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Letter to the editor

Today's Letters: Boards must help their nonprofits

By LETTERS TO THE EDITOR
Published September 14, 2007

Note: The first three letters are in response to the City Times Special Society Section, Sept. 7.

Your article on nonprofit revenue cuts was a good one, and I'd like to make a suggestion to those you interviewed: Please, use your board. There isn't a nonprofit anywhere that doesn't have a board of directors or trustees. Typically, they're involved in some governance issues but primarily are there to assure the sustainability of the organization, especially financially.

It is because of the possibility of government revenue being cut that boards must be willing to ante up before cuts become a certainty. If there are board members who can't give it themselves, they should be asked to get it from their circle of influence. Failing that, they shouldn't be on the board at all. Board membership is too often used as resume fodder, a rung on the social ladder that doesn't serve the organization as much as it does the member. When it comes to raising money, a board member should have to sign off on this rule: Give it, get it, or get off.

Steffan F. Cress, Tampa

Article provided nice perspective

Just wanted to congratulate you on the excellent article on charity events. Although our events aren't quite that large, it's very helpful to read about what other organizations are doing.

Our largest event is our Sporting Clays Classic with Gen. Schwarzkopf at roughly $100,000 gross. Maybe one day we'll reach the $400,000 mark!

Lisa Braswell, Tampa

Calendar a useful social product

Your St. Pete City Times calendar was masterfully created. You managed to accomplish something that for long years was much needed - lots of social event information presented in a clear format. On behalf of the Red Cross Angels, I thank you for including ours.

Beverly Rogers, Tampa

"In a cookie cutter world, corner had character" column, Aug. 24

Hutto's Corner a childhood joy

Spending summers at my grandma's house in Seminole Heights always included a solitary walk to Hutto's Corner to buy the items needed for our evening meal. I was 9 or 10 years old back then, and those four blocks I walked seemed like 4 miles.

Hutto's Corner was my oasis in the desert. I found it delightful to get out of the summer heat and walk into the air-conditioned comfort of Hutto's. I was fascinated by each aisle of treats. First, the canned goods, then the screws and electrical stuff, the beautiful dish gardens, past the wondrous ice cream freezer, and finally the book section. I especially favored the song books, which had every lyric to the latest pop tunes. I'd linger over those magazines for what seemed like hours.

In my later years I saw Hutto's change with the times. They added a deli counter, gas pumps, greeting cards and, of course, Lotto tickets.

Hutto's was always there, always dependable. Like a good friend, she will surely be missed.

Kaye Garcia, Tampa

Ybor City's story is vital to Tampa

It is very sad indeed that Tampa does not recognize the importance of Ybor City's history and architecture to the future of the city. I recently moved back to Kentucky from Tampa, where I lived for five years.

To outsiders who know, Ybor City is the only real reason to visit Tampa, and the only thing that makes Tampa different than any other Florida city.

The Ybor City Museum is the only place that is keeping this history alive. Ybor City as a historic district is a living museum, and its story is so important to the development of our country.

I urge you to explore this topic further, and to help your readers understand what Tampa stands to lose if it turns its back on the history and architecture of Ybor City. In the end, Tampa is going to lose itself if it doesn't realize its mistakes.

Please look outside the confines of Tampa and learn.

E. Chris Harp, Kentucky

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Letters to the editor

Feel strongly about a City Times story or events in your neighborhood? Send your comments by e-mail to citytimes@sptimes.com by mail to Letters to the Editor, c/o Sharon Tubbs, St. Petersburg Times, 1000 N Ashley Drive, Suite 700, Tampa, FL 33602; or by fax to Sharon Tubbs at 226-3381. Letters may be edited for clarity and length.

[Last modified September 13, 2007, 07:43:24]