Sarasota Manatee Home Town Heroes Diana Friedman

Sandy Slaminko has been instrumental in bringing the national organization, Baby Basics, Inc. to our local area. Baby Basics provides diapers to the “working poor”. Sandy has been married for over 40 years, has four children, and seven grandchildren. Two of Sandy’s children were originally her foster children. Clearly, taking responsibility for her community has been a way of life for Sandy for a very long time. She shares about some of the people and experiences that have helped to make her who she is.

Links and organizations mentioned:

Kappa Kappa Gamma (http://www.kappakappagamma.org/)
Jewish Children and Families Services (WWW.JFCS.ORG)
Baby Basics (http://www.facebook.com/pages/Baby-Basics-of-Sarasota/201355450459)

Sharon and Brian Ehrlich, who have been residents of our community for just 6 short years, put together a diaper drive for All Faith’s Food Bank. They shared with me how they became inspired to do this, how they did (hint- it took some friends and a healthy network) and why they spent their precious free time doing this. I hope you will be as inspired as me to help in some way after listening to them.

All Faith's Food Bank (http://www.allfaithsfoodbank.org/)
Brian's email

Gini Hyman was raised in Sarasota and shares a bit about what Sarasota means to her. In addition to being a realtor and operating an organic, natural and human grade pet treat business that has sales in over twenty eight states (http://sites.google.com/site/ginisbirdiebread/), she works with the Commission on the Status of Women Sarasota County, the Florida West Coast Avian Society, and Baby Basics. All three of these organizations provide valuable services to our community. The mission for the Commission on the Status of Women Sarasota County is to Empower Women through Education, Research, and Advocacy. The Florida West Coast Aviation Society was founded after Hurricane Charlie when so many pet birds were left homeless. Baby Basics provides diapers for the working poor members of our community.

Important links and contact information:
Commission for the Status of Women Sarasota County (http://cswsarasota.googlepages.com/)
You can contact them at cswsarasota@gmail.com or 941 961-7982
Florida West Coast Avian Society (http://fwcas.org/) for contact information visit http://fwcas.org/pages/contacts.shtml#contact_fwcas
Baby Basics (http://www.facebook.com/pages/Baby-Basics-of-Sarasota/201355450459) you can contact them at 941-684-0009


Meetings for The Commission for the Status of Women Sarasota County are held the first

Karen Bell is a clown who attended the former Ringling Clown College, left our community to travel the world, delighting people with her talents. Then she returned to not only work with Circus Sarasota, but to help the senior members of our community who are suffering from Alzheimer’s as well as other forms of dementia. Listen to this delightful interview and share any comments you might have.

Links mentioned:

Circus Sarasota (www.circussarasota.org)

Dennis Blanchard is a long time advocate of women's rights as well as an all-around interesting fellow.  He has been a lifelong amateur radio operator and a volunteer at WSLR.   He has hiked the Appalachian Trail and is a member of the Appalachian Trail located in Sarasota, a member of NOW (National Organization for Women) serving on the state board, a member of the Coalition for Peace and Justice, and a member of Veterans for Common Sense.  In this interview he shares how his parents and other people who entered his life while he was a young boy helped to shape him and make him who he is today.
 
Some links mentioned: 
NOW (www.sarasotamanateenow.org, 800-301-8604)
South West Florida Coalition for Peace and Justice (www.swfcpj.org)
Toastmasters (www.posspeaking.freetoasthost.org 927-5665)
Appalachian Trail Club (www.dennisandjane.org/atc 921-1467) 
Veterans for Common Sense (www.floridaveteransforcommonsense.org/)

Steve Finkel has been a regular volunteer in our community for a very long time.  He volunteers with the Sarasota County Humane Society, the South Eastern Guide Dog, Women's Exchange, Sherriff’s Department with various at-risk youth, McIntosh Middle School, and at Sarasota Memorial Hospital with the Therapy Pets program.  All of this would be impressive by itself, but when coupled with his visual impairment, I think it is fabulously inspiring.  This Podcast is a little longer than most of my interviews, but it is definitely worth every second of it. 
Some organizations mentioned: South Eastern Guide Dogs (http://www.guidedogs.org/) Humane Society (http://www.hssc.org/index.htm), Pet Therapy http://www.pet-therapy.org/),