Item M05
BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS
AGENDA ITEM SUMMARY
Meeting Date: Wed.. June IS. 2005
Division: BOCC
Bulk Item: Yes _ No..xx.
Department: Commissioner David Rice. District 4
Staff Contact Person: Tamara Lundstrom
AGENDA ITEM WORDING: Approval of appointmeDt of J. Bradford Trout to the Libraay
Advisory Board to fulfill tbe term of Kathleen Fischer, wbo recently resigned due to move out of
tbe area.
ITEM BACKGROUND: Mr. Trout bas a bistory of involvement witb the Maratbon Library
sinu 1998. aDd bas beeD active with the Friends of tbe Library for tbe past two yan. Be has
worked on several local community projects. including tbe Field of Dreams children's pa.rk.locaI
benefits. sports, aDd sehool-spoasored youtb challenge social programs.
PREVIOUS RlLEV ANT BOCC ACTION: Kathleen Fischer was appointed as tbe District 4
represeatative 08 the Library Advisory Board in December 2002.
CONTRACT/AGREEMENT CHANGES:
STAFF RECOMMENDATIONS:
TOTAL COST:
BUDGETED: Yes
No
COST TO COUNTY:
SOURCE OF FUNDS:
REVENUE PRODUCING: Ycs_ No_ AMOUNTPERMONTB_ Year
APPROVED BY: County Arty _ OMBlPurchasing
Risk Management _
DIVISION DIRECTOR APPROVAL:
~!!.~ ff;ee:
(David P. Rice, Commissioner)
DOCUMENTA nON:
Included xx
Not Required_
DISPOsmON:
AGENDA ITEM #
Revised 2/OS
Monroe County Boards and Committees
Appointment Information
Board or Committee: Library Advisory Board
Commissioner Appointing Member: Commissioner David P. Rice. District 4
Name of Member: J. Bradford Trout
Address: 2001 Sombrero Beach Rd.
Marathon. FL 33050
Phone Numbers:
Work: N/A Home: 305289-8234
Date of Appointment: June 15. 2005
Reappointment: No
Date Term Expires: January 1, 2007
Name of Person Being Replaced: N/ A
Fulfilling Term of: Kathleen Fischer
Re: Appointment to Library Advisory Board
Mr. Rice,
In accordance with your request for a brief bio outlining my involvement
with the Marathon Branch of the Monroe County Library System, I offer the
following.
I began my interaction with the local library in 1998 when I volunteered to
help Gloria Goodman with the Summer Reading Program. This summer will mark
the seventh year that alliance has produced a diverse schedule of events
benefiting the children of Marathon and the surrounding areas supplementing a
fine existing program established earlier by Ms. Goodman. These events have
included book readings, story telling, skits, puppet shows and sing-a-Iongs in
addition to a wide array of presentations and educational entertainment from
outside sources such as wildlife from Marathon Wild Bird Rescue, Conservation
Officers from nearby Florida State Parks, the canine branch of the Monroe
r.ountv Sheriffs Office and much more. In addition to this, I have greatly enjoyed
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young audience. We have routinely drawn crowds in excess of fifty cnllOren Tor
our weekly program and several of the local daycare centers make regular en
masse visits to us throughout the summer. We are understandably very proud of
this program and its impact.
About two years ago I was asked to join the Friends of the Marathon
Library Board of Directors and shortly afterward was appointed interim vice-
president, serving in that capacity until elections could be held to permanently fill
the open position. In the time since I have joined the group, I have concentrated
my efforts on new library support projects, new funding options, PR and creating
a more harmonious atmosphere of cooperation dedicated to furthering the goal of
increasing support for the local library and its manager, Ms. Goodman. I believe
we have established a better working relationship between our group, the library
and the county and look forward to achieving many of the goals we have set for
ourselves. We have managed to more than double the amount of money donated
yearty to the library, funding such projects as acquiring a computer for the
Spanish speaking patrons which I spearheaded, expanding the Books on Tape
collection, supplementing the reference section and most recently I worked with
Ms. Goodman and Karen Hoth of the Media Center of Marathon High School to
facilitate a substantial expansion of the Young Adult section of the branch in an
attempt provide a valuable educational resource for the students and staff of the
school and lure the children of that age group back to our facility. At present
Gloria and I are working with Norma Kula in an attempt to create a lending
program that will provide ease of access to this resource for those interested in
tapping into it.
My experience in the business world has served our group well in
increasing the Friends budget by tapping into existing funding resources and
exploring new ones. In the Fall of 2004, I made a presentation to the Marathon
City Council following an application for funding that resulted in The Friends
getting a grant from the city budget effectively raising our annual donations to the
local branch by some fifty percent.
Our latest and most ambitious project, of which I feel I am an integral part,
is our effort to work with the powers that be of Monroe County and Marathon to
build a new library in Marathon. Though still in the initial stages, we have actively
helped to lay the groundwork for the project and have already formulated a plan
to pursue several innovative courses of action to secure funding to aid in filling
the new and increased space with a broad spectrum of literary resources to
benefit the local and seasonal patrons. We at the Friends hope to see this project
through to completion and in doing so to instill the desire in others to come
forward and do their part to support the cause.
In closing let me say that in addition to that which is mentioned above, I
have taken pride in participating in other like endeavors in Marathon. I played an
active and guiding role in the Marathon in Action benefits for cancer victims Capt.
J.C. Wells and Dylan Picariello in which more than a hundred thousand dollars
was raised to help fight their respective battles. I was a part of the team that
brought the American Cancer Society's Relay for life annual fundraiser to
Marathon five years ago. I was a hands-on participant in building the Rotary Club
Field of Dreams Children's Park in Marathon. I also am very proud to have
helped establish a program called STARS (acronym for Supporting Tolerance,
Acceptance and Respect in Students) at Marathon High School/Middle School
that for four years benefited challenged youth and helped provide a loving,
nurturing, safe environment for growth and maturation. In the process we went a
long way toward breaking down common barriers and addressing some of the
more insidious issues that the children face and through awareness brought
about a campus environment more conducive to learning and the enjoyment of
childhood. And lastly, for the last two years I have volunteered with the A YSO
Youth Soccer Program, of which Marathon vice-mayor Chris Bull is director. I
have served as a referee of games for children ages eight to eighteen.
In anticipation of my appointment to the vacant position on the Library
Advisory Board, I look forward to serving the libraries and the county in a way
that will benefit the populace and the system alike.
Sincerely,
Brad Trout
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March 28, 2005
Commissioner David Rice
District 4
Florida Keys Marathon Airport
9400 Overseas Hwy Suite 210
Marathon,Fl33050
Dear Commissioner David Rice,
This letter is to inform you that I will be resigning from the Monroe County
Library Advisory Board as of June 1,2005.
Thank you for giving me this opportunity to be part of the Library Advisory
Board.
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Kathleen Fischer