Snooty, Manatee County’s beloved mascot and the oldest known manatee in the world, died the night after a birthday bash honoring his 69th birthday, officials from South Florida Museum announced on Sunday. In the end, it wasn’t natural causes which claimed Snooty’s life, but a “heartbreaking accident” in his tank.

“He had so much personality that people couldn't help but be drawn to him,” said Brynne Anne Besio, South Florida Museum CEO. “As you can imagine, I— and our staff, volunteers and board members—considered him a star and we all deeply mourn his passing.”

Besio said Snooty was found Sunday morning in an underwater area only used to access plumbing for the exhibit life support system. “Early indications are that an access panel door that is kept bolted shut was dislodged and that Snooty was able to swim in, but there was insufficient space for him to turn around,” she said. “We're reviewing what happened and will be continuing to look into the circumstances surrounding his death.” Snooty's habitat undergoes a daily visual inspection and there were no indications of problems the previous day, museum officials said. Three smaller manatees in the tank were fine.

Snooty, born Baby Snoots at the Miami Aquarium and Tackle Company on July 21, 1948, originally came to Manatee County in 1949 as part of the Desoto Celebration before moving into the South Florida Museum permanently that same year. Since 1979, Snooty has been Manatee County’s official mascot. 

Today’s donors expect involvement in how their dollars get expended, a major shift from decades past, according to local philanthropic leaders. The subject was discussed at the most recent installment of SB2, Good Hand: Building Capacity in Our Philanthropic Sector, where panelists stressed that organizations who fail to work with those giving funds may see the resources head someplace else.

Veronica Brandon Miller, Goodwill Manasota Foundation vice president, said she witnessed that years ago when the Smithsonian lost a $30 million gift to the Kennedy Center because curators initially did not want to acquiesce to a donor's desires regarding the theme of an exhibit. “You have to be a part of that shift in donors’ thinking,” she said, noting many giving today contribute hard-earned dollars, not inherited family money, and therefore want more certainty about how that funding gets used.

Ultimately, those giving today want concrete results, not just a nebulous feeling they did something good simply in writing a check. “A lot of donors care about changing lives and the impact of giving,” said Stacey Corley, Ringling College of Art and Design vice president for advancement.

Roxie Jerde, president of the Community Foundation of Sarasota County, said those working in the independent sector today need to work closely and listen intently to those willing or donating. “Bring great questions and what it is they want to achieve,” she said.

Similarly, Manatee Community Foundation Executive Director Susie Bowie said her organization’s top goal remains honoring intent. “Talking with donors, we really want to understand what they want to achieve through legacy funds, and work closely with many donors while they are living,” she said.

Heidi Brown, president and of Jewish Family & Children’s Services of the Suncoast, said that makes it all the more important to zero in on specific needs to ensure resources get leveraged to the best ability to serve those giving dollars and those benefiting from philanthropy. “If we are spread too thin or working in areas where we do not have the expertise and praise, then I’m not certain we’re serving the community or the donor,” she said.

The demand for effective use of dollars in turn requires nonprofit leaders then to stay up to date with the most innovative practices utilized and to interface with the giving community as effectively as possible, according to keynote speaker David Odahowski, president and CEO of the Edyth Bush Charitable Foundation. “Donors are consumers, and they want the Amazon Prime experience,” he said during his address. 

Photo by Wyatt Kostygan: Veronica Miller, Stacey Corley, event sponsor Cool Today's Jaime DiDomenico, David Odahowski, Susie Bowie, Heidi Brown and Roxie Jerde.

Ryntal Property Management has announced the addition of Cynthia Link as a residential property manager, where she will work with the Residential Property Management Team to support the company’s growth and ensure extraordinary customer service. Link brings a wealth of industry knowledge and more than 30 years of experience in property management, customer service and administration. Ryntal Property Management is a privately-owned company founded in 2008 whose owners have over 40 years of property management experience. Ryntal has approximately 500 properties under management. Ryntal Property Management is a full-service property management company with a complete staff to handle all aspects of property management. 

Ryntal Property Management

CenterState Bank Market President Shaun P. Merriman has announced the appointment of Michael G. Forson as vice president and commercial banking relationship manager. In this capacity, Forson will be responsible for developing new commercial banking relationships while maintaining excellent relationships with CenterState’s existing highly-valued business clients throughout the Sarasota and Bradenton markets. Forson brings more than 28 years of experience in the financial services industry and extensive knowledge of commercial and consumer lending and deposit services. Forson joins CenterState Bank from his most recent position as vice president and private banker at Fifth Third Bank in Sarasota. In addition to his participation on the Goodwill Veterans Task Force, Forson has recently been appointed a Board Member of the Ringling College Library Association. 

CenterState Bank

Sarasota County has earned the 2017 Achievement of Excellence in Procurement (AEP) award from the National Procurement Institute (NPI) for the third consecutive year. This achievement honors organizational excellence in public and nonprofit procurement, provides benchmarks for continued excellence and increases awareness of public procurement as a profession. "This accomplishment reflects the hardworking, professional efforts of Sarasota County's procurement team, the strength of our internal processes, and the board's ongoing commitment to transparency and stewardship of public dollars," said Sarasota County Administrator Tom Harmer. NPI established the AEP in 1995, with criteria designed to measure innovation, professionalism, productivity and leadership attributes of an organization's procurement practices. The AEP Evaluation Committee, which measures those criteria, is comprised of procurement officials from around the country. Sarasota County will officially be awarded at NPI's 49th Annual Conference and Products Exposition in October. 

National Procurement Institute