What VECA is - and isn’t

What VECA Is — and Isn’t!

Let’s take a moment to talk about what the Venice East

Community Association (VECA) is all about — and clear

up a few common misconceptions!

✅ What VECA is

VECA is a community association made up of neighbors

who care about keeping Venice East beautiful and

welcoming. Each year, we collect voluntary dues and

donations from members that go directly toward

improving our neighborhood — things like maintaining,

lighting, and landscaping our front entrance.

These efforts help create a great first impression for

everyone who drives in, support positive property values,

and make Venice East a place we’re all proud to call

home.

🚫 What VECA is not:

VECA is not an HOA. We don’t enforce property rules,

issue fines, or tell you how to maintain your yard — that’s

Sarasota County’s responsibility. We have no governing

authority over private properties.

Behind the Scenes: Our Volunteers at Work

VECA is run entirely by volunteer board members and

directors who generously give their time to keep things

running smoothly. Whether you’re a member or not,

everyone in Venice East benefits from their efforts —

many of which go unseen!

For example, this past year our team handled a major

project after a hit-and-run damaged our neighborhood

sign. Volunteers coordinated with law enforcement,

insurance, contractors, and electricians to replace the sign,

repair landscaping, and restore lighting — all without

skipping a beat.

💛 Why Join VECA?

Your $35 annual donation makes a real difference.

Imagine driving into Venice East to find an overgrown

entrance, a dark island, and a broken sign — we’d rather

not!

By becoming a VECA member, you’re helping preserve

the charm and pride of our community. We can’t do it

without you!

Have questions or want to get involved?

We’d love to hear from you — reach out anytime!

Here is a break down of things we oversee:

$35 current voluntary donation in 2025 accomplishes the following and more:

VECA Volunteers, the President and Board members, as well as Directors and additional members all make this happen.

1. Florida Not for Profit Corpora1on Annual Report is completed online and filed by

President annually.

2. President coordinates with the Truist Bank to establish who is listed on the Annual

Report.

3. Paid monthly landscaping of front entrance by private local landscaper.

4. Annual Back-flow scheduling for sprinkling system, and payment thereof as required by Sarasota County.

5. 3 to 4 Board Meetings are presently hosted at the President’s house with refreshments! A meeting agenda is given which elicits discussion with Board Members and Directors, and planning going forward along with delegation of responsibilities.

6. Multiple texts back and forth with Board members to follow up commitments, share information, obtain democratic voting amongst the Board on issues and update of current events that affect our community.

7. Hold Community Meetings 2-4 times a year at the Jacaranda Library, determined and scheduled by President. These meetings follow Roberts Rules of Order as written in our Bylaws.

8. Schedule and planning for Community Party for all members. This is catered and entertainment/games are also provided. Members volunteer to assist and organize the Holiday Party. They order and collect food and additional items such as paper products, decorations etc.

9. Community newsletter and information is shared via email and letters to those without email.

10. Regular PO Box mail pickup, deposing of checks, coordinating bill paying.

11. Monthly treasurer accounting of incoming and outgoing expenses.

12. Communications with Media Director to establish member communications with email blasts and President’s letter to community. Facebook information sharing, Website changes and information, Nextdoor sharing. Also front entrance sign additions to communicate about next meetings, dates and where for potential new members.

13. Frequent communication with Membership Secretary regarding new member

information, renewing members, updating emails, addresses, amount given for

membership and any additional beau1fica1on donations.

14. Two Garage Sales a year, advertised in the above stated places.

15. We obtain speakers for our meetings and invite our local Sheriff to share community updates for safety and interesting information for members who are attending our meetings. Media Director videos Facebook Live our community meetings for those members who are unable to attend.

16. Early set up of meeting space at the Library.

17. New neighbor meet and greet with invitation to join VECA and a small plant gif.

18. Storage of VECA owned materials. Archival files and taxes, Christmas decorations, Financial Records, Gardening materials such as cones, vests.

Presently we have split these items into three households and also thinned them out. This eliminates the cost of a storage locker.

19. Arrange and send out tax information for taxes to be filed annually. Go and collect copies of the tax reports.

20. Pay regular bills, Florida Power and Light, (Front Entrance Electricity)

Sarasota County Water Sprinklers, (when necessary only, but have to pay a flat fee each month). Landscaper makes one visit a month.

21. Office organization on a regular basis.

22. Gardening Group meets intermittently based on need. Buys and Plants small

ground-cover. New Shrubs are being installed by landscaper.

In 2024 we applied for and received a grant for native plants to be installed at the North Entrance to Venice East and Malvern Circle.

23. Scheduling of repairs/replacement to any items not effectively working.

The sprinkler system has been repaired and replaced. Electrical repairs have been completed too.

In 2025 additionally as many of you know we have addressed the front entrance sign destruction and damage to the landscaping from a hit and run accident. This required many hours of meetings with police, discussions with witnesses, insurance company, lawyers, monument sign makers for ideas and es1mates, texts amongst Board members to inform and receive feedback as well as planning for future preservation of our community sign and landscaping.

Not a bad deal for $35! Please continue to support VECA. Please Volunteer when a request is made. It takes a Community to care for us all.