Welcome to the Tigers' Den

July President's Message

     In his 1961 inaugural address, President John F. Kennedy urged Americans to "ask not what your country can do for you, but ask what you can do for your country."  That request led to an explosion of civic activism in government in organizations such as the Peace Corps.  To paraphrase President Kennedy, "ask not what Tiger Bay can do for you, ask what you can do for Tiger Bay."

     Let me suggest six things that you can do to make Tiger Bay the best political club in Florida.  First, ask someone you know to join Tiger Bay.  As anyone in politics knows, you must ask people for their support.  We are always looking for new members and now the Club has provided incentives to you for signing up new members.  Get three people to join, and we will pick up your next luncheon bill.  Get six people to join and we will pay your 2010 annual dues.  Just make sure you put your membership number on the applications so we can award you these incentives.

     Second, sign up to receive this newsletter by email.  Each person who receives the newsletter by email will be saving the Club a substantial amount of money in printing and first-class postage expenses.  In addition, you will receive the email newsletter more quickly than getting it in the mail.

     Third, sign up for the luncheons early.  We have had too many people waiting until the last moment to make their reservations.  Chandra must let the venue know 48 to 72 hours in advance of the meeting how many people will be attending.  Also, if you waited until the last moment to sign up for the June mayoral forum you were out of luck because we had a sold out venue.

     Fourth, once you make a reservation you are responsible for paying for the luncheon.  So far in 2009 we have had 57 people make reservations who did not show up and did not pay for their guaranteed reservation.  This has cost the Club over $1,000 and we cannot afford to allow this to continue.  Club rules state that unless you cancel within 48 hours of the meeting you are responsible for paying for the luncheon.  We have to submit "guaranteed reservations" and we have to pay the venue whether you show up or not.

     Fifth, offer your services to Tiger Bay.  Are you interested in serving on the Board, let us know.  If you have suggestions for programs and speakers, let us know.

     Finally, check out Tiger Bay at our completely revised website at www.tigerbay.org or check us out on Facebook or on Twitter at sctigerbay.  We have recently added the Facebook and Twitter sites and have about a 100 members who have checked out the Facebook and Twitter sites.

     This is your Club.  Any organization is only as good as its members.  Please do your part to make the Suncoast Tiger Bay Club the best political organization in Florida.  Ask what you can do for Tiger Bay today.

Darryl Paulson

President, Suncoast Tiger Bay Club

What’s all this about a “Fang & Claw?”

Perhaps the most appealing benefit of membership is the ability to participate in Question & Answer sessions with our speakers. The coveted "Fang & Claw Award" is presented to the member at each meeting who "slashes through pretension and prevarication" with the toughest question of the day.

From left to right-Scott Wagman, Deveron Gibbons, Bill Foster, Larry Williams, Tiger Bay Member Ed Montanari, Kathleen Ford, Alex Haak, Richard Eldridge, Jamie Bennett, Paul Congemi.

Tiger Bay Member Ed Montanari won his first Tiger at the SOLD OUT June 17, 2009 Mayoral Forum Tiger Bay Luncheon held at the St. Petersburg Yacht Club.  Mr. Montanari asked the Candidates for the Mayor of St. Petersburg who they would vote for if they were not running for the position of Mayor.