Progress
The 450 Corps will move ahead with plans and programs without waiting for city or federal officials to create a formal organization. Meeting Oct. 15, members decided to proceed with plans to build a 16th century caravel to be named San Augústin, to seek volunteers for subcommittees on events, logistics, and marketing, and to begin fundraising efforts.
The city is waiting for federal legislation for a 450th Commemoration Commission, and there are no plans for a follow-up to a community meeting held in June.
A replica 65-80-foot caravel - workhorse of early Spanish explorers - is expected to cost more than $2 million, but 450 Corps believes it will draw sponsorship and contributions as a centerpiece for our commemoration.
In addition to committee opportunities, 450 Corps is seeking volunteer graphics artists for logo designs and brochures. Contact gardner@aug.com.
The 450 Corps Ship Committee has the endorsement of St. Johns County's Historic Resources Review Board in an effort to "establish a wood lot where timber logs salvaged from developers or lost to tropical storms can be recycled into invaluable ship building timber."
Board Chair Don Reis said, "The members not only see the opportunities offered by your program, but also can identify other future possibilities that might flow out of it, all with long term benefits for the community."
The Ship Committee, developing plans for construction of a 16th century replica ship for St. Augustine's 450th Anniversary, is seeking a 2-5 acre woodlot "to store logs in the rough in preparation for milling with a portable sawmill." C ommittee Member Sam Turner, director of the LAMP Boatworks at the St. Augustine Lighthouse & Museum, said the timber could be used as well "to support and partner with other organizations that have unusual lumber requirements," including LAMP projects and restoring historic buildings.
His vision includes woodlot use "to mill the trunks into slabs, planks, and beams that will in turn be stacked and cured on site in preparation for use in ship and boat construction. Scraps and off-cuts, a byproduct of the milling process, will be burned to produce charcoal that in turn will be used in blacksmith forges producing iron ship and boat hardware such as nails, bolts, and rudder mountings in support of this project."
Our next 450 Corps meeting will be Wednesday, Sept 17, at 8 a.m. in the Page Edwards Gallery on the Oldest House grounds. Enter the Charlotte Street walk-in gate from Oldest House parking lot. All meetings are open to the public.
The agenda will include ideas for distributing our bumper logos, development of subcommittees and a flowchart to suggest to the City Commission, and thoughts on ways to increase interaction on our website forum
450 Corps member Maury Kaiser has not only volunteered to head up a committee for a 16th century replica ship for St. Augustine, he's also anted up the first $450 in a campaign to get $450 from 450 St. Augustinians to help support the project.
Maury heads up the LAMP volunteers building boats for the 18th century replica Galveztown, being built in Malaga, Spain. The ship is expected to visit us in 2011 to collect her boats.
The 450 Corps meeting August 6 brought support for establishing committees to target anniversary planning areas and reduce the frequency of general meetings. Bob Fuller will head up the fundraising committee, while additional committees are being developed. A general meeting September 17 will sort out these plans.
The 450 Corps will be discussing, at its 8 a.m. meeting Wednesday, how to distribute 2,000 bumper stickers - 4-inch round stickers of the 450 logo with the 450 website along the lower edge. The stickers were funded through a contribution.
Also on the agenda, next steps in moving forward with commemoration planning. Possibilities raised in the past include establishing subcommittees; hosting community meetings; contacting organizations, and developing a fundraising plan.
A report to city commissioners on the citizen 450 Corps efforts over the past 10 months has led to debate on establishing an official 450th steering committee.
Following a briefing at the commission's July 14 meeting by corps member Dr. Susan Parker, director of the St. Augustine Historical Society, Commissioner George Gardner - also a member - urged early formation of an independent non-profit 450th corporation, recommended a year ago by an exploratory panel. Mayor Joe Boles countered that the committee should be government-appointed and operate in the sunshine, and that real interest in planning needn't get under way "until 2-3 years out, because it's hard to get interest stirred up much earlier,"
Gardner has pressed for early formation of a committee to begin tackling long-term projects and programs. Boles suggested a follow-up meeting to the June 25th "Community Kickoff" could be held in August or September, and acknowledged Vice Mayor Don Crichlow's recommendation that "some form of organization" be presented at that meeting.
Organized last October, the 450 Corps is a non-profit 501 (c) (3), has distributed 5,000 "idea-gathering" brochures, created this website, and is preparing to distribute bumper stickers using an adopted 450th logo.
An update on the history and activities of the 450 Corps will be presented to City Commissioners at Monday's regular commission meeting. The meeting begins at 5 p.m. in the Alcazar Room at City Hall.
Corps member Dr. Susan Parker, Director of the St. Augustine Historical Society, will note that the Corps "stands ready to assist and be part of an anticipated formal steering committee for an outstanding commemoration period."
Organized last October, the 450 Corps is a non-profit 501 (c) (3), has distributed 5,000 "idea-gathering" brochures, created a website, and is preparing to distribute bumper stickers using an adopted 450th logo.
Strong messages from our state's premier historian and the director of Jamestown's 400th Commemoration Commission greeted some 200 citizens at the June 25th Community Kickoff for St. Augustine's upcoming 450th Anniversary.
The University of Florida's (and St. Augustine's) Dr. Michael Gannon: "We had the first church, the first school, the first hospital, public market and town plan. By 1600 there were 120 shops and houses here. We have to take this opportunity to tell the story."
Williamsburg VA Mayor Jeanne Zeidler, who directed last year's Jamestown commemoration: "We had a federal commission, a state commission, a local host committee with 140 members scattered over a range of subcommittees, 140 public/private partners, 181 communities signed on, and 3,000 volunteer shifts on the climactic commemoration weekend. It's a big job."
Mayor Joe Boles emceed the kickoff, which also included Visitor and Convention Bureau Director Glenn Hastings and Economic Development Director Nick Sacia.
Gathering names and interest in volunteering was a major purpose of the event. To get on board, contact our city's Public Affairs Director Paul Williamson by email or at 904.825.1004.
Bumper stickers - 450 Corps is considering bumper stickers as both a fund-raiser and good advertisement for our 450th as residents begin their summer travels and visitors link us to their hometowns. Using the circular logo we've adopted, we're thinking of offering it both as a standard sticker and in a circular design. Give us your thoughts in the Forum.
Community meeting - Wednesday, June 25 from 7-8 p.m. is our opportunity to hear about and comment on planning for the 450th anniversary of our Nation's Oldest City.