Chamber Sand Sculpting event applauded for longevity
To the editor:
This letter is written to keep the record straight and is solely my opinion and understanding of the facts as I know them.
As we approach November and start thinking about the arrival of our snowbirds and short-term visitors, let’s pause and reflect how lucky we’ve been to have the American Sand Sculpting here on the Beach for the past 25 years to kick off the Season. Most of us in the business community are eager to get into high gear after the summer doldrums. The Sand Sculpting event does that with style, combining sand art with a family friendly atmosphere that spans almost a week, bringing and keeping economic benefits to our Town.
It is also important to keep the record straight and give credit where it’s due. Since it’s inception, Sand Sculpting has been the signature event of the Greater Fort Myers Beach Area Chamber of Commerce. For years it barely kept its head above water but thanks to the countless unpaid volunteers and sacrifices of the Chairman and Chamber staff, it managed to grow until the sheer number of attendees overwhelmed the resources and forced the event to go to paid admissions. I am very familiar with how this came about since I was the Chairman of the Chamber the year we started charging admissions. I will tell you, plainly, that decision saved the event. If fact, despite those who fought the change, last year had the best attendance ever and assured the Chamber could continue to bring it to the Beach. As with all Chamber revenues they are plowed back into the community for Spirit of the Holidays, Taste of the Beach, membership benefits, staff pay, welcome center rent, website, etc.
Unfortunately, as with many things, the specter of profitability seen as those paid admissions went into the kitty, caused some who had little interest before to look at ways to take over or duplicate Sand Sculpting for private profit. Hence, this year we now have the “World” event also being advertised as the 25th though that designation does not relate to longevity or effort of those on the Beach that are hosting it, rather it relates to the event itself that has moved around over the years. In my opinion, a former Chamber Director who later resigned, Al Durrett of Fish Tale Marina, and a former site sponsor, Pinchers Crab Shack and The Holiday Inn, took the planning of the Chamber and the years of hard work and used that to establish their ‘own” event.
In and of itself there is nothing wrong with that. The more the merrier. But it is important that the public understands the idea for the “World” event came originally from the Chamber and was the brainchild of its President, John Albion.
It is plain to me that many in the business community understands this sequence of events. Their understanding is underscored by the success Karen Mills has had selling the Chamber’s Sand Sculpting Program Guide. These owners, operators and managers also understand that money spent on advertising in the Chamber’s authorized guide goes to fund the event, benefiting the entire Beach community. This is in stark contrast with others who represent themselves as “doing it to help” with the event when in reality the event just affords them the opportunity to enhance their respective bottom lines.
Carl Conley
Former Chairman of the Chamber of Commerce in 2009
Former Editor and Publisher of the Island Sand Paper
Fort Myers Beach