● The Anna Maria Island Preservation Trust, Inc. will be our nonprofit partner for the conference. Mission of the Trust is "Preserving the island's past for the future".  President Sissy Quinn has worked for years to preserve AMI heritage. The trust will be a strong partner as we move ahead with funding.   

● Newly added to featured conference speakers is Bruce Stephenson, Ph.D., Director, Master of Planning in Civic Urbanism at Rollins College. Bruce brings particular strength to our discussions of authenticity in planning as an instrument for economic and social gain.

● Already on board, speaker Gary R. Mormino, Ph.D., Frank E. Duckwall Professor of History at the University of South Florida, recently hosted Herb and Caroline at lunch to discuss involvement at the conference of the Florida Studies Program that he co-directs. Also joining us were Christopher F. Meindl, Ph.D., who late next year will succeed Gary as program director, and graduate student Andy Fairbanks.

● One year before our conference, first results may be already at hand. Miami Beach is talking about authenticity as a re-focus for the city's North Beach District. When we know more we'll pass that on. Meanwhile, read about Miami Beach, one of our four "sustainable and authentic conference places" and the steps that have made the city one of Florida's most forward working. North Beach will never be South Beach. It's already been long different and will remain distinct especially if authenticity does become its driving force. 

Miami Beach 

South Beach Art Deco District   

When Disney in 1971 began capturing Florida family tourism, Miami Beach crashed and turned toward casino gambling. Referendums to legalize widespread casinos failed in 1978 and 1986. During this same time, art historian Barbara Capitman "discovered" the city's Art Deco architectural heritage. In a long-shot insurgency, Barbara and Miami Vice not only resurrected Miami Beach tourism. The city's re-focus on heritage resources drew investors and youthful new residents. Between 1980 and 2010, the median age of Miami Beach residents dropped from 65 to 41. Before onset of the Great Recession mean household earnings had risen from $16.2 thousand in 1980 to $81.8 in 2008. Another measure? Property Values rose from $3.01 billion in 1986 to $26.9 billion in 2008.* Critical to turnaround in 1981 was formation of the Miami Beach Community Development Corporation. MBCDC led economic revitalization of the Deco District, public and private investment on Ocean Drive and Lincoln Road, and the re-emergence of South Beach as a magnet for investors, for youthful innovative residents, and for visitors around the world who by their sheer numbers returned Miami Beach to world-class tourist status. In 2011, Miami Beach set new records for summer visitors.

MBCDC Founder Denis Russ heads our Miami Beach conference team. The end of August, Denis arranged two days of meetings for Herb that attracted more than 30 elected officials, city staff, designers, hoteliers, investors, tourism officials, and organization leaders representing the Congress of New Urbanism, Environmental Coalition of Miami & the Beaches, Miami Beach Chamber of Commerce, Miami Design Preservation League, and the Surfrider Foundation. By the meetings' conclusion, many who took part already saw how the conference could help focus the greening leadership that Miami Beach has achieved but that hasn't yet been fully recognized. Miami Beach will contribute powerfully to - and benefit from -- our conference.  

* All figures supplied by the City of Miami Beach Economic Development Division.