Discover Venice 2023-2024
Issue link: http://www.epageflip.net/i/1512151
South Venice Civic Association Residents continue to clean South Venice Staff Report E ven as the South Venice Civic Association is looking forward to its 70-year milepost in 2025, it is busy planning for 2024. The SVCA is a year-round, volunteer- based community organization dedicated to bringing the community together to promote its civic, social, recreational and environmental interests. SVCA offers special events all year: an Arts & Crafts Show, Veterans Day BBQ, a Business Expo, wine and cheese socials, an annual Plant Sale, an annual Community Yard Sale, monthly pancake breakfasts and, for the kids, the Easter Breakfast with the Bunny and at Christmas it's Breakfast with Santa. Recent events include speakers like ABC7 meteorologist Bob Harrigan, the Venice Gondolier's Kim Cool, and Sarasota County officials, including the sheriff and the late County Commissioner Nancy Detert. Year round, there are classes like Jazzercise, water-coloring and yoga, as well as a Book Club and a very active Garden Club. The SVCA plays an important civic role as well. Every two years it hosts a Meet the Candidates night, inviting all primary candidates for county, state and national offices. Voters come to the Community Center and talk face to face with everyone from Hospital Board candidates to Congressional hopefuls. And during COVID, the SVCA opened the hall and hosted Venice Theatre classes after the damage it suffered in Hurricane Ian. Volunteers staff a number of Community Improvement Projects, such as Trash Buddies, water quality monitoring and the Community Emergency Response Team (CERT), the latter in partnership with the Venice Gardens Community Association. Right now, the Board of Directors is planning 2024 events. They're also planning some big digital changes on social media, plus a new interactive website (with members' portal), and new membership software offering the ability to join the organization and buy event tickets across platforms. Staff Report S outh Venice Civic Association has a group of volunteers who – for more than a decade – have gathered regularly for workdays in multiple locations. The group is dedicated to removing trash from area roadways. To join one of the teams or learn more about what they do contact Marla Wilcox at 303-818-3641 or marlawilcox63@gmail.com. Meanwhile, South Venice Civic Association has ample volunteer opportunities to keep people involved in the community. Among these are the "trash buddies" who have adopted two streets, Alligator Drive and Seminole Drive. Another area, adopted through Venice Area Beautification, Inc., is the Venetian Waterway Trail/ Park. Team members work on the second Saturday of each month for about two hours cleaning up these areas. Volunteers are always in need and the time commitment is only two hours a month. To join the trash buddy team, contact either the SVCA office at 941-493-0006 or Wilcox. Interested in helping out after a disaster? Join the Community Emergency Response Team. Training is provided. Joint meetings/trainings are conducted on Thursdays at 6:30 p.m. at Venice Gardens Community Center on Shamrock Boulevard. For further information contact Marla Wilcox 303-818- 3641 or marlawilcox63@gmail. com PHOTO PROVIDED BY THE SOUTH VENICE CIVIC ASSOCIATION From left: Laurie Hartman, Blaine Tippett and Bill Brennen. PHOTO PROVIDED BY THE SOUTH VENICE CIVIC ASSOCIATION The Business Expo at the South Venice Civic Association has been a popular event since 2014. The event was cancelled in 2020 and 2021 because of the coronavirus pandemic. That meant a loss of momentum, but the SVCA hopes to have it back up by 2025. PHOTO PROVIDED BY THE SOUTH VENICE CIVIC ASSOCIATION From left: Bill Brennen, Wini Boyle, Rick Boyle and Laurie Hartman. 44 Discover Venice