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SRQ DAILY Oct 7, 2017

"Our unity and civility demonstrated only weeks ago in Sarasota reminds us of the power of our deeply rooted values as a community, how we react to challenges and bond together in times of need."

- Jennifer Vigne, Education Foundation of Sarasota County
 

[Community]  Long-term Recovery Requires Smart Philanthropy
Roxie Jerde, roxie@cfsarasota.org

Like so many of us, I am deeply saddened and alarmed by the ongoing reports of the destruction in Texas, Florida, Puerto Rico and the rest of the Caribbean. Our nation was also hit hard once again with the news of the mass shooting in Las Vegas. With hundreds of thousands of lives affected by all these tragedies, the relief work that lies ahead will involve complex and long-lasting challenges. 
As images of the disasters come to light and pour across our TV screens, newspapers and social media, the natural question for many of us to ask is, "How can I help?" While it's always important to make decisions from the heart, it's also important to give smartly. With emotions running high, it's essential to make sure you are giving effectively and to a reputable organization.
Let's also remember that long after our news media stops the regular coverage of the recovery efforts, resources are still needed to help. 

Following disasters or tragedies, donating money to effective and efficient organizations that have an established presence on the ground is the best way to make the greatest impact. While many good-willed people hear the stories of those affected without food, clothing or water and instantly think of the bag of old clothes in their own attic or the cases of water in their kitchen that they could donate, these contributions are not practical in the long run. Often times monetary donations are the most effective way to make a difference and help with long-term recovery.

It’s also important to think about the organizations that you plan to support and where your dollars will go. Only give to a registered public charity with a 501(c)(3) status. While numerous well-meaning organizations or funds pop up over night to help after a disaster, it’s important to consider that many do not have the infrastructure or knowledge to effectively manage the gifts and make the greatest impact. Consider working with organizations that have already been on the ground doing work pre-disaster or that are well-established in the aid community.

Always be cautious of fundraisers who pressure you into giving a gift over the phone, email or social media, or even pose to be or know a victim. There are many reputable charities, with proven records of dealing with certain types of disasters and regions, who are already making a difference, as well as many resources to help you find these organizations. Always do your due diligence by using websites such as GuideStar (www.GuideStar.org)  and CharityNavigator (www.CharityNavigator.org), which  are great resources to get ratings and detailed information about existing and credible nonprofit organizations.

For your local research, keep in mind that organizations serving our community showcase their transparency locally. The Giving Partner (www.TheGivingPartner.org) is an online tool populated with in-depth information about more than 600 charitable organizations serving Charlotte, DeSoto, Manatee and Sarasota counties. Nonprofits voluntarily upload information into the tool and update it annually. Each nonprofit profile includes the 501(c)(3) organization’s legal name and information about its core mission, programmatic impact, governance, management and financials.

The Community Foundation of Sarasota County is also fortunate to be connected to a network of Community Foundation leaders from across the country (and the globe) that can convene and mobilize when tragedy strikes a community. Local Community Foundations have the rare ability to quickly assess the situation and the needs of their local nonprofits to ensure that recovery efforts are impactful and donations are spent wisely.

Community foundations are also available to help with research for donors who are questioning which organizations to support or how to make the biggest impact with their charitable dollars. Donors with advised funds can also recommend grants to international organizations that are dealing with the disaster relief and make sure that the funds are designated to the cause the donor intended.

Lastly, remember the importance of patience and realizing the difference between emergency need and on-going recovery need.  As the news of a disaster is fresh in the minds of donors, many want to see their dollars make an instant impact, so millions of dollars pour in to help with emergency relief. But as time goes by and headlines change, many forget about the long-term efforts that are needed for a region to rebuild after a disaster. Make sure you reflect on the decision as to whether your dollars would be best invested in an organization working on recovery, rather than relief.

Roxie Jerde is president and CEO of the Community Foundation of Sarasota County. 

[GCBX]  Unified Development Code
Mary Dougherty

Hurricane Andrew. Hurricane Harvey. Hurricane Irma. Just a few examples of why Florida has some of the most stringent and strict building codes. We have these codes in place to protect Sarasota County, our city and its citizens from destruction and disasters that mother nature throws our way. Without them, our small town could look worse. Thankfully, this is evidence that what we are doing is working.

Right now, Sarasota County is creating a Unified Development Code that updates and brings together the land development and zoning regulations, all of which control the development of all properties throughout Sarasota County.

As an industry, the building community takes pride in the longevity of any structures built. Everyone from the architects and engineers to general contractors and the trade industries adhere to these policies.

The builders know what type of nail, what size nail and every other detail that goes into these codes and how they work. It’s a code that not only the construction industry compiles with but also the government, inspectors and Florida Power and Light, with the community coming together as one.

Sarasota County should be commended for balancing the need for economic development and attracting much-needed quality jobs to the community. Eliminating inconsistencies and potentially obsolete provisions to the existing policies and codes in the Unified Development Code is smart. Once those regulations become too strict or cumbersome, however, they will hinder business and development. Striking that balance will be critically important. A pragmatic approach will need to be taken to provide for the current protections of the code while not deterring business and job creation to remain competitive.

The Sarasota County staff are involved in discussions with various representatives of the community, including The Argus Foundation, the Greater Sarasota Chamber of Commerce and other public review bodies. Members of the Gulf Coast Builders Exchange have also been engaged and played a part in these meetings and this process, and as always, are here to act as a resource to the county as they seek to update and revise the Unified Development Code. This is an example of the business community working together for the greater good of Sarasota County. 

The community is being engaged through public workshops to review draft language for the Unified Development Code. The next two workshops on Oct. 18 and Nov. 7 will be held at 6 p.m. at the Main Hall of the Nokomis Community Center. I would recommend that the business and construction community and Sarasota County citizens take an interest in this process, which is extremely important for our area’s continued prosperity based on collaboration and expertise from all sectors.

Mary Dougherty is executive director of the Gulf Coast Builders Exchange. 

[Education]  United We Stand
Jennifer Vigne, jvigne@edfoundationsrq.org

How often have you heard your child say, “why do I need to learn this?” or, “I’ll never use it!”? Even adults sometimes question the value of liberal arts courses, particularly when the governor of North Carolina comments, “What are we teaching these courses for if they're not going to help get a job?” With the way the past few years have shaped up, it may be wise to reflect upon Winston Churchill’s quote when he said, “Those that fail to learn from history, are doomed to repeat it."

The true stories found in history are chock full of information about how people and societies have made decisions and conducted themselves. These lessons provide a global lens to view the world around us and, based on the gathering and interpretation of facts, can greatly influence the future. For every action of the past, we can study the reaction and deliberate choices that we have availed as potential outcomes. In this way, history can serve as a warning sign and a wake-up call, allowing us to learn from poignant examples and giving us the opportunity to make our own calculated adjustments more proactively.

How does this apply to us?

There is no doubt that “united we stand, divided we fall” holds great value and relevance to current times. Just as in nature, a herd united together is more powerful in its defenses than the lone animal seeking to survive on its own. The transferability to our world, our children’s education, our families, personal relationships, and our colleagues within the workplace is undeniable. The need for an increased mindfulness towards civility, respect, kindness and a positive regard for one another is paramount in this ever-changing and evolving world that we live in.

As a community, we rallied together and for a brief period of time set aside our differences to address the crisis at hand that we faced with Hurricane Irma. We’ve watched the same acts of unity in Houston and now, under very different circumstances, in Las Vegas. Let us now critically and thoughtfully reflect upon these times to recognize that the ties that bind us as fellow citizens, are more powerful and impactful when we unite together.

At times of challenge or hardship, we are called upon to find resilience and positivity despite the obstacles that we’ve encountered.

“We do not need magic to change the world, we carry all the power we need inside ourselves already: we have the power to imagine better.”― J.K. Rowling,

Thus, the impetus is on us as parents, educators, leaders and residents of our beautiful city of Sarasota to lead the way and serve as role models to others—and not just in times of challenge.

Our unity and civility demonstrated only weeks ago in Sarasota reminds us of the power of our deeply rooted values as a community, how we react to challenges and bond together in times of need, and our ability to embrace the wisdom of our history as we move forward—together. The value and capacity of our learning is tremendous. We look at education to define and broaden our understanding:

“The ability to recognize opportunities and move in new and sometimes unexpected directions will benefit you no matter your interests or aspirations. A liberal arts education is designed to equip students for just such flexibility and imagination”—Drew Gilpin Faust, Harvard University president

So when our children ask, “Why is history so important?” and “why do I have to study this?,” it behooves us to fully utilize these real-life examples that can inspire our children’s curiosity, creativity, problem solving and learning, with an understanding of personal relevance, and to realize their potential as contributing and impactful members of our community.

It seems very fitting to conclude with this quote from Heraclitus (circa 535-475 BCE), considered to be one of the most important pre-Socratic Greek philosophers:

“Day by day, what you choose, what you think, and what you do, is who you become.”

The Education Foundation of Sarasota County is committed to supporting educators and helping all students graduate with purpose. Together, with our community, we can stand united as champions for education. 



[SCOOP]  Planting Seeds for the Future

The New Gate Montessori IB School located in Sarasota, Florida has kicked off its 34th Annual Campaign entitled “Planting Seeds for the Future”.  The School recently expanded to its new Lakewood Ranch facility last year and therefore this year’s annual fund theme ties in beautifully.  The 2017-2018 goal of $150,000 will aid in beautifying outdoor areas and gardens at both the Ashton Road and Lakewood Ranch campuses.  New Gate Montessori IB school community involvement has been reaching many areas due to the fact 40% of families come from abroad as well as the fact New Gate and the Montessori Foundation draw approximately 1000 school leaders per year to attend our professional development and conferences.  Additionally, the school is known for educating holistically (mind and spirit), teaching nonviolence and conflict resolution, developing independence and self-reliance and instilling values of character and a well-balanced life.  The school has essentially 100% college admission and completion. 

New Gate Montessori IB School

[KUDOS ]  Aviva Celebrates Jewish High Holy Days

On September 22, Aviva- A Campus for Senior Life welcomed over 100 students from the Community Day School to their campus to participate in the Rosh Hashanah ritual of Tashlich. Residents and students took time to reflect on behaviors they would like to improve in the coming year and symbolically cleansed these misdeeds at Aviva’s pond. Afterwards, both communities welcomed the New Year with a sweet treat of apples and honey. 

Aviva: A Campus for Senior Life

[SCOOP ]  Goodwill Manasota Halloween Headquarters

Goodwill Manasota is your Halloween Superhero Headquarters for those seeking costumes and home décor this season. Throughout October, Goodwill Manasota will hold a Halloween Scavenger Hunt each week and will release a list of 10 Halloween-themed items to find in its retail stores. Shoppers who find these items are encouraged to snap a picture and share it either on Facebook or Instagram, using the hashtag #GoodwillManasotaHalloween. On Halloween, the person with the most finds will be announced and crowned the King or Queen of Halloween. Shoppers who would like assistance building or completing their costumes are encouraged to speak with available Goodwill team members, who can direct them to the items they need. The organization will be posting videos and costume how-to guides throughout the month as well. Additionally, Goodwill is a great place for community members to find the raw materials for spooky décor to transform their homes for the holiday. 

Goodwill Manasota

[SCOOP ]  Doctors Hospital of Sarasota Launches Transitions

People seeking ongoing treatment after being hospitalized for a mental health issue or looking for alternatives to inpatient treatment now have more options. Doctors Hospital of Sarasota is launching Transitions ofering a calm, serene and inviting environment that provides psychotherapy and psychoeducation in an Intensive Outpatient Program (IOP) or Partial Hospitalization Program (PHP). Transitions is designed for people with mental illnesses like major depression, anxiety disorder, bipolar disorder, schizophrenia or experiencing symptoms of significant grief and loss. Transitions will serve not just older adults, but younger adults as well. People 18 years and older who require intensive treatment, that do not meet the standard for inpatient care, may be eligible.

  

Doctor's Hospital of Sarasota

[SCOOP ]  Howl-O-Ween Pet Costume Contest

Find a costume for your four-legged friend and head to the Phillippi Farmhouse Market on October 25 for the Humane Society of Sarasota County's 20th Annual Howl-O-Ween Pet Costume Contest. Scope out the competition and enjoy all the market has to offer, from locally grown vegetables, fruits, plants, herbs an assortment of prepared foods, baked goods, arts and crafts, local authors and more. Contest categories include: Cutest, Funniest, Spookiest, Most Creative, Best Pet/Owner Look-A-Like and Best Costumed Rescue.  

Humane Society of Sarasota County

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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

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