State Sen. Joe Gruters, R-Sarasota, lost his bid to become treasurer for the Republican National Committee. He lost a race for the job Friday in a 98-60 vote to K.C. Crosbie, Kentucky’s GOP national committeewoman, at a meeting in California.

Gruters hoped a close relationship with Ronna McDaniel, who was re-elected the same day to a fourth term as RNC Chair, would carry him to a win as well. But he said his late entry in December made it impossible to defeat Crosbie, who ran for the same post four years ago and has effectively been running for the job since that time.

“I knew my path to victory was a narrow path due to the lead she had when I got into the race,” Gruters said.

Of course, the Sarasota Republican remains engaged in state politics. He just won re-election to the Florida Senate, representing all of Sarasota County and part of Manatee County.

He will soon wrap his second term as chair of the Republican Party of Florida. His term was extended into February so he could seek the RNC position. But he already decided to hang up the state chairmanship in December when he chose not to run for re-election as chair of the Republican Party of Sarasota, making him ineligible for another term leading the state party.

In that race, former Sarasota County Commissioner Christian Ziegler faces Leon County Republican Party Chair Evan Power, which creates an opportunity for Sarasota to have back-to-back chairs of the state party.

But for Gruters, this marks the first time in decades where he hasn’t had a significant position within the party lined up. He can’t necessarily spend four years running, as Crosbie did, because once his state chairmanship ends, he will no longer be a voting member of the RNC.

But he remains confident Republicans can win the White House back from Democrats in 2024, when President Joe Biden faces re-election. Gruters boasts ties to two major contenders for president on the Republican side. He co-chaired the Florida arm for former President Donald Trump’s campaign in 2016. And he was Gov. Ron DeSantis’ pick for state party chair shortly after the Governor was elected in 2018.

Most polling suggests either Trump or DeSantis stand the greatest chance of winning the Republican nomination for president in 2024.

While Gruters lost the RNC race, he did earn accolades for his leadership of the state party. During Gruters’ tenure, successful voter registration efforts led to Republicans leading Democrats in registered voters in the state for the first time in history.

“He took a purple state and made it red,” said New Hampshire Republican Party Chair Stephen Stepanek, who seconded Gruters’ nomination for RNC treasurer.

Gruters for the moment will focus on the coming legislative session. He also runs an accounting firm based in Venice. And he said he has no desire to give any of that up right now. “I have a job. I like my job,” he said.

But he does want to play a role in party politics in the future. “I want to win in 2024,” he said. 

Sarasota’s Referral Champions BNI chapter is celebrating International Networking Week (February 5-11, 2023) with a special open house event at its breakfast meeting on Tuesday, February 7 at the Senior Friendship Center (1888 Brother Geenen Way, Sarasota, FL 34236). Doors open at 7 am for 45 minutes of breakfast and open networking followed by a fast-paced informative meeting focusing on how to build your business through community building and the spirit of Givers Gain. Be sure to bring at least 50 business cards! There is no charge for guests, but please RSVP by Friday, Feb 3 to save your seat as space is limited. Call 941-587-9217 or email Gayle@VisionPRM.com with your name, business, and contact information if you wish to attend.

International Networking Week is observed by business leaders in over 75 countries to connect and build their networking skills together. BNI International is the world's largest referral networking organization with 296K members who have generated $19.4 billion in the past 12 months alone. BNI Referral Champions has passed $2.9 million last year making the average chapter seat value $90K. 

Hometown Florida builder Christopher Alan Homes is currently under development with its first neighborhood in Babcock Ranch, the fifth best-selling community in the U.S. and America’s first solar-powered master plan. Christopher Alan Homes will offer 291 single-family homes at Creekside Run, featuring the homebuilder’s signature quality construction, livability, and value. Nestled within 100 acres along Curry Creek Preserve between two planned parks, Creekside Run will feature modern farmhouse-inspired architecture and a variety of floor plans spanning 1,450 to over 2,600 square feet of living space. Three professionally decorated model homes will highlight the builder’s craftsmanship and commitment to creating quality homes, highlighting industry-leading features like open-concept designs, an emphasis on outdoor living, and included upgrades for an easy, relaxed way of living. The gated enclave is located within the recently introduced Midtown, Babcock Ranch’s second development phase, and is a short walk from a planned mixed-use town center, a village green, six parks and a future school. The town’s expanding network of trails and sidewalks will link Creekside Run residents to amenities throughout Babcock Ranch, including pools, playgrounds, pickleball courts, multipurpose fields, and the lakefront Founder’s Square downtown area with restaurants, entertainment, and events. For families, Babcock Schools offers world-class project-based learning for kindergarten through 12th-grade students. Homebuyers can learn more about Christopher Alan Homes at Creekside Run and receive the latest updates by joining the VIP List. Every Christopher Alan Home features steel-reinforced concrete masonry construction, hurricane-resistant structural design, and impact-rated low-e glass doors and windows.Affiliated with Barron Collier Companies, Christopher Alan Homes is Southwest Florida’s largest privately owned builder among the top five builders overall for the area’s permits in 2021. The company currently offers new-construction single-family homes in The Hammocks at West Port, a new Charlotte County community nestled around a 100-acre public park with a gymnasium, fitness center, indoor soccer and pickleball courts, ballfields, nature trails, and an aquatic center. It is also a preferred builder in Burnt Store Village in Punta Gorda and builds on scattered homesites in Charlotte, Sarasota and Lee counties in Southwest Florida. The company recently started operating in Melbourne and Palm Bay on Florida’s East Central Space Coast and will be expanding to Tampa with a new division opening in mid-2023. For more information, visit www.ChristopherAlanHomes.com or call 855-44-MYCAH. 

Pictured: Models at Creekside Run will highlight livability and quality construction with open-concept designs and an emphasis on outdoor living.

Intercoastal Medical Group is pleased to announce the addition of Ryan Dunn, MD to its Cattleridge Medical Building I location, where he will be working in Pulmonology & Critical Care. Dr. Dunn received his undergraduate degree and medical degree from the University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN. From there, he completed his residency at the University of Chicago, Chicago, IL, and a fellowship in Pulmonary and Critical Care Medicine at the University of Colorado at National Jewish Health, Denver, CO. Dr. Ryan Dunn is Board Certified by the American Board of Internal Medicine with a Subspecialty Certification in Pulmonary Medicine and Critical Care Medicine. Dr. Dunn relocated his family to Sarasota to be closer to family and to live in a beautiful state. In his free time, he enjoys reading, exercising, art and spending time with his three kids and lovely wife. Dr. Dunn is accepting new patients. He is located at the Intercoastal Medical Group Cattleridge Medical Building I office, 3333 Cattlemen Road, Sarasota, FL 34232; phone (941) 379-1799. Call for an appointment or, to request an appointment on-line, visit www.intercoastalmedical.com. Intercoastal Medical Group is a professional association of more than 100 physicians in more than 20 specialties, serving Sarasota and Manatee counties with multiple locations. Founded in 1993, Intercoastal features a team of board certified, experienced physicians, all of whom completed their residency training programs in either the United States or Canada. 

Learn to help low-income residents save energy, water, and money at home while making Sarasota more sustainable, by becoming a Sarasota County “Energy Coach” volunteer. Registration is now open for this four-day course, which includes 24 hours of hands-on training on home energy systems, energy- and water-saving techniques, and more. Participants will receive hands-on training and informative presentations about efficiency strategies, device installs and public outreach to energy-burdened community members. Nearly one in three Sarasota County households is cost-burdened, meaning residents pay more than 30% of their annual income on housing costs. Utility and water bills are a large contributor to this disparity – with some low- to median-income households in our region paying up to 19% of their annual income on energy costs. Due to poor infrastructure and outdated appliances, affordable housing units often have higher energy bills than other homes. These inequities in housing and utility costs have negative impacts on family stability, economic development, and human health. Last year, Energy Coach volunteers reached roughly 900 residents, co-teaching 11 Energy Upgrade classes and sharing information at a range of community events. And their actions provided immense benefits, helping residents save a total of more than $22,000 in utility costs and nearly 370,000 gallons of water. Join the team of Energy Coaches to help our conservation efforts and make your own unique impact on the Sarasota County community. Interested volunteers must attend each of four, six-hour training sessions, held 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Feb. 21 and 27 and March 07 and 09. Topics covered include energy equity, efficiency-related financial incentives, energy- and water-conservation techniques, and more. Sessions feature lessons and field experience led by industry experts, access to energy evaluation equipment, and more. Learn more and register at http://tiny.cc/ufsaraext_EUcoachtraining. Note: We are seeking Spanish-speaking and bilingual volunteers to join the team, though this is not a requirement. If you would like to participate in the training but have concerns about cost or physical limitations, please contact SustainableSarasota@scgov.net.For more information and to register, visit the registration page or call the Sarasota County Contact Center at 941-861-5000. 

Manatee County is hosting a Public Information Meeting to detail an upcoming roadway improvement project on 63rd Avenue E. from U.S. 301 to Tuttle Avenue. The meeting will be held Wednesday, February 8, 2023, from 6:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m., at Beautiful Savior Lutheran Church, 7461 Prospect Road, Sarasota, 34243. The public meeting will provide interested residents with an opportunity to learn more about the proposed improvements to 63rd Avenue E. Guests will be invited to view design boards and plans. Project staff will also be on hand to answer questions and provide other project-related information. There will be no formal presentation, and guests may arrive any time between 6:00 p.m. and 8:00 p.m. This roadway project will widen approximately 1.12 miles of 63rd Avenue E., from U.S. 301 to Tuttle Avenue from two lanes to four 11-foot lanes (two lanes in each direction). Improvements will include a 12-foot two-way left-turn lane (TWLTL) from U.S. 301 to Prospect Road, a 16-foot raised median from Prospect Road to Tuttle Avenue, 6-foot buffered bike lanes, curb and gutter, 6-foot sidewalks in each direction and street lighting throughout the corridor. The project also includes improvements at the 63rd Avenue E. intersections with 33rd Street and Tuttle Avenue that include replacing the stop sign-traffic control with traffic signals, left turn lanes and pedestrian crosswalks. Public participation is solicited without regard to race, color, national origin, age, sex, religion, disability or family status. Persons who require special accommodations under the Americans with Disabilities Act should contact Carmine DeMilio, Manatee County ADA Coordinator, by phone at (941) 792-8784, ext. 8203, or by email at Carmine.Demilio@mymanatee.org at least five (5) days prior to the public meeting. Persons who require translation services (free of charge) should contact Valerie Ciudad-Real at (813) 404-1572 or by email at valeriec@valerin-group.com at least five (5) days prior to the public meeting. For additional project information, please visit the project website at mymanatee.org/63rd. 

2023 marks the 52nd season of Sarasota Institute of Lifetime Learning’s (SILL) “Global Issues” series. This hard-hitting series, which runs January 10-March 31, features 25 internationally renowned experts discussing a vast range of domestic and global issues. This month’s lectures feature front-page issues examined by leading speakers. Highlights include Martin Walker, acclaimed journalist, former director of the Global Business Policy Council, and author of the “Bruno, Chief of Police” mystery series, exploring the state of affairs in the EU, which faces the double challenge of a combined energy and economic crisis and a new Cold War. Yasmin Sayed, the Community Engagement Manager for the Refugee Resettlement Program at Lutheran Services in Florida, will present an overview of refugee resettlement efforts in SW Florida. Of particular interest are the human stories of the challenges and successes for families from over 10 countries. One of the refugees may accompany Sayed to share the story of their journey to the U.S. Dr. Aron Troen, the director of the Nutrition and Brain Health Laboratory at Hebrew University of Jerusalem, will discuss the latest advances in dementia and Alzheimer’s disease; and Amb. Dennis Ross, William Davidson Distinguished Fellow at The Washington Institute for Near East Policy, will discuss the changing Middle East.  

Join us on March 7, 2023 at Michael's On East for a dynamic luncheon symposium centered on conversations focused on regional philanthropic topics. The luncheon will include a panel discussion to explore the ever-changing world of non-profits and honor outstanding individuals who have made a meaningful impact within the community.  

Reserve Your Tickets Here