TEAM Talk header 2010
Nancy Morris, Editor                                                                         February, 2018
  SPECIAL EDITION
TEAM Punta Gorda is an all-volunteer organization committed to making the greater Punta Gorda area a great place to live, work and play. Originally created after the devastation caused by Hurricane Charley in 2004, TEAM volunteers focus on wide variety of projects to enhance our friendly, quaint, historic waterside community. For more of the history of TEAM click here

          WE CAN DO THIS IF WE WORK TOGETHER!
Thanks to the over 400 people that turned out last week for the TEAM Punta Gorda Annual Community Meeting. Due to Fire Marshall regulations we had to turn some people away. We deeply apologize. If you'd like to see a clip of the action, here's a link to a short video of the highlights.
                               2018 Annual Community Meeting
 
TEAM Punta Gorda is committed to stewardship of this community and its future and that's what this year's meeting was all about. The topic was and is development. In 2005 TEAM Punta Gorda and its residents wrote the Citizens' Master Plan. It was a guiding document that was gifted to and accepted by the City in designing their land development regulations. During the following years many of us, and many of you, were deeply committed to restoring our town, and the Citizens' Master Plan served us well. Then came a deep recession and no-one was building or developing anything. Well, its not 2005 or 2009 anymore and our community must grow with the times.
 
We know we need a healthy, year-round economy in order to survive. We're going to need to build our tax base with more commercial development and that will bring new jobs. We'll also need attainable housing for the families that work in these new jobs. But what kind of development is appropriate? What can we do without sacrificing the things that make Punta Gorda special? Our position is, and will remain, that we will not take positions on individual development propositions.  Rather, we want to find forums where we can engage the community in civil discourse about these issues. 
 
We'd like last week's Annual Community Meeting to serve as a kick-off for healthy conversations with the community about development. If you belong to a group that would like to have us come and lead such a discussion just let us know. We'd love to hear what you have to say.
We can do this right if we work together. We did it before and we can do it again!


Betsy Spagnola Anuual Meeting Chair, Eric DeYoung President, Nancy Johnson CEO
Police Chief Pam Davis, Ron Knight and Betsy Spagnola, City Manager, Hower Kunik




TEAM's Gilchrist Park Activity Center Survey results were presented to City Council February  7.  The presentation and full report are available at
www.teampuntagorda.org.  
 
 
                     THEY PAINTED THEIR HEARTS OUT

TEAM Punta Gorda and Charlotte County Habitat for Humanity joined forces with local businesses and more than one hundred enthusiastic volunteers February 3 to provide a much needed facelift to the exteriors of seven area homes. This important outreach project celebrates its fifth year of service to homeowners who are elderly, disabled or low-income.
  
    
 
"These volunteers take pride in helping the needy in the community and improving the neighborhoods," said TEAM CEO Nancy Johnson. "This project is completely self-funded, with contributions from individuals, clubs, and businesses." This year's Signature Sponsor is the Punta Gorda Rotary Club.

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      VOLUNTEERISM IS A WAY OF LIFE IN PUNTA GORDA

TEAM Punta Gorda has accomplished a great deal in the past year thanks to the vigorous efforts of hundreds of volunteers, sponsors and contributing members.   We continue to initiate, facilitate, and collaborate with both the public and private sector. For example, this year we surveyed residents on the future use of the Gilchrist Park Activity Centers, we provided post-Hurricane Irma cleanup crews at vegetation-damaged parks, we assisted the City in building a new garden on Virginia Street and we assisted County staff in selecting paint colors for the event center. We also initiated a discussion on the need for attainable workforce housing.  
 
Volunteerism is truly a way of life in Punta Gorda. In 2017, over 547 dedicated volunteers participated in our programs, and their accomplishments never cease to amaze me. If you want to work with others that care about the future of our community, we'll be glad to put you to work building gardens, helping to preserve the harbor or supporting a long list of community service projects.
 
In 2018 we'd like to seek opportunities to engage citizens in a healthy dialogue about the future of our community. This stewardship of the growth and development of our town has been a guiding principle of our organization throughout its history.   


               TEAM BUILDS BREAKS GROUND IN MARCH!
        VOLUNTEER WITH YOUR FRIENDS AND NEIGHBORS
 
 
It's happening in our Hometown on the Harbor.  TEAM Punta Gorda is partnering with Charlotte County Habitat for Humanity to build a Punta Gorda home for a deserving family. "TEAM Builds" breaks ground March 13 with a sixty day completion deadline.
 
*           Volunteer for just one day or more
*          No experience or special skills needed 
*          Training, supervision and tools provided
 
TEAM is all about connecting people, organizations and resources to make things happen. Together we make the Greater Punta Gorda area a better place to live, work, and play. This exciting project exemplifies our commitment to our community.
                                                
  If your time prevents participation, consider making a donation to TEAM BUILDS to help defray expenses and provide the new homeowner with a housewarming gift.  Donations can be mailed to the TEAM office.   

  
 
 
 
                               



 


Pedal and Play in Paradise   
March 9 & 10, 2018  

A Cycling Celebration in Punta Gorda 

                                      www.pedalandplayinparadise.com


Pr oceeds from Pedal and Play support TEAM Punta Gorda's bicycle friendly initiatives and the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society (LLS). 

Pedal and Play riders can support LLS above and beyond their event entry fee by making a donation and by encouraging others to support your ride. To learn more click:


Riders who raise $500 or more for LLS receive a free Pedal and Play Jersey, a $60 value!



PARTING SHOT

Maritime Committee exploring kayak launch options
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