Dissolve THE beach

[John R]

http://thebeachfla.com/

It is mentioned in the TDC Interim Director thread that THE beach is set to receive more money!?! Why? What does it do? I can't answer that question by visiting the website.

The blog hasn't been updated since 12/9/09, the Calendar has nothing in it, and the Live Video goes to an empty page. The photo gallery only has stock photos on it, nothing representing current events.

If I were a member that gave any money to this group, I would feel pretty duped. Unless it's only goal was to woo Southwest. If that's the case, why would THE beach need more money. How much money? From where. Hopefully no tax money is being expended on this hollow entity.

I have been involved in a large event where THE beach was to be included. Short of tagging all the media with the silly logo, I never saw any representation in the form of actual humans, or even an unmanned table with any literature, balloons, candy, koozies, pens, anything. It seems like a big pyramid scheme to me.

Can anyone enlighten me?

 

[scooterbug44]

I am also surprised - I thought they were being dissolved due to legal issues/misuse of funds.

And I sure as hell don't think we should be giving them MORE money!

 

[Andy A]

I am also surprised - I thought they were being dissolved due to legal issues/misuse of funds.

And I sure as hell don't think we should be giving them MORE money!

Ditto this.

 

[Em]

According to the BCC agenda for Tuesday's upcoming meeting in Defuniak Springs, the Walton Area Chamber of Commerce asked for and is receiving $10,000 via the TDC (Beaches of South Walton) to promote and advertise "Taste of THE Beach."

A little background: The TDC helps promote events and productions in South Walton in order to fill more beds (rental properties), and this is funded via bed taxes. With that, I don't see a problem. That, in part, is why the TDC operates -- to put heads in beds and generate tax revenues and grease the economic wheels of Walton County.

The only thing odd about this particular line item is that it is still being promoted as "THE Beach." In the past, there has been a "Taste of 30A." The only problem with that was that all of the featured chefs were from other places, not Walton County. I think their numbers were low because of that. For whatever reason, a certain big player with THE Beach who also sits on the authority making decisions where roads will be built in NW FL in the future, who also happens to have a large development in Freeport, decided that he would take on "Taste of 30A" at his development in Freeport. That was about three-four years ago. I think he did it only once. I have no idea how the turn out was. Now, they are having, "Taste of THE Beach."

 

[scooterbug44]

Slapping your name on an existing/established event doesn't mean you are responsible for bringing in the attendees there.

It's like Scooterbug Inc. claiming responsibility (and $$$) for a full house at the Red Bar on a summer saturday.

I've yet to see an event that actually originated with the beach and was spearheaded by them, just them co-opting and co-sponsoring existing events.