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President’s Message

                                       Las Olas Association




                                       “It is not the critic who counts; not the man who points out how the strong man stumbles,
                                       or where the doer of deeds could have done them better. The credit belongs to the man
                                       who is actually in the arena, whose face is marred by dust and sweat and blood; who
                                       strives valiantly; who errs, who comes short again and again, because there is no effort
                                       without error and shortcoming; but who does actually strive to do the deeds; who knows
                                       great enthusiasms, the great devotions; who spends himself in a worthy cause”
                                                                                                   - Teddy Roosevelt
                                           his very famous passage from the speech given in 1910 still resonates and
                                           inspires today. Recently, I received a letter from one of our readers who
                                       Texpressed concern about my positive outlook and “Pollyanna” attitude pervasive
                                       in all my President’s messages. “With all the issues going on with Las Olas”, they
                                       wrote, “how can you pretend the vacancies aren’t there?”

                                       This reader makes a very good point…and the frustration that this reader feels is felt
                                       by many of us. I know for the most part, we are all doing what we can. It would be
                                       easy for me to complain and point out what I would like to see improved. There is a
              Luke Moorman             plethora of enhancements needed on Las Olas. I would love to see wider sidewalks,
                  President,           safer crosswalks, tree-filled medians that spanned to Boulevard, zero vacancies,
             The Las Olas Association
                                       shops filled with paying customers, and, and, and…

                                       The Las Olas Association and I have been working for years to make it better. There
                                       is no magic wand and no perfect solution. Don’t mistake my optimism for being blind
                                       to ways of making our Las Olas better.

                                       Fortunately, our Commissioners have heard our appeals for leadership. The Las Olas
                                       Working Group was recently created by Vice Mayor Ben Sorenson and District 2
                                       Commissioner Glassman. This group will guide the city in crafting a reboot and
                                       upgrade of our world-famous East Las Olas Boulevard into a safer and more user-
                                       friendly thoroughfare. The passion I am seeing from Las Olas business owners,
                                       property owners, residents, and community leaders is unlike anything we have ever
                                       seen before. We have men and women daring greatly in the arena that IS Las Olas
                                       Boulevard…we hope you will join us at our best and at least, cheer us on!

                                       The beautiful thing about our problems are that they are a first-world problem. I wake
                                       up every day feeling blessed and grateful to be a part of such a diverse community
                                       and this comes out in everything I do including my message here on these pages.
                                       We live in the best city, in the finest state, in the greatest country in the world, and
                                       YES…we are ALL truly blessed.

                                       I have an advantage; my family affords me the ability to donate my time and energy
                                       to give to the betterment our community. Not everyone is afforded this privilege. But
                                       my family lives by the Rotary motto, Service Above Self. “Thank you” Robert and
                                       Barbara Moorman for always giving until it hurts. Thank you for teaching us how to
                                       BE in the arena.
                                       Luke Moorman
                                       Jewelry Designer | Luke@CarrollsJewelers.com
                                       President, The Las Olas Association





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