Subj: E-Skate News "Skater Volunteers Needed for Friendship Races"
Date: 2/20/2004 4:47:58 AM Arab Standard Time
From: SkateTampa
Please help if you can! It takes dedicated volunteers, like you, to keep inline skating active in the Bay Area.
Point of contact for questions and information is:
Joe Wagner
timesource@hotmail.com
(727) 522-8900
The Breeze
www.SkateTampa.com
www.RoadRollers.org
www.BillJacksons.com
www.TrailSkate2003.com
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SUBJECT: Skater Volunteers Needed for Friendship Races, Sunday, March 14th, 2004
Breeze, I am the contact person for the race. Please posted this Registration form to www.skatetampa.com for the rest of the gang to see. We need this to be a success (need bodies), to continue the committee for future races. The committee (I am on it, have been since day one), needs to stay in existence as we are the only entity that is fighting to keep the bridge 1) UP, and 2) FREE to all users.
Our conundrum is that we are having one heck of a time making the money it takes to keep the bridge up and open. The annual budget varies, but it's close to $350K annually. This actually very cheap for any park in the region, and in actuality, we get 5x more users per mile on any given day than the Pinellas Trail. It costs less per user per mile, way less, to keep this amazing sports park (jewel) open.
We have been promoting the races as a way to raise (a very small amount) of the $$ that is needed, and to keep the issue out in front of the public, and on the "to do" lists of our fine government leaders. We get no money for the work we put in. Our annual expenses are very small, but the time it takes, the meetings we have to go to, etc., all adds up. Every penny over and above the cost of doing this race is going directly to the inter-local county fund to operate the bridge. Joe Fernandez is the Race organizer. We do this with the best people, it's an exciting, fun event.
We need skaters to show up in-force. Lots of us. We are showing the city leaders (Iorio, Baker), both county commissions, and our Senators (Sebesta, Graham, CW Bill Young) that this needs to be fixed and put on permanent funding. No one else is doing anything. The Friendship Trail Bridge Committee is IT. No one else. If no one comes, then it validates the words of other agencies (can't name them here), that this is a waste of money and belongs IN the water, not over it.
I guess after 8 years of working hard on something like this, having argued with countless government agencies (DOT, County Commissions and others), and investing several hundred hours (mostly nights & weekends), plus several thousand (personal) dollars, you might be feeling my (our) frustration. We need skaters to show register, now. Lots of us skaters. It's time to make a stand on wheels. This is a true SKATE park. Not bad for bicycles, runners (knees??), walkers, the stressed-out, and fishermen, either.
Please forward the attachment to all the skaters you know, and feel free to cc this letter. I have written it without the consent of the Committie, did not run it by any of them, told no one, and state clearly that these are my words, and my words only. I'm sure I'll "hear" about it shortly.
I am also in charge of finding skater-volunteers. If someone would like to, or simply as a matter of civic pride and responsibility, volunteer to help the day of the race, please have them call or e-mail me. It's only 4 hours in the morning from 6AM to 10AM. People who have never helped out at a sports event are always supercharged when they leave. It's addictive. Gotta busted wheel? Bearings rusting? Help us out, you'll feel better for it.
My home phone number (oh God, now I'm in for it) is: (727) 522-8900
Please forward all this on, and on, and on. And please do it often.
Peace,
Joe Wagner
Joe (Joseph J) Wagner
Florida Time Clock, Inc. Est. 1991
10387 Gandy Blvd. N., Suite 102D
St. Petersburg, FL 33702
(727) 864-0475 (800) 283-1001
FAX: (727) 576-0415
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