Sarasotans Support ShelterBox USA
We’ve all seen, read, heard the news reports on the situations in Haiti and Chile … but if you want to get a snippet of what it’s like to be a Sarasotan who makes hands-on sacrifices to be on the ground as a volunteer responding to disaster events around the globe … read my piece on ShelterBox USA — online here at Creative Loafing’s website, or in print in the CL newspaper on Wednesday, March 10.
I interviewed three local ShelterBox volunteers — and couldn’t get over the commitment these Sarasotans have made and continue to make to helping disaster victims throughout the world.
John Freeman traveled to the Congo.
Beverly Hill (wearing headband) traveled to England for intensive training.
Alan Monroe (left) unloading ShelterBoxes in Taiwan last year.
To make a donation or learn more about volunteering with ShelterBox, visit shelterboxusa.com, or follow on Facebook (Shelter Box.) and on Twitter (ShelterBoxUS).
Things that make you go “Huh?” City hires first, negotiates second?
Sarasota City Commissioners hire a new City Clerk and THEN begin salary and benefits contract negotiations? That’s what all the news reports have mentioned, as an almost irrelevant aside, in the print papers ever since Pamela Nadalini was hired.
Does that process sound backward to anyone else but me?
In their search for a new City Clerk, this language was included in the posting on the City’s website: “Salary is negotiable. Qualified candidates should have demonstrated experience that would justify a six-figure income.” Okay, well, at least we know that the salary to be negotiated is $100,000-plus. And, yes, I know how government works — with their pay scale ranges and all that … but still, something’s on the table, or else they wouldn’t be negotiating any contract at all.
I’ve hired (and fired) and been hired (never fired) more times than I can count, and not once did salary negotiation begin AFTER after hiring someone. After making an initial offer, sure … but after hiring someone and splashing the news all around town? Exactly how much leverage do they expect to have in their negotiations? Maybe none at all?
The new city clerk, and I wish her well and offer congrats, and yes, I’m glad to see a woman, and a black woman, at that level in local government (though I’ll be glad for the day when/if we ever can just laud someone for their experience and not for their being the “first” of some group to break the erstwhile all-white/all-male bastions of higher up government positions). But here’s my advice to Nadalini: she should hold the City up for every dime on and even off the table. She’s got ’em on the ropes … they’ve got zero leverage — what are they going to do … fire her? — especially after all the “first woman/first black” write-ups they’ve been getting from the press? I’d like to know what precisely is on the table for negotiation? A range of $10,000? Five weeks of paid vacation instead of three? A government auto? I don’t know — I wish the local reporting covered that, and I just haven’t had time to investigate it myself. If anyone knows — feel free to add some input in the comment section of this blog.
I’m sure the city would say this is just business as usual, everybody does it, yada, yada, yada. Color me stupid if you want, but how about doing business unusually?… by that I mean, how about doing business intelligently and with forethought. Even if hiring first, negotiating second, is de rigueur among government types … why not break the mold and think for ourselves as city leaders? The formula should be simple: search, interview, determine the best candidate, express an initial interest in hiring subject to salary and benefits discussion, if the candidate is interested too, then you move on to negotiate salary and benefits, and, then, if the negotiations end up with the candidate you want at the price you can afford, you then offer the job, they accept or don’t accept, and you hire or don’t hire.
Look, I know this is a very small matter in a big world of big matters. But it’s stuff like this — multiplied times a gazillion — that creates inefficiencies, irrelevant time-wasters, and inflated costs in our government.
I know — I’m just a simple taxpayer, so what do I know? — but in my book: negotiate first; hire second.
Kitty, kitty
One more photo to tug at the hearts of potential adopters!
60,000 stray cats in Sarasota? Let’s make that 59,999!!
Did you read Eric Ernst’s recent column on the subject of the estimated 60,000 stray cats in Sarasota county? It’s shocking — and important — reporting. I had no idea there were that many. I’m trying to do my part to solve the problem — I’ve adopted and neutered or spayed three cats and made them a part of my family … but three’s my limit!!
Stray kitty in front of his carport box and blanket home ... but he wants a REAL home!!
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BIZ(y) People to Watch
BIZ 941 Magazine is “looking for the 25 rising stars and prime movers in the local business world. They can be newcomers of note, young talents and established powers who are tacking new and exciting initiatives. We want you to nominate the Sarasota and Manatee businesspeople—including you—who are making their mark on the region. Our 25 People to Watch will be the centerpiece of our July issue and will be honored at a special Biz941 event. Deadline to submit the online ballot is April 19, 2010.”
Nominate your fave biz(y) person “to watch” online at http://www.biz941.com/Misc/People-To-Watch-Nomination.asp. (and no, I’m not talking ’bout me — I’m bizarre(y), not biz(y)! 😉
Hometown Democracy … where do you stand?
My head is kind of bobbing around like one of those little bobbling dolls that people put on their car dashboards sometimes. I’m all in a dither (or is a dather) trying to figure out how to vote on the Hometown Democracy Amendment, which will be on Floridians’ ballots later this year. To wit:
The Amendment would establish “that before a local government may adopt a new comprehensive land use plan, or a mend a comprehensive land use plan, the proposed plan or amendment shall be subject to vote of hte electors of the local government by referendum, following preparing by the local planning agency, consideration by the governing body and notice.”
Maybe I’m missing something … but I can’t see how this could be a bad thing — isn’t that what democracy is all about? (more…)
Homeless in our hometown
It’s not only cats who need a good home in this town … From the WSLR website:
WSLR 96.5 low-power FM, Sarasota’s non-profit community radio station, will be among the many public radio stations nationwide participating in the 13th Annual Homelessness Marathon. Featuring 14 hours of consecutive programming about homelessness and the homeless, the 2010 Homeless Marathon national broadcast will originate from Detroit, Michigan beginning Tuesday, February 23rd at 7 p.m. and continuing until 9 a.m. Wednesday, February 24. Listen live at: http://wslr.org/listen-live/
Preempting the national broadcast, WSLR 96.5 FM will feature five hours of local programming addressing homelessness in the Sarasota-Bradenton area. Produced by WSLR and airing from 6 to 10 p.m. Tuesday Feb. 23, and again from 7 to 9 a.m. Wednesday, Feb. 24, the WSLR programming will include interviews with Sarasota’s homeless residents; interviews with representatives from local agencies that assist the homeless in Sarasota and Bradenton; interviews with representatives of the downtown business community; interviews with representatives of the City of Sarasota and musical interludes reflecting the plight of the homeless.
For more information: www.homelessnessmarathon.org.
Rally TODAY for Health Care Reform
Host: Sarasota County Democratic Party
Date: Wednesday, February 17, 2010
Time: 4:30pm – 5:30pm
Location: Corner of Bahia Vista and Rte 41, Sarasota
Join this rally to sign-wave for real health care reform during rush hour at one of the most visible locations in Sarasota. Parking available in the Midtown Plaza by Starbucks.
Protest, baby, protest!
Today, at Siesta Key Public Beach, 1 p.m, there will be a protest led by the Sierra Club Manatee-Sarasota expressing opposition to offshore oil drilling.
The protest is called “Hands Across the Sand” — kind of like the idea of drawing a clear line in the sand against offshore oil drilling.
If you care about the beaches, about the water, the environment, and about all the creatures and humans and plant life (not to mention tourism and economies) that would be affected by the construction of drilling rigs and any oil spills — you might want to show up.
