Allen Langford, Rotary Member

Dawn Marie Bates-Buchanan, Esq. - Gulfcoast Legal Services, Inc., Bradenton, Florida. Ms. Buchananis the Managing Attorney of Bradenton Office. Responsibilites include: Supervising All staff in the Bradenton Office office. Litigation in all areas of Family Law Cases and Injunction For Protection Against Domestic Violence Cases. Appeals of Impact Family Law Cases. Litigation in Consumer, Landlord Tenant, Public Benefits and Forclosure issues and other areas affecting Seniors.

Interests and community involvement: Admitted to Florida Bar October 1999, Manatee County Bar Assocation, Manatee County Association of Woman Lawyers/Vice President/Board Member, Volusia County Bar Association - Board Member, Volusia/Flagler Association of Women Lawyers - Treasurer/Vice President, American Bar Association - Member Family Law Section, Guardian Ad Litem - Attorney Volunteer, Constituency for Children and Youth - Member, Florida Legal Services Child Support Enforcement Task Force - Member, Florida Unified Family Court Task Force - Member, Suncoast Center for Independent Living - Board member, and Manatee Children's Services - Board Member.

Mayor Larry Bustle is a native of Manatee County and is a graduate of Manatee County High School.

After high school, he attended the U.S. Naval Academy, and after graduation he was commissioned as a second lieutenant in the United States Air Force. He received his pilot wings in 1958 and enjoyed a distinguished career which included service as a fighter pilot and test pilot with over 3300 flying hours. Mr. Bustle flew 130 combat missions in the F-4D Phantom II aircraft during the Vietnam War. For his service in Vietnam he was awarded the Silver Star, the Distinguished Flying Cross, nine Air Medals and the Purple Heart, among others. He retired from the Air Force as a Colonel in 1984.

Mr. Bustle assumed the office of Mayor of the City of Palmetto on January 7th, 2002. On January 10, 2005, he began his second term which runs through November 17, 2008. In August 2007, he announced his candidacy for Manatee County Commission, District 1.

Mayor Bustle currently serves on the American Patriotism Celebration Task Force, the South Florida Museum Board and the Manatee Chamber Economic Development Council. He is a past chair of the Sarasota-Manatee Metropolitan Planning Organization, the Manatee Veterans Council, and a past member of the Community Coalition on Homelessness and the Local School Readiness Coalition. Mayor Bustle represents the City of Palmetto on the Tampa Bay Regional Planning Council, the Manasota League of Cities, and the Sarasota-Manatee Metropolitan Planning Organization.

He is married to the former Edie Stevenson and they have four grown children.

Chief Garry Lowe, Chief of Police, Palmetto Police Department is a lifetime resident of Manatee County, Garry graduated from Manatee High School in 1980. He attended Manatee Community College. He started in Law Enforcement in 1981 as a Police Officer at the Palmetto Police Department. Other assignments included: Captain – Admin. Bureau Comm. from 1999 to 2002, Lieutenant – Enforce. Bureau Comm. from 1997 to 1999, Patrol Sergeant from 1994 to 1997, Detective Corporal from 1993 to 1994, Community Service Officer from 1990 to 1993, and Public Information Officer from 1990 to 1993. Garry's community involvement includes: Manatee Players – Board of Directors, NOBLE – National Organization of Black Law Enforcement Executives - President of Central Florida, Meals on Wheels, Board of Directors, Palmetto Optimist Club – Past President, Palmetto Youth Center – Board of Directors, Manatee County Fair – Board of Directors, Sheriff’s Advisory Board, Police Athletic League Board, Manatee County Rural Health Board – Chairman, and GTP Foundation for Sickle Cell. Awards include: NAACP – Distinguished Service Award - 2006, MLK – Outstanding Citizenship – 2002, Rising Star – 2002, Kappa Alpha Phi – Citizens Award 2002, and Officer of the year 1986.

Gilbert Smith (Hamrick, Perrey, Quinlan & Smith, P.A.) practices primarily in the areas of bankruptcy, collections, mortgage foreclosures, family law and tax collection and enforcement. He earned his Bachelor of Arts Degree in Sociology from University of South Florida in 1974 and was awarded his Juris Doctor Degree from the University of the Pacific in 1986. He is admitted to practice in all Florida state courts, the United States Middle District of Florida, and the United States Court of Appeals for the Eleventh Circuit. He is the immediate past President of the Manatee County Bar Association. Mr. Smith's clients include cooperatives of the Farm Credit System, commercials banks, tax collector and other creditors.

Nancy Beal is thrilled to be the first Principal at Annie Lucy Williams Elementary School in Parrish, Florida. The school opened in August of this year and currently houses 690 students in grades Pre-K through 5. Born in Vero Beach, Florida, Ms. Beal is proud to be a fourth generation Floridian. Her family were settlers in Indian River County and came to Central Florida about 1825. Ms. Beal graduated from Western Kentucky University in 1974 with a degree in Special Education. She holds a Master's Degree from Florida State in Mental Retardation and an Administrative Degree from the University of South Florida. Ms. Beal has thirty three years of experience in education and has been a teacher in Vero Beach, Florida and in Louisville, Kentucky, a Consultant in Special Education with Sarasota District Schools, a Coordinator at the Kentucky State Department of Education, and Coordinator for Specific Learning Disabilities for Manatee District Schools, Assistant Principal, and is in her thirteenth year as a Principal in Manatee County.

Diana Shoemaker is serving as the first Executive Director of Family Promise of Manatee County, a brand new non profit organization mobilizing community resources to help homeless families regain their independence. The program has created a volunteer based Interfaith Hospitality Network (IHN) that provides shelter, meals and support to children and families in a situation of homelessness. This program unites individuals, congregations, community organizations and business working together in an effort to provide comprehensive assistance to children and families in need. Prior to being hired as the Executive Director, Diana served for 2 years as President of the Board leading the effort to bring Family Promise to Manatee County. Prior to joining Family Promise, Diana was the Director of Education at Kirkwood Presbyterian Church. Diana has her Masters in Social Work from Columbia University.

Helen Arnold, Southeastern Guide Dogs. Helen has been employed at Southeastern Guide Dogs for seven years as the Community Relations Coordinator. Her job entails representing the guide dog school at major functions, conventions and seminars. She also schedules all tours and presentations and does many of them herself. She has been a guide dog user for 42 years and Corki, a smooth coat collie, is her seventh guide dog. Prior to coming to Southeastern, Helen worked for 15 years at Bank of America as a mortgage research analyst. She is originally from Indianapolis, IN, having attended Indiana University in Bloomington. Helen enjoys all sports, especially football and basketball. She also likes to attend concerts at the Van Wezel as well as some of the other venues in Tampa and St. Pete. Most of her free time is spent doing volunteer work for her local Lions Club, the Ellenton-Parrish Lions, where she currently serve as President. Helen also belongs to several state and national organizations that advocate for the rights of the blind and visually impaired.

Ritchey Nelson Taylor was born and raised in cold Wisconsin. She attended Milwaukee University School and Vassar College (but is not a graduate). She married and had four children. Her employment included Recreation Director, Occupational Therapist, Assistant Title 1 teacher, President of Osceola County, FL Title 1, Tennis Professional, Counselor at Woodlawn Memorial Park, Pine Hills, FL, Manager of the largest commercial Quail Farm in Central FL, Financial Assistant to Matt Taylor, CEO of Sunset Ridge Memorial Park, Kenosha, WI, COO of Sunset Ridge, and President of Taylor Family Foundation since 1994.

In addition, Ritchey has been a Candystriper, a Junior Leaguer, Cub Scout den mother, Brownie leader, Assistant Girl Scout leader, and Craft-Coordinator for the Osceola County Girl Scout Council. Her hobbies have included Children's Theater, sports, crafts, jewelry making and she has built 16 doll houses.