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SRQ DAILY Aug 11, 2015

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"It's was worthwhile in terms of feeling like the work I was involved in was important, and the people there have a real reverence for the wisdom of the older adult."

- Tim Dutton, Suncoast Community Capital
 

[Nonprofit]  To Osh and Back Again
Jacob Ogles, jacob.ogles@srqme.com

Tim Dutton, a long-time leader in the Gulf Coast’s nonprofit sector, spent a bulk of the last year teaching budding philanthropists to run socially minded organizations in the developing nation of Kyrgyzstan. Now that he has returned to his leadership post at Suncoast Community Capital, he has one bold goal in mind. “We’re over here trying to change the world,” he said. 

And he has now seen parts of the world most Americans couldn’t point to on a map. Dutton announced in early 2015 he would go to the former Soviet republic, today the only Democratic nation in Central Asia, and help build a nonprofit sector in a country that only declared its independence from a socialist superpower in 1991. “[The country] was nomadic until 20 years ago, and the previous 75 years it was user the Soviet system,” Dutton said. “There is a fascinating legacy in terms of its geopolitical nature.” In recent years, the country has seen a nonprofit sector evolve, and Dutton went overseas to work specifically with Youth of Osh, an organization in the city of Osh dedicated to connecting young people in different ethnic groups, and with helping other nonprofits develop in a system with accountability.

Kyrgyzstan doesn’t offer the same creature comforts as Sarasota, but Dutton said it boasts better infrastructure than did Haiti, a country where Dutton lived for three years. And he did benefit from a cultural respect for elders in Kyrgyzstan; while the 63-year-old seems a whipper-snapper in these parts, average life expectancy for a man in Kyrgyzstan is 65. “It’s was worthwhile in terms of feeling like the work I was involved in was important, and the people there have a real reverence for the wisdom of the older adult,” Dutton said. “The culture is still family-centric in a really deep way, with multiple generations living together for a long time.” And he heard from young people there who longed to come to the U.S., but only to get a world-class education and bring their knowledge back to their home community in Kyrgyzstan.

Dutton left Asia a couple months ago, primarily to take care of family but also in advance of a likely decision by the government to ask the Peace Corps to leave amid U.S.-Russia diplomatic tension. But he’s anxious to get a number of projects going at Suncoast Community Capital. Here, he focuses on empowering poor groups and addressing income disparity through programs like Build-A-Business, which teaches individuals how to become entrepreneurs. He helps people here by providing computer access and tax assistance, but remains committed to the cause of empowering others to improve their own world. 

[Exec Moves]  Rosinsky on Goodwill International Board

Bob Rosinsky, president and CEO of Goodwill Manasota, was elected to the Goodwill Industries International board of directors. Rosinsky has spent more than 40 years with the Goodwill organization, serving in his current capacity since January 2013. His election took place during the annual Goodwill meeting of executives and board leaders held recently in San Diego, California. He will serve a three-year term.  

Goodwill Manasota

[Launch]  Selby Gardens Opening Marie Selby Exhibit

Marie Selby Botanical Gardens will officially dedicate a new, permanent exhibition about the life and times of Marie Selby located in her former residence at the Gardens. The exhibit opening, which is also the official kick off for Selby Gardens’ 40th anniversary, features rare, vintage photography, a renovation of the home’s first-floor interior and antique botanical illustrations along with images of some of the most iconic flowering tropical plants that make up the Gardens’ living collection. 

Marie Selby Botanical Gardens

[Exec Moves]  Sorensen, Kaiser Join FST

Florida Studio Theatre announced the appointment of two senior staff positions, with Jim Sorensen taking on the role of Associate Managing Director and Caroline Kaiser joining the staff as the Director of Children’s Theatre. As associate managing director, Sorensen’s responsibilities include senior oversight of FST’s fundraising and education departments as well as acting as community liaison. Kaiser will oversee FST’s WRITE A PLAY and in schools programming. Straight from New York City, she previously served as the Associate Artistic Director of Theatreworks USA. 

Florida Studio Theatre

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

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