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SRQ DAILY Dec 16, 2017

"The Bay, as the project has come to be known, exemplifies what's possible when community members come together to move their community forward."

- Mark Pritchett, Gulf Coast Community Foundation
 

[Argus]  Losing a Giant
Christine Robinson, Christine@argusfoundation.org

We lost a giant in the business community this past month. Ron Royal was a past president of The Argus Foundation, past Sarasota Chamber chair and past chair of the Gulf Coast Builder’s Exchange, to name
a few of the many business leadership positions he held. His obituary was long and told the story of a man who loved his community and his family.

At the funeral, the church was packed just shy of a half an hour before the service began. It was incredible to see the number of people and the caliber of leadership in our community gather together to honor a man who was rightfully celebrated for the gifts he gave to us.

Ron was the epitome of a traditional Argus member; he had a host of leadership positions in the business community, but it was his philanthropic leadership that showed his passion for our community. He was president of the Jaycees, on the Goodwill Board of Governors, a Spanish Point Development Board member, a Sarasota Memorial Hospital Foundation Board member, a New College Board of Trustee, a volunteer with SW Florida Chapter for the Red Cross Disaster Services and a Pines of Sarasota Board Member. But even before that, he served his country for eight years in the United States Coast Guard.

I listened to the family reflection of Ron’s life and his fourth daughter, Chris Royal Lindsey, told a beautiful love story about Ron’s dedication to his wife of 59 years, Marilyn, and his growth in his Faith late in life. It was a magnificent story befitting of a great man who loved his wife and five daughters. Ron was continuously engaged until he fell ill a few months before he passed away. In 2015, he came to The Argus Foundation strategic planning and actively participated in our future planning. He attended many of our Argus events, even speaking at our 2016 new member/past president reception. At that reception, he told the story of Argus and the importance of being engaged and not forgetting how far we have come as a community. His fervor for the community, for The Argus Foundation, for people in general, was clear.

We have lost many great men in 2017, Wendell Kent and Hollis Tucker being among them. Wendell, Hollis and Ron were all Argus Lifetime Achievement Award winners for their work in our community. We mourn their loss but celebrate their lives and achievements. We thank their families for the time their loved ones spent making our lives better. They have enhanced the quality of life, environment and economic well-being of Sarasota County.

Christine Robinson is executive director of The Argus Foundation.

  

[Education]  SCF's Strong Return on Investment
Carol Probstfeld, presidentsoffice@scf.edu

As the community’s college it is important that the State College of Florida, Manatee-Sarasota is considered a smart financial choice for our students and a value to taxpayers. We are not educating strangers—our students are our friends and neighbors. Our graduates’ success makes our community and local economy stronger. I am proud of the role SCF plays as an economic driver for our region.

SCF recently participated in an economic impact study with Emsi, an economic modeling specialist, to measure the college’s return on investment in the 2015-16 fiscal year. The study measured how our college affects the regional economy and compares costs and benefits to determine the ROI for students and taxpayers.

The results of the study demonstrate that the college is a major economic contributor in Manatee and Sarasota Counties. SCF is delivering a significant ROI for its students’ investment in a higher education and the taxpayer’s contribution to delivering higher education in the community.

One of the priorities of SCF’s 2015-2020 Boldly Engaging Strategic Plan was to establish the college’s central role in its service area by increasing the region’s selection of SCF as an investment of choice based on its demonstrated strong return on investment. The results of the Emsi study demonstrate that SCF is indeed providing both strong economic impact and ROI for our community.

The key outcomes for the study are that SCF:

  • Enriches the lives of students through education;
  • Increases student’s lifetime earnings with certifications and Associate and Workforce
  • Baccalaureate degrees;
  • Generates more tax dollars than it takes in from state and local funding;
  • Reduces the demand for social services;
  • Performs better than the stock market for students and taxpayers;
  • Makes positive contributions to the regional economy – retains and creates wealth.

SCF’s total economic impact is $432.4 million annually, according to the Emsi study. This includes the operational spending of the college itself and the impact of students and alumni living in the two-county region. The impact from the college is slightly larger than the entire
transportation and warehousing industry in the region.

SCF plays a critical role in the workforce development of the region. The educational opportunities the college provides allow residents to acquire and advance their skills while remaining in the community. College employees, students and alumni spend their wages locally,
creating reinvestment in the regional economy and supporting our businesses. SCF spends $34.3 million to support its day-to-day operations and another $35.1 million in payroll, much of which
returns to the local economy for groceries, clothing and other household goods and services.

While college costs have skyrocketed around the nation, SCF has remained a low cost educational option producing high wage opportunities. This has contributed to a 16.6-percent average annual return for our students. For perspective, the stock market’s 30-year average annual return is 10.1 percent.

Taxpayers receive a benefit of $6.50 for every dollar invested in higher education and a 18.9 percent rate of return—earning $200.4 million in future tax revenue and government savings for an investment of $30.6 million in the study year.

Dollars alone do not capture the true value of the college to our community, but this economic impact study does indicate just how strongly SCF supports Manatee and Sarasota counties. Appropriate funding for the college creates high-value educational opportunities for our students keeping them in the region as employees, consumers and taxpayers. The results of this study clearly demonstrate that the college provides a strong and impactful return for every dollar received.

SCF is a smart choice for investment.

Carol Probstfeld is president of State College of FLorida, Manatee-Sarasota. 

[Gulf Coast]  Community Leadership on the Sarasota Bayfront
Mark Pritchett, mpritchett@gulfcoastcf.org

These are tough times for constructive conversation. With each new issue that our national leaders pledge to address, it seems their progress is soon stymied by coarse division, factionalism and ideological blinders.

But here on the Gulf Coast, a very transparent and positive planning process is subverting those all-too- common hurdles. The Bay, as the project has come to be known, exemplifies what’s possible when community members come together to move their community forward. And it will result in an amazing place that I can’t wait to experience.

The Bay encompasses our community’s long-term vision of what Sarasota’s Bayfront can and will be. Through an open, citizen-driven process, community members have jointly articulated their wishes and needs for the future of 42 acres of prime waterfront property owned by the City of Sarasota but underutilized in its current state. Public access, cultural heritage, natural preservation, active use, community connectivity and long-term sustainability are all guiding principles affirmed by community members. (For continued updates and new information on the process, be sure to monitor The BaySarasota.org.)

Now, a volunteer planning organization is moving those aspirations toward reality and has hired a world-renowned planning and development firm, Sasaki, to shape a professional master plan. That work has been fully funded by community contributions. A yearlong effort to raise $2.1 million has succeeded thanks to local philanthropists, foundations and private sources.

Once the master plan is completed, it will go before Sarasota’s elected officials for review and, eventually, approval. From there, more funding will be needed—from public, private and philanthropic sources—to physically transform The Bay property and realize our community’s vision. But as Sasaki’s lead planner said during a recent visit to Sarasota for a series of community meetings, “great things are worth doing.”

So are the right things. Public-private partnership. Abundant citizen input. Ongoing discussion and debate in service of reaching the best outcome for our entire community. Those are things we could use more of in a lot of places. I am glad to witness them in action here. Happy holidays, everyone, from your friends at Gulf Coast Community Foundation.

Dr. Mark S. Pritchett is president/CEO of Gulf Coast Community Foundation. 



[Best Of SRQ Local]  Cast Your Vote For Best Local Kitchen Design!

“Darrin Campbell and his team at Campbell Cabinetry provide high quality products, excellent design services and timeless design with the customer as the priority in the process.”— Dan Barzel. Campbell Cabinetry upped their game last  year with a significant lead over the competition taking home Best Local Kitchen Design. Gilbert Design Build, Remodeling Sarasota and Taylor James Fine Cabinetry, Metro Cabinet and Cucine Ricci all were all in the running but who will end up on top in this year’s Best of SRQ Local Reader’s Competition? Cast your vote today! 

Vote Here!

[SOON]  Perlman Music Program Winter Residency, December 21-January 6

The Perlman Music Program’s (PMP) intensive 17-day Winter Residency offers unparalleled musical training for international students, ages 12 to 20+, who play the violin, viola, cello and bass. With a faculty led by Toby and Itzhak Perlman and comprising some of the most gifted musical talents of our time, the PMP Sarasota Winter Residency offers an artistic and personal experience that changes students' lives forever. The winter residency’s free public events include orchestra and chorus rehearsals, master classes, and works-in-progress student recitals. Question and answer sessions with the Perlmans, PMP students and faculty follow many of these events that take place in a heated, outdoor performance tent on the grounds of the USF Sarasota-Manatee campus. Each year, the winter residency culminates with the Celebration Concert with Itzhak Perlman conducting the PMP String Orchestra and Patrick Romano leading the PMP Chorus at the Sarasota Opera House.  

Perlman Music Program Suncoast

[KUDOS ]  Es Swihart Named Sarasota County 2018 Teacher of the Year

Es Swihart, English teacher at Riverview High School, was named the 2018 Sarasota County Teacher of the Year at the Education Foundation of Sarasota Counties’ Ignite Education. This is the second year in a row Superintendent Todd Bowden has presented this honor to a teacher from Riverview. Swihart, named from among three finalists at the annual awards ceremony, will represent all Sarasota County educators at events throughout the 2018 calendar year and will serve as the district’s nominee for state Teacher of the Year. Her fellow finalists were Venice Elementary fifth-grade teacher Bethany Burnett and Booker Middle math teacher Allison Cohen. The 37 other Teachers of the Year representing local schools were recognized at the event. Accepting the district Teacher of the Year award, Swihart said, “Teaching is about helping students who are struggling to find out who they are and helping them find a space to be themselves. It’s our job to help them grow.”  

Education Foundation of Sarasota County

[SCOOP]  Sarasota YMCA's Ringling Bridge Run

The 15th Annual Sarasota YMCA Ringling Bridge Run presented by CenterState Bank is Sarasota’s premiere 4 mile road race benefiting the Sarasota YMCA's programs supporting youth and families at the Frank G. Berlin, Sr. Branch. The inspiring trek over the iconic Ringling Bridge has been a welcome challenge for runners, joggers and walkers of all ages and abilities bringing together friends, families and community. Start time for the 4 Mile Run/Walk is at 7:30am and the 1 Mile Fun Run/Walk begins at 8:30am.  

Sarasota YMCA

[KUDOS]  The Gift of Gratitude

This season, the Sarasota Memorial Healthcare Foundation asks grateful patients of the Sarasota Memorial Health Care System to take a minute and Give Gratitude through the grateful patient program. Give Gratitude honors doctors, nurses, even entire departments for the extraordinary care they provided. It may have been kind words from a doctor or nurse, or the patience of a technologist as they took the time to explain a procedure. Maybe a volunteer, housekeeper or food service staff went the extra mile to ensure you or a loved one felt cared for. Celebrate these local heroes through SMHF-GiveGratitude.org 

Give Gratitude

[SCOOP]  Come To The Edge With FST's Stage III Series

Bringing audiences out of their comfort zone and to the edge, Florida Studio Theatre is pleased to announce its Stage III subscription series for the 2017-18 season. This three show subscription begins with the gritty drama, How To Use A Knife (January19). The second production will be the searing Constellations (Febuary 23), followed by the poignant and provocative story, The Things They Carried (March 23). All performances will take place in Bowne’s Lab Theatre. A subscription to all three Stage III shows may be purchased for as little as $39. Tickets can be purchased online at www.floridastudiotheatre.org or by calling the Box Office at (941) 366-9000. 

Florida Studio Theatre

[SCOOP ]  Humane Society of Sarasota County Winter Camp

The Humane Society of Sarasota County (HSSC) is offering Winter Camp for children ages 6 to 11 on January 4-5 from 1-5pm at HSSC. Campers will spend the afternoon interacting with animals both domestic and exotic. They will play games, make crafts, read to shelter dogs and listen to an array of animal-themed presentations. HSSC’s Pet Therapy teams, plus shelter cats and dogs, will also make appearances. Winter Camp spots are limited. Registration is $80 per camper and includes an afternoon snack.  

Humane Society of Sarasota County

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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