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Tag: Rotary

Rotary, Ringling team up for ecological film series

Rotary, Ringling team up for ecological film series

Written by Rusty Chinnis on . Posted in Outdoors, Reel Time.

The Rotary Club of Longboat Key is nearing completion of a short documentary film series created in collaboration with Ringling College of Art and Design’s film department. Partners include the Rotary Club of Sarasota Bay, Save our Seabirds, Longboat Key Turtle Watch, Mote Marine Laboratories, the Town of Longboat Key, Oyster River Ecology (ORE) and Suncoast Waterkeeper.

On March 24, I had the pleasure of working with seniors in the film department as part of the series highlighting the work of the Sister Keys Conservancy and Longboat Key in protecting the islands and the work of Suncoast Waterkeeper (SCWK). I picked up the SCWK patrol boat early that morning and, after an interview about the Sister Keys and Suncoast Waterkeeper, we took a boat ride on Sarasota Bay and a tour of the Sister Keys.

As part of the project, an introductory short film is being developed regarding Rotary’s initiative to network with conservation organizations in support of environmental sustainability and stewardship via educational outreach. Once completed, the films will be available to organizations including district Rotary clubs, other civic and conservation organizations, and academic institutions. Exemplary people in action will be highlighted. Two additional short films will illuminate the unique grassroots history and real-time examples of sea turtle and shorebird conservation, research and education services provided by the Longboat Key Turtle Watch, Mote Marine Laboratories, Save Our Seabirds, SCWK, ORE and other environmental groups.

The effort intends to establish a multi-year film documentary program with the Ringling film department to highlight contemporary coastal ecology and sustainability issues and solutions. Additional future topics anticipated include micro-foresting, eco-restoration and Sarasota Bay conservation.

A summer internship at Ringling College is being established to facilitate the development of short film documentaries and provide students with a meaningful work/study experience.

I’ll keep readers apprised of the progress of the series and the date the film series will be premiered.

Concert for Peace returns in June

Concert for Peace returns in June

Written by Jason Schaffer on . Posted in Entertainment, Music.

CORTEZ – Cortez restauranteur Bob Slicker, owner of Slicker’s Eatery, is once again gathering members of the Anna Maria Island Rotary Club and the community to raise money with a Concert for Peace. The second annual event is being held to help the people of Ukraine whose lives have been upended by the ongoing war with Russia.

Slicker, who became passionate about helping the people of Ukraine after watching the war begin to unfold in 2022, vowed to do whatever he could to help get supplies to the people who needed them desperately. His first Concert for Peace, held in June of 2022, raised more than $50,000, 100% of which went to supplies such as medical needs and refrigerators.

The second annual Concert for Peace will take place Saturday, June 10 at The Center of Anna Maria Island. The concert will be free and open to the public and feature musical acts the Eric Von Band and Trevor Bystrom, with money being raised through sales of food, drinks, raffle items, t-shirts and sponsorships. The AMI Rotary Club will take the proceeds and work with their Rotary partner in Poland to purchase supplies and get them into the areas of Ukraine where they are most needed.

“I went over there and saw first-hand how difficult these people have it due to the war,” Slicker said. These are just normal people who get up and go to work just like you and I, then one day their lives are upended. I went to apartment buildings where not only are multiple people sharing community refrigerators, but often multiple families have to share one shelf of a fridge.”

“The Rotary can be trusted to get the job done,” AMI Rotary President Jim McDaniel said. “There are only two seats in the United Nations that don’t belong to individual countries. One is the Red Cross and the other is Rotary.”

Sponsors are still signing on, so there is no complete list yet, but in addition to Slicker’s and the Rotary, Painting with a Twist will hold another “Painting with a Purpose” event at Slickers on June 4. More fundraising events are anticipated to be announced on Facebook in the coming weeks.

For information on becoming a sponsor, making a financial donation or the Concert for Peace, visit the Campaign for Ukraine Facebook page or email campaignforukraineami@gmail.com.