Been keeping a low profile lately on all the debates concerning the complicated issues we have concerning our downtown merchants groups, arts groups and political entities.

I am as always proud to live and conduct business here in Sanford.

However, I feel embarrassed as to how we interact with each other when it comes to subjects like Alive after Five, Wayne Densch Performing Arts Center, Celery City Soup, Historic Trust, Martin Luther King Celebration, Sanford/Seminole County Chamber of Business, Government organizations and other groups that put on events in downtown.

The above mentioned groups all want to promote our town by hosting events and or performances which will attract visitors and provide a place for locals to celebrate our town and heritage.

These groups have a lot in common, but yet they don't seem to work well together.

So following the money trail, all the groups raise money to accomplish their missions through donations and or membership fees, government grants/subsidies,and events they stage and hopefully receive a profit from to cover their operating expenses. They also depend on a lot of volunteer work to accomplish their goals and objectives.

The problem is they all compete for our entertainment dollar and volunteer time, similar government funds, facilities and resources.

Would it not be great if they could streamline their operations combine their fundraising, combine their grant applications, combine their missions where it is possible.

For instance we don't need two welcome centers in downtown Sanford 2 blocks apart. They both have paid staff members.

Have one Welcome Center where you can buy tickets for all the different groups upcoming events, they could combine their advertising for their events and share the costs, share their tents and chairs and other equipment and spaces they control to reduce operating expenses.

Eliminate the duplication of effort and focus on reaching your goals by working together and figuring out how to share the pie.

My vision: Sanford a community to be proud of because its a great place to live, work and enjoy life.

It will take all of us to make it happen, everyone has some skill or talent which can benefit his fellow man.