastic crowd of plant-lovers seeking the uncommon and the unusual for their gardens. The community event will also include Bonsai & Ikebana demonstrations, live music by The Stonefish Band from 1-3pm, face painting,  Mr. Art Balloon Artist, a variety of food vendors and a tea tasting in the Carriage House Tea Room. A special opportunity to meet Selby Garden’s new President and Chief Executive Officer, Jennifer Rominiecki will be held Saturday, February 21 from Noon to 1pm under the banyans. 

Marie Selby Botanical Gardens

The Sarasota Young Professionals Group  has announced the confirmed speakers for the second annual State of Jobs Conference, to be held at Suncoast Technical College on February 26. The conference will educate local students and young professionals about career opportunities at diverse companies in the Southwest Florida region. The State of Jobs Conference will be a free event for all attendees, and features five tracks of keynote speakers and panel discussions. Track themes are as follows: Technology, Health Care, Engineering/Manufacturing, Hospitality & Tourism, and Business & Finance. Each track will include key speakers from area companies that are actively hiring, looking to expand, or are changing the economic landscape in the Southwest Florida region. Speakers include: Chris Laney, Active Screening; Steve Shenbaum, Game On Nation, LLC; Paul Carigiulo, County Commissioner; Mireya C. Eavey, CareerEdge Funders; Andrew Telatovich, University of South FL SM; Jodi Johnson, New College of Florida;  Jeff Hazelton,  BioLucid; Anand Pellegar, atLarge, Inc.; Don Fletcher, Voalte;  Rich Swier,  Entrepreneur; Dr. Frank Burns; Tim Self – Insignia Bank; Kent Hayes,  Tandem Construction; Nicole Rissler, Visit Sarasota County; Paul Blackketter,  Benderson Development; Jason Puckett,  IMG Performance Academy; David Rovine,  Baltimore Orioles; Tamara Rogers,  Longboat Key Club; Mey Vidal-Paredes,  Longboat Key Club; Rod Hershberger,  PGT Industries; Allan Carlson, Sun Hydraulics; John Saputo,  Gold Coast Eagle; Art Lambert, S-One Holdings, Corp.; Alex Miller, Mercedes Medical. 

State of Jobs Conference

On February 22, 100 area veterans will enjoy the 1pm matinee show of Circus Sarasota thanks to a partnership of Goodwill Manasota and the circus. Area veterans and their families receiving assistance and accessing programs through Goodwill's Veterans Services Program will attend free of charge. Goodwill Foundation Vice President Veronica Brandon Miller, who will serve as honorary ringmaster during the show noted, "We are so grateful to Circus Sarasota for offering this opportunity to raise awareness of our mission to change lives through the power of work.  We are also thrilled that area veterans from all four branches of the military will have the chance to enjoy the afternoon at Circus Sarasota's sold-out show. We feel it's our duty to honor our returning heroes, and providing them with opportunities to enjoy one of Sarasota's renowned entertainment treasures is a wonderful way to show them we appreciate the sacrifices they have made on our behalf." 

Don't Miss Out! Join The Ringling next Tuesday, February 24 and be the first to know the exciting plans for the Ringling International Arts Festival 2015.  Bring your friends for cocktails and hors d’oeuvres at the cash bar in the Visitor Pavilion at 6:30pm.  Then head to the Historic Asolo Theater at 7:30pm for the First to Know Announcement. Attendees will enjoy priority ticketing when the Box Office opens following the announcement. 

The Ringling

This summer, kids can get involved in something fishy: ocean-themed summer camps from Mote Marine Laboratory and Aquarium. Mote is a world-class marine research facility offering informal science education that goes beyond the textbook and into the Bay. Campers can discover the wonders of marine animals and environments studied by Mote scientists — a great way to gain steam in STEM education (science, technology, engineering and math) even when school is out. 

Mote Marine Laboratory and Aquarium

In celebration of the Baltimore Orioles’ sixth spring training season in Sarasota, Michael's On East is once again bringing back a “Crackerjack” Epicurean Adventure in the Restaurant beginning March 2. “Our award-winning culinary team ventures beyond Old Bay Seasoning and Traditional Crab Cakes with creative dishes inspired by the ‘Charm City’ each March, said Michael Klauber, co-proprietor of Michael’s On East. The restaurant will offer a three-course dinner menu featuring dishes inspired by the “Charm City” for only $34.95 per person as well as two-course lunch offering which includes a choice of entrée and dessert for only $18.95 per person. For a “Grand Slam” culinary adventure, guests are encouraged to add wine pairings for only $10 during dinner or $5 during lunch. 

Michael's On East

The Pittsburgh Pirates will host the fourth annual Senior and Caregiver Expo at McKechnie Field on March 13 from 11am-3pm, coinciding with the Pirates Spring Training game against the Minnesota Twins. The game begins at 1:05pm and the Expo is open to all fans attending the game with no additional cost. Presented by Manatee Memorial Hospital and Humana, the event will feature exhibitor tables of local businesses and non-profits that provide services to senior citizens. The first 2,500 fans will receive a free Pirates eco-friendly bag courtesy of the event sponsors.  

The Pittsburgh Pirates