« Back To SRQ Daily Archive

SRQ DAILY Nov 9, 2015

Monday Business Edition

Please allow images to view this email properly

Monday Business Edition

"The speakers are unexpected, but you find yourself drawn to stories you would never read or come across in your mind normally."

- Nelleke van Lindonk
 

[Community]  Quality of Life High

Even at the height of the recession, a strong majority of Sarasota County residents rated the quality of life in the county as good or excellent in a survey conducted annually by the University of South Florida. Certainly, though, whether the 'good' ratings outnumber the 'excellent' ones has changed with economic conditions. This year, the top rank has once again been the most common given in the survey, and lower ratings are on the decline. 

[Politics]  Can Homeless Debate Reach Satisfying End?
Jacob Ogles, jacob.ogles@srqme.com

At the end of a joint session on homelessness with Sarasota city and county officials, one could have left thinking little had changed in the disposition of the bodies. City officials remained committed principally to a Housing First effort to get the chronically homeless in permanent homes. County leaders stayed focused on opening an emergency shelter. These have been the postures held by each body for more than a year. But as the homeless directors for the county and city were sent to develop a solution and bring it back within 45 days, it seemed the governments may be closer to a consensus than ever before.

With city officials publicly agreeing for the first time in a public setting that a “triage center” of some sort was needed before figuring where homeless people should ultimately end up, it marked a turning point. County Commissioner Paul Caragiulo, a year after leaving the post of city commissioner to fill his current role, suggested at the joint session that the two governments needed to loosely integrate a county-run triage with whatever city-led housing program may arise. “How much can we commingle these good faith efforts to move forward in a collaborative effort?,” Caragiulo asked at the meeting. 

Mayor Willie Shaw applauded the suggestion, but also acknowledged there will be struggles in the future. He said the city does not want a shelter in North Sarasota County.  “Yes, we will continue to struggle,” Shaw conceded. And there remain questions of funding for housing efforts. Jon Thaxton, former county commission and now-Senior Vice President for Community Investment at Gulf Coast Community Foundation, suggested the nonprofit world could step in and help with some of that. 

At the staff level, the heads of homeless initiatives for the city and county—Douglas Logan and Wayne Applebee respectively—seem to be getting along better than officials representing the two governments have up until this point, but there are certainly points of disagreement there as well. Logan said at the Friday session that having a large-scale shelter could concentrate problems, while Applebee said a surplus of beds was critical because current shelter options are not meeting needs during times of crisis. But both are pursing ways to create synergy with the county and city agendas and move any proposals toward fruition. 

Come the end of a sometimes tense and other times conciliatory meeting on Friday, the city and county commissions each passed unanimous and nearly identical motions asking respective staffs to explore the matter together and bring forward an actionable plan. In a month and a half, it will be more clear whether that goal can be achieved. 

[PINC]  Nelleke van Lindonk, PINC
Jacob Ogles, jacob.ogles@srqme.com

Since the launch of PINC in The Netherlands in 1999, the annual conference has brought together thought leaders in business, art and a wide array of other topics to inspire conference-goers and stimulate innovation. The event last year expanded to Sarasota, and on Dec. 10 will once again bring the exploration of People, Ideas, Nature and Creativity to the stage. Sixteen speakers are scheduled this year to speak to some 450 ticket holders at the Sarasota Opera House. We spoke with PINC co-founder Nelleke van Lindonk about what people can expect to glean.

What should people who have never attended PINC before expect to get from being at the conference in person?  When you’ve been there, you realize what it is to look a different way at things. Last year, we had a demolition guy, and he was of course discussing a demolition of a building, and how the computer works out how the building goes down, but he always steps two steps back, stands in front of the building and says this should be the way. After the presentation, people came back and said, ‘Now when I have a problem, I step back like the demolition man and look at it a different way to find my solution.’ Normally you wouldn’t expect to go to a presentation from a demolition man when you go to a creative conference. The speakers are unexpected, but you find yourself drawn to stories you would never read or come across in your mind normally. And they come back to you during the year, whether in two weeks or six months.  

Why do you feel Sarasota has been the right venue to continue the work started in the Netherlands?  I came to Sarasota 34 years ago because of a job i had, and I liked it very much. It’s evolving. There is a lot of knowledge here. It’s a culture place, and there are entrepreneurs. Because I love it here, I like to share my love for it with other people. But the other thing is I met the right people to do it here. It just had to be in Sarasota. 

Click to learn more about this year's PINC conference

[Partner Spotlight]  Selah Freedom Hosts "Take Back The City"

Florida ranks in the top three states in the nation for sex trafficking, with the Gulf Coast region reaching number two in the cases throughout the state. Selah Freedom, a local nonprofit organization, is working to end sex trafficking and bring freedom to the exploited in the community.

On Tuesday, November 17, Selah Freedom will host the 3rd Annual VIP Vision Night: Take Back The City. Welcoming new supporters and honoring individuals and organizations that loyally support restorative services for sex trafficking survivors, Take Back The City promises to be inspiring and uplifting. Through the donations by champion supporters, Selah Freedom is able to provide outreach, prevention for at-risk groups in the community, awareness about sex trafficking to over 30,000 people a year and residential programs to help survivors reclaim their self worth and strength. Take Back The City will also showcase Selah Freedom’s vision for the 2016 initiatives to end sex trafficking in the community.

The event will include an inside look at the Selah Freedom team, moving testimonials of the brave survivors they serve, the successes and challenges of their work, and get inspired to Take Back The City and restore freedom to survivors.

Take Back the City will be held at the Gold Coast Eagle Distributing Center (7051 Wireless Ct., Sarasota, FL 34240) from 6:30 – 8:30 PM. Complimentary tickets are available online at SelahFreedom.com. Advance registration is required. For more information, visit Selah Freedom online

Selah Freedom is a 2015 SRQ Story Project partner and the featured non-profit organization this November. To learn more about the mission of Selah Freedom, their outreach program, prevention, awareness and residential program, visit them online at SelahFreedom.com. 

[Recognition]  Inc. Spotlights Bonitas International

Inc. magazine included Bonitas International, home of BooJee Beads, in its Top 5000 list for Fastest Growing Private Companies. The company was co-founded by CEO Kimberly Martinez of Sarasota. Bonitas International is a fashion accessories house. Its flagship product line BooJee Beads is a collection of ID jewelry that enables working women around the world to wear employee IDs with style. The beads can be found in more than 7,000 independent boutiques and gift stores. 

BooJee Beads

[Exec Moves]  Rayman Named to Major NAR Post

Carla Rayman of Coldwell Banker Residential Real Estate was named 2016 Regional Coordinator to North America, Central America and Caribbean by the National Association of Realtors. She was also appointed the President’s Liaison to Panama for the third consecutive year. Regional coordinators oversee NAR President’s Liaisons and Ambassador Associations, and serve as NAR global volunteers by providing strategic direction and leveraging the individual efforts of the President’s Liaisons in specific regions of the world.  

Coldwell Banker Residential Real Estate

SRQ Media Group

SRQ DAILY is produced by SRQ | The Magazine. Note: The views and opinions expressed in the Saturday Perspectives Edition and in the Letters department of SRQ DAILY are those of the author(s) and do not imply endorsement by SRQ Media. Senior Editor Jacob Ogles edits the Saturday Perspective Edition, Letters and Guest Contributor columns.In the CocoTele department, SRQ DAILY is providing excerpts from news releases as a public service. Reference to any specific product or entity does not constitute an endorsement or recommendation by SRQ DAILY. The views expressed by individuals are their own and their appearance in this section does not imply an endorsement of them or any entity they represent. For rates on SRQ DAILY banner advertising and sponsored content opportunities, please contact Ashley Ryan Cannon at 941-365-7702 x211 or via email

Copyright © 2024 by SRQ Media Group, 331 South Pineapple Avenue, Sarasota, FL 34236.
Powered by Sarasota Web Design | Unsubscribe

Read More

Where Oil Meets Water

Where Oil Meets Water

Phil Lederer | Mar 1, 2024

Freedom to Wander

Freedom to Wander

Laura Paquette | Mar 1, 2024

Drive and Dine

Drive and Dine

Laura Paquette | Mar 1, 2024

A Mesmerizing Journey

A Mesmerizing Journey

Barbie Heit | Mar 1, 2024