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Passing out special days and weeks

Like many municipalities, Dunedin puts its weight behind proclamations for worthy causes.

By TAMARA EL-KHOURY, Times Staff Writer
Published January 1, 2008

ADVERTISEMENT Dunedin Mayor Bob Hackworth said he hardly ever denies a request for a city proclamation.

DUNEDIN - Every City Commission meeting starts the same way:

Invocation, Pledge of Allegiance and a proclamation declaring some sort of do-gooder or awareness day, week or month.

In Dunedin, there have been proclamations announcing Diversity Week, Because We Care Day, World Lupus Day and Pastor Bessie Leonard Mohead Day.

Nov. 11 through 17 was designated Veterans Appreciation Week, which doesn't mean you can't appreciate veterans the other 51 weeks a year.

Nor are you limited to Oct. 27 if you want to make a difference in your community, although that date was officially named Make a Difference Day in Dunedin.

The causes are worthy. Who dares criticize Patriot Day, Family Day or Donate Life Month not to be confused with National Save a Life Month?

But they come without warning or fanfare. Mayor Bob Hackworth reads a proclamation and hands a copy of it to a representative of the nonprofit group requesting it. The representative thanks the commission for its recognition of (insert worthy cause here) day. The commission moves on and the public, for the most part, is totally unaware of the day's significance.

So what's the point?

"There's a public relations value to the organization that's requesting it," Hackworth said. "It's just a way to shine a light on their cause."

The proclamation gives nonprofits such as Bay Area Commuter Services a way to spread its cause, said executive director Sandi Moody. The commission proclaimed Oct. 1 to Oct. 5 the 11th annual Commuter Choices Week in Dunedin. Her agency used the recognition to encourage modes of transportation other than driving solo.

Many meetings are televised, so the message spreads beyond commission chambers, she said. But there's no real way to measure if people are following through on the message.

"You could probably safely say people are more aware and attempting more to change their modes during that time," she said.

Dunedin certainly isn't unique in its fondness for proclaiming proclamations.

At its Dec. 18 meeting, the Tarpon Springs City Commission made Dec. 21 National Homeless Persons' Memorial Day to remember those who died while being homeless.

The Oldsmar City Council dubbed Oct. 7 through 13 Fire Prevention Week.

And on Sept. 28, when the University of South Florida football team was on a winning streak, Clearwater Mayor Frank Hibbard declared a "Green and Gold Weekend" in Clearwater.

Hackworth said he hardly ever denies a request for a proclamation, although he shies away from politically motivated days.

Some proclamations are very specialized. On Jan. 11, 2006, he declared Edy Ribordy Day in honor of the Dunedin resident's 100th birthday.

"It's important to somebody," Hackworth said. "That's why I'm pretty liberal in my granting of the request because somebody is suffering with something or has an advocacy for an important issue."

Some recent proclamations

Dec. 21: National Homeless Persons' Memorial Day, Tarpon Springs.

Nov. 11-17: Veterans Appreciation Week, Dunedin.

Oct. 21-27: City Government Week, Clearwater.

Oct. 7-13: Fire Prevention Week, Oldsmar.

Sept. 29-30: Green and Gold Weekend, Clearwater.

Sept. 29: It Starts in Parks Day, Dunedin.

[Last modified December 31, 2007, 20:37:12]