Hello Friends and Neighbors,
Hope this communique finds you well as we say goodbye to summer.
On a personal note, I’m happy to report that my shoulder surgery (reverse shoulder arthroplasty), following my terrible fall, is finally behind me and I am making a slow recovery and new progress.
On Saturday we will host our Second Saturday Open House
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When: Saturday, September 12th | 10:00 AM – 12:00 PM
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Where: Armstrong & Heritage rooms (North Campus), 953 N Course Ln
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Details: Informational booths will be staffed for volunteer signups, resident authorizations, donations and Save SCC merchandise.
Upcoming Second Saturday Events
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Oct. 10 (hosted by Barbara Allen); Nov. 14 (hosted by Rick Johnson); Dec. 12 (hosted by Ellie Anderson).
Thankfully, through the generosity of some donors, we currently have a matching gift program that has been extended to Sept. 14. More information is below.
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Volunteer Fatigue: Our core leadership is stretching its limits. We urgently need folks with specialized skills—specifically paralegals, civil/hydrological engineers, and administrative managers. If you have these talents, we ask you urgently to step up. You can get started by joining us at a Second Saturday event or emailing volunteering@savescc.org.
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Official County Recognition: We are expanding our “legal” reach through the certification of Save SCC as a Neighborhood Organization with Hillsborough CountyWe want to secure Certified Neighborhood Organization status with Hillsborough County to serve as the community’s official legal voice in public hearings. In order to do this, we need “signatures” from more than 50% of the homes in Sun City Center. To accomplish this, we are looking for “captains” to canvass their street(s) or local HOA. We have an easy sign-up form on our website (savescc.org). If you don’t have a computer or need help, please attend our upcoming Second Saturday open house from 10:00 a.m. until noon on Sept. 12, and our volunteers will get you signed up.
Southwest Florida Water Management District (SWFWMD or “SwiftMud”) Regulatory Battle & Flooding Risk
ClubLink has formally submitted a petition for wetland determination on the North Lakes Golf Course under SWFWMD Permit Application #941993. This shifts their effort from conceptual planning to active regulatory execution.
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Technical Criteria: SWFWMD environmental scientists will inspect the property to establish legal boundaries based on soil composition, hydraulic markers, wetland vegetation species, and historical surface water levels.
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Severe Flooding Risk: North Lakes functions as a critical natural stormwater basin. Replacing it with impervious surfaces will displace millions of gallons of runoff, posing a catastrophic flooding threat to adjacent neighborhoods.
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Our Stance: Save SCC is demanding that ClubLink be held to the absolute highest burden of proof under Florida law to demonstrate zero off-site impact.
Our Multi-Pronged Strategy
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Regulatory Oversight: We are continuously monitoring SWFWMD and ClubLink, as we retain hydrogeological expert witnesses, and ensure strict statutory enforcement. If you have any expertise in these areas, or know someone who is, please contact us at getinvolved@savescc.org.
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Proactive Legal Defense: We have vetted and retained specialized legal counsel for administrative hearings to challenge ClubLink in the future. (The budget is estimated to exceed $100,000). If we are to be successful, we need financial support. We hope you can step up in a big way!
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More details on the open house are below.
Urgent Legal Defense Fund & $500+ Matching Challenge
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Matching Program (Extended thru Sept. 14): Several generous benefactors are match all donations of $500 or more dollar-for-dollar to double your financial impact. The match period is quickly drawing to a close on Sept 14 so make your tax deductible gift of $ 500. to double the impact, please. I know I’ve talked about donating several times already, but I can’t stress enough how important it is that we raise the funds to battle ClubLink and its partners. Without the funding, we will never make it across the finish line, and I know you don’t want to see our open spaces turned into housing sites.
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How to Donate: Visit our website to give online, join us on Second Saturday, or contact Treasurer John Newbury at 508-272-7130 or john.newbury@savescc.org.
Resident Authorization Drive & Volunteer Sign-Up
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Sign Your Authorization: As mentioned earlier, we are working toward being certified by Hillsborough County as a Neighborhood Organization. You can submit a Resident Representation Authorization form (online or paper), so Save SCC can officially speak on your behalf before county boards. Just go to Savescc.org.
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Join the Team: We need Neighborhood Captains (“Boots on the Ground”) for 100% street coverage, alongside engineers, paralegals and administrative staff.
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Contact: Contact Volunteer Coordinator Joan Diehl at 813-753-4347 or joan.diehl@savescc.org to get involved.
Please be sure to share this information with your friends and neighbors and make sure they also are signed up for our email blasts. It is imperative we keep everyone informed and engaged. We all must be evangelists for the preservation of our golf courses, open green spaces and community lifestyle.
Thanks for your support and cooperation. Together we can prevail!
Ellie Anderson