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HomeMy WebLinkAboutM-94-022111.44W - January 24, 1994 Cesar Odio City Manager City of Miami Dear Cesar: t f�bvePZw Chamber of Commerce 2820 WFARLANE ROAD COCONUT GROVE. FLORIOA 33133 (3051444-7270 Please be advised that the 20 member Waterfront Development Committee of the Coconut Grove Chamber of Commerce as I previously reviewed with you, will present to the City Administration and the City Commission a positive statement with specific recommendations on the City's Waterfront property from Kennedy Park to The Barnacle. We are requesting the opportunity to be placed on the. March City Commission agenda at which -time our full Waterfront plan will be presented to the Administration and the Commission. The study which took place at the Coconut Grove Sailing Club this past September was a Town Council and Civic Association product. Both the Chamber study and the Civic Association study will be extremely valuable to the City Administration and Commission for purposes of comparison, originality and public usage. Respectfully submitted, Stuart Sorg SS;nk Enclosures 4&- 221 SORG FINANCIAL GROUP MORTGAGE BROKERAGE BUSINESS COMMERCIAL & RESIDENTIAL MORTGAGE FUNDING THE POWERFUL ADVANTAGES OF STUART SORG LIC. MTG. BROKER Sorg Financial Group is a A fast growing yet carefully managed Florida licensed mortgage brokerage mortgage brokerage business, Sorg PRODUCTS business founded to provide a wide Financial Group offers an array of variety of residential and commercial mortgage products at better than AND mortgage programs through a select competitive pricing with faster PRICING portfolio of U.S. resident and non- closings and greater personal and resident lenders. Our mortgage loan professional financial service to our clients reside in the continental U.S., clients. After closing no cost loan Europe, Central and South America. consultation is always available. EXPERIENCE AND EXPERTISE COMMITMENT AND DEDICATION Stuart Sorg, founder of Sorg Financial Group, has a long term financial background which includes serving as statewide Director of Business Development for one of Virginia's largest banking organizations. A founder ofVirginia's first statewide stockholder owned Savings & Loan, Sorg was also A native of Richmond, Virginia, he attended the University of Miami and graduated from The University of Virginia. He has been dedicated to the South Florida community for over 20 years and his community service record includes: fourterms as President ofthe Coconut Grove Chamber of Commerce, foundingmemberofthe CityofMiami's prestigious International Trade Board, Founder and Chairman for six years of the City of Miami Waterfront Board, President of a successful bank marketing company representing 19 majorVirginiabanks, andthe Virginia Savings & Loan League. He lectured nationally on bank marketing for the American Bankers Association and was a Regional Vice President forone of Florida's largest statewide bank holding companies. Vice President of The Vizcayans, first Vice President of the Goombay Festival and Founder of the Mexican/ American Chamber of Commerce. A retired Naval Reserve Captain (SEALS), StuartSorg,anavid sailboat racer and scuba diver, was a consultant to the City of Miami for Harbors, Rivers and Marinas. He served for two years as a financial and municipal development consultant in Honduras where he founded the Honduran Federation ofChambers of Commerce. �4- 221 3 -._,r : 4.-aa, - G0CqJPtZ,-,'3zbVe Chamber of Commerce 2820 McFARLANE ROAn COCONUT GROVE, FLORIDA 33133 (3051444.1270 LETTER TO THE EDITOR OF THE MIAMI HERALD Re: Coconut Grove Chamber of Commerce Select Committee Studying Coconut Grove Waterfront In December 1993, the Coconut Grove Chamber of Commerce as directed by President Yaromir Steiner and Executive Director Amy Simons established a major Coconut Grove Waterfront Committee ,consisting of 20 prominent local business, civic, community and government leaders to surgically study the City of Miami's critically valuable Waterfront assets from Kennedy Park to the Barnacle. This select Blue Ribbon committee will review and present to the City of Miami commission in March a specific recommendation with particular emphasis on the Virrick Gym property, the Merrill Stevens property, the Anchorage area and possibility for the development of Waterborne transportation. This select committee has held two meetings with three more major meeting scheduled prior to the presentation to the Mayor and Commission in March. Over the past years the Coconut Grove Chamber of Commerce has always taken a commanding leadership role in decision making regarding the Coconut Grove Waterfront. With the appointment of this Select Non Partisan committee the Chamber once again is looking forward to assisting the City administration and the City Commission in the decision making process relative to Coconut Grove's Waterfront assets. Respectfully, Stuart Sorg Chairman, Select Commit t e Coconut Grove Chamber of Commerce ",104— 221 /\ /OX, -�j "�7 cw�Mbtad cocgqqt Qrove Chamber of Commence 2820 McFARLANE ROAD COCONUT GROVE, FLORIDA 33133 (305)444-7270 FAX 444-2498 DATE:. January 18, 1994 TIME: 6:00 - 7:30 p.m. PLACE: Coral Reef Yacht Club THESE ARE THE MOST CRITICAL LAST 3 MEETINGS, PLEASE TRY TO ATTEND! 7 221 Coconut Crove Chamber of Commerce CURRENT i FUTURE VATERFRONT DEVELOPMENT COMMITTEE 1/17/94 P, TITLE s MEMBER, ADDRESS PHONE six FAX ,rout, Christine , Comwt Grove Met Officer 2820 Mcfartane Road Coconut Grove, FL 0.0 579-6018 �amll, Luis. , 2601 South sayshoDrive Coconut Grove, FL 33133-Q re �9 -ilk, Lawrence Coral Reef Yaght Clio, 24U South Bsyshore, Drive Coconut Crave, Ft 33133-0 - a%-1733 854-5911 xulliette,, Terence The Barnette, 3485 Main Highway Coconut Grave, FL 33133-0 ttt, Dayid Center Grove Realty a Appraisal Service, Inc., 3290 Matlldu Street Miami, FL 33133 '- axon, Thomas 2424 South Dixie Highway 941amS, FL 33133-0 854-3445 *Mts, Tam . Nottzmen, Crispin & Equets, 2601 South ewymbore Drive Suite AN Coconut Grove, FL 33133-0 a59-7700 859-9996 tit, David Center Grove Realty &Appraisal Service, Inc., 3290 MAtildu Street Mimi, Ft 33133 448-4a64 reen, Jerry _ Coconut Grove Sailing Club, a'990 S. Bayshors Dr. Coconut Grove, FL 33133-0 444-4571 44-M9 srrison, Gus __. Coconut crows Bank, 2701 South onshore Drive Coconut Grave, Ft 33133 855-6666 orpels, Stuart Atlantis Marine Towing hk Satvage,•Dinner Key Marine PC) Box 1655 Miami, FL 33133-0 a54-6196 ectoskey, Robert St StepheMs Episcopet Church, 2750 Mc 0arlane hoed Coconut Grove, ft 33133 448-2601 eredith, Spencer Grove Key Marine, 3365 Pan American Dr. Coconut Grove, Ft 33133-0 858-652T 858-6525 dio, Cesar City Of Miami, 3500 Pon Annerican Dr. Coconut Grove, FL 33133-0 250-SW $56-3284 ands, Pinky The Gooduy Festivet, 3?50 S. Dixie Highway .Coconut Grove, FL 33133-0 446.3311 S29-2725 +pith, Cartos Assitent City Manager, 3500 Pan American Drive Coconut Grove, FL 33133.0 579-6045 ;org, Stuart, CHAIRMAN Sorg finnenciat Group, 2000 South Dixie Highway Coconut Grove, FL 33133 M-0558 856.0569 :vendsen, Cal Caette Harbor, 3400 Pan Americon' Drive Oimer Key Marina Cocoanut Grove, Ft 33133-0 858-3212 leiverde, Juan Commodore Plaza Merchants Assocation, 3145 Commodore Plata Coconut Groom, FL 33133-0 56T-0104 858-4951 5, Paget 1 Cat t�xx�� SERGIO RODRIGUEZ, AICP �� CESAR H. ODIO Director " uull lsm �* City Manager February 14, 1994 Mr. Stuart Sorg Sorg Financial Group 2000 S. Dixie Highway Miami, FL 33133 RE: Waterfront Development Committee Coconut Grove Chamber of Commerce Waterfront Plan Dear Mr. Sorg: With reference to your letter to the City Manager of January 24, 1994, requesting to present the above -referenced plan at a future City Commission meeting, a significant opportunity is immediately available for you to present your plan to the Coconut Grove Community. This department is sponsoring a public meeting pertaining to the Virrick Gym and Dinner Key Boatyard - both properties of the City of Miami - at 6:00 p.m., Tuesday, February 15, 1994, at City Hall. Two previous public meetings have been held. If you are unavailable, may I obtain a copy of your plan to present Tuesday night, by sending a courier to your office. Alternatively, you can telecopy the plan to Joseph W. McManus, Deputy Director, at 358-1452. Thank you for your consideration in this matter. Sincerely, 1ero Rodriguez, AICP FAX #856-0569 cc: Cesar H. Odio, City Manager Carlos Smith, Assistant City Manager Christina Abrams, NET Administrator Coconut Grove Service Center Stuart Sorg, Chairman Waterfront Development Committee Coconut Grove Chamber of Commerce . to 2820 McFarlane Road Miami, FL 33133 94- 221 Planning and Zoning Division / (305) 579-6086 / FAX (305) 358-1452 ill N `` ) RESOLUTIONNO ------------------------------------------------- A RESOLUTION, WITH ATTACHMENTS, RECOMMENDING THAT THE CITY OF MIAMI COMMISSION HEREBY RESCINDS THE RESOLUTION NO.------93 - 374- -------------------- DATED JUNE 29 , 1993 THAT CALLS FOR THE DEMOLITION OF THE VIRRICK GYM AND AGREES IN PRINCIPLE AND INTENT WITH THE FINDINGS OF THE PUBLIC CHARRETT STUDY KNOWN AS 'THE VIRRICK GYM AT DINNER KEY STUDY [MARCH 19941 AND SHALL MAKE THE RESULTS OF SAID STUDY; TO BE USED AS THE GUIDLINES AS TO CONCEPT AND INTENT FOR ALL FUTURE R. F. P. 'S PUT OUT BY THE CITY OF MIAMI FOR THE FUTURE USE OF THE VIRRICK GYM; ADJOINING PUBLIC BOAT RAMP, PARK AND PARKING AREA; THE:,l JQNN&DRY-DOCK HANGERS [FORMERLY - KNOWN AS THE MERRILL-STEVENS DRY-DOCK]; AND THE IMMEDIATELY SURROUNDING OPEN SPACE. ALSO THAT REPAIRS TO THE VIRRICK GYM, ADJACENT TWO DRY-DOCK HANGERS BEGIN IMMEDIATELY WITH ANY INSURANCE FUNDS, OR POSSIBLE F.E.M.A. FUNDS AVAILABLE AND IF NECESSARY RENTS RECEIEVED SO AS NOT TO ALLOOW ANY FURTHER DETERIATION OR DAMAGE TO CONTINUE TO SAID PUBLIC FACILITIES AND THE REBUILDING OF THE PREVIOUSLY DAMAGED SIXTYONE [61 ] DOCK SLIPS AND FUELING DOCK BEING AN INTEGRAL ECONOMICAL PART OF THIS PUBLIC DRY-DOCK FACILITY WITH THE F.E.M.A. FUNDS RECEIVED BY THE CITY TO COMMENCE IMMEDI- ATELY. Submitted into the public record in connection with item 2 ' 13 on 3 IS-41 Rom_ Mal ty Hirai Ci-ky Clerk 94- 220. CK LIST (MADE BY PHONE YA(L ICLUB EXECUTIVE OFFFIOCES, MARCH S ?199�SA MANAGEMENT List of Boats over 28 Fee i Len h n t I I a ,e E,2 2ll iQs: Plow I. Marinas: II, Yacht Clubs: Qna -s Dinner Key 405 Key Biscayne Yacht Club 70 Grove Island Marina 20 Coconut Grove Sailing Club 80 Monty's Marina 154 Coral Reef Yacht Club 100 Gables Water Way Executive 20 Biscayne Yacht Club 30 Rickenbacker Marina 2.40 Palm Bay Yacht Club 30 Crandon Park Marina 132 Deering Yacht Club (Re -opening) 76 Watson Island Marina 20 Black Point Marina 140 'Total Vessels 2,630 Biscayne Bay Marriott Marina 10 III. Residential Areas, Condo Marinas, and 79th Street Marina 30 Canals Virginia Key Marina 240 Miami (South) Beach Marine 336 Pines Canal - Key Biscayne Sunset Harbor Marine 93 Pelican Canal Snapper Creek Marine 22 Rocker Road Canal Homestead Park Marina 86 Bayshore Homes Drive Canal Bella Mar Marina 20 Miami Beach Star Island Matheson Hammock 176 Hibiscus Island (Pre -Hurricane being Rebuilt) Alton Road Canals Bayside Marina • 141 Gables Waterways - Residential Areas (In Permit Process) Coco -Plum Canals Old Merrill Stevens 52 Gables Waterway - CondorniniUm (Pre -Hurricane Held) Marinas Hurricane Harbor - Residential, Key Biscayne Mashta Island - Key Biscayne Old Cutler Bay - Canals Journey's End - Canals Villa Venetia Marina These residential areas have at least 300 more vessels over 28 feet which is considered to be a very low estimate (actual amounts can be obtained). It is estimated that there is well over three thousand (3,000) pleasure vessels (in the over 28 foot length) class, from in the Biscayne Bay area, with Northwest 79 Street begin the Northern Boundary and Card Sound Bridge, being the Southern Boundary, of the this survey. The Miami River was not included in this survey. The majority of these responses were in opposition to the closing of the Dinner Key Lary -Deck -Repair Facility or Public Boat Ramp next to the Virrick Gym. Letters will be forthcoming as to this opposition C1 LIST OF BUSINESSES IN THE GRUVE AREA -,- N I. Marine Related: 1. Other Supportive Businesses (, 4 q Shell Lumber E-7_ Ouick Deli O 0 M Coconut Grove Sailmakers Loggerhead Saloon Christiansen Sailmakers Big Daddy Liquor Store O o Michael & Ass. (Sails) Dade/Grove Bicycle Shop 9 Boat Care by Bernard Last Carrot '"' v M Ocean Test Just Beads West Marine OHM Jewelry Ocean Test Marine Supplies Taraus Dingy Shops Classic Printing O McKenna Sign Making This-n-That Shop Shore Sails (and many others) Crook & Crook Various restaurants & clothing stores Ships Crew This-n-That Shop Bob Cambell Glass Works Krest 5&10 Store Fred's Boat Painting Serv, Maya Hatcha Rick Miller Carpentry Big Ralph's Chandlery Grove Key Marine Store Sailing Services Bill Stewart Yacht Brokers ... Atlantic Marine Services and others not mentioned 9' 4— 2 2 Q "OLD MERRIL STEVENS DRYDOCK/MARINA" [Base on Average Boat Size - 35 Feetl Marina (Pre -Hurricane) Capacity 61 Slips $.35 Per Foot Per Day = $13.30 Per Day x 30 Days = $399.00 Per Month/Per Boat x 12 Months - $4,788 Per Year/Per boat x 61 Slips - $292,068.00 At 80% Capacity - $232,654.00 $232,654.00 11. Dry Docks - Boat Repair Area (Outside Hanger) (Based on 61 Boat Capacity - More Room Inside to Store Boats) with the 35 Cent Par Foot Par day Rate (36' Boat) At 80% Capacity Per Year = 232,654.00 Ill. Haul Out Travel Life Fee.(35 Ft. Boat) At $4.00 Per Foot = $140.00 [in and out] Capacity if (5 Boats in and 5 Boats Out Per Day) Only 2.54 Boats Per Day = 61 Boats Per Months Based on 6 Days a Week Hauling = 24 Days a Month And Only Hauling 61 Boats Per Month Submitted Into the public x 12 Months = 732 Boats per Year x $140 Per Boat = $102,480 record in connection with 102,480.00 IV. E.P.A. Required Pressure Cleaning Pit ii�em Z - 13 on -?at $2.00 Per Foot Per boat = $70.00 Per Boat =- 61 Boats Per Month x 12 = 732 Boats Per Year Matty Hirai 732 Boats x $70.00 = $ 51, 240.00 City Clerk 51,240.00 V. Rental Space - Inside Large Hangar Annual Based Square Foot Rate of $6.00 Sq. Ft. Per Year x 2,600 sq. ft. = $159,000.00 150,000.00 VI, Inside Storage - based on '(35 Foot Boats) at $9.00 (Per Foot, Per Month) - $315 Per Month/Per Boat x 20 Capacity Boats = $6,300 Per Month x 12 Months-- $75,600 Gross Per Year 75,600.00 VII. Fuel Dock: Based on 20,000 Gallons Per Month [which is based on estimated less than Average Fuel Sales when Merrill Stevens managed this Facility). Buying the Fuel at Average Rate of $.85 per Gallon and Selling it at $1 .35 Per Gallon = $.50 Per Gallon Profit (Less Expenses for the Installation of the Above Ground Tanks, Piping Pumps, .E.P.A. Requirements including Emergency Retainment Booms for Accidental Spillages, on Site, and the Labor of -Man Running the Fuel Facility to be determined). 120,000.00 Total of Gross Receipts 1$964,628.00 VIII. Also for Consideration - is the Very Large Expenditure to Restore this Dry Dock j . A. Facility: Repairs to: The roof; encapsulating the (asbestos -tar covered) tin siding and re -attach as needed; windows; the second floor structure; plumbing and electrical repairs; the bulkhead; the travel lift and necessary runway; the marina docks and slips; the painting of the hangar; parking; landscaping; fuel tanks, lines and pumps; these items need to be brought up to current code, and costs to be determined. B. The E.P.A. Requirements for: 1. Pressure Cleaning Pit; Filtered Holding Tanks and Well System for Contaminated Run -Off Water. 2. Disposal Containers for Double Bagged - Plastic Tarp Contaminated (from bottom paints and fiberglass residue) to be picked up on a weekly basis by hazardous waste collection company. C. Funds for the 40 Ft. Wide - Landscaped Bay Walk that borders the bulkhead and runs along the waters edge with lighting to match Dinner Key Marina. D. The management fee expenses also needs to be calculated with electric, water, insurances, licenses, maintenance and advertising expenses, taken into account. �A- 220 MUHAMMAD ALI'S ROLE MODELS FOR YOUTH -CHAMPIONS FOR LIFE (A non profit sports mentoring program to help at -risk youth) Honorable Ralph N. Person President Dr. Wiliam E. Hayes Clinical Director February 15, 1994 Dear Concerned Citizen: Virrick Gym at Dinner Rey Study U •ri 8050 S.W. 132 Court la Miami, Florida 33183 Ph. (305) 386-8527 ca Gti •W •r As the Clinical Director for the Muhammed Ali's Role Models for Youth Champions for Life Program, which is endorsed by the` Greatest himself, we strongly urge concerned citizens to reuse the Virrick Gym as a Youth Center.and Boxing Gym. I have witnessed Virrick's rich heritage as youth center for 21 years. Children who,most need the services of a recreation center are least able to lobby for the reuse of the Virrick Gym. Though our program is new to these workshops to develop plans to reuse the gym.,.we believe we speak for the children who could certainly benefit from a youth center in Coconut Grove. Ten and twenty years ago the gym was bustling with children enjoying themselves and developing sportsmanship and citizenship. The Virrick. Gym could again serve not only as a youth center but also as an exhibition center for the community. The "Champions for Life" program would like to help the Department of Parks -uT3 Revreation, Police Athletic League,, Cocon::t.Grove Cares or any other programs to develop the Virrick Gym into a meaninful center for the youth of Miami. e-71 esll, Dr illiam.E. Hayes School Psychologist Former Boxer, Coach, and Ring Announcer, Virrick Gym a��i p a�.� Co .� � �rsia N I CPA R �¢.G O ✓k � � 41 uZt;t' P 4,1&k . 4 - 221 �y`�% ��' 610� -� jNCI BO del N q ubmitled into +.!-).e ie(--;o,,,d in itern P2 Cl. Y � 01- 221 Submitted into the pu"�.i � (. record in connection item, P'Z - I L4 on OJ 4 - 221 City Cie-',k record iD :,2 / �� 113 Y- - -- L4 Submitted into the public record in connection with 221 _-- on �? . Hirai r �'erx !77{tea rr,Y y t .. 7i -- Ian ---� /�� _. .. W*s. �.. � � F x d - /t a , y :CR• •� ^ i1 � 1 '!i TeFv.cfF,yu�i � �Ka5 n W> t i I ;1 COCONUT 4ROVE ARES inc. FOUNDED 1948 ELIZABETH L. VIRRICK, Founder COLLIE COATS, Executive Director A RESOLUTION OF THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS OF COCONUT GROVE CARES, INC. URGING THE CITY COMMISSION OF THE CITY OF MIAMI TO SUPPORT THE USE OF A REPAIRED AND RESTORED VIRRICK GYM AS A RECREATIONAL FACILITY FOR THE YOUTH OF COCONUT GROVE AND THE CITY OF MIAMI; AND TO INCLUDE COCONUT GROVE CARES, INC. IN ITS CONSIDERATION OF RECREATIONAL PROGRAMMING FOR THE VIRRICK GYM. WHEREAS, the Board of Directors of Coconut Grove Cares over many years been actively involved in the development of the Virrick Gym as a recreational facility; and WHEREAS, The interest and involvement of Coconut Grove Cares in this facility has been noted by the City of Miami in its naming of the facility for the founder and longtime Executive Director of Coconut Grove Cares, the late Elizabeth Virrick; and WHEREAS, the Board of Directors takes note that this historic structure, having served the public as a United States Coast Guard station, continued to serve the public as a recreational facility over the last several years; and WHEREAS, Coconut Grove Cares, as a non-profit agency supported by United Way and providing programs for the youth of Coconut Grove and the City of Miami, has a particular interest in working with the City, the Shake -a - Leg program and other recreation -oriented agencies to provide recreational programming at the Virrick Gym for area youth; and WHEREAS, the Board of Directors strongly urges the City Commission and City Administration to include Coconut Grove Cares in any consideration of organizations and programs to be included in the provision of recreational uses for Virrick Gym; Submitted into V record in cc-r.A,'.X":... item fZ,1 3? .fatty I:iirai 22.E City Clerk NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS OF COCONUT GROVE CARES THAT: SECTION 1. The Miami City Commission is hereby strongly urged to continue to use the Virrick Gym for public recreational uses; SECTION 2. The Miami City Commission and City Administration is hereby strongly urged to include Coconut Grove Cares in any consideration of organizations and programs to be included in the provision of recreational uses for Virrick Gym; SECTION 3. This resolution shall be sent to the Mayor and each of the City Commissioners of the City of Miami, and to the Chairman of the Cocoanut Grove Village Council. PASSED AND ADOPTED this 9th day of March, 1994. TUCKE GIBBS, PRESIDENT ATTEST: COLLIE COATES, EXECT VE DIRECTOR MOVED: THELMA GIBSON SECONDED: VERNEKA SILVA VOTE: UNANIMOUS Submi ed into t?-'_ c record in connec „si v ith item PZ_ on 3�4 f afty Hirai City Clerk 04- 221 January 7, 1992 MEMORANDUM TO: Cesar Odio I Wally Lee Albert Ruder From: Lawrence Terry Subj: Dinner Key Boat Yard; status & plans for 1992 On January 6, 1992, at 2:30 p.m. the City of Miami officially took possession of the property at 2640 S. Bayshore Drive. This document will provide an assessment of that property and my recommendations for its operation for the rest of this fiscal year and a general plan for consideration for FY '93. A. Current status. 1. Physical - As all of you have read in the papers, in the proposals in response to the RFP and from on -site visits, the Dinner Key Boat Yard (the Boat Yard) is in a sad state of repair. The Docks have pitted underpinnings and there is rebar showing. Over 75 % of the pilings of which there are several hundred are 50 % desintegrated below the waterline. Electrical and water lines are somewhat haphazardly contained. The fuel pumps that remain are showing signs of rust -out; the fuel lines do not meet current DERM specs, and the Dock House electrical controls are disconnected. The Boat lift(elevator) has been removed as well as its driving motor and all control cables. The Steel girders which support the elevator are rusted out and the apron next to the bulkhead to which the elevator support is attached is also extremely rusty and weak. The bulkhead at this point, the one with heavy use from the lift, is in the worst shape. The rest of the retaining walls show extensive rust of the metal sheeting. However, the cement itself is holding up fairly well. Both the large and small hangers are incredibly solid buildings with pleasant nostalgic and historical significance -The roofs, while probably as old as the buildings-, are holding up fairly well. In the large hanger, the south side is dry but the north side has several significant leaks.The small hanger is mostly dry. Both buildings have extensive window breakage,termite ridden wooden floors, and suspect electrical systems(albeit functioning). The tarmac both in front of the property(on Bayshore) and in the yard itself has major potholes and scarred sections. Planting and greenery is minimal. There is a solid chain Sl$iftgn �L-�round the entire property. P4 ._ . record it ri•:. i#eIn Z-/ Lil c: .2'4� . Cit' t `�.�irai � A Y Clexk i - 2 21 Submitted into - `?, e public rec%,A:d in cot2i:.:: st x1 with item P2 -1 a on _3I�.,,�Lg Matty Hirai 2. Operational - From an 9#�ka 1 point of view, inspite of all the negative physical characteristics cited above and the inability of the examiner to make any commercial committments beyond one month, the Boat Yard is today a viable entity with a positive cash flow. It has been stated to me that the Boat Yard today has more boats being worked on in the yard than when Merril Stevens had the property.There are approximately 17 entities renting space in the two hangers and with a few exceptions all are marine related. There are about 55 boats in the wet slips and several additional transients.In addition to this there are several boats in dry storage outside. All boats are being worked on by either the owner or the owners agents, which in many cases include the tenants in the hanger. The self service yard has been made possible by the presence of a 30 ton mobile crane which is presently housed in the small hanger and which independently contracts with the owners for round trip hauling. The crane operates on Mondays and Thursdays and the round trip charge per boat is $250. Each boat pays the wet slip rate while in dry dock. A wet slip tenant does not pay double, but his slip can be used for a transient. A fuel truck is providing fuel to customers on a daily basis. The truck parks near where the old tanks are and services boats pulled up, to the sea wall across from the old dock masters house. The Boat Yard is open from 7:30 to 5:00 and the Marina has access 24 hours a day for residents. There is no hired security. There are, besides the manger, two full time employees. One serves as the dock master, crane supervisor, fuel operation supervisor, the person in authority in the absence of the manager and security. The other is a maintenance person who keeps the whole facility swept and picked up, cleans the bathrooms, and works 7 days a week. 3. Financial - Current revenues are approximately $22,000 on a monthly basis This is made up of $19,000 in wet and dry slip revenue and $3,000 in rent in the hanger.Expenses will be in the range of $16,500 leaving a net postive income of $5,500.This would mean that the operation as it is now without changes would generate, on an annual basis, $264,000 with expenses of $198,000 and a net profit of $66,000.We will receive approximately $45,000 from the Examiner. FUTURE OPERATIONS PLAN 1.General Considerations- The Public and in turn the Commission and the Administration made it clear in the RFP that the 2640 S. Bayshore Property should continue to provide the boating public of South Florida but particularly Biscayne Bay and Dinner Key, a full service Boat repair facility, fueling. facilities, and other marine related services and activities. Every boater has his or her ideas but the collective wisdom, to "connect" the Boatyard with the rest of Coconut Grove, was to include provisions for a restaurant or a raw bar and walkways 94— w21 Subm� d into the public record in connection with item Qa -114 on 3 /? -t jq4 blatty Hirai alone the bayfront. The mariGAY Clgrkh expanded version of it remained a given. Because a boat yard is a highly labor intensive operation both in direct and indirect wages, and does not proportionately contribute much gross revenue to a marine entity handling boats of the size being serviced at Dinner Key, all proposals relied on the other operations, especially the dry dock facility to generate the real money.Since the RFP was written, a moratorium on new dockage was instituted. This apparently includes dry dockage as well.Thus, until the City can obtain a waiver from the county for the building of wet and dry slips(on a grandfather basis and a needs basis) it must assume that it has this limitation. The City has an agreement with Grove Key Marina that precludes the Boatyard from dry storing any boats 28, or less. This means that the dry storage operation will only be able to accept customers with boats greater than 28 feet. There are fewer power boats in this larder range and because they are heavier as well as longer, the equipment necessary to operate the dry rack system is very heavy and expensive. Compared to a wet slip operation, the dry rack system is labor intensive. A major assumption to this plan is that the City has no development money but does have the availability of a 1.5 million dollar revenue bond. Since the city has had experience with renovation of and construction of marina wet slips, my recommendation is to press forward as fast as possible with obtaining the necessary permits to renovate the existing docks and add the maximum allowable number of new slips. The second priority longer term is to renovate and install a travel lift for hauling boats for storage and repair. The third priority is the development of a marine ship chandlery which would include food, beer and ice. This would be a serious boaters store and pricing would be slightly above wholesale -levels. Right now, the local boating community has two choices on the waterfront for lunch and after work relaxation. Thus a restaurant or raw bar is a nice but even longer term priority. These longer term priorities with the exception perhaps of the revenue bond and the superfund to clean up the extant but contaminated fuel tanks- assume that the Boat Yard needs to generate its own funds and "pay as you go" for future revenue generating activities. Thus the immediate plan is to put in place as fast as is possible any appropriate activity that will generate funds for the Boatyard. Thus the current plan is as follows 1. Continue to maximize the occupancy of the marina. The Boatyard can actua y ave more than occupancy --because of the layout of the retaining walls. The yard can service oversize Catamarans and Trimarans which do not fit in even an oversize slip. The Boatyard can also raft up in one slip several boats which are transients without liveaboard.Current rates for the slips are if anything, above Dinner Key Marina. 2. Maximize the Self Service Boatyard. Currently the city is 4- 221 . " Submitted ir-�,t the Public record in connection with item Q ' 1 4 on _ 3../-7k1-qA -- - Matt r Hirai receiving no income frElity tOl-;rckrane operation. It is receiving income from each boat as rent. A new arrangement should be made with the crane operator to receive something for each round trip hauling. In addition each vendor or laborer should be required to pay some kind of either annual occupational fee or a daily rate or a small percentage of gross revenues. A medium term plan would call for setting up a "paint shed" inbetween the two hangers to enable the Yard to operate a bottom cleaning and paint assembly line. While of course there are many trades operating in a boat yard including carpentry, electrical, mechanical, welding, rigging, and electronics. bottom cleaning and painting is an almost annual necessity in these waters. With hauling, paint and labor a typical bottom job for a 40' boat is easily in excess of $600 per boat. The Boatyard should allow each owner to choose his own team and merely take a percentage of each job. This avoids any liabilities and free "redos". Each bottom job special would generate additional activity in the yard as most owners will cet something else fixed when the boat is out of the: water(something that they know about or discover when the boat is pulled). 3: Maximize the Tenancy_and activity in the Hangers. As mentioned above there are approximately 17 marine related businesses paying about $3,000 per. month for space in the Hangers. The footprint of the large hanger is about 25,000 square feet and that of the smaller one is 15,000. The current tenants are extremely happy being in the Boatyard. Many of them have expressed a desire to obtain longer term commitments from the City so that they can make leasehold improvements. The tenants include an upholstery shop, machine shop, woodworking, sail loft, • engine repair and general repairs. It is,true cottage industry at its best and most of the people are true professionals. While they are paying little rent their facility does not yet warrant "going rates". There are many opportunites for marine related activates of a shorter term nature. For instance a boat builder wanted to rent the whole hanger for $20,000 a month to build a 100 foot boat. There are very few buildings on the waterfront in Florida like the large hanger. The hanger could also be filled with large boats for storage. To accomplish that we would have to acquire or lease trailers and a tug.A boat builder_ called yesterday wanting space to build a 40' catamaran. This, while it would generate only say $1,000 per month in rent would be a tremendous stimulous to the craftsmen in the facility and to the community 4. immediatelystart Yard controlled Fuelin There is no fuel doe in Coconut Grove. A the oats rig t in Dinner Key,including the Sailing Clubs and Monty Trainors, and in Coral Gables must travel many miles to fuel at either Matheson Hammock or at the Rusty Pelican. The Yard will have a captive clientele just as did Merrill Stevens.Because the underground tanks are not usable, the Boatyard will have to utilize above around tanks. These tanks come in various sizes with pumping equipment and all permits ready to go. They can be bought or leased using the fuel sales to amortize the cost. If ".rented" the fuel must be bought through the company. The City of course has its own source for 94- 221 J fuel and this possibility and a comparison need to be made. Any decision will allow the Boatyard to sell fuel with a margin of .5 er gallon(which is conservative) and a sales price of about 1.35. The market would bare slightly more than that but the Boatyard should avoid being categorized as a" gouger". A conservative number of gallons is projected below, in the range of 20,000 gallons per month. This more than likely will build up very rapidly once boaters know that fuel is once more available at the site. 5. Start a controlled methodical CLEANUP of the Yard. It would e air to say that the property is an eyesore from S. Bayshore and from the waterfront. The windows that are broken should be replaced, the front cleaned up, the tarmac patched, all extraneous boat hulls and wood removed and painting of exposed steel. The assumption is that for the moment there will be no demolition, except perhaps of the motor shed, since demolition of even the small hanger is extremely expensive. 6. Start a controlled methodical DOCK repair proqram. As money is available, the pilings and El ck sections w is must be fixed should be attended to. There is no immediate danger on the docks but a program should be started. Public Works and GSA will be essential and invaluable partners in cleaning and fixing the Boatyard. Proforma Budget As a means of understanding the plan from a financial viewpoint the following is an income and expense statement for the Boatyard for FY '92 without GSA line items included. For the Nine Months starting January 1, 1991: Income 1. Wet slip rentals $168 000 50 boats x 40, x .35 x 30 x 8 January is already collected 2. Dry Dock Rent 30,000 20 boats x 40, x .35 x 13 days x 8 months (conservative) 3. Hanger Rentals 5,000 x 8 months 40,000 4. Fuel Sales (Net) 65,000 20,000 gallons x 8 months x .40 net revenue 5. Revenue Sharing 10,000 % of gross of tenants TOTAL $313,000 Expenses I. Salaries and Professonal Services Submitted into tl-.e pu2.1ir300 a-j record in connection wi .. item P:2 -14 _ on -3 _ Ivf r u xbi.-'-1 9 4 -- 221 City- Clerk Expenses, Cont: (1) 4 Employees; $9,700/ month x 9 2. Utilities 3. Insurance 4. Materials and Supplies 5. Rent 6. Postage and Advertising 7. Telephone 8. Repairs and Maintenance 9. Miscellaneous TOTAL EXPENSES NET INCOME; Nine Months 31,500 18,000 20,000 1,350 1,000 1,350 25,000 15,000 $200,500 $112 r, Submitted into the public record in connection with item P.— t 4 on c� Witty HiYci City Clerk &- 221 PROPOSAL THE INTERNATIONAL BACKGROUND PROVIDING NEW POSSIEgaFatted into the Public SHAKE -A -LEG record in connection with FOR THE ESTABLISHMF�44&— NT OF Z 0- WATER SPORTS AND T R ia'd y Hircli City Clerk Shake -A -Leg was established in Newport, RI in 1992, as a non profit corporation. Its purpose is to develop new opportunities that will assist people with disabilities to get back into the main stream of life. Through our pioneering work in rehabilitation and recreation we have developed state of the art equipment and a program formula that integrates people with disabilities back into the community. It is based on the community banning together to develop and optimize its natural resources to best serve the public. In 1989, Dr. Barth Green, President of the Miami Project to Cure Paralysis, asked Shake -A -Leg to opened an International Water Sports Training center in Miami. We searched for the finest location and identified the old Coast Guard hanger (Virrick Gym and the City Parks Handicapped offices) at 2600 South Bayshore Drive. We presented our proposal to the City Commission. They gave us permission to work with the City Manager install our docks and operate our program. We received a $25,000 grant from the Biscayne Bay Environmental Trust Fund and raised an additional $100,000 to install the docks. The City of Miami provides us with a use permit to operate the program on the site which includes office space in the hanger. Together with the support of the City, County and community Shake -A - leg built a fully accessible dock and over the past three years we have built our fleet of specially designed boats to six, the country's largest. We also completed a set of plans to develop a training center in the Hangar building. Hurricane Andrew Hit and we all had to reorganize. Shake -A -Leg rebuilt its facilities and resumed programing December 26, 1992 with the second annual Orange Bowl Youth Regatta. We served approximately 1500 people with disabilities, family members, friends, health professionals and community volunteers in the year that followed. Shake -a -Leg operates year round youth programs, Adult Basic and Advanced Instruction classes, a credited University of Miami Physical Therapy Program, Programs for City of Miami Parks & Dade County Parks, Jackson Memorial Hospital, a program with Juvenile Alternative Sanction Systems (JASS) and the Lighthouse for the Blind, Paralyzed Veterans of America Florida Chapter, Miami Mega Special Olympics and a variety of other community based organizations. 2600 South Bayshore Drive Miami, Florida 33133 Phone (305) 858-5550 Fax (305) 858-6262 A NON-PROFIT 501(C)3 TAX EXEMPT ORGANIZATION �A- 221 Shake -A -Leg generates positive exposure to millions through national and local media, including the NBC Today Show and CBS This Morning. The Miami Herald named Shake -A -Leg as the 1993 Boater of the Year and the New Times recognized us as the Best Recreational Program for the Disabled. PROPOSED REDEVELOPMENT OF THE PROPERTY: The property was chosen by the government because of its ideal access to Biscayne Bay. Shake -A -Leg demonstrated its ability to work with the city, county and community by converting the former military site j into a fully accessible water sports facility. The Hurricane caused major damage and accelerates the need to redevelop the property. Shake -A -Leg believes that this unique property should be redeveloped and,optimized for public use. We have a dream that will expand our program and create a park and environment where people with all abilities can train, recreate, rehabilitate and integrate. Shake -A -Leg proposes to design and manage the restoration of the property, developing it into a world class community water sports center providing needed universally accessible programs to the local community, students, competitive athletes and attract tourists. Currently there is no community sailing center of this kind in South Florida. The facilities, will be completely accessible and modern and will include a water sports facility, training center, boat maintenance and adaptive equipment repair and design center and administrative offices. This center will bring together leaders in the field of water sports with emphasis on sailing. Shake -A -Leg will coordinate a coalition of government and business leaders and committed individuals with the necessary resources to organize and finance the project. Many jobs will be created. Yearly operating expenses will be paid for through service fees and Fund Raising activities. This joint project will be a model partnership that will insure universally accessible and affordable recreation programs are available to all people while preserving public access to the water front. Submitted into the public record in connection wit?. item P2- 1 u on 3 ou (9 y Matty 1 ._u 4 0.Ii. 221 AFFILIATIONS• Currently Shake -A -Leg works closely with several leading Organizatioins within the Miami area. The following is a partial list: - The City of Miami Parks - Metro Dade County Parks - University of Miami Department of Physical Therapy - Jackson Memorial Hospital - The Miami Project - National Handicapped Sports Foundation of S. Florida - United States Sailing Center - Paralyzed Veterans of America, Florida Chapter - The Orange Bowl Committee - Miami Sports & Exhibition Authority - Miami Physical Therapy Inc. - Light House for the Blind - Juvenile Alternative Sanction Systems (JASS) - Telephone Pioneers of America - Coconut Grove Jaycees - Sunrise Rehabilitate Hospital - Best Buddies - Miami Mega Special Olympics - Junior Orange Bowl Ability Games The National office has established affiliations with: - State of Rhode Island Department of Human Services - RI Dept. of Vocational Rehabilitation - RI Workmen's Compensation - The City of Newport and the Parks Department - The University of Rhode Island - RI Department of environmental Management, Dept. of Parks and Recreation - Rhode Island State Yachting Commission - Newport Hospital/Vanderbilt Rehabilitation - National Coordinating Counsel on Spinal Cord Injury - America 3 Foundation - National Spinal Cord Injury Association - Mission Bay Aquatic Center - American Sail Advancement Program (ASAP) - United States Sailing Association - Coconut Grove Local Development Corporation Submitted into the public record in connection with item s on A& ' ty I-Iirai 0'4&- 221 �.ww rw. nnuv narncnn ucac vimrai ainc rn FRIDAYFEEIP"ARY 12, 1993 V THE WWI I YOU and ME Sailing offers a sense of freedom for the physically disabled. On the water, everyone is equal. &; ram. i JACK OF ALL TRADES: Andy Harrison, left, and Chris Kelly take one of Shake-A-Leg's six sloops out on Biscayne IN %.rvcv on. nnuy narrrson uses visual aws to se of freedom !y disabled. yone is equal. OUTN FLORIDA BOATING JACK OF ALL TRADES: Andy Harrison, left, and Chris Kelly take one of Shake-A-Leg's six sloops out on Biscayne Bay. 'I'm the navigator, helmsman and captain all at once,' Chris boasts. 1.' i"OUTH FLORIDA BOATING F 1�i5.�. S �.; 1 y.;d.� u1Sh�:•. 4 six c4 �� x Ms', a ,ry�W„a..S s`T'My�p, �� ii k �` � !l '. p 7� •.`vim . , .. ,�a(� , M 1 I I rt to _ x x F�srl i � S left, and Chris Kelly take one of Shake-A-Leg's six sloops out on Biscayne Bay. Trn the navigator, helmsman and captain all at once,' Chris boasts. WAO, Ability conquers disabili * By SUSAN MILLER DEGNAN Boaters of the Year. Herald Sports Writer "So many people s ailing is what Andy way! You can't do i Harrison did best Harry Horgan, 35, whc for the first eight Shake -A -Leg in Newp j years of his life. in 1981. "'How can a 1 Andy's mother, person go sailing? Hov . Susan, enrolled raise enough money? him in a Dade is going to get hurt. O County youth soccer program pie have tried and faile ,.w,.. when he turned 5. While 19 excuse in the book." miniature athletes trampled the Horgan, confined to ball like a swarm of bees, Andy chair, was paralyzed afi stood motionless — eyes low- out of a moving truck ered — for one hour. Never The front door was -` moved, said his mom. It was as property, Horgan says if someone slashed his tires on wasn't using his seat b; r U.S. I in the middle of rush hour. Focus on the person It was excruciating," Susan Barth Green, a neur Harrison says. who cofounded the Mi So the Harrisons pulled their ject to Cure I aralysi youngest son out of soccer and Horgan in 1989 and [o° put him in a baseball program. should move his nonpr But he would look up at the sky, nization from New # play with his cap, talk to him- Miami. South Florid: self. Coaches said, desperately need, .;, screamed with gram like Shake -A -Leg frustration. PTSR His parents refused to budge. Im expanded. h pulled him out. The city of Miami we "It got to the ? point where he a lease agreement for ' that allowed Shake-, stopped trying," build its docks and 1 o� Susan Harrison offices at the old Coa ' —�� says of Andy, site. The Dade County who has a disor- sion gave Horgan a $2-' der that makes it tial grant, and the Mi impossible for him to concen- gram was born. trate. "He was smart enough to The program serves a know that other children could sailors a month and do things he couldn't." five full-time worker Then, last summer, Andy dozen part-timers. found his refuge, the place "So often there is where he could be himself, be involved with the d accepted and excel at the same says Roger Snell, 41, tI time: the water. Shake -A -Leg, a chair -bound program sailing program for the mentally for Miami Shake -A -Le: and physically challenged, people focus on our d' qt changed Andy's life. It has — and so do we. But changed hundreds of similar leave our wheelchair: lives — men's, women's and dock, suddenly the vi children's — since the program are behind us. Now th >! began Oct. 5, 1990, in the old on the person, not the r Coast Guard building across "Suddenly, every " from Monty Trainer's restau- rants in Coconut Grove. equal." Each of the six, 20-fc_ For that reason, Shake -A -Leg owned by Miami's br_ and its sailors are The Herald's between $125,00( 'OUTN FLORIDA BOATING y.'I'm the navigator, helmsman and captain all at once,' Chris boasts. FRIDAY FEBRUARY 12, 1993 TH17 MIAMI HERALD VF Ability conquers disability as Shake -A-Leg changes lives By SUSAN MILLER DEGNAN Herald Sports Writer ailing is what Andy Harrison did best for the first eight s(\+ years of his life. Andy's mother, Susan, enrolled him in a Dade County youth soccer program when he turned 5. While 19 miniature athletes trampled the ball like a swarm of bees, Andy stood motionless — eyes low- ered — for one hour. Never moved, said his mom. It was as if someone slashed his tires on U.S. I in the middle of rush hour. "It was excruciating," Susan Harrison says. So the Harrisons pulled their youngest son out of soccer and put him in a baseball program. But he would look up at the sky, play with his cap, talk to him- self. Coaches screamed with frustration. dW�� His parents pulled him out. "It got to the point where he stopped trying," Susan Harrison r� says of Andy, who has a disor- der that makes it impossible for him to concen- trate. "He was smart enough to know that other children could do things he couldn't." Then, last summer, Andy found his refuge, the place where he could be himself, be accepted and excel at the same time: the water. Shake -A -Leg, a sailing program for the mentally and physically challenged, changed Andy's life. It has changed hundreds of similar lives — menns, women's and children's — since the program began Oct. 5, 1990, in the old Coast Guard building across from Monty Trainer's restau- rants in Coconut Grove. For that reason, Shake -A -Leg and its sailors are The Herald's Boaters of the Year. "So many people said, 'No way! You can't do it,"' says Harry Horgan, 35, who founded Shake -A -Leg in Newport, R.I., in 1981. "'How can a disabled person go sailing? How can you raise enough money? Someone is going to get hurt. Other peo- ple have tried and failed.' Every excuse in the book." Horgan, confined to a wheel- chair, was paralyzed after falling out of a moving truck in 1980. The front door wasn't shut properly, Horgan says. and he wasn't using his seat belt. Focus on the person Barth Green, a neurosurgeon who cofounded the Miami Pro- ject to Cure Paralysis, called Horgan in 1989 and told him he should move his nonprofit orga- nization from Newport to Miami. South Florida, Green said, desperately needed a pro- gram like Shake -A -Leg. Horgan refused to budge. Instead, he expanded. The city of Miami worked out a lease agreement for $1 a year that allowed Shake -A -Leg to build its docks and house its offices at the old Coast Guard site. The Dade County Commis- sion gave Horgan a $25,000 ini- tial grant, and the Miami pro- gram was born. The program serves about 200 sailors a month and employs five full-time workers and a dozen part-timers. "So often there is isolation involved with the disabled," says Roger Snell, 41, the wheel- chair -bound program manager for Miami Shake -A -Leg. "Other people focus on our disabilities — and so do we. But when we leave our wheelchairs on the dock, suddenly the visual cues are behind us. Now the focus is on the person, not the disability. "Suddenly, everyone is equal." Each of the six, 20-foot sloops owned by Miami's branch cost between $125,000 and $150,000. The boats have chairs that allow sailors to swivel from side to side of the vessel while tacking. All of the lines feed back to the cockpit, so sailors can raise or adjust the sails with- out leaving their seats. The boats also have ramps that allow the sailors to slide from their wheelchairs into position. There usually are two able-bodied sail- ors aboard for every three or four disabled sailors. "I have no problem at school, but sometimes in public people stare at me," says Frank Aguilo, 16, a junior at Belen Prep in Miami who was paralyzed at 3 in an automobile accident. "This gets me out of the chair and gives me a sense of free- dom, a sense of mobility. For once, I'm in control." Out on the water It's a bright, blue -skied Satur- day afternoon in Miami, and Chris Kelly, 12, one of Shake- A-Leg's most proficient young sailors, is at the tiller. "1'm the navigator, helmsman and cap- tain all at once," he boasts. Chris, a constant smiler, has cerebral palsy, and uses a walker to guide his legs. When I was born I didn't get enough oxygen and some of my brain cells died," says Chris, a sixth -grader in the gifted pro- gram at Glades Middle School in Miami. "They were the ones that controlled my legs." Aboard the boat are Bob Kemmink, 58, a mechanical engineer and certified sailing instructor whose daughter, Kitty, heads the Shake -A -Leg youth program; Theresa Brun- son, 24, who is studying for her master's degree in physical ther- apy from the University of Miami Medical School; Andy Harrison; Chi -is Kelly; and Teddy Nelson, 8, a Down's syn- drome child who spends much of the afternoon with his head on Kemmink's lap and one arm on the tiller. Teddy loves the water so much that he once plunged i Biscayne Bay while his insti tors were preparing the boat:. the dock. "That's OK, Teddy," CI assures the youngster when story is told. "if it happ= again, that just means we get practice our man-overbo skills." Chris steers his sloop av from a boat that is towing a ri. ety, broken-down vess Instructor Brunson yells for h to do a quick portside-tack avoid the motorboats. Chris obliges. "I've jolted my adrenaline i the day, thank you," he sn with a straight face. Soaring self-esteem In 1976, 20-year-old Ms Lancaster broke his neck at was paralyzed from the chc down when he dove into a Tex bayou and hit a log bead-o After the denial, shock ai despair, Lancaster began accept himself and moved Miami in February 1983. Eig months later, while in a whet chair, he was hit by a car ai lost the use of his right arm. "I was dazed and confused f many years," says Lancasti 36. To tell you the truth, hoped that each day would my last." He discovered Shake-A-L two summers ago. "I alwc thought I could be nothing mt than an idle passenger on a si boat," he says. "But once I I aboard and hooked up with V tiller, my self-esteem soared.' Lancaster has since gone bi to school and is studying Dade -North for an undergra ate degree in secondary edu tion. He also became the v commodore of the Shake -A Sail Club. "I have sailed in four reI tas," Lancaster says. "It is indescribable feeling of joy. all my years of being paraly2 I have never met a bunch happier, healthier people." FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 12, 1993 T F IAMI HERALD B once,' Chris boasts, Ability conquers disability as Shake -A-Leg changes lives 8' SUSAN MILLER DEONAN Herald Sports Writer ailing is what Andy Harrison did best for the first eight years of his life. Andy's mother, Susan, enrolled him in a Dade County youth soccer program when he turned 5. While 19 miniature athletes trampled the ball like a swarm of bees, Andy stood motionless — eyes low- ered for one hour. Never moved, said his mom. It was as if someone slashed his tires on U.S. I in the middle of rush hour. "It was excruciating," Susan Harrison says. So the Harrisons pulled their youngest son out of soccer and put him in a baseball program. But he would look up at the sky, play with his cap, talk to him- self. Coaches screamed with frustration. r�5 His parents _ pulled him out. It got to the point where he stopped trying," Susan Harrison a says of Andy, who has a disor- der that makes it impossible for him to concen- trate, "He was smart enough to know that other children could do things he couldn't." Then, last summer, Andy found his refuge, the place where he could be himself, be accepted and excel at the same time: the water. Shake -A -Leg, a sailing program for the mentally and physically challenged, changed Andy's life. It has changed hundreds of similar lives — menns, women's and children's — since the program began Oct. 5, 1990, in the old Coast Guard building across from Monty Trainer's restau- rants in Coconut Grove. For that reason, Shake -A -Leg and its sailors are The Herald's Boaters of the Year. "So many people said, 'No way! You can'l do it,' " says Harry Horgan, 35, who founded Shake -A -Leg in Newport, R.1., in 1981. "'How can a disabled person go sailing? How can you raise enough money'? Someone is going to get hurt. Other peo- ple have tried and failed.' Every excuse in the book." Horgan, confined to a wheel- chair, was paralyzed after falling out of a moving truck in 1980. The front door wasn't shut properly, Horgan says, and he wasn't using his seat belt. Focus on the person Barth Green, a neurosurgeon who cofounded the Miami Pro- ject to Cure Paralysis, called Horgan in 1989 and told him tie should move his nonprofit orga- nization from Newport to Miami. South Florida, Green said, desperately needed a pro- gram like Shake -A -Leg. Horgan refused to budge. Instead, he expanded. The city of Miami worked out a lease agreement for $1 a year that allowed Shake -A -Leg to build its docks and house its offices at the old Coast Guard site. The Dade County Commis- sion gave Horgan a $25,000 ini- tial grant, and the Miami pro- gram was born. The program serves about 200 sailors a month and employs five full-time workers and a dozen part-timers. "So often there is isolation involved with the disabled," says Roger Snell, 41, the wheel- chair -bound program manager for Miami Shake -A -Leg. "Other people focus on our disabilities — and so do we. But when we leave our wheelchairs on the dock, suddenly the visual cues are behind us. Now the focus is on the person, not the disability. "Suddenly, everyone is equal." Each of the six, 20-foot sloops owned by Miami's branch cost between $125,000 and $150,000. The boats have chairs that allow sailors to swivel from side to side of the vessel while tacking. All of the lines feed back to the cockpit, so sailors can raise oradjust the sails with- out leaving their seats. The boats also have ramps that allow the sailors to slide from their wheelchairs into position. There usually are two able-bodied sail- ors aboard for every three or four disabled sailors. "I have no problem at school, but sometimes in public people stare at me," says Frank Aguilo, 16, a junior at Belen Prep in Miami who was paralyzed at 3 in an automobile accident. "This gets me out of the chair and gives me a sense of free- domi a sense of mobility. For once, I m in control." Out on the water It's a bright, blue -skied Satur- day afternoon in Miami, and Chris Kelly, 12, one of Shake- A-Leg's most proficient young sailors, is at the tiller. "I'm the navigator, helmsman and cap- tain all at once," he boasts. Chris, a constant smiler, has cerebral palsy, and uses a walker to guide his legs. "When I was born I didn't get enough oxygen and some of my brain cells died," says Chris, a sixth -grader in the gifted pro- gram at Glades Middle School in Miami. "They were the ones that controlled my legs." Aboard the boat are Bob Kemmink, 58, a mechanical engineer and certified sailing instructor whose daughter, Kitty, heads the Shake -A -Leg youth program; Theresa Brun- son, 24, who is studying for her master's degree in physical ther- apy from the University of Miami Medical School; Andy Harrison; Chris Kelly; and Teddy Nelson, 8, a Down's syn- drome child who spends much of the afternoon with his head on Kemmink's lap and one arm on the tiller. Teddy loves the water so much that he once plunged into Biscayne Bay while his instruc- tors were preparing the boats at the dock. "That's OK, Teddy," Chris assures the youngster when the story is told. "If it happens again, that just means we get to practice our man -overboard skills." Chris steers his sloop away from a boat that is towing a rick- ety, broken-down vessel. Instructor Brunson yells for him to do a quick portside-tack to avoid the motorboats. Chris obliges. "I've jolted my adrenaline for the day, thank you," he says with a straight face. Soaring self-esteem In 1976, 20-year-old Marc Lancaster broke his neck and was paralyzed from the chest down when he dove into a Texas bayou and hit a log Head-on. After the denial, shock and despair, Lancaster began to accept himself and moved to Miami in February 1983. Eight months later, while in a wheel- chair, he was hit by a car and lost the use of his right arm. "1 was dazed and confused for many years," says Lancaster, 36. To tell you the truth, I hoped that each day would be my last." He discovered Shake -A -Leg two summers ago. "I always thought I could be nothing more than an idle passenger on a sail- boat," he says. "But once I got aboard and hooked up with that tiller, my self-esteem soared." Lancaster has since gone back to school and is studying at Dade -North loran undergradu- ate degree in secondary educa- tion. He also became the vice - commodore of the Shake -A -Leg Sail Club. I have sailed in four regat- tas," Lancaster says. "It is an indescribable feeling of joy. In all my years of being paralyzed, I have never met a bunch of happier, healthier people." THE FOUNDER: Harry Horgan started Shake -A -Leg in 1981 after an automobile accident left him paralyzed. He brought the program to South Florida in 1990. Submitted into the public record in connection with item P2 - I on 31-Ak (g w Mc; It y I iiro.i City Clerk CLUED IN: Andy Harrison uses visual aids tc help remember his sailing jargon. THE EQUALIZER: 'When we leave wheelchairs on the dock ... the focus is on the person, not the disability,' says Roger Snell, Shake-A-Leg's program manager. �,r., vti�P3raas�iYif7i 3 1:m�vLF I CLUED IN: Andy Harrison uses visual aids to help remember his sailing Jargon. THE EQUALIZER:'When we leave wheelchairs on the dock ... the focus is on the person, not the disability,' says Roger Snell, Shake-A-Leg's program manager. IN SHIPSHAPE: Theresa Brunson keeps an eye on the lines; Chri EII SETTING SAIL: Andy Harrison cranks up a sail with the help of i Brunson, 24, one of a dozen part-time instructors at Shake-A-L THE EQUALIZER:'When we leave wheelchairs on the dock ... the focus is on the person, not the disability,' says Roger Snell, Shake-A-Leg's program manager. IN SHIPSHAPE: Theresa Brunson keeps an eye on the lines; Chris Kelly works the tiller. SETTING SAIL: Andy Harrison cranks up a sail with the help of Theresa Brunson, 24, one of a dozen part-time instructors at Shake -A -Leg. READY TO LAUNCH: Shake -A -Leg helps abo IN SHIPSHAPE: Theresa Brunson keeps an eye on the lines; Chris Kelly works the tiller. SETTING SAIL: Andy Harrison cranks up a sail with the help of Theresa Brunson, 24, one of a dozen part-time instructors at Shake -A -Leg. 1 r 1 ■ 1992: The U.S. Coast Guard Auxiliary, which edu- cates the public about boating safety. N 1991: Mandy Fernandez, the financial savior and a leading racer in the American Power Boat Association. ■ 1990: John Carbonell. Veteran offshore racer and founder of the Offshore Professionaf Tour. Y 1989: Mario Bustamante III and Ding Schoon- maker. Bustamante won the Columbus Day Regatta three limes. Schoonmaker, a lifelong Miami resident, was the 1975 national and world Star class champion. ■ 1988: Gonzalo E. Diaz Sr. Diaz is one of the world's finest Snipe class sailors. His drive almost single-handedly kept that class growing in South Florida. ■ 1987: W. Scott Piper 111. Piper started sailing at 10, and won more than 200 races with the Pipe Dream, a 36- toot Morgan. ■ 1986: Steve David. David, a resident of Pompano Beach, set two world speed records and three Miami Marine Stadium hydroplane records. ■ 1985: The Florida Marine Patrol. Formed to pro- tect natural resources in the slate's marine environment, the marine patrol now concentrates on boating safety. ■ 1984: Mark Soverei. Soverel began winning off- shore sailboat races in his teens. His first International Off- shore Rule design, Moody Blue, was an instant success. He followed that with successful racers for IOR, Perfor- mance Handicap Rating Fleet and Midget Ocean Racing Club competition. ■ 1983: Don Aronow. Aronow virtually built the mod- ern offshore powerboat industry, concentrating on high- speed boats. Aronow was murdered near his Miami boat - building plant in February 1987. ■ 1982: Claudia Edwards. When Edwards won a Hobie 16 catarnaran, she donated it to Jackson Memorial Hospital so Jackson could start a training program that got paraplegics and quadriplegics out on the water. ■ 1981: Lew Twitchell. Twitchell, a Miami Yacht Club member, has won numerous national titles and a world title in an 1 1-root cockleshell called the Moth. i 1980: Richard Bertram. A former offshore power- boat champion, he was instrumental in the development of the modern offshore deep-vee. READY To LAUNCH: Shake -A -Leg helps about 200 sailors a month from its handicapped -accessible docks i Photographs by Chuck Fadely "' ..,-�n. .;,���, �. rrc F�.,.ssz ,:.` t,�a Y ii. �� �."...? r.x4-a`2�'.»t�, �. ,arx"'�'�A3,7=.;"aa��,�.;�'t�.'r".,�c•.'.t�;i,s,�.o _— ..Nw.0 �-.f.4., .af uy.+,.t:ic'u:� a..:.. rz ..a -„ ...� �' � r. �e �•..� %t�Y.iYi. �{ K .. � .. •. bft��ll�`i^u[v�R✓�7x3a1$s'^ *'r�c�.'�i.�,lc,�,a. c�i.. :RAPE: Theresa Brunson keeps an eye on the lines; Chris Kelly works the tiller. G SAIL: Andy Harrison cranks up a sail with the help of Theresa r, 24, one of a dozen part-time instructors at Shake -A -Leg, 'I211111 k, I k,' I I ■ 1992: The U.S. Coast Guard Auxiliary, which edu- ■ What: An adaptive sailing pro- cates the public about bowling safety. gram for the menially or physically ■ 1991: Mandy Fernandez, the financial savior and a challenged and their families. Also leading racer in the American Power Boat Association. open to able-bodied volunteers. ■ 1990: John Carbonell. Veteran offshore racer and E Where: 2600 S. Bayshore Dr. founder of the Offshore Professional Tour. (the old Coast Guard building across ■ 1989: Mario Bustamante III and Ding Schoon- the parking lot from Monty Trainer's maker. Bustamante won the Columbus Day Regatta restaurants in Coconut Grove) . three times. Schoonmaker, a lifelong Miami resident, was ■ Contact: For more information the 1975 national and world Star class champion. or to make a tax-deductible donation, i 1988: Gonzalo E. Diaz Sr. Diaz is one of the world's call Shake -A -Leg at 858-5550 from 9 finest Snipe class sailors. His drive almost single-handedly a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Fri - kept that class growing in South Florida. day. The program encourages the ■ 1987: W. Scott Piper III. Piper started sailing at 10. public to visit the facility. and won more than 200 races with the Pipe Dream, a 36- toot Morgan. Programs 9 ■ 1986: Steve David. David, a resident of Pompano ■ For youth: The winter learn -to - Beach, set Iwo world speed records and three Miami sail training series for children 7-15 Marine Stadium hydroplane records. started Feb. 7, but is ongoing and ■ 1985: The Florida Marine Patrol. Formed to pro- open to newcomers from 2 to 5 p.m. tect natural resources in the state's marine environment, Sundays (Feb. 14, 21, 28, March 7, the marine patrol now concentrates on boating safety. 14, 28, April 4, 18 and May 2.) The ■ 1984: Mark Soverel. Soverel began winning off- cost Is $30 a class. A free, two-day shore sailboat races in his teens. His first International Off- regatta May 8-9 follows the course. shore Rule design, Moody Blue, was an instant success. ■ Basic sail class for adults: 10 He followed that with successful racers for ]OR, Perfor- a.m. to 1 p.m. Friday and Saturdays. mance Handicap Rating Fleet and Midget Ocean Racing Classes are ongoing and cost $140 Club competition. for four sessions. 1983: Don Aronow. Aronow virtually built the mod- i Sail club: A social and competi- ern offshore powerboat industry, concentrating on high- tive club that meets from 2 to 5 p.m. speed boats. Aronow was murdered near his Miami boat- Saturdays at the Shake -A -Leg facil- building plant in February 1987. ity. The club is open to sailors who ■ 1982: Claudia Edwards. When Edwards won a have taken the basic class. The cost Hobie 16 catamaran, she donated it to Jackson Memorial is $35 a month and includes open Hospital so Jackson could start a training program that sailing on Saturdays. got paraplegics and quadriplegics out on the water. ■ Intermediate sail class for ■ 1981: Lew Twitchell. Twitchell, a Miami Yacht Club adults: 2 to 5 p.m. every Sunday. member, has won numerous national titles and a world Classes are ongoing and cost $90 for title in an 11-foot cockleshell called the Moth. three sessions. ■ 1980: Richard Bertram. A former offshore power- Note: Boats and equipment are boat champion, he was instrumental in the development provided for all programs. Scholar - of the modern offshore deep-vee. ships are available. READY TO LAUNCH: Shake -A -Leg helps about 200 sailors a month from its handicapped -accessible docks in Coconut Grove. Photographs by Chuck Fadely 94-- 221 rWl'0R7 :fi:T� FOUNDER'S FORUM By HARRY R. HORGAN Shake -A -Leg Founder It is with great sadness that I report the passing of my grandfather Joseph Lehane, who died March 7, 1993, at age 97. His love and support over the years inspired me to overcome difficulties. His spirit will stay with us forever. Adversity is nothing new to us at Shake -A -Leg, where, for many of us, survival itself is a common component of our daily lives. So, when Hurricane Andrew took its awesome swipe at South Florida, we were shaken, but we knew we would survive. Indeed, we've not only survived, but we're re - energized and better focused. We know what we've got to do and we will do it. There is a general feeling among our staff (and what a dedicated staff we have!) and our supporters, that we can turn this adversity into accomplishment. We are counting on an energetic and talented Board of Directors to guide Shake -A -Leg into its new future as a strong force, continuing to offer exciting programs in South Florida and Rhode Island. Luckily the storm caused no loss of life or injury in the Shake -A -Leg family, but many of our folks were affected, among them Dave Schroeder, President; Dolly Nickerson, OfficeManager, and Steppin' Out Editor Noel Leon (which is one reason the publication has experienced a five -month hiatus) who were displaced by the hurricane. All are doing well and fully on the road to recovery. Once again Metro Dade County commissioners have come through for Shake -A -Leg, providing us a grant that has enabled us to get back on our feet after the storm; the City of Miami is working to repair damaged property. The generous support demonstrates their continued commitment, and we have resumed offering programs the city and county can be proud of. All of us at Shake -A -Leg are pleased to convey to the respective commissions our heartfelt thanks. It bears noting that through the generous support of Shake-A-Leg's family of friends, we have established one of the nation's most accessible water sports facilities in Miami. In Rhode Island, we have a moved into the magnificent new Independence Square facility on the University of Rhode Island campus, and we have a wonderful partner- ship with the URI Physical Therapy Department, Rhode Island Workers' Compensation, and the Independence Square Foundation to provide state-of-the-art, cost-effec- tive programs. There are so many people to thank for these accomplish- ments that the list would fill volumes. Perhaps the best way to put it is to simply say that together, we turned dream into reality. All this growth comes with a price: Hurricane repairs ,.r not covered by insur.+nce; lease -held improvements and _ ... 14u, _nn.t�_.�•���.�f if' !'t•I11 E'7 �.. � 1 1 ., �• I ,�, ,r�li tlR ACTIVITIES, EVENTS ABOUND A full menu for SAL* '93 ._7.,� Invigorated and encouraged by a "best ever" banner 1992 summer program, Shake -A -Leg is ready to tackle this years round of activities. It may be hard to top the '92 program, but Program Director Annie Bjorkman is taking the challenge. And here are the 1992 results she's going to have to beat: - Forty-two participants took part in the Body Awareness (BAT) program. BAT veterans were joined by a fresh class of participants and the electricity flowed! - Performing Arts' The Big Wheel drew an audience in ex- cess of500. BobLupone, Bernie Telsey and the rest of the classy Manhattan Class Company was in Newport for three weeks to get S-A-L thespians ready for top-notch performances. - Scores of kids of all ages sailed, rowed, flew kites, and just plain had FUN at Sports and Junior Camps (this, despite un- cooperative weather). There simply couldn't have been more activities packed into each day. Better sign up for summer programs quickly because spaces are filling up. The pro- grams: BAT (June 7-July 16); Performing Arts (.iuly 19-Aug. 6): Sports Camp (Aug. 9-20); and Juniors Camp (July 19-30). Contact Ann Bjorkman at (401) 849-8898. The 1993 Wall St. Challenge Cup will take place June 25-27 and it promises to be bigger and more exciting than last year's. Morgan Stanley, Bear Stearns, Prudential Securities and Credit Suisse/First Boston are all teaming up with Shake - A -Leg. EventChairperson Susie Hill is chompin' at the bit to get the activities going. In cooperation with the Dade County Justice Department and othercommunity organizations, Shake -A -Leg will provide first- time juvenile offenders the op- portunity to experience posi- tive role model situations in a sailing program that begins in April. The Miami sailing program is back: Sailing instructors Kitty Kemmenk, Brian Ruhmann, and Steve Smith have resumed classes in adult basic sailing; Bob Gailey is directing the Uni- versity of Miami integrated sports and leisure program (22 physical therapy students are enrolled); and the Sail Club is fully operational. The Third Annual Miami - Shake -A -Leg Mid -Winter Re- gatta will take place Mar.19-21 and will feature some 18 teams of disabled sailors from around the country. The event comes on the heels of the successful 2.4-Meter Re- gatta Mar. 6-7, which attracted national and international sail- ors. 4;. ., .;. A reminder to Shake -A -Leg supporters everywhere: You can still buy a "piece of the dock" wherein your name will appear permanently on the planks of the S-A-L dock —which were replaced after Hurricane An- drew trashed them. Cost is only $100 per plank. Whether you live in Miami or not, it is rewarding to know that future visitors to our facil- ity will see your name engraved on a bronze plaque, showing that you supported in the effort to recover from the disaster. Call Dolly Nickerson in Mi- ami, at (305) 858-5550 and re- serve a plank today. .;. 10 .;4 "The show was explosively wonderful," concluded event coordinators Bob Lawton and Susie Horgan. They were referring to the "Don't Break Your Neck" ben- efit held last month at The Edge in Ft. Lauderdale. The fantastic sounds of the fabulous Fugazi, Shudder to Think, and Pontius Pilate kept an appreciative audience rockin' all night long. Thanks to Cellar Door Pro- duction —the promoters —and Fugazi's Ian MacKaye, the event raised some $5,400 and lots of awareness about Shake - A -Leg programs. Miami elects Secretary and five new directors; Gatsby named Chairman MIAMI—Shake-A-Leg has elected one new officer and five new members to its Board of Directors. Chosen to serve on the new Board were Brad Kovens, Noel Leon, Maureen Rung, Robin Smith, and Steven Smith. Leon, who serves as Editor ofSteppin' Out, Shake-A-Leg's quarterly newsletter, was also elected Secretary in the Decem- ber election. SAL/Miami officers now in- clude David Schroeder, Presi- dent; Marty Ergas, Vice Presi- dent; and Jerry Feinholtz, Trea- surer. In Newport, G. Lawrence Gatsby, Jr. took over as the organization's Chairman after his election in October. J. Michael Payte was elected Vice President. David Kerins was named Secretary, and Stephen P. Massed continues as Treasurer. - n- f----�—m �--�- - „-- - . „,. .. r� Aftermath of a storm... Shake-A-Leg's dock and boats, below, shown as building housing Shake -A -Leg was hit bya 12-foot they hung on their pilings a few hours after, Hurricane wall of water that slammed ashore, sweeping in Andrew struck. Note (insert) that the boats in the boats, mud, seaweed, and tons of debris. S-A-L's background have disappeared. The hangar -like I office (right) was destroyed. ACTIVITIES, EVENTS ABOUND FOUNDER'S FORUM By HARRY R. HORGAN Shake -A -Leg Founder It is with great sadness that I report the passing of my grandfather Joseph Lehane, who died March 7, 1993, at age 97. His love and support over the years inspired me to overcome difficulties. His spirit will stay with us forever, Adversity is nothing new to us at Shake -A -Leg, where, for many of us, survival itself is a common component of our daily lives. So, when Hurricane Andrew took its awesome swipe at South Florida, we were shaken, but we knew we would survive. Indeed, we've not only survived, but we're re - energized and better focused. We know what we've got to do and we will do it. There is a general feeling among our staff (and what a dedicated staff we have!) and our supporters, that we can turn this adversity into accomplishment. We are counting on an energetic and talented Board of Directors to guide Shake -A -Leg into its new future as a strong force, continuing to offer exciting programs in South Florida and Rhode Island. Luckily the storm caused no loss of life or injury in the Shake -A -Leg family, but many of our folks were affected, among them Dave Schroeder, President; Dolly Nickerson, OfficeManager, and Steppin' OutEditorNoel Leon (which is one reason the publication has experienced a five -month hiatus) who were displaced by the hurricane. All are doing well and fully on the road to recovery. Once again Metro Dade County commissioners have come through for Shake -A -Leg, providing us a grant that has enabled us to get back on our feet after the storm; the City of Miami is working to repair damaged property. The generous support demonstrates their continued commitment, and we have resumed offering programs the city and county can be proud of. All of us at Shake -A -Leg are pleased to convey to the respective commissions our heartfelt thanks. It bears noting that through the generous support of Shake-A-Leg's family of friends, we have established one of the nation's most accessible water sports facilities in Miami. In Rhode Island, we have a moved into the magnificent new Independence Square facility on the University of Rhode Island campus, and we have a wonderful partner- ship with the URI Physical Therapy Department, Rhode Island Workers' Compensation, and the Independence Square Foundation to provide state-of-the-art, cost-effec- tive programs. There are so many people to thank for these accomplish- ments that the list would fill volumes. Perhaps the best way to put it is to simply say that together, we turned dream into reality. All this growth comes with a price: Hurricane repairs not covered by insurance; lease -hold improvements and the new aquatic center in Rhode Island; and on -going operating expenses. What this means is that Shake -A -Leg must work even harder in its fund-raising efforts. We are embarking on a national campaign to raise money for equipment and facilities, operating expenses, and scholarships. We need, your help now more than ever. Many of our friends lave already stepped forward to give their support and we appeal to all others to join with us at this crucial moment. i ::: �� o o° o ICI Steppin' Our is a publication or Shake -A -Leg, Inc., P.O. Box 1002, NewpoM RI 02840: Tel: (401 1 782-6280. I ax: (401) 782-6370 and 2000 S. Bayshorc (r , �4'� '411 11 '1 1 111' }(i}{_ti »fl 1•: 1 ��� __ _ • A full menu for SALo '93 11 Invigorated and encouraged by a "best ever" banner 1992 suntnterpntgrant, Shake -A -Leg is ready to tackle this year's round of activities. It may be hard to top the '92 program, but Program Director Annie Bjorkman is taking the challenge. And here are the 1992 results she's going to have to beat: • Forty-two participants took part in the Body Awareness (BAT) program. BAT veterans were joined by a fivsh class o1' participants and the electricity flowed! • Performing Arts' The Big fflieel drew an audience in ex- cess of500. Bob Lupone, Bernie Telsey and the rest of the classy Manhattan Class Company was in Newport for three weeks to get S-A-L thespians ready for top-notch performances. • Scores of kids of all ages sailed, rowed, flew kites, and just plain had FUN at Sports and Junior Camps (this, despite un- cooperative weather). There simply couldn't have been more activities packed into each day. ., ., .;. Better sign up for summer programs quickly because spaces are filling up. The pro- grams: BAT (June 7-July 16); Performing Arts (July 19-Aug. 6); Sports Camp (Aug. 9-20); and Juniors Camp (July 19-30). Contact Ann Bjorkman at (401) 849-8898. 4:.... 4. 'The 1993 Wall St. Challenge Cup will take place June 25-27 and it promises to be bigger and more exciting than last year's. Morgan Stanley. Bear Stearns, Prudential Securities and Credit Suisse/First Boston "real] teaming up with Shake - A -Leg. Event Chairperson Susie Hill is chompin' at the bit to get the activities going. MIAMI In cooperation with the Dade County Justice Department and othercommunity organizations, Shake -A -Leg will provide first- time juvenile offenders the op- portunity to experience posi- tive role model situations in a sailing program that begins in April. The Miami sailing program is back: Sailing instructors Kitty Kemmenk, Brian Ruhmann, and Steve Smith have resumed classes in adult basic sailing; Bob Gailey is directing the Uni- versity of Miami integrated sports and leisure program (22 physical therapy students are enrolled); and the Sail Club is fully operational. 44 4. 41. The Third Annual Miami - Shake -A -Leg Mid -Winter Re- gatta will take place Mar.19-21 and will feature some 18 teams of disabled sailors from around the country. The event comes on the heels of the successful 2.4-Meter Re- gatta Mar. 6-7. which attracted national and international sail- ors. A reminder to Shake -A -Leg supporters -everywhere: You can still buy a "piece of the dock" wherein your name will appear permanently on the planks of the S-A-L dock —which were replaced after Hurricane An- drew trashed them. Cost is only $100 per plank. Whether you live in Miami or not, it is rewarding to know that future visitors to our facil- ity will see your name engraved on a bronze plaque, showing that you supported in the effort to recover from the disaster. Call Dolly Nickerson in Mi- ami, at (305) 858-5550 and re- serve a plank today. 44 44 .P.. "The show was explosively wonderful," concluded event coordinators Bob Lawton and Susie Horgan. They were referring to the "Don't Break Your Neck" ben- efit held last month at The Edge in Ft. Lauderdale. The fantastic sounds of the fabulous Fugazi, Shudder to Think, and Pontius Pilate kept an appreciative audiencerockin' all night long. Thanks to Cellar Door Pro- duction —the promoters —and Fugazi's Ian MacKaye, the event raised some $5,400 and lots of awareness about Shake - A -Leg programs. Miami elects Secretary and five new directors; Gatsby named Chairman MIAMI—Shake- A -Leg has elected one new officer and five new members to its Board of Directors. Chosen to serve on the new Board were Brad Kovens, Noel Leon, Maureen Rung, Robin Smith, and Steven Smith. Leon, who serves as Editor ofSteppin'Out, Shake -A -Legs quarterly newsletter, was also elected Secretary in the Decem- ber election. SAL/Miami officers now in- clude David Schroeder, Presi- dent; Marty Ergas, Vice Presi- dent; and Jerry Feinholtz, Trea- surer. In Newport, G. Lawrence Gatsby, Jr. took over as the organization's Chairman after his election in October. J. Michael Payte was elected Vice President. David Kerins was named Secretary, and Stephen R Massed continues as Treasurer Aftermath of a storm... Shake-A-Leg's dock and boats, below, shown as building housing Shake -A -Leg was hit by a 12-foo, they hung on their pilings a few hours after Hurricane wall of water that slammed ashore, sweeping it Andrew struck. Note (insert) that the boats in the boats, mud, seaweed, and tons of debris. S-A-L'i background have disappeared. The hangar -like I office (right) was destroyed. our daily lives. So. when Hurricane Andrew took its awesome swipe at South Florida, we were shaken. but we knew we would survive. Indeed, we've not only survived, but we're re - energized and better focused. We know what we've got to do and we will do it. There is a general feeling among our staff (and what a dedicated staff we have!) and our supporters, that we can turn this adversity into accomplishment. We are counting on an energetic and talented Board of Directors to guide Shake -A -Leg into its new future as a strong force, continuing to offer exciting programs in South Florida and Rhode Island. Luckily the storm caused no loss of life or injury in the Shake -A -Leg family, but many of our folks were affected, among them Dave Schroeder, President; Dolly Nickerson, Office Manager, and Steppin'OutEditorNoel Leon (which is one reason the publication has experienced a five -month hiatus) who were displaced by the hurricane. All are doing well and fully on the road to recovery. ♦ ♦ 4 Once again Metro Dade County commissioners have come through for Shake -A -Leg, providing us a grant that has enabled us to get back on our feet after the storm; the City of Miami is working to repair damaged property. The generous support demonstrates their continued commitment, and we have resumed offering programs the city and county can be proud of. All of us at Shake -A -Leg are pleased to convey to the respective commissions our heartfelt thanks. i ♦ 4 It bears noting that through the generous support of Shake-A-Leg's family of friends, we have established one of the nation's most accessible water sports facilities in Miami. In Rhode Island, we have a moved into the magnificent new Independence Square facility on the University of Rhode Island campus, and we have a wonderful partner- ship with the URI Physical Therapy Department, Rhode Island Workers' Compensation, and the Independence Square Foundation to provide state-of-the-art, cost-effec- tive programs. There are so many people to thank for these accomplish- ments that the list would fill volumes. Perhaps the best way to put it is to simply say that together, we turned dream into reality. ♦ ♦ 4 All this growth comes with a price: Hurricane repairs not covered by insurance; lease -hold improvements and the new aquatic center in Rhode Island; and on -going operating expenses. What this means is that Shake -A -Leg must work even harder in its fund-raising efforts. We are embarking on a national campaign to raise money for equipment and facilities, operating expenses, and scholarships. We need your help now more than ever. Many of our friends have already stepped forward to give their support and we appeal to all others to join with us at this crucial moment. ze�w6oblgo Steppin' Out is a publication of Shake -A -Leg, Inc., P.O. Box 1002, Newport, RI 02840; Tel: (401) 782-6280, Fax: (401) 782-6376 and 2600 S. Bayshore Dr., Coconut Grove, FL 33133; Tel: (305) 858-5550, Fax: (305) 858-6262, and is published quarterly by Leon Publications, Inc., P.O. Box 2000, Coconut Grove, FL 33233, Tel: (305) 461-3099. ©1993. Noel Leon, Editor hart nt the Body Awareness (BAT) program, BAT veterans were Joined by a fresh class u1 participants and the electricity flowed! • Perfo nting Arts' "IM, 13i,t it,Irrrl drew an audience in ex- cessof5(x). BobLupone, Bernie Telsey and the rest of the classy Manhattan Class Company was in Newport for three weeks to get S-A-L thespians ready for top-notch performances. • Scores of kids of all ages sailed, rowed, flew kites, and just plain had FUN at Sports and Junior Camps (this, despite un- cooperative weather). There supply couldn't have been more activities packed into each day. 00 .;i .;. Better sign up for summer programs quickly hecause spaces are tilling up. The pro- grams: BAT (.lone 7-Ju1y 16), Performing Atts (.July 19-Aug. 6): Sports Camp (Aug. 9-20); and Juniors Camp (July 19-30). Contact Ann Bjorkman at (401) 849-8898. In cooperation with the Dade County Justice Department and other coil) nunity organizations, Shake -A -Le}, will provide f irst- time juvenile offenders the op- portunity to experience posi- tive role model situations in a sailing program that begins in April. 44 .00 The Miami sailing program is back: Sailing instructors Kitty Kenunenk, Brian Ruhmann, and Steve Smith have resumed classes in adult basic sailing; Bob Gailey is directing the Uni- versity of Miami integrated spurts and leisure program (22 physical therapy students are enrolled); and the Sail Club is fully operational. .e1 44 6.04 The Third Annual Miami - Shake -A -Leg Mid -Winter Re- gatta will take place Mar. 19-21 and will feature some 18 teams of disabled sailors from around the country. The event comes on the heels or not, it is rewarding to know that future visitors to our facil- ity will see yourname engraved on a bronze plaque, showing that you supported in the effort to recover from the disaster. Call Dollv Nickerson in Mi- ami, at (305) 858-5550 and re- serve a plank today. "The show was explosively wonderful," concluded event coordinators Bob Lawton and Susie Horgan. They were referring to the "Don't Break Your Neck" ben- efit held last month at The Edge in Ft. Lauderdale. The fantastic sounds of the fabulous Fugazi. Shudder to Think, and Pontius Pilate kept an appreciative audience rockin' all night long. Thanks to Cellar Door Pro- duction —the promoters —and Fugazi's Ian MacKaye, the event raised some $5,400 and lots of awareness about Shake - A -Leg programs. Miami elects Secretary and five new directors; Gatsby named Chairman MIAMI—Shake-A-Leg has elected one new officer and five new members to its Board of Directors. Chosen to serve on the new Board were Brad Kovens, Noel Leon, Maureen Rung, Robin Smith, and Steven Smith. Leon, who serves as Editor ofSteppin'Out, Shake-A-Leg's quarterly newsletter, was also elected Secretary in the Decem- ber election. SAUMiamiofficers now in- clude David Schroeder, Presi- dent; Marty Ergas, Vice Presi- dent; and Jerry Feinholtz, Trea- surer. In Newport, G. Lawrence Gatsby, Jr. took over as the organization's Chairman after his election in October. J. Michael Payte was elected Vice President. David Kerins was named Secretary, and Stephen P. Massed continues as Treasurer. mwrrmath of a storm... Shake-A-Leg's dock and boats, below, shown as building housing Shake -A -Leg was hit by a 12-foot they hung on their pilings a few hours after Hurricane wall of water that slammed ashore, sweeping in Andrew struck. Note (insert) that the boats in the boats, mud, seaweed, and tons of debris. S-A-L's background have disappeared. The hangar -like I office (right) was destroyed. Steppin' Out had to catch its breath after Hurricane Andrew struck Miami, so this edition is considerably late. Herewith follows and update —in capsule form —some of Shake -A -Leg happenings since the last edition: Bon apetit and thanks NEW YORK—Taking a cue from the song from Damn Yankees, "Whatever Lola wants, Lola gets," apparently Restaurant Lola wanted Shake -A -Leg supporters to have a scrumptious feast and raise some funds at the same time. That's just what Lola got. The event was fabulous! SAL gets lots of media exposure Shake -A -Leg was not wanting for media exposure over the past few months as broadcast and print organizations covered activities and events. Among the most prominent was the spread in The Miami Herald (see reprint on back side) which named Shake -A -Leg Boater of the Year; a piece on CBS This Mo►ning, and an article in Rolling Stone. 4e4 4P.4 4.04 Hamming it up for Shake -A -Leg NEWPORT—The 1992 Shake -A -Leg Goes Hollywood fund-raiser in Newport was a great success. More than 300 people attended "the most elegant party since the days of Gatsby" dressed as their favorite Hollywood characters. Chairperson Betsy Walker and her committee did a fantastic job, was the consensus opinion. eo 4o 4;. Fresk wins another one... MIAMI—Shake-A-Leggers Gustaf Fresk and David Schroeder captured first and third places respectively in the annual 2.4-meter Regatta held Mar. 6-7 on Biscayne Bay. Seven sailors took part in the race, which saw, great weather, but light winds. The race is staged yearly by Shake - A -Leg and the Coconut Grove Sailing Club, and was spon- sored by Coors beer and Harkin Mfg. 4; 4;• 4;. SAL at Freedom Fair, Boat Show MIAMI—Shake-A-Leg participated in two outreach pro- grams: Freedom Fair, an event organized by Spinal Cord Living Assistance Development, to educate the public on issues of concern to the disability community; and at the Miami International Boat Show, wherein S-A-L manned a booth and displayed a Freedom boat. Martha Rippes and Jeff Reynolds, respectively, directed the S-A-L participation. Passion Fish premiere benefits SAL NEWPORT—More than 200 people were treated to an evening of film entertainment at the Rhode Island premiere of Passion Fish, a film that deals with overcoming disability, at the Opera 'theater in Nei\ I rt. Ilig thanks to SUSie U.S. POSTAGE NON-PROFIT ORG. PAID MIAMI, FL PERMIT No. 42649 vnolo oy den n Yyn Shake-A-Leg's parking lot is strewn with boats heaved on land by hurricane's storm surge. Four Freedom Independence boats remained secure at the Atlantic Marina Services -designed floating dock (lower left) M 0 Is ianu SAL 's back o 1 Shake-A-Leg's operation in Miami came perilously close to extinction when Hurricane An- drew ripped through South Florida August 24, but with a dedicated staff, dogged deter- mination, and the generous sup- port of the community, the fa- cility is getting back on its feet. Windsinexcessof 110miles j per hour and a devastating 14- foot storm surge destroyed 1 Shake-A-Leg'soffice at the City of Miami Vinick Gym. The huge steel doors of the hangar building were pushed in and the wall of water, mud, sea - Weed and muck poured in. The office and all its con- tents, computers, fax, phones, files, desks —everything —was trashed. Luckily, all of the Freedom Independent boats and dock survived. The rest of the boats moored in the marina were not so lucky and a large number of them — including some sizeable ves- sels —were dumped onto Shake- A-Leg's parking lot, just out- side the door. The Dade County Commis- sion came through for us at the bleakest moment (see Harry Horgan's Founder's Forum col- umn) with a grant that enabled us to retain some staff. And the City of Miami provided us with office space in another location in the building; it is not air con- ditioned, but it is a place from which we can start rebuilding. A number ofourpeople were affected by the storm, but no one was hurt. Now, six months later, the recovery process is well under way. As Office Manager Dolly Nickerson reports, the organi- zation is now functional and its programs are already well un- derway. 200 turn out for Miami fund-raiser I Picture this: Limbo dancing, scrumptious food, great auction items, and live music wafting m gently over beautiful Bis-cayne o Bay on abalmy Miami evening. What could he better? we raised nwru than JIIQIIG-A-LG� waa IN/l WwlLl„S LVl II1cUlQ c.\tJVawc VVL1 the past few months as broadcast and print organizations covered activities and events. Among the most prominent was the spread in The Miami Herald (see reprint on backside) which named Shake -A -Leg Boater of the Year; a piece on CBS This Morning, and an article in Rolling Stone. 4V ., .;. Hamming it up for Shake -A -Leg NEWPORT—The 1992 Shake -A -Leg Goes Hollywood fund-raiser in Newport was a great success. More than 300 people attended "the most elegant piny since the days of Gatsby" dressed as their favorite Hollywood characters. Chairperson Betsy Walker and her committee did a fantastic job, was the consensus opinion. 10 4. ..14 Fresk wins another one... MIAMI—Shake-A-Leggers Gustaf Fresk and David Schroeder captured first and third places respectively in the annual 2.4-meter Regatta held Mar. 6-7 on Biscayne Bay. Seven sailors took part in the race, which saw great weather, but light winds. The race is staged yearly by Shake - A -Leg and the Coconut Grove Sailing Club, and was spon- sored by Coors beer and Harkin Mfg. ., .;• 44 SAL at Freedom Fair, Boat Show MIAMI—Shake-A-Leg participated in two outreach pro- grams: Freedom Fair, an event organized by Spinal Cord Living Assistance Development, to educate the public on issues of concern to the disability community; and at the Miami International Boat Show, wherein S-A-L manned a booth and displayed a Freedom boat. Martha Rippes and Jeff Reynolds, respectively, directed the S-A-L participation. :• •: •: Passion Fish premiere benefits SAL NEWPORT—More than 200 people were treated to an evening of film entertainment at the Rhode Island premiere of Passion Fish, a film that deals with overcoming disability, at the Opera Theater in Newport. Big thanks go to Susie Horgan, SSC Cinemas, Miramax Films, Bank of Newport, and Peter Damon. .01• •; 44 Inside America's Cup... Jerry Kirby, bowman on the 1992 America's Cup cham- pion America', made a multi -media presentation Jan. 7 to benefit Shake -A -Leg and Newport Sea Explorers. The show gave a rare inside view of the America's Cup campaign. The event was also the forum to announce SAL's expanded Youth Sailing Program. Jerry —along with Mike Toppa and John Bertrand —are on board as official spokespersons for the organization. Shake-A-Leg's parking lot is strewn with boats heaved on land by hurricane's storm surge. Four Freedom Independence boats remained secure at the Atlantic Marina Services -designed floating dock (lower left) i • am SAL i I Shake-A-Leg's operation in Miami came perilously close to i extinction when Hurricane An- drew ripped through South Florida August 24, but with a dedicated staff, dogged deter- mination, and the generous sup- port of the community, the fa- cility is getting back on its feet. Winds in excess of 110 miles per hour and a devastating 14- foot storm surge destroyed Shake-A-Leg's office at the City of Miami Virrick Gym. The huge steel doors of the hangar building were pushed in and the wall of water, mud, sea- weed and muck poured in. The office and all its con- tents, computers, fax, phones, files, desks —everything —was trashed. Luckily, all of the Freedom Independent boats and dock survived. The rest of the boats moored in the marina were not so lucky and a large number of them — including some sizeable ves- sels —were dumped onto Shake- A-Leg's parking lot, just out- side the door. The Dade County Commis- sion came through for us at the bleakest moment (see Harry Horgan' s Founder's Forum col- umn) with a grant that enabled us to retain some staff. And the City of Miami provided us with office space in another location in the building; it is not air con- ditioned, but it is a place from which we can start rebuilding. A numberofourpeoplewere affected by the storm, but no one was hurt. Now, six months later, the recovery process is well under way. As Office Manager Dolly Nickerson reports, the organi- zation is now functional and its programs are already well un- derway. 200 turn out for Miami fund-raiser Picture this: Limbo dancing, scrumptious food, great auction items, and live music wafting gently over beautiful Bis-cayne Bay on abalmy Miami evening. What could be better? "Well, we raised more than $20,000 for Shake -A -Leg," de- clared event chairperson Adri- ene Josephson. Itwastheannual Miami fund- raiser and more than 200 Shake - A -Leg friends and supporters turned out to enjoy the party on u m T m a 0 L a Adriene Josephson thanks Shake -A -Leg supporters at Miami fund-raiser. ISaturday, Mar. 6. The thanks, I cited and talented event corn - says Adriene, goes to a dedi- mittee. RIG APPLE GETTING READY FOR SHAKE -A -LEG BENEFIT New York will come out for Shake -A -Leg at the Loeb Boat House in Central Park. There again in May for what has become one of the will be cocktails, entertainment, buffet dinner, a most -anticipated gala events: The 9th Annual great selection of prizes and gifts to be auc- Shake-A-Leg Benefit. tioned off. For further information, call Shake - Note the date: May 26th, 6:30 to 10:30 p.m., A-Leg's New York of'f ice at (212) 272-2974. Bon apetit and thanks NEW YORK—Taking a cue from the song From Damn I'ankees, "Whatever Lola wants, I-ola gets," apparently Restaurant Lola wanted Shake -A -Leg supporters to have a scrumptious feast and raise some funds at the same time. That's just what Lola got. The event was fabulous! iti SAL gets lots of media exposure Shake -A -Leg was not wanting for media exposure over the past few months as broadcast and print organizations covered activities and events. Among the most prominent was the spread in The Miami Herald (see reprint on back side) which named Shake -A -Leg Boater of the Year; a piece on CBS This Morning, and an article in Rolling Stone. 404 44 4P,4 Hamming it up for Shake -A -Leg NEWPORT—The 1992 Shake -A -Leg Goes Hollywood fund-raiser in Newport was a great success. More than 300 people attended "the most elegant party since the days of Gatsby" dressed as their favorite Hollywood characters. Chairperson Betsy Walker and her committee did a fantastic job, was the consensus opinion. 41.14 44 444 Fresk veins another one... MIAMI—Shake-A-Leggers Gustaf Fresk and David Schroeder captured first and third places respectively in the annual 2.4-meter Regatta held Mar. 6-7 on Biscayne Bay. Seven sailors took part in the race, which saw great weather, but light winds. The race is staged yearly by Shake - A -Leg and the Coconut Grove Sailing Club, and was spon- sored by Coors beer and Harkin Mfg. 4*14 0*4 4�4 SAL at Freedom Fair, Boat Show MIAMI—Shake-A-Leg participated in two outreach pro- grams: Freedom Fair, an event organized by Spinal Cord Living Assistance Development, to educate the public on issues of concern to the disability community; and at the Miami International Boat Show, wherein S-A-L manned a booth and displayed a Freedom boat. Martha Rippes and Jeff Reynolds, respectively, directed the S-A-L participation. 44 -;. 4;4 Passion Fish premiere benefits SAL NEWPORT—More than 200 people were treated to an evening of film entertainment at the Rhode Island premiere of Passion Fish, a film that deals with overcoming disability, at the Opera Theater in Newport. Big thanks go to Susie Horgan, SSC Cinemas, Miramax Films, Bank of Newport, and Peter Damon. 4+4 40*4 40*4 Inside America's Cup... Jerry Kirby, bowman on the 1992 America's Cup cham- pion America', made a multi -media presentation Jan. 7 to benefit Shake -A -Leg and Newport Sea Explorers. The show gave a rare inside view of the America's Cup campaign. The event was also the forum to announce SAL's expanded Youth Sailing Program. Jerry —along with Mike Toppa and John Bertrand —are on board as official spokespersons for the organization. 1,: a ri A Phofo by Joll Reynolds Shake-A-Leg's parking lot is strewn with boats heaved on land by hurricane's storm surge. Four Freedom Independence boats remained secure at the Atlantic Marina Services -designed floating dock (lower left) Miami SAL i Iback on line Shake-A-Leg's operation in The office and all its con- umn) with a grant that enabled Miami came perilously close to tents, computers, fax, phones, us to retain some staff. And the extinction when Hurricane An- files, desks —everything —was City of Miami provided us with drew ripped through South trashed. office space in another location j Florida August 24, but with a Luckily, all of the Freedom in the building; it is not air con - dedicated staff, dogged deter- Independent boats and dock ditioned, but it is a place from mination,and tile generous SUP- survived. which we can start rebuilding. port of the community, the fa- The rest of the boats moored A numberofourpeople were cility is getting back on its feet. in the marina were not so lucky affected by the storm, but no i Winds in excess of 110miles and a large number of them— one was hurt. jper hour and a devastating 14- including some sizeable ves- Now, six months later, the mpedontoShake- recovery process is well under foot storm surge destroyed sels—weredui Shake-A-Leg'sofficeatdie City A-Leg's parking lot, just out- way. of Miami Virrick Gym. side the door. As Office Manager Dolly The huge steel doors of the The Dade County Commis- Nickerson reports, the organi- 1 hangar building were pushed in Sion came through for us at the zation is now functional and its :I and the wall of water, mud, sea- bleakest moment (see Harry programs are already well un- �;j weed and muck poured in. Horgan's Founder's Forum col- derway. 200 turn out for ami fund-raiser Picture this: Limbo dancing, scrumptious food, great auction items, and live music wafting gently over beautiful Bis-cayne Bay on abalmy Miami evening. What could be better? "Well, we raised more than $20,000 for Shake -A -Leg," de- clared event chairperson Adri- ene Josephson. Itwasthe annual Miami fund- raiserand more than 200 Shake - A -Leg friends and supporters turned out to enjoy the party on m r m a 0 a Adriene Josephson thanks Shake -A -Leg supporters at Miami fund-raiser. Saturday, Mar. 6. The thanks, cated and talented event com- says Adriene, goes to a dedi- i mittee. BIG APPLE GETTING READY FOR SHAKE -A -LEG BENEFIT New York will come out for Shake -A -Leg at the Loeb Boat House in Central Park. There again in May for what has become one of the will be cocktails, entertainment, buffet dinner, a most -anticipated gala events: The 9th Annual great selection of prizes and gifts to be auc- Shake -A -Leg Benefit. tioned off. For further information, call Shake - Note the date: May 26th, 6:30 to 10:30 p.m., A-Leg's New York office at (212) 272-2974.