A year ago, the CEP kicked of our Equine Engagement Initiative. As the Horse Capital of the World, we knew we needed a focused and directed effort to engage our incredible equine community with both the broader business community and with fellow equine businesses. Our economic impact analysis of Marion County’s Equine Industry had found that equine contributed $2.6 Billion a year to the local economy!
Thanks to the underwriting support of New Millennium Realty, we were able to kick off this initiative late last year. Louisa Barton joined our team as our Director of Equine Engagement and has done a masterful job at reaching out and engaging equine businesses and educating the rest of us. Our monthly Equine Engagement meetings have out-grown the CEP conference room and must now be held at our Power Plant Business Incubator Training Room so we can accommodate the more the 60 participants who now attend. Continue reading
What a month local and abroad. I have been at several expos and functions. The expo in the Villages was great. I had more interaction with readers than I have ever had. I had about 15 people said they read us. All but one was positive and that was a guy in the Villages that did not agree with one of the writer’s columns, which is fine. The Lady Lake Craft and Business Show under the tent at the St Timothy’s Catholic Church was a great event. Steady crowd from 10 am til 3 pm. I met some new businesses and saw some people I have not seen in a while. It was all fun and good for business. Commissioner Ruth Kussard came by to see me. Also Chief McKintrsy came by and said hi. There were also others commissioners that were in the crowd but I did not see them. Honey Baked Ham was selling sandwiches. They were very good and at a reasonable price. There was a vendor from Tampa that had shawls that were really something. They would make Christmas gifts. Continue reading
Without a doubt, the massacre in Sutherland Springs has captured our awareness that good people trying to worship are now among those vulnerable to violence.
Churches are a safe place for the lonely and vulnerable and welcome all those who enter their doors. Yet, they have a new awareness to the responsibility they have to protect those among their congregations. We owe parishioners security and safety while they worship.
In that spirit, we intend to file the Church Protection bill which is now in drafting. This bill will allow concealed weapons permit holders to be utilized by their church officials to provide security in the event anything should happen. Many churches can’t afford elaborate professional security staff, but this bill will allow trained citizens, law enforcement officers, veterans, and sportsman to accept responsibility for the safety of themselves and others should such instances occur. Continue reading
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