Published by former Mayor George Gardner October 12 2011
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Community rallies to 450th
"It's great to see the whole town coming together."
And so they did, as Roger Jolly said. He was the final speaker among nearly two dozen from a roomful of community organization  representatives and citizens, outlining their plans, pledging their support for the city's efforts, and seeking support for their own, in the first City Commission 450 workshop devoted to public input.
The Monday afternoon workshop was followed by the regular commission meeting, at which City Manager John Regan unfolded a massive 23-page draft Strategic Master Plan for the commemoration.
On the minds of most, funding for their projects. Regan said today, "In a perfect world, we sell sponsorships at values large enough to fund our community partners. We're looking to raise money for everybody." | |
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Portrait
for the city
A painting of St. Augustine Founder Pedro Menendez - adjusted to accuracy from red hair and grey eyes to a func-tional helmet - was presented to the City Commission Monday night by the artist: Menendez portrayer Chad Light of the Fountain of Youth Park.
Light explained several variations from early engravings, based on historic documentation. The style of sword, length of command baton, and helmet style were adjusted in this painting from works of earlier periods, which often illustrated contemporary pieces, Light explained.
Photo: Historic City News |
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Interest in 450th
spans community | |
Among the speakers at Monday's workshop:
- John Fraser of Fountain of Youth Park, pledging support in 450 commemoration projects.
- Maury Keiser announced agreement with the Fountain of Youth Park to build initially a smaller and finally a larger 16th century tall ship.
- Elsie Carr, developing a Comprehensive Lodging Guide.
- Eva Doolittle of the EMMA concert series, urging "one person to go to" for coordination of efforts.
- Florida National Guard Command Historian Greg Moore, reminding commissioners "the town was established to support a military garrison."
- Albert Syeles of Romanza, noting 2 ½ years in development of the community arts and culture organization.
- Nick McAuliffe and Marsha Chance of the St. Augustine Archaeological Association, outlining extensive projects.
- And representatives of St. Augustine Beach and Hastings, urging that they not be forgotten in commemoration development.
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Defunct foundation returns $22,000 | |
The First America Foundation, which folded in June after failing to make progress managing the 450th commemoration, has returned another $22,000 to the city in a final accounting.
"We still want a detailed accounting," City Manager John Regan told commissioners Monday. "We want to see the checkbook register. But we're satisfied we have all the remaining paperwork."
The foundation, organized in August, 2010, with $275,000 in city money and $25,000 from Bridge of Lions Contractor Skanska, returned $150,000 to the city when it folded in June. |
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Strategic Plan heavy with partnerships |
While the concept of community committees was dismissed early on, the 23-page draft 450th Commemoration Strategic Master Plan includes one circular chart with ten spokes of organizational units, two of which include 23 community and a dozen signature partners.
Assistant City Attorney Isabelle Lopez cautioned, "This is not a working plan" because details with the state's Sunshine Law must still be worked out.
The plan, expected to be posted soon on the city's 450 website, includes Mission Statement, Goals & Operational Philosophy,Organizational Structure, Chart, and Involvement, Infrastructure Projects, Calendar of Events, Marketing and Promotion, even guidelines for use and proper colors for official city 450 logo.
In development are event sponsorship and volunteer application forms. |
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Key spot: 450 director |
Presenting a 450th organizational chart to city commissioners Monday, City Manager John Regan pointed to the box beneath City Commission, City Manager, and City Attorney, and tucked between Federal Commission and Marketing, Promotions, and Research, and said, "That's the key spot."
It's a 450th Commemoration Director spot, sitting atop a dozen more boxes.
"We have to fill that spot quickly," City Commissioner Bill Leary said. I'd be very happy to see it done by January 1."
Tripping points: the Federal 450 Commission might appoint its own director, who may not get along with the city's, or the two commissions might be happy to combine resources under a single director.
"We can conduct a search for ours, and present him or them to the federal commission for consideration when the time comes," Mayor Joe Boles said. He expects further update from the federal commission when it next meets December 9.
Miami Tri Events 1st partner
Miami Tri Events, producing a full marathon, mini-marathon, and smaller races here Nov. 18 through 20, became the city's first 450 commemoration partner with approval by the City Commission Monday.
The production is fully sponsored by Columbia Restaurants, with local sponsor participation, City Manager John Regan said. He added Miami Tri Events anticipates growing its production throughout the commemoration period.
City Commissioner Nancy Sikes-Kline, who sponsored a city bicycle study at Monday's commission meeting, said this is the kind of event that's healthy and good for the community. Mayor Joe Boles noted, "The best part is, they pick up the tab for all expenses."
Regan said his office is "testing corporate waters for sponsorship" of other events. |
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History's highlight
The Issue of Slavery [1680-1702] | |
3 years, 10 months, 28 days to St. Augustine's 450th anniversary
Drawn from Florida's Spanish Colonial Past 1565-1821, an educational poster prepared by the Florida Humanities Council for teacher workshops conducted by the Council in St. Augustine titled Between Columbus and Jamestown: Spanish St. Augustine. Additional St. Augustine resources including lesson plans, readings, maps, artwork and PDF versions of this poster, in both English and Spanish, can be found at www.flahum.org/colonial
The creation of Carolina Colony had many consequences for Florida. One issue was runaway slaves. In 1687, Spanish records show that eleven slaves (eight men, two women, and a child) escaped from Carolina and asked for sanctuary in Florida.
Governor Diego de Quiroga agreed to shelter the runaways but he also wrote to Spain for instructions: should he send them back to their English masters?
Advisors of King Charles II of Spain took almost six years to reach a decision. When they did, it was momentous. In 1693, still angry that the English had settled Carolina, the King told Florida's governor to pay for the slaves and set them free. Then he issued a proclamation that any future slaves who escaped from an English colony and reached Florida could win their freedom by converting to Catholicism. They would not be sent back to their masters and Spain would not pay any compensation.
This proclamation immediately caused trouble with the English settlers in Carolina. But it also started an "underground railroad" as more slaves tried to escape to Florida.
Fort Mose [1738]
Destruction of the missions was a severe blow to Spanish rule in Florida. The only settlements left in the colony were Pensacola and St. Augustine. But new people were coming into Florida-more runaway slaves. By the 1720s there were more than 200 runaway slaves living in and around St. Augustine.
Eventually, after many appeals to the governor and reminders of the King's promise of liberation, the newcomers gained their freedom. In 1738, Governor Manuel de Montiano decided to create a town and fort for them with land to farm. The new settlement, two miles north of St. Augustine, was called Gracia Real de Santa Teresa de Mose.
More Hardships
In 1740, the free black town was only one and a half years old when troops from Carolina and Georgia invaded Florida again. They quickly reached St. Augustine, pushed Spanish forces away from the defenses around Fort Mose, and took over the fort as a camp.
Governor Montiano ordered a counterattack. His troops, with Indian allies and black militia from Mose, made a surprise assault on the fort. They drove the English troops out and burned down the fort so the enemy could not use it. English forces eventually had to retreat.
Fort Mose remained abandoned for many years. In the 1750s, free blacks built a new Fort Mose a short tlistance from the original.
Image: Fort Mose rebult in 1752. University Press of Florida |
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The St. Augustine Report is published weekly, with additional Reports previewing City Commission meetings as well as Special Reports. The Report is written and distributed by George Gardner, St. Augustine Mayor (2002-2006) and Commissioner (2006-2008) and a former newspaper reporter and editor. Contact the Report at gardner@aug.com |
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