Waterfront community group hosts Open House
Roughly 50-75 interested people showed up, listened to an informal presentation and networked with the resident board members of the San Carlos & Estero Islands Waterfront Partnership group at its Open House event at Fish Tale Marina on Tuesday, April 12.
The informative session explained the mission of the islands board of trades’ nonprofit organization, which is “to educate and support best management and promotional practices for a healthy environmentally sustained waterfront community.” They are seeking membership and are expected to select a board of advisors to help the organization’s path with recommendations.
Some areas of concern for the IBOT directors involve economic development and tourism in the coastal community; education to the public about environmental issues; volunteerism and civic engagement; youth services and programs; and governmental affairs such as permitting, development, property taxes, channel maintenance and other coastal issues.
“We’re a work in progress, but our purpose is to promote a better quality of life using sustainable solutions to common issues facing San Carlos and Estero islands’ residents and businesses using faith-based values,” said Board member Joanne Semmer. “Faith-base values mean helping your neighbor. That’s the basis of the whole thing.”
Along with fellow directors Tracey Gore, Al Durrett, Eric Tibbs and Jessie Titus, Semmer would like to foster a better relationship between businesses and community residents and keep everyone informed of rules and regulations.
“We would like to make the whole Fort Myers Beach community including San Carlos Island and Estero Island the poster child for a sustainable waterfront community for the whole state of Florida. We want clean water, a healthy environment and a place where we are proud of and raise our kids here,” she said. “That’s what we are looking for.”
Semmer, who belongs to many groups such as Waterfronts Florida Program, Clean Marina Program, Green Lodging Program, Audubon International Green Communities and University of Florida Sustainable Coastal Communities Program, has been called the focal point of the organization. The group intends to feed off her wealth of knowledge from her list of volunteer work and resources as well as seeking other knowledgeable people within the two islands’ community.
With so many organizations in the area, Semmer hopes the partnership can bring everyone together to work on common issues. Business members are also encouraged to sign up.
“We are seeking to enhance the economic growth of the businesses, increase profitability, job opportunities and the quality of life for the businesses too,” she said.
The five directors are proposing a “Think Green, Shop Local” campaign to help area businesses in that endeavor.
“Why should we drive to downtown Fort Myers for something we should be able to shop for on Fort Myers Beach and save gas,” said Semmer. “We should support our local businesses because the taxes that they pay go back into the community.”
The Ostego Bay Foundation president also discussed sustainable development, fertilizer issues and storm water runoff. The group would like to exploit current programs such as the Clean Marina program (which Fish Tale is a member of) and the Green Lodging program, which Pink Shell Beach Resort has saved money through instituting a recycling program.
“We also want resident members to learn best management practices in their homes as well,” said Semmer. “We want to encourage them to sustain a healthy, sustainable waterfront community. A key element of the board of trades will be to support and be involved in youth programs in the community.”
Charter membership to the IBOT group costs $100 for a business; $50 for a resident; $25 for non-profit groups (including condominium associations); and $1 per child, who will affectionately be called “IBOTS.” A commitment of time, energy and resources is a strong requirement to become a member.
“Members will be required to be active in the community. Businesses will be required to volunteer a minimum of 10 hours per year, residents will be required to volunteer a minimum of 5 hours per year, and children will be required to volunteer also,” said Semmer. “We are trying to encourage people to come out and volunteer in their community. When you have more volunteers, you have more of a community.”
The waterfront community group is planning environmental workshops involving sea turtles as well as shorebirds and other nesting birds. The first workshop is slated for sometime in May.
Durrett says the directors are expected to host four to five meetings per year focusing on topics such as legislation, the Department of Environmental Protection agency, or matters concerning neighbor issues on certain waterfront properties to name a few.
“We are not trying to replace attorneys or lawyers, but we are going to have open meetings with an open forum discussion. If anyone has a problem, we’ll be trying to help fix it,” he said. “This is not to replace any other organization on the Beach. This is strictly to have a community working together in certain areas that will help everybody, including business, residential and children.
“The kids are going to be a big part of this. Hopefully, there will be programs in the future for kids to be involved in. The volunteer program is an interesting concept. They should get a lot of fun out of it and some education too.”
If interested in becoming a member of promoting and supporting a healthy and environmentally sustainable waterfront community, contact Gore at 849-3603 or Semmer at 470-4993. A membership form can be obtained by emailing a request at t-gore@comcast.net or jj37a@yahoo.com.