Past Chapter Updates

Southwest Florida (Sarasota) Chapter Updates

Join TCC’s Florida Southwest (Sarasota) Chapter Luncheon & Weekend October 27-28, 2023

Please join us on Saturday, Oct. 28, at noon for the Southwest Florida (Sarasota) Chapter luncheon, along with a weekend of festivities to provide our special guest presenter, Sherri Donovan, with a warm Florida welcome!

In May, Sherri Donovan, Co-Coordinator for the New York TCC Chapter, went “Inside Taliban Afghanistan” and will share insights from her trip with us. As time permits, Sherri may also cover her other recent tough-to-get-to destinations, including the South Pole, Pitcairn, and Jeju Island’s Haeyeano female divers. Sherri is also organizing the March 2024 Senegal Study Tour, which will include some Sarasota members.

Weekend Festivities

Friday, Oct. 27
7pm: Dinner at Columbia Restaurant in Ybor City, Tampa, our most historic restaurant, with good food and ambience. Located in the historic part of Tampa, once the center of Cigar City.



Saturday, Oct. 28
Noon: Popi’s IV in Ellenton. Luncheon and presentation until 2:00 or 2:30pm. Please note that people arrive early in Florida, so mingling will start at 11:30.

3pm-ish: Depending on interest, we’ll spend the rest of the afternoon at St. Pete Beach or visit the renowned Salvador Dali Museum in downtown St. Petersburg.


6pm: Gather for the 6:50pm sunset at St. Pete Beach, famous for its great sunsets.

7:30pm-ish: Dinner locally… thinking seafood. TBD.

Luncheon Details

Noon Saturday, Oct. 28, at Popi’s IV Ellenton

  • Selection of four lunch dishes, everyone will receive a separate check, and will pay at the register when leaving. Prices are usually around $16 before tax, tip, and drinks.
  • Popi’s IV Ellenton, 3911 US-301, Ellenton, FL 34222 (941) 722-1205
  • Basic Directions: Exit 224 from I75. Go west on 301 about 1.5 miles and it will be on your left.

Tips for Out-of-Town Guests

The meeting location is convenient to the cities of Sarasota, Tampa, and St. Petersburg, but is accessible only by car. Tampa Airport (TPA) is the largest and closest, but Sarasota (SRQ) also has major airlines and often the best reward ticket values as a smaller city. PIE, our local St. Petersburg airport, serves only smaller airlines with limited schedules, but great deals from midwestern and smaller cities in the northeast.

There is, of course, a vast selection of accommodation. I am partial to The Don Cesar at St. Pete Beach as I live near it and am always partial to historic properties. St. Pete Beach is a separate city on a barrier island, only a 20-minute drive to St. Petersburg.

Happy travels,

Amanda Davis
Southwest Florida (Sarasota) Chapter Coordinator