Celebrate Marco Advisory
This blog is committed to providing the venue by which all points of view can be put forth.
To that end, the latest advisory from the Political Committee “Celebrate Marco” has been made available on this blog (click the “comments” link under this article). Please note that the PC "Celebrate Marco" is not associated with Celebrating Marco.
Warning and Notice:
This blog, its administrator, hosting service, and contributors DO NOT condone;
To that end, the latest advisory from the Political Committee “Celebrate Marco” has been made available on this blog (click the “comments” link under this article). Please note that the PC "Celebrate Marco" is not associated with Celebrating Marco.
Warning and Notice:
This blog, its administrator, hosting service, and contributors DO NOT condone;
- violence (“shoot them”)
- racist remarks (“you people”)
- “ministers” making political speeches
- character assassinations
- suppression of different points of views.
Hence the PC "Celebrate Marco" is not endorsed in any manner. This advisory is merely provided as a public service - an "FYI" only - For Your Information.
posted by Mario R. Sanchez, Ph.D. at
8:18 PM
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Number of Comments: 3
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CELEBRATE MARCO PRESS RELEASE
OCTOBER 3, 2006
On Thursday, October 26 from 6:30 to 7:30 pm at the Parish Hall of the San Marco Catholic Church, Celebrate Marco will be having one of the biggest celebration events in the Island's history. This event "Celebrate Marco Presents - A Salute to Marco Island's Public Schools", will honor the great work of our local schools and be a salute to both the Tommie Barfield Elementary and Charter Middle Schools for their great academic achievements and for the tremendous community effort to get a new facility for the Charter School. The celebration will include a marvelous hour of entertainment and recognition of those education leaders and supporters who are making all of this happen. A school jazz band and choirs will put on a festival display to lift all of our spirits and show those outside Marco Island what kind of great community we are.
In addition to this great event, Celebrate Marco will also be participating in two other celebrations in the next few months. On October 28 from 5-9 pm we will be helping in a community event, "Spooktacular" at Mackle Park. This is an event for the children of our community and will include costume contests, games, crafts, snacks and music. On March 10, 2007, from 10 am to 2 pm at Mackle Park, Celebrate Marco, in cooperation with Nancy Richie, City of Marco Island Environmental Specialist, will hold a "Community Conservation Celebration". It will be day to learn about and celebrate the beauty that surrounds us. Various agencies and organizations will participate and there will be exhibits, contests and much more. More details to follow.
For additional information please call Monte Lazarus at 239-394-4104 or at bengoshi@marcocable.com
Celebration Flyer
Email us: Info@celebratemarco.com
Our Logo
Join Us!
MUCH TO CELEBRATE
Our young but growing city has had more activity, more issues to resolve than ever in our short history. Our Marco Island is having serious growing pains and the patience and acceptance by many of our people runs on the frizzled edge. Progress, however, never comes without some pain. We live on a paradise island that has been faced with more challenges than ever and the level of anxiety has increased. For that reason we must put what is happening in perspective. There are many things to celebrate.
We all know that for years before we became a city in 1997, very little of our tax dollars were returned to our island. The County let our roads, our bridges, our facilities and our overall appearance go with minimal maintenance and little, if any, planning. We also know that our prior water company, Florida Water Services, also did virtually no maintenance or future planning for many years prior to takeover by our city in 2003. This left our community with an urgent need to plan, design and implement many improvement projects.
Specifically, our community demanded that traffic flow be improved, that serious drainage problems on main roads be corrected, that the island be made to look more beautiful, that we enact a long term plan to assure that we have adequate drinking water and a safe environment,. They demanded that our city become safer. They asked for improved recreational facilities. In the past four years, alone, major steps were made in implementing a long term plan to address all these needs. We had to do this while battling numerous major hurricanes and fighting off the threat that our water resources would be taken over by a small city some 600 miles away. Yes, one could say that maybe too much was done too soon. Many, however, would also say that if all we did was dialogue and not act to address these demands, that the lack of patience and anxiety would have been much greater. Let me be more specific on what has been achieved in the last several years, alone.
Crime and emergency response time was the lowest ever in 2005 and our hurricane response plan was a “model for the nation” during Hurricane Wilma making Marco one of the safest places to live in the country.
Collier Boulevard is on its way to becoming one of the most functional and beautiful main roads in the country. Widened sidewalks, a full curb and drainage system, ornamental street lights, additional turn lanes, increased median landscaping and electric wires being put underground all contribute to making this an effort that meets many of what Marco Islander’s wanted.
Several Island groups worked together to assure that County tax dollars are kept for maintaining our pristine beaches and that County plans for a large boardwalk, monorail and tramway over Tigertail Beach was disbanded…keeping that area as a unique natural asset for all of us. Several sections of our beaches were re-nourished, there was added playgrounds, additional bocce courts, re-work of our softball fields and new recreational programs for all.
We have added many roadside trees to main roads and began implementation of a program to remove most of our overhead electrical wires and poles and to install ornamental lighting in many areas. In addition to greatly improving our appearance, the burying of electric lines makes us less vulnerable to high winds and lightning storms.
Many turn lanes have been added on Collier Boulevard, Bald Eagle and Elkcam as well as, finally, improving the design around the South Heathwood/Bald Eagle triangle. All this will significantly improve traffic flow without the need to four lane these beautiful roadways.
The successful battle to take over ownership of the water and sewer resources gave Marco Island control over its lifeblood and assured a reliable source of quality drinking water and a healthy environment. It also assured that our people would have input and political control over planning and rates. No such input would have been heard if the little town, some 600 miles from here, had grabbed control.
Finally, the city tax rate on our property has been continually reduced to its lowest level, ever, in 2005. Our city has also received one of the best bond ratings of any city in the state and some of the lowest interest rates on its bonds. We also were successful in getting flood ratings improved to lower insurance rates.
All of this contributes to people wanting to live on our island. Our property values have soared in the past 4 years alone and Marco Island recorded more increased value than almost any other city in the country last year.
Yes, there are many things happening on our small paradise island. All of this, however, has been reasonably well managed and will significantly improve our island when completed. It is, however, very difficult to see the end result, the vision of the plan, when one has construction dust in ones eyes. That is why it is so important to “put things in perspective” and to celebrate our progress. That is why we formed “Celebrate Marco Inc.”. To put unity back in our community and celebrate the great achievements of our community and its marvelous organizations.
To learn more about Celebrate Marco please attend our one hour “celebration” on Thursday, August 17 at 7 pm at Mackle Park. For additional information please call Monte Lazarus at 394-4104.
Celebrate Marco Inc. Directors: Jim Curran, Steve Stefanides, Jack Patterson, Tom Owens, Vickie Kelber, Monte Lazarus, John Arceri, Pat Neale, Lee-Willer Spector,Roger Raymond, Gary Elliott
“THE EIGHT EFFECTS”
A CELEBRATE MARCO WHITE PAPER
CELEBRATE MARCO HAS CONCLUDED THAT THE GROUNDS FOR THE RECALL OF THREE COUNCILORS, AND THE REASON MOST SIGNED THE PETITION, HAVE BEEN BASED ON THE WAY IN WHICH THESE COUNCILORS VOTED ON AN ISSUE. AS SUCH, THESE GROUNDS ARE ILLEGAL IN THAT BOTH THE FLORIDA STATUTE AND SUPREME COURT RULINGS DO NOT ALLOW FOR RECALL BASED ON THE WAY AN ELECTED OFFICIAL VOTES OR ON HIS OR HER POPULARITY. AS SUCH, WE CONSIDER THIS RECALL INITIATIVE AS FRIVOLOUS AND AS AN ABUSE OF DUE PROCESS.
WE BELIEVE, THAT AS A RESULT OF THIS BEING A LEGALLY FLAWED PETITION, THE COURTS WILL RULE TO DISMISS THIS RECALL EFFORT.
AS A RESULT, THE RECALL EFFORT WILL HAVE ONLY ACCOMPLISHED THE FOLLOWING EIGHT EFFECTS WHICH MUST BE CONSIDERED THE RESPONSIBILITY OF THE RECALL COMMITTEE:
1. DISRUPT AND DIVIDE THE COMMUNITY
2. EMBARRASS AND DISCREDIT THE REPUTATIONS OF DEVOTED INDIVIDUALS AND THEIR FAMILIES
3. PLACE FEAR IN THE MINDS OF OTHER INCUMBENTS TO VOTE THE WAY THEY SEE ISSUES
4. ELIMINATE THE WILLINGNESS OF QUALIFIED CANDIDATES TO RUN FOR CITY OFFICE (EXCEPT THOSE WILLING TO FOLLOW THE ORDERS OF THIS GROUP)
5. COST THE TAXPAYERS TENS OF THOUSANDS OF DOLLARS IN LEGAL COSTS (COMBINED WITH THE CARES SUITS AND DELAYED BOND ISSUES AND HIGHER INTEREST RATES WILL COST TAXPAYERS HUNDREDS OF THOUSANDS OF DOLLARS)
6. VOID THE 6000+ VOTES FOR THESE THREE COUNCILORS TWO YEARS AGO AND PLACE A CLOUD OVER THE REPRESENTATIVE FORM OF GOVERNMENT ON MARCO ISLAND
7. PARALYZE GOVERNMENT LEADERSHIP AND STAFF AND DIVERT ATTENTION AWAY FROM CITY NEEDS, DESTROY MORALE, INCREASE EMPLOYEE TURNOVER AND COST THOUSANDS OF HOURS IN LOST PRODUCTIVITY
8. TRASH THE ISLAND’S IMAGE SO BADLY THAT THE IMPACT ON PROPERTY VALUES COULD BE SIGNIFICANT.
ALTHOUGH CELEBRATE MARCO FEELS STRONGLY THAT THE EFFECTS IDENTIFIED ARE THE DIRECT RESPONSIBILITY OF A POORLY AND ILLEGALLY DEVELOPED RECALL INITIATIVE, WE HAVE CONSISTENTLY STATED THAT WE ARE AGAINST ANY FORM OF LAW SUITS AGAINST ANY CITIZENS SIGNING THE PETITION AND JOINING THE RECALL COMMITTEE.
BOARD OF DIRECTORS, CELEBRATE MARCO
THE "OLD GUARD" RESPONDS
Last week in our local papers, Roger Hall, the leader of the recall initiative, called the leaders of the Celebrate Marco movement a bunch of "old guard, pro-business" people. Although I never write letters to the editor I felt it important to make sure the facts about this "old guard" and Hall's "new guard" are well known.
Yes, some of us are "old" and, although most of us do not have any business interests on the Island, we, of course, strongly support our local businesses. Then who are we ? We are long term, full time Islanders who have put our hearts and hands into building a better Marco Island. Our board members have been involved in almost every civic, social and city organization on the Island. Our involvements have included: President or Board members of Sunrise Rotary, YMCA, Citizens for a Better and Safer Marco, Healthcare Center, Senior Softball League, Charter Middle School, Italian American Society, Chamber of Commerce, Charter School Basketball, Marco Art League, American Cancer Society, Christmas Island Style, The Film Festival and the Association of Condos. We have also Chaired the city's Code Enforcement Board, Planning Board, Waterways Advisory Committee, Police Pension Board, City Council, Charter Review Committee, Governmental Advisory Commit tee, Parks & Recreation Advisory Board. Our people love our Island and work to make it a better place to live, to project a positive image about who we are and a place to be proud of.
Roger Hall has been a resident of Marco for about one year. His only involvement in our community has been to lead a recall petition drive to throw out of office three of our elected councilors and go for a fourth councilor in April. An action that is placing a cloud of negativism over our beautiful island, is dividing our community, disrupting our city, embarrassing and discrediting the reputations of individuals and their families, costing taxpayers thousands of dollars in legal fees, trashing our Island's image so badly that the impact on property values could be significant and driving some to show public disrespect for our religious leaders. I guess this is the "new guard".
Marco Islander's have a choice as to who to believe, which is best for our Island. Those who destroy or those who build.
John Arceri
“THE RECALL FACTS”
CELEBRATE MARCO RESEARCH PAPER
Celebrate Marco has completed a review of the proposed recall of three elected city council members. The recall process will cost taxpayers tens of thousands of dollars and cause significant disruption of city operations. The recall initiative requires a thorough review of the facts. Based on its review, CM strongly urges that the recall be rejected for the reasons highlighted below. CM has focused its review around two key parts; the misleading and inaccurate statements made in the petition and the accompanying letter (the petition package) and the questionable motivations of the group leading the effort. The results of the CM review are described below.
Misleading Aspects of the Petition Package (Petition and Letter)
The petition letter states that Florida law puts the “power of recall in the hands of the people”. That is misleading because it implies that recall actions have no limits. Florida Statute 100.361 governs recalls. The statute is clear that there are very specific and narrow grounds to warrant a recall of an elected official. There are seven grounds for recall; malfeasance, misfeasance, neglect of duty, drunkenness, incompetence, permanent inability to perform duties and conviction of a felony involving moral turpitude.
The petition letter states that, if enough signatures are obtained there is no way the recall process can be stopped. Again, not so. The Florida Supreme Court has ruled that an accused elected official has an opportunity to defend himself or herself and stop the recall action based on “lack of legal sufficiency” (State v Tedder, 106 Fla, 140). Other Florida courts have used this ruling on other cases (Thompson v. Napotnik, 923 So. 2nd 537 5th DCA (2006))
The petition charges the three councilors with having voted to expand the sewer system on August 21, 2006. The fact is that the same sewer expansion program has been voted on, and approved by previous and present councils numerous times in the past three years. The petition is also erroneous in stating that, on August 21, 2006, the councilors being targeted for recall “voted to extend the STRP to three new districts”. No such vote was taken on that date. In fact, on that date five city councilors voted to approve the assessment methodology for future sewer districts.
The petition charges the three councilmen with voting for a program that, in the petitioners’ opinion, is unfair and inequitable. The petition fails to mention that the design and fairness of the program, approved by these councilors, has been upheld by the review and decisions of the Circuit Court and has been found to be legally sound and fair.
The petition letter states that those who sign the recall petition are “collectively referred to as the ‘committee’”. The Florida Statute 100.361 does not use the word “collectively” but states that “those signing the recall petition shall be designated as the ‘committee’” and that the leader of the petition will “act for the committee”. Therefore, unlike other petitions, those supporting a recall petition, are considered members of an official committee and may be responsible for the actions of their leadership.
Apparent Wrong Motivation for the Recall Action
For those who closely follow public issues, there is an obvious link between some who helped organize CARES, POP and now the recall efforts. The petitioners have targeted three councilors that voted for the sewers, as well as mentioning in the petition letter their desire to recall the fourth councilor who voted for sewers. The petitioners did not, however, move to recall, or show any intent to recall, any of the three councilors who voted against sewers. This selective recall action proves that the reasons for recall are clearly based, specifically, on the votes taken by those councilors being targeted for recall.
The Florida Supreme Court (Garvin v Jerome, 767 So. 2nd 1190 (2000)) clearly states that officials should not be faced with recall based on their votes on an issue and that the recall process is not to be used as a substitute for the elective process. Such action would compromise the elective process by removing a duly elected official solely on the basis of a vote. That is contrary to Florida law and they cannot be recalled on that basis. The three councilors who are involved in the recall were elected to office two years ago with some 6,000 votes.
When the POP referendum to change the city charter was thrown out for failure to meet the specific requirements of the city charter, the group involved in these efforts called such failure a “technicality”. They took the position that the people’s wishes were more important than the need to follow the legal requirements of the charter. In the description of the recall the petitioners also clearly state that decisions to recall should also be placed “in the hands of the voters and to prevent City Hall or the courts from interfering in the process”” and not depend on the legal requirements of such action. It is clear that the motivation of this group is to try and bypass the representative form of government and put the law in their own hands.
Unable to achieve their goals through the accepted elective/representative process, the petitioners have directed their efforts to overturn the governing process that has been successful, not only for Marco Island, but for all cities in Florida and the nation. The latest recall effort also ignores the effect this action would have on the remaining councilors who may be subject to recall next year and to candidates in future elections in our community.
September 20, 2006
Florida League of Cities
Environmental Quality
Priority
Wastewater Treatment and Reuse (1757)
507. In most instances, municipal wastewater is properly treated and recycled back into the environment.The improper siting, installation and maintenance of packageplants and septic tanks often does not accomplish the level of treatment needed to protect the state‚s ecosystems, and acts to exacerbate non-point source pollution problems.
The Florida League of Cities will support legislation that:
507.1 Requires septic tank siting decisions to consider the cumulative impacts of septic tanks on a given area; prohibits the use of septic tanks in potable water wellfields and high-density urban areas; and allows their limited use in rural areas only when soil conditions, topography and water tables are suitable, municipal services are not available, and best available technologies are used.
507.2 Severely limits the installation of new, small package sewer treatment plants, increases the regulation of existing package plants, including strong measures to prevent improper operations, neglect or abandonment, and requires the closure of package plants when central sewage treatment is available.
507.3 Develops support statements for on-site treatment and disposal systems or best available technology and associated regulations of those systems.
507.4 Provides funding sources to upgrade and replace old or failing septic tank systems where municipal sewer services are not available or where demonstrated environmental damages are occurring.
507.5 Requires regular inspection and maintenance of septic tanks, and requires lending institutions to require certification of a properly operating septic tank prior to the approval of a new mortgage.
507.6 Increases the minimum lot size requirements and lowers the density requirements for the use of septic tanks, and eliminates grandfathering provisions for older, platted lots.
507.8 Increases the setback distances for septic tanks from surface waters, wetlands, storm sewer pipes, and retention/detention areas, and eliminates grandfathering provisions for older, platted lots.
507.9 Provides incentives for extensions of and hookups to municipal sewer services.
507.10 Recognizes that reclaimed water is a commodity, and that ownership and control of reclaimed water belongs to the entity that produces the end product.
507.11 Prohibits any state agency from requiring a reclaimed water provider to serve a specific water user, class of water users, or a geographic area, and that ensures decisions regarding the selection of customers to be served with reclaimed water shall be within the sole discretion of the reclaimed water provider.
507.12 Prohibits Florida Forever funds from being used to support the construction or planning of potable water transmission lines.
507.13 Supports further research for infield pilot testing for large-scale aquifer storage and recovery (ASR) systems.
507.14 Provides funding to construct distribution systems for reclaimed water.
“THE SEVEN MOST MISUNDERSTOOD POINTS ON THE SEPTIC TANK REPLACEMENT PROGRAM (STRP)”
CELEBRATE MARCO RESEARCH PAPER
Celebrate Marco has reviewed the STRP issue and has attempted to identify the most confusing, misunderstood and questionable aspects of the Program. Our research has identified 7 such areas. CM has listed below some key facts associated with each of these 7 areas.
It is CM’s primary mission to try and clarify issues and provide fact-based information. Please call 394-4104 if you need additional information or want details of research back-up.
1.Why are we replacing septic systems when our waterways are okay?
It is true that our waterways are not yet polluted. Test results, however, have shown an increasing trend in pollutants in many areas of our canals. The State DEP, who monitor the test data, have stated that our waterways have reached a “level of concern”
We are the only waterfront community in southwest Florida, from the Keys to Sarasota, that rely on septic systems to treat human waste. Possible pollution of our waterways from septic systems, real or perceived, combined with the fact that we would be the only community not addressing this potential problem, may have a serious impact on property values
Waiting to correct a waterway pollution problem, when it is upon us, will be extremely costly. Typically, the cost of remediation of an existing problem is several times higher than prevention.
Delaying completion of a central sewer system could result in future waterway pollution, mandates by state and federal agencies to install sewers with no financing options, with no delay (ie. massive disruption to the Island), with a loss of presently available government grants and with an expectation of much higher future construction costs.
2. If septic systems could become a problem why not develop and implement a septic system maintenance program?
Regular septic systems, new or old, maintained or not, are not designed to adequately treat nutrients from human waste. These septic systems are very close to our waterways and leach nutrients into the water. Nutrients are a fertilizer and create algae growth in our waterways which, in turn, removes oxygen from the water, darkens the water and reduces fish life.
Septic systems were never intended for installation on Marco Island because of a) the composition of its soil (sandy and allowing waste to flow through too fast - without adequate filtering) and b) the high water table and close proximity to pristine waterways (not enough soil depth to allow proper filtering before entering the waterways.)
3. We have heard that central sewer systems frequently overflow, fail and pollute waterways. Is this true?
Presently, all condominiums, commercial establishments and 40% of single family homes on Marco Island are connected to the Island’s central sewer system. This system treats 70% of the Island’s human waste. This sewer system has been serving Marco Island for almost 30 years with not one recorded incident of serious leakage, shutdown of our beaches or any other health related problems.
Unlike other central sewer systems that dump much of their treated sewerage into local waterways, the Marco Island sewer system treats all of the wastewater and either uses the treated water as re-use for irrigation, or injects it into deep well holding tanks. Treated water is not dumped into the Island’s waterways.
Many other central sewer systems combine human waste with storm water runoff. During major floods or heavy rains these systems get “overloaded” and untreated water overflows into adjacent waterways. Marco Island’s sewer system, however, treats only human waste and is completely independent from storm water. As such, the Island’s sewer system is not susceptible to flood related failures.
4. The planned Program is so massive that, as had happened when the County installed sewers in the 1980’s, it will create great disruption and inconvenience. How is this program different?
The City has learned a lot from the past experience of the County and the present Program incorporates many different features to minimize disruption. First, the city plans on installing sewers in the remainder of the Island over an extended period of 7 years. Next, the Program consists of 15 smaller and separate sewer districts again limiting the scope of the construction at any one time. Finally, the city plans to complete most construction during the off-season to, again, limit inconvenience.
The first two districts of the new Program are nearing completion in the Tigertail and South Barfield areas with minimal inconvenience and disruption to the Island.
5. We understand that the existing sewer plant needs extensive work and only the new sewer customers will be paying the costs? The old sewer customers go “scott free”.
The existing sewer treatment plant has been fully paid off for by the existing sewer customers. These people paid an initial assessment for connection plus a monthly fee of $50 for many years to pay this off.
The existing treatment plant must be expanded to treat the new customers coming on line as part of the 7 year sewer completion program. This is not an expense that would have been incurred if there was no expansion. As such, the costs to expand the existing plant are being paid for by only the new customers through an assessment cost.
In addition to expansion, the city will have to upgrade both the existing plant and the expanded portion to meet new treatment regulations and to include modern technology. These upgrade costs will be paid for by both, existing and new sewer customers as part of their monthly charge of $50 for treatment costs. All will be paying for these upgrades.
6. What is being done to reduce the costs of new sewers and what are the options for financing this large one-time cost?
The city has been able to reduce the costs of initial assessments by applying new, presently available grant monies to the Program and by taking advantage of very favorable construction bid prices at this time
The city has also tried to alleviate the financial burden by offering a wide menu of financing options (in our review one of the most comprehensive in the region) to new sewer customers to cover the one time assessment costs. These options include:
1. Pay all up front with a 6% discount
2. Pay off over a 20 year period with low interest financing available to the city
3. Defer all payments until the property is sold (will include accrued interest as well at that time)
4. Lock in the assessment cost in today’s dollars with the city taking the risk of future inflation
5. Those with high cost, on-site treatment plants, that are far superior to regular septic systems, do not have to connect to sewers until 10 years after sewers are available to them.
7. We have been told that the real reason for expanding the sewer system is to enable developers and realtors to build more facilities and increase the density of our population. Is this true?
The installation of sewers does not increase density. The sewer expansion is to the 60% of the single family homes presently on septic systems and the number of allowable homes to be built (the density) is the same whether there are sewers or septic on these properties.
The density limits for Marco Island are established by the city and approved and monitored by state agencies. Density control is considered an extremely critical requirement and is well controlled by this process.
COMMUNICATIONS – MONTE LAZARUS (394-4104, BENGOSHI@MARCOCABLE.COM)
Celebrate Marco's Communications Committee is responsible for disseminating factual information about Celebrate Marco's mission, objectives, functions, actions, and issues significant to Marco Island, its residents, visitors and businesses. As such the Communications Committee serves as Celebrate Marco's education and information arm.
Specifically, the Communications Committee will:
Produce and circulate a “Celebrate Marco” Newsletter
Encourage “Letters to the Editor” from Celebrate Marco members
Analyze and research issues and prepare and disseminate factual papers on critical issues
Coordinate face-to-face communications with media representatives, other people and parties. Be the primary contact for all media relations and prepare press releases.
Encourage participation, when necessary or desirable, in city council meetings
Encourage Marco Islanders, through publicity, to participate in community activities
Provide speakers to groups regarding issues important to Marco Island
Cooperate with the Internet Committee in creating a web site, providing web information and circulating e-mails
Assist in membership recruitment
MARKETING – ROGER RAYMOND (642-7981, ROGER@MSTARMUSIC.COM)
Celebrate Marco’s Marketing Committee is responsible for “selling” the Celebrate Marco ideals and importance, to encourage membership, to raise funds and to promote a positive feeling about Marco Island, its residents, visitors and businesses. As such, the Marketing Committee is the image and excitement wing of Celebrate Marco committed to making all on Marco Island feel like part of the one great community.
Specifically, the Marketing Committee will:
Advertise Celebrate Marco events, forums and meetings
Increase Celebrate Marco membership
Develop and sell promotional products such as shirts, pens and other Celebrate Marco items
Develop and implement fund raising strategies
INTERNET – GARY ELLIOTT (642-8541, GARY.ELLIOTT@INTERIORSINTERIORS.COM)
The Internet Committee is responsible for developing, building and managing Celebrate Marco internet web sites and to coordinate all e-mail correspondence. This committee strives to advance Celebrate Marco communications through the internet and to expand its communications abilities in both speed and scope. As such, the Internet Committee is the broad band communications wing of Celebrate Marco. This Committee works very closely with the Communications Committee which will provide much of the information for internet consideration.
Specifically, the Internet Committee will:
Develop, build and manage the Celebrate Marco website
Monitor the web sites of other organizations of interest and importance to Celebrate Marco’s mission
Coordinate entering information on news media websites
Retrieve and disseminate all Celebrate Marco e-mails to all interested individuals and groups
Utilize the internet for communications to and from members and other critical contacts.
Update membership records
EVENTS
The Events Committee of Celebrate Marco is responsible for planning, designing and implementing all of its events and to support other community events led by other Island organizations. These events shall include information meetings, social functions, fairs, forums, and special dinners. The Events Committee will strive to hold events designed to bring unity back to our community and to foster a positive feeling about living, visiting and doing business on Marco Island. As such, the Events Committee is the real “unity” arm of Celebrate Marco.
Specifically, the Events Committee will:
Design, plan and execute all of the events for Celebrate Marco.
Research other ways of bringing excitement and a feeling of community unity
Support events run by other organizations that are designed to foster unity in the community
Cosponsoring and cooperating in other community events
“CELEBRATE MARCO INC”
BOARD MEMBERS
JAMES CURRAN CJAMESCURRAN@AOL.COM
394-6663
MONTE LAZARUS BENGOSHI@MARCOCABLE.COM
394-4104
JACK PATTERSON J.PATTERSON06@COMCAST.NET
642-9735
JOHN ARCERI ARCMI@COMCAST.NET
394-9202
VICKIE KELBER VICKIEONMARCO@COMCAST.NET
389-2836
ROGER RAYMOND ROGER@MSTARMUSIC.COM
642-7981
GARY ELLIOTT GARY.ELLIOTT@INTERIORSINTERIORS.COM
642-8541
LEE WILLER SPECTOR LWILLER6@COMCAST.NET
642-1004
PAT NEALE LUCERAINC@AOL.COM
642-1485
TOM OWENS BABADONNA@MARCOCABLE.COM
394-1548
TARIK AYASUN TURK1949@COMCAST.NET
394-6099 (X10)
By
Anonymous, at Friday, October 20, 2006 8:27:00 PM
these people hide behind Tommy Barfield School and other puppet charities to cover up their real adgendas.
DO NOT BE FOOLED BY THESE LOVERS OF THE CHILDREN!
Thet are corrupt as the day is long the sewers are going to make millions for many of them.
So they get people of the clergy to speak on thier behalf(sacraficial Baumgartner) They Celebrate Marco HUh
go tell my 81 yr. old neihbor widow who is now selling her home of 26 years cause she can't afford marco any longer.
You people who fight the cities corruption and hear these imposters stand there and tell us they are so involved in Marco (see the phoney Celebrate Marco List)
Don't cower to these special interest cowards
You people of CARES POP EARNMARCO and RECALL have stuck your necks out and have defended many defensless people on marco. YOU ARE ALL HEREOS!
Fight these cowards - they are scared and for good reason.
By
Anonymous, at Friday, October 20, 2006 11:03:00 PM
Monte,
Thanks for your letter regarding "the facts" about the recall. John Arceri sent it to me by e-mail yesterday and I responded to him as follows. (In case you didn't know, John and Mike both went to Manhattan College ... I went to the rival school, Fordham ... hence the banter about an old rivalry.
John, are you sure Celebrate Marco isn't a political committee. This sure sounds political to me!
And are you sure you are a group "for the people," i.e., the permanent residents of this island? The second sentence only mentions business and real estate as your real concern. And, please stop the disinformation crap about suits costing the city hundreds of thousands of dollars in legal related costs. The City brought suit against its citizens in the bond validation case, and if you're referring to the asbestos suit, read the contract. Quality Enterprises is responsible for ALL city legal expenses related to the South Collier reconstruction. Now, if we could only get these councilors to force your buddy A. William to enforce the contract, there would be NO legal costs. That's like in NADA, ZILCH, ZERO.
And John, the most recent Florida case law is clear that the people needn't "convict" a councilor of anything. If they don't want him in, he's out. It's as simple as that. You vote 'em in; you vote 'em out. You know how that works, John. That's why you didn't stand for re-election last time. The people had had it with you and you knew it. You're a smart man. (I expect nothing less from a Manhattan graduate.) Too bad your schoolmate Mike and his friends aren't. Then again, maybe they'll read the writing on the wall and resign after all .... for the good of the community, I'm sure. As a matter of fact, are you sure Mike ran for re-election two years ago? Seems to me I heard somewhere that he never ran for office against an opponent. Don't mean to take it out on poor Mike; E. Glenn is far worse!
Your friend from Fordham who truly would like to Celebrate Marco.
Ed
Monte, this nonsense about CARES costing Marco hundreds of thousands of dollars in legal costs just has to stop. It's flat out not true. Go read the South Collier contract. If you'd like, I'll e-mail you the pertinent sections. Quality Enterprises is response for ALL legal expense both for the City and for its employees, Messrs. Moss and Joel. I think there's a lot to celebrate about Marco and I'd like to join you in doing so, but I can't support a bunch of people who spread such disinformation as "fact." Bill Clinton did that and I didn't like him for it either.
You really should check your "facts" about the STRP too. As Mark Twain said: "It ain't what you don't know that gets you into trouble. It's what you know for sure that just ain't so." All this contention will come to an immediate end when you and your fellow travelers wake up, smell the coffee, and do a little honest SCIENTIFIC research rather than blindly following others.
Ed Foster
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Anonymous, at Thursday, October 26, 2006 1:49:00 PM
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