By Jay Van Vechten, March 21, 2009
Folks....congratulations to all for such a splendid event yesterday. The first Boating and Beach Bash for People with Disabilities - sponsored by the City of Boca Raton Advisory Board for People with Disabilities, the City of Boca Raton, and Shake A Leg Miami was a huge success! Spanish River Park was an amazing venue for this event. I understand we even made the evening news!
According to our master chef, advisory board member Gary Susser, we served 200 hamburgers and 300 hot dogs with all the trimmings, which attests not only to Gary's culinary skills, but to the fact that we had several hundred very happy guests - representing cross disabilities from every sector of the community. It was our collective way to acknowledge and salute this often under served sector of society.
Gary was supported in his open air kitchen by a number of other advisory board members and their families - a bow to all of you for your tireless efforts. We also need to acknowledge and thank Boca's newest supermarket, Western Beef, for their generous donation of food.
Seeing dozens upon dozens of guests either climb aboard, be helped aboard, or even lifted aboard our fleet of volunteered boats with voluntary crews, was incredible to watch. Even more extraordinary was seeing the happy looks on all the faces when our grinning guests returned from their half hour rides on the Intra-Coastal Waterway. For many, it was their first time on a boat.
Fears of the water were overcome, souls enriched and we all learned how contagious joy can be - even after a few drops of rain fell mid-afternoon. Nothing was dampened, however, and certainly not the spirit of inclusion that was the hallmark of this memorable day in the history of our community.
None of our water recreational activities would have been possible without Harry Horgan and his Shake A Leg Miami team, who did so much to give people with special needs in our community a day they will never forget. Kudos, guys...you were awesome. http://www.shakealegmiami.org/site/c.kkLUJbMQKpH/b.2521629/k.BF03/Home.htm
The community wide volunteer support that came together to make this event possible was also remarkable. I've attached my own pictures that tell the story better than I could hope to myself. Forgive a couple of extra shots of wife Lowell and son Nicholas. I am very proud of what they did, on all levels, to support us in this event.
We were particularly fortunate to have the award winning camera skills of John Collins, who also happens to be president and CEO of the Centre for the Arts at Mizner Park. John was clicking away throughout the event - with his wife Mary Ellen at his side. We hope to generate post event publicity with his pictures and a brief news story that summarizes the day.
We wish to acknowledge the multiple departments from the City of Boca Raton that pulled together to help this event run as seamlessly as it did - particularly the City's Recreation Department under the guidance of Buddy Parks. Also want a big tip of the hat to Emily Lily, who for openers helped us with a sound system, a generator to power it, and a tent to keep the musicians and their equipment protected from the elements.
Special thanks to the students from Florida Atlantic University, Boca Raton High School, the Junior Navy ROTC young men - also from Boca High, the fabulous music played by our live musicians with disabilities and the recorded music provided by disability community role model Pat Archer, kept many of the guests dancing beneath the trees - some from their wheelchairs, even on their walkers. Royal Palm Yacht and Country Club assistant dock master Bob Wilson, teamed with dock master Zack Rice to provide boat rides and on-the-dock support throughout the day. Thank you all.
Olympics Sailing Gold Medalist Magnus Liljedahl led his Team Paradise crew from Miami in providing a display of boats that have been adapted for individual use for people with disabilities. Magnus and his team train sailors with disabilities who have Paralympic aspirations to participate on the world stage. Seeing limitations lifted from many who have them was inspiring to witness first hand. It makes one realize that life is all about possibilities, not improbabilities. http://teamparadise.org/
Our Mayor, Susan Whelchel, sent her kindest regards and best wishes to all, in spite of being felled by a nasty virus that kept her at home. We also thank her for her guidance and support in making the Bash possible.
With gratitude to all. And if I've missed anyone on this list, forgive me...I'm still afloat with happiness which has been known to fog the brain.