SOUTH COUNTY
President ’ s
COLUMN
Finally , an In-Person Event in South County
To the great pleasure of its members , family and friends , the South County Division hosted an in-person event for the first time in almost two years ! The Train Station Social was held on February 18th at the Venice Train Station with approximately 75 people in attendance to enjoy wine tastings , hor d ’ oeuvres , Mardi Gras King Cake , and music . Our attendees included Judges Hunter Carroll , Diana Moreland , Maria Ruhl and Maryann Boehm . We would like to thank our sponsor , FourThought Private Wealth for their kind support . Thank you also to C . Kelley Corbridge , Dawn Marie Bates-Buchanan , and Jacqulyn Mack for organizing , hosting , and decorating the event , and to all others who helped set up and tear down the tables and chairs .
Also , on March 4th the annual Sporting Clays event was held at the Sarasota Trap , Skeet and Sporting Clays facility ( see pictures on pg . 2 ). Although I was unable to attend , I was told it was once again a successful event and fun time for all . There were approximately 130 people in attendance , including Sheriff Kurt Hoffman , and lunch was provided by Brewburgers . Thank you to the facility for providing instructors once again to assist those who are unfamiliar with the sport . Thank you to Skip Berg and Lance Ball for organizing the event . And as important , thank you to Englewood Band & Trust for once again sponsoring the event .
On March 19th , members of the Board of Directors of the South County Division and their guests will be volunteering for Venice Challenger Baseball . Venice Challenger Baseball is a baseball league designed for children and adults who aren ’ t able to play baseball in the usual way . It began in 1998 and became a 501c3 organization in 2008 . The program began with a handful of children and has grown to over 100 players of all ages . VCB allows every player to bat and play in the field every inning . Its mission is to provide a safe environment for players with physical and / or cognitive challenges to enjoy the experience of athletic participation and sportsmanship . VCB plays its games on Saturdays and volunteers are always welcome . The commitment is for only a few hours but knowing how much it means to the participants makes it a rewarding experience . If you are interested in joining us , please contact me and I can provide the time , location , etc .
When you read this , the new courthouse in Venice will be open and operational , with a ribbon cutting ceremony scheduled for May 4 . It has been a long time in planning and construction , and we are
10 | THE DOCKET - APRIL 2022