From Don Covington

The past, present and the future came together at the Venice Historic Train Depot as the Venice Circus Arts Foundation unveiled to friends and volunteers a fundraising initiative to save the former winter home of the Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey Circus. The premise of the Nov. 10 event, according to foundation Executive Director Orlando Bevington, was simple. "Tonight, we hope to create an infrastructure to begin the process of raising the $12 million we need to not only save the Venice Arena, a part of this city's history, but also to create a premiere cultural venue that will attract thousands of people to Venice," Bevington said. "The collective memory of our community has forgotten how important the arena was to Venice; tonight represents the foundation moving forward and maintaining our common purpose." The plan, according to Bevington, is to sell sponsorships of 12-inch-square pieces of the six-acre arena site to individuals for $30 and to families for $60. Bevington admitted the plan is ambitious, but a hi-tech solution might help him realize his hopes. "The foundation is working with Google Earth," he explained. "On the foundation's website, there will be an aerial view of the arena and its grounds. Everyone can buy their own personal square or more if they like." When the online program becomes available, he said, all patrons will have to do is click on a square and "donate to a cause that for many people brings to mind so many happy memories." For Steve Smith, the foundation's media chairman, this new-found embrace of social media could not have come sooner. "I think everyone who is part of the foundation admits we could have been quicker to realize the possibilities of the Internet," he said. A self-proclaimed fan of the Cecil B. DeMille-directed 1952 movie "The Greatest Show on Earth," the renowned circus-related tale filmed in Sarasota, Smith is currently improving the foundation's website and is looking forward to creating a profitable existence for the foundation. "The website will be dedicated to advertising the foundation's ambitions," Smith said. "We need to raise awareness of the arena's plight beyond Venice. There's a lot we can achieve through Facebook and other media outlets." The task ahead, Bevington acknowledged, is daunting. "I hope I can convince everyone to share my vision," Bevington said. Recent financial aid from the Gulf Coast Community Foundation, and a stockpile of financial donations accrued since the foundation's fledgling days, would appear to bolster that desire. "What price the memories of past generations and this city's future?" Bevington asked. "We need so much more help."