Restore Fort Myers Beach Arches Needs You

Restore Fort Myers Beach Arches, Inc. is at a critical point in our project’s history.  We are attempting to enter into a Development Agreement with the County.  WE NEED HELP!

Part of the counties Development Agreement is our pledge to have adequate funding.  We were in the process of getting quotes for construction of our project, than the county changed our project.  So our potential bidders had old information.  They increased the cost by requesting a deeper footer and more etched brick surface.  This could help us if we get more brick donations. We wrote 600 emails asking people to donate bricks recently.  Our one early cost estimate has us with a $53K shortfall.

We never had a true cost estimate before this, because we (Restore Fort Myers Beach Arches, Inc). were not willing to spend our donor’s money on an estimate for a project in flux.

We intend on getting other quotes that may come in cheaper when the county is done changing (We think they are now), we are waiting on final engineering drawings from engineers.  We have also found a way to save on Stone Masonry by including Florida Masonry, Inc.  A School for kids.  Our local South High School has a program and we are working on that.  It will include local youth; allowing them to learn real stone masonry while taking part in something historic.  They will assist the professional Stone Mason we are going to award the contract to.  As we get closer to the finish line we are ramping up our fundraising efforts.  If we do not get that $53K we will adapt and overcome and change plans, location, etc., whatever it takes.  I have been working on this project since 2016 and we will get it built.

Our volunteer force has dropped to just a few people recently for many reasons (Ian, health, relocation etc.).  We had our annual event in April and we were so undermanned.   Earl Morgan has been doing most of our work for our group.  Our Vice President recently had a family tragedy and she just resigned, she has been unable to help us for many reasons recently.  Then there is myself, I reside in Arizona.  We have help from Paula Kiker too but she lives in Key West.  Former Commissioner Larry Kiker was involved heavily in our project at the beginning.  We have so much we want to do in these final days but can’t:

–  Distribute our Etched Brick Brochures to maximize this fundraiser, every brick that is donated is one we don’t have to purchase, and we make money.  It has been the our go-to fundraiser. I just wrote 600 emails asking for people to donate. Restore Fort Myers Beach Arches Walk The Arches Donor Site

– We want to do the Women’s Club Christmas Tree Festival (This would be our third time), Paula has agreed to help but can’t commit on Dec 12-13^th yet.  So we have nobody to do it.  We will provide the resources.

– We want to host an in season event this year (not the size of Rock the Arches), something smaller, yet effective as a fundraiser.  We have ideas and are looking for a venue and volunteers to help.  So far no luck.

–  We could be doing tables at the Bayside Music  Festival, we could be doing a table at the local markets.  But we can’t find people.

We are willing let you go with it and not micromanage when, how and if something is done. We need people to raise their collective hands and give us 10 months of crazy good fundraising to finish.  This will bring our mini-arches back in the way of the Commemorative Arch on Bowditch.  Any overage will go into a maintenance trust for Lee County.

We have so many news worthy things going on and we have no news coverage,  Our 1/24 Scale Model of the original Arches we did for Ellie and the Historical Society are on display now at the Fort Myers Beach Library (See Attached Photo). This was one of the projects we were working on because we had been told we were on FEMA hold until 2028.  Commissioner David Mulicka changed that for us.    Also, Jan Ellen Artist Atkielski is working on the new mural of the Arches in the new town on Fort Myers Beach.  This occurred because we donated one of her oil paintings to the town of FMB because of a donation by the Freeland Family, and things happened from there as a result.  Jan Ellen painted the mural of the Arches in the original town hall that was destroyed by Ian.  She is 1/3 completed.  We want to to do a Town Hall Event at the Grand opening of the FMB Town Hall..  We are in the process of trying to get the town of FMB to fund a Florida State Historical Marker at the place the Arches once stood in the parking lot at 728 Fisherman’s Wharf.

We are enlisting anyone to help us at this critical juncture, come be a part of local history. Let’s Rock These Arches. Thank you for considering a story.