Saturday, March 6, 2010

Participation exceeded organizers' estimates

The Key West Gator Club (KWGC) participated in BW Promotion's Half Marathon this past January, in the first of hopefully many more to come. Previously, the event was held far from Old Town in the event's original location at the Historic Seaport. This year was considered a "rebuilding" year for the race, and participation was expected to be lower than in recent years due to the past venue.

Shirts and medals are two of the largest expenses associated with the event and are ordered weeks in advance. At the time of the order, our volunteers' best estimates were made. Unfortunately, or fortunately, online registration remained open and we exceeded our best estimate of participants. I believe all our volunteers did their best in handling the unfortunate situation, and were nothing but cordial while representing the event and the KWGC.

The KWGC and BW Promoters took measures to try and correct the unfortunate situation with the lack of items by providing each and every participant who failed to receive a shirt, or correct shirt size, with an IOU that detailed a simple procedure to redeem. IOUs were also given to each runner who finished, but failed to receive a medal. We promised a medal would be provided to each finisher, and the additional items have been ordered and should be arriving soon.

Of all the IOUs redeemed, none complained about the situation, but instead complimented the event. Many vowed to return in 2011. We look forward to next year's race and hope to do a better job anticipating the quantity of participants in advance.

It was an unfortunate situation that occurred and we did our best to make things right. All in all, the event went well and the club will be able to give more scholarships to deserving students because of the race. ... To those that participated and volunteered in the 2010 Key West Half Marathon, we hope to see you again in 2011.

Javier Garrido

Key West

Criticism won't halt my fiscal oversight

I am writing to set the record straight regarding the recent guest column submitted by [Florida Keys Mosquito Control Commissioner] Steve Smith. First, Mr. Smith stated that Mosquito Control had two trucks and an airplane when he was elected. I recall, and district documents will prove, that we had 23 spray trucks, 16 larviciding trucks, along with three DC-3 aircraft and a Bell 206 helicopter.

Secondly, Mr. Smith's column stated that I never attend meetings, and he inferred I am not knowledgeable about Mosquito Control information. You can imagine my shock upon reading this allegation when I was just returning home from a Helicopter Association International convention in Houston, Texas, that I had attended with pilots and operational personnel from Mosquito Control.

For the record, I am a member of the Florida Mosquito Control Association and the American Mosquito Control Association. I am the only commissioner who attends the Florida Association of Special Districts meetings. I am the chairman for the Aerial Applications Committee for Helicopters Association International, a worldwide organization that makes safety recommendations and policies for operators that spray chemicals from helicopters. I also hold an Airline Transport Pilot license and flew the district's aircraft for eight years.

Condemning articles that are not based on fact will not deter me from my mission. I will continue to hold the line on raises and district finances. I promise to keep our funding at a level where we can protect the public, but I refuse to spend taxpayer dollars for employees or equipment we don't need.

Bill Shaw, commissioner

Florida Keys

Mosquito Control

Marathon

Senator's statement is partisan hypocrisy

Mitch McConnell, a Republican senator from Kentucky, recently said that if the Democrats used the procedure known as reconciliation (lower number of votes needed to pass a bill) to pass health care, they would be thumbing their noses at the American people.

The Republicans, on the other hand, have used this method many times to pass tax reduction bills favorable to the less needy and corporate oligarchs to the tune of a trillion dollars. Add in the unwanted war In Iraq and that cost in lives and money, the Republicans not only thumbed their noses at the American people, they mooned us.

Pat Mollica

Key West