People definitely have different views concerning whether Panama City Beach should continue to promote College Spring Break. I wonder whether these opposing views prevent us from reaching any conclusions about whether or not College Spring Break is in the best interest of our beautiful destination.
In an effort to try to work out this problem, maybe we could all agree on something like the following. If so, the community could begin to actually analyze whether College Spring Break helps or hurts our destination’s economy rather than just debating the issue. These stipulations may seem obvious to many; however, some on both sides definitely need to have more respect for how this issue affects other people. It is my hope that people on both sides will offer suggestions so that we can reach an impartial and workable “Stipulations Concerning the College Spring Break Disagreement”.
- The full-year profits of some tourist related businesses is increased as a result of our promotion of College Spring Break; however, the full-year profits of other tourist related businesses is reduced as a result of our promotion of College Spring Break.
- The full-year profits of some rental real estate investors is increased as a result of our promotion of College Spring Break; however, the full-year profits of other rental real estate investors is decreased as a result of our promotion of College Spring Break.
- The promotion of College Spring Break has a positive effect on the yearly income of some tourist industry employees; however, it has a negative effect on the yearly income of other tourist industry employees.
- College Spring Break brings tourists to Panama City Beach during March; however, it also causes other tourists to avoid Panama City Beach during March.
- Media coverage of College Spring Break results some additional tourists during the other 11 months of the year; however, it also results in a loss of some potential tourists during the other 11 months of the year.
- Our College Spring Break image results in a gain of some tourists during the other 11 months of the year; however, it also results in a loss of some potential tourists during the other 11 months of the year.
- Some students who visit Panama City Beach during their College Spring Break end up coming back to visit later in their life as a result of their Spring Break visit; however, other students who visit Panama City Beach during College Spring Break end up not coming back later in life as a result of their Spring Break visit.
- College Spring Break results in some buyers being more interested in purchasing residential real estate in Panama City Beach; however, it also results in some buyers having less interest in purchasing residential real estate in Panama City Beach.
-Bryan Durta
PCBDaily 
I have learned to avoid Panama City during the entire month of March, and my renters typically NEVER re-rent during spring break.
My unit is at the Summit, and I have trouble getting quality renters in March, due to the antics, the vandalism, the lewd behavior, the noise, fighting, drunken college students, etc. that tourists are forced to endure.
The rental I had this past week, arrived to condoms blowing across the parking lot, and left having to clean vomit off her car.
How this type of reputation helps PCB, is beyond me.
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College Spring Break brings tourists to Panama City Beach during March; however, it also causes other tourists to avoid Panama City Beach during March.
This should read:
College Spring Break brings tourists to Panama City Beach during March; however, it also causes other tourists to avoid Panama City Beach during March.
Some tourists who would stay into April are asked to leave during March to allow the property owner to rent to Spring Breakers.
Add:
9. Some Spring Breakers do not cause damage to the property, and some do. This causes some property owners to NOT include Spring Break in thier 12 month business model, effectively resulting in a 1 month extention of the winter season or an 11 month rental year due to lack of alternatives marketed by the TDC and the effect of the Spring Break visitors excesses.
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Patrick –
Are you ever going to identify who you are and what you do so we understand what is driving your opinions?
All have been asked to do this previously.
BTW, as for me, I have three rental houses here, none at the beach and none available to Spring Breakers due to the risk. I let the Snowbirds stay and figure the net is the same when I factor in hassle and potential for damage from the Spring Breakers.
As I get to know what colleges I can reasonably market to, I may do so, but am not in any hurry. My other business interests are not located in this area.
FWIW, I see the Spring Break some promote as the “slumlord” level of the tourist industry and am sorry if we are made to feel so helpless and hopeless that we are bound to put up with it and the property damage and rude self centered and even dangerous behavior it entails.
Contrary to some of the posts here, there are alternatives, the behavior can be policed, and
there are even alternatives to “booze, butts and boobs” for the kids who come down here. Some
actually choose to do positive things. If I had a model to market to them, I would.
I also note that, with about 20 or more golf courses here, we ahve a lot of golf. For people from some areas, a trip down here in March kicks off an early Golf Season, especially if they can get some refresher instruction, tips and such to shake off the cobwebs. That is something we are definitely NOT taking advantage of as far as I know.
(no, this in itself will not replace spring break, but its one item – and these folks do have money; these folks, however, will NOT put up with some of the crap our spring break crowd would gleefully dish out)
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I started coming to PCB as a spring breaking college student 25 years ago. I visit PBC a minimum of 2 a year because of the memories I have of those years. Because of my college experience, PBC will always be a place for me to take a break from life. I’m now in the process of purchasing a condo in the area. However I do not visit during the month of March because of the spring breakers.
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I own three rental condos, and I seriously screen my rentors. A parent is required to be in the unit, and I don’t rent to groups under 25. If the condo complexes would enforce this rule, it would certainly help, however these rules are not enforced, and the HOA at one of my condos decided not to have the 25 age limit. THAT is the problem. WHY RENT TO A GROUP OF COLLEGE KIDS without supervision?
In 1997 I allowed a grandmother to convince me that her RESPONSIBLE 19 year old granddaughter would be the perfect renter. Apparently twelve+ kids slept there. After $2500 worth of damage to my condo, to include drugs, vomit, etc… the grandmother called me a B when I tried to collect on the damage.
In 2000 the parents of a weekly rental left on Friday, thinking the perfect teens could stay and leave Saturday morning. The party happened the second the parents left, and again, damage to include eggs and spilled drinks everywhere.
SO, why do the condo HOAs and the hotel/motels allow this situation to occur?????????
All parents should consider investing in hidden cameras!
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I have owned up to 8 properties on the beach at one time and I had nothing but problems and little to no profits during the month of March due to the spring break madness. The kids can still come, as we all did during our day, but better policing of the kids, and the bars such as no beer bust, or things that pomote the out of control activities would reduce a lot of what goes on. If we do not spend a single dime on marketing spring break, they will still come. So lets make it simple, set guidelines for the bars, change the amount of policing we do and market to bring in more adults to reduce the ratio of adults verse kids during spring break. There is room for both.
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If anyone is interested in purchasing a condo, I have one in a new development. I can also offer deals the developer cannot that make my unit much more enticing. Send me an email agem033103@yahoo.com
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It appears that Bryan (above)is undecided.
I used to dread this time of year, after Spring Break, because all we hear is negative. I finally figured it out. These people with these stories of vomit and other things, thrive on these tales.
What about the good kids that came and enjoyed themselves and others. Does anyone have any stories about them? What about the young adults at the Christian retreats? Has anyone visited them or written any stories about them? I haven’t seen any.
Unless someone can gather some data that supports their theories, this is just griping.
Here is some data that supports most kids are good. We had four weeks of Spring Breakers this year and last year. The worst thing that happened was, security was called one time for loudness. The problem was solved. We were missing a dust pan from the unit and one pillow is gone.
I have had more problems than that with adults.
I look forward to comments next year. Maybe someone will have some data that supports the theory that all young adults are bad.
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My family and I moved to Panama City Beach almost two years ago from Ohio. My husband is in Real Estate here on the beach. We have three children and because of the antics of spring break etc..We have decided to move into the city for the protection of our children. Unfortunately, as much as we love living on the water, the area is not very condusive to raising a family of young children. When you have a girl being shoved into a room and raped by a security guard and then tossed over the balcony of a building from the 6th story I don’t know how you could even question or consider whether or not “College Spring Break” should stay or go. I’m sure there are hundreds of college girls being raped, rampid drug use, abuse of alcohol, accidents, fights, lewdness, fornication, littering etc.. that will take place in the months of March and April. I would like to see the statistics on that. My children go to school in Panama City and none of their friends come over to the beach for the attractions. I took a group of High School girls “banana boating” and it was the first time they had ever gone, and they have lived here their whole lives. Many parents at school say they would like to get a condo on the beach for spring break but are concerned about the college kid’s so they go somewhere else. I think it’s so shameful that descent people in our own back yards don’t want to spend time with there families on this beautiful beach because of someone’s lame idea of how to make money during “Spring Break”. Families spend a lot more money than college kid’s.
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I grew up in South Florida and saw Ft. Lauderdale Beach change to a world class resort after they dumped collage spring break. The new condos and pier park are too nice to be ruined by collage spring breakers. The high quality, money spending tourists will be chased away by the collage spring break image. PROMOTE FAMILY SPRING BREAK!
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I totally agree with Jeff and the idea of family spring break. Families have money to spend. If they come early in the season and like what they see they may return later in the season and stay again. That helps to fuel growth in an area.
My husband went to Ft Lauderdale as a senior in HS and cannot believe the difference in that place–nothing that was there then is still there now. I has all been replaced by top-notch development. That was a direct result of shutting down spring break.
Our son is now a HS senior and has been itching to go to PCB for spring break. From everything that I have seen and heard about it there is no way I would let him and his friends there at this time. I say OUT with college spring break and IN with family spring break.
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We used to work hotels on the beach there, we know what spring breaks are like. We moved away several years ago. We always liked the area, and considered buying an investment property there last fall. We looked at several condominium complexes and found a couple we liked. However, we kept remembering what the Spring Break crowds were like, and realized until the area became a year round destination resort, the property would not pay for itself. We already knew we would not rent it out during Spring Break.
The area has changed a lot since we lived there seven years ago, but there is a lot of room for improvement. The restaurants and clubs, maybe even the retail stores, appreciate the income from the spring break crowds. But I think in the long run the hotels and condos take a beating they would not if they tried to attract families and conventions instead. We now have a place in escrow in Hawaii, it will pay for itself, and we will not have to worry to much about the year round ecomomy or the insanity of Spring Break in PCB. Good luck to the rest of you.
We remember the hour plus commutes to work, only a mile away….
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I used to live in PCB and I return every year at least twice for a visit. I lived a few blocks from the beach and I still miss it and hope to return one day. It’s interesting to me that the same debate is still going on to this day and keep in mind I lived there between 1985 and 1995. Every year when I was living in PCB the question would come up: Should we encourage spring breakers to come here or not? There still seems to be no clear answer. The reason we asked those questions then are the very same reasons they’re being asked now. The same shenanigans were going on then as now. Nothings changed. I remember when I was there the biggest problems were whether or not they should wear helmets when they rented the motorcycles (because they were wrecking and cracking their heads open)and jumping off balconies into the swimming pools below (and losing life and limbs). Oh, and as most of the people who visit above stated, I too would never dream of coming during spring break season. When I lived there I either left town or stayed clear of the beach. What to do…what to do…
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How about statics on drownings each year. Spring Break is one of the worst things I have had ever heard of. My son drown in 1995 because there were not any surf certified lifequards to rescue him after he was swept out in a rip current. My son was only at the Summit for fifteen when he went into the water and got caught in a rip current. Students should know about the flag system used at a beach and make sure they are warned about rip currents. I hope that parents don’t let their high school aged childrento to PCB.
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How about statics on drownings each year. Spring Break is one of the worst things I have had ever heard of. My son drown in 1995 because there were not any surf certified lifequards to rescue him after he was swept out in a rip current. My son was only at the Summit for fifteen when he went into the water and got caught in a rip current. Students should know about the flag system used at a beach and make sure they are warned about rip currents. I hope that parents don’t let their high school aged children to PCB.
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I own six rental units here in PCB. I do not and will not rent to Spring Breakers. The problem is not Spring Break per se, but the lack of control exhibited by children between 15 and 25, and the lack of external control we are willing to provide. Not only is there a huge cost to family tourism and rental property, but many of the students live to regret the activities that take place during Spring Break. It is obvious that we care more about money than we do the welfare of America’s youth. All we have to do is enforce the laws and policies that we already have, and most of this problem would go away.
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I am a Realtor on the beach in PCB and have two gulf front condos that I rent year around. I found out the hard way not to rent to Spring Breakers or to rent through the local rental companies. It’s a shame that some of the good kids have to pay for the behavior of the bad kids. I am sure there are a few responsible kids out there, but most kids, and believe it or not, many parents, believe it is a “rightful passage” to act unresponsibly by drinking, destroying property, and totally disregarding the comfort and safety of those around them. I have found the rental companies do not hold Spring Breakers or their parents responsible for damages to the condos. In one experience, I had totally remodeled one of my condos at Long Beach Towers when Spring Breakers were allowed to stay there through the on-site rental company. My condo was trashed, expensive furniture broken, lamps broken, things stolen, bar stools thrown over the balcony, filth and blood left in my whirlpool tub, and blood throughout the condo were a few of the problems left by the Spring Breakers. When I questioned the rental company in regard to the damages, I was told the “father” had checked the kids in and then left them. I was also told by the rental company that they could not release the name of the parents to me. I now rent my own condos and screen my renters very carefully. I have not had one bad experience in the last four years renting my condos on my own. I believe the rental companies will often “rent at all costs”, with no respect for the owners’ property.
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I think parents of Spring Breakers must be crazy to allow their kids to come to PCB without adult supervision. That being said, it depends on the adult supervision. We live in a condo on the beach and another owner was here during Spring Break and she brought 15 kids with her to stay in a one bedroom condo. The kids were loud, used foul language and threw their trash out in the parking lot. It could have been worse but it still was unpleasant for families here on Spring Break. The families said they would never come back during spring break again.
It is a shame we don’t market our beautiful area for families.
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I attended yesterday’s TDC meeting and this is a summary of what was presented:
TDC Marketing Committee, 04/02/03 1;30 p.m.
*Request to be posted in all hotel rooms, condos, convenience stores, etc.
(As long as College Spring Break is promoted by the TDC )
*Disclaimer and Warning:
PCB College Spring Break may be hazardous to your health, safety and well being.
Dear valued students and guests,
There have been hundreds and thousands of reported (and unreported) rapes, injuries, hospitalizations, arrests and many, many unfortunate deaths over the last 20 years.
(20 year actual stats to follow here: #: deaths__, rapes__, arrests__, injuries__, DUI’s,etc)
We plead with you to exercise extreme caution during your stay here in PCB and heed the following advice:
Never, ever get separated from those you came with or be left alone at your hotel or place of entertainment;
Never, ever accept any drink you did not see poured or opened fresh from a bottle or can because of the extreme possibility of a date rape type substance or drug that has been added;
Always have a designated member of your group that stays sober to oversee the group you are with and to act as your own security and protector from those desiring to rape, assault or hurt you or anyone in your group. There method of operation is to separate and control;
More warnings to be added;
TDC also is requested establish a 3-Digit 24/7 emergency hotline handled by “trained professionals” and a budget for advertising for future “Breakers and victims in desiring help, in trouble or immediate danger…”
(Cell phones do not give 911 their exact locations on the beach and time is of essence.)
With Hope,
Mark Canfora (Resident) 6716 Gulf Drive PCB, Fl 32408
____________________________________________________________________________
Contact Info:
Mark Canfora Ministries
Our Desire: Families for a Safe Panama City Beach.
Our Vision:
“A Celebration of Life & Family” during Spring Break promoting family values through Family Reunions and Gatherings during Spring Break and the Easter Season;
http://www.celebrationoflifeandfamily.com (Coming Soon)in place of College SB.
MarkCanfora@aol.com
Mark Canfora Ministries
3707 23rd St
PC, Fl 32401
850 257 5300 Nationwide Cell: 330 865-1000
A Summary of Notes from the Message to Board:
Credentials:
Married/Father of 5/Resident Panama City Beach/County
2 years PM IB…heads in Beds
Sales &Marketing 30 years…
Ohio Real Estate Broker
National Franchisor PPRE
Mark Canfora Investments
Project Manager Highrise develop.
Real Estate Investor & Consultant
& A Victims Rights Advocate
1997-Precent Youth Ministry… Ohio/here
Founder & Director Street Missions to the poor since 1997…
_____________________________________________________________________________
#1 best thing I ever did:Salvation in Christ…changed my life/filled the void in my heart/life;
_____________________________________________________________________________
I Appear Today as a 2 year resident and Father with a family living on the beach.
Also a father who knows the pain of the loss of a child gone to heaven before him. http://www.markfest.org
I lift up in prayer the young lady brutally raped and thrown from the 6th floor by thay wicked man.
And prayers for all those deceased, raped, date raped, assaulted, and forever scarred over the last 20 years while here on “our watch” in PCB during Spring Break.
Foundation of true Christianity in Christ:
…in Love: We HAVE Compassion…feel others pain
What if it was your child tossed from 6th floor like nothing more than a bag of garbage…?
Your daughter…?
What would be your stance today Re SB?
Children come into PCB full of hope/anticipation…yet thousands leave with lives scarred, broken and never to be the same…no where to turn….I pray they find peace in God.
Today as a
A voice for the voiceless, hopeless, hurt…and wounded…
Our response to the victims through the years…more horrible reminders:
Annual reminders for wounded families, friends and loved left behind…TDC: $150,000 to MTV and their wicked agenda…abusing women and advocating music to kill police…,
The likes of Predator Joe Francis arrive and seek, devour and abuse our children……then we cry foul!
Then there is the scandal mag tv show Ocean Force…yet another insult to past victims and PCB giving 12 months of bad PR and re-opening the wounds of victims all over again at the mere click of a remore control…shame on us!
A LINE DRAWN IN THE SAND THIS YEAR>>>>
A Silent Voice crying out:
NO MORE!!!
In closing… the members were invited to attend now deceased, Natalie Holloway’s mother’s talk on the dangers of Spring Break next week at Florida State PC.
This was an official public notice given to the TDC committee that they are put on public notice and now are aware of the past, present and future dangers to the Children and College Students they invite here to PCB.
That a proper warning and disclaimer should accompanty all future marketing and advertising.
(2)
Families and Victims of abuse and crime want three things:
1 The Truth Told;
2)Abuse and or (Abusers) to stop and never to harm someone again);
3) A policy put in place to prevent future abuse;
Answers:
1) Admit there is a very serious problem with PCB Spring Break:
Stop ignoring and minimizing the victims and their families ongoing pain and suffering.
Statements like “there are more deaths at Disney/year than PCB Spring Break. Or people die everyday in car accidents.”
In some Sales & Marketing companies in the business world this is called
“damage control.” (Especially after a major incident or tragedy.)
Also known as ”minimizing and spin control.”
This type of quote is adding insult and furthering the pain of victims and is way out of context.
Conveniently leaving out this fact: that millions and millions and millions of people attend Disney annually compared to the 250,000-300,000 here/year…Let’s do a death, rape, assault, arrest, injury, etc comparison with proper ratio/visitors/year.
2) Self Evident…The abuser or the venue for the abuser(s) to cease.
3) No More promotion of College Spring Break! Don’t promote or invite any group or organization that the activities lead to numerous cases of pain, suffering and death of the visitors and their families.
Indian Summer and othe ritems were termed event failures because of $$$ loss…what does that make College SB….a Catastrophic failure…No More!
If anyone can access the actual numbers of deaths, rapes, assaults, arrest, and serious injuries…that will surley show the horror and history of Spring Break in PCB over the last 20 years…my prayers go out to previous poster…the mother for her son…a drowing victim.
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I attended yesterday’s TDC meeting and this is a summary of what was presented:
TDC Marketing Committee, 04/02/03 1;30 p.m.
*Request to be posted in all hotel rooms, condos, convenience stores, etc.
(As long as College Spring Break is promoted by the TDC )
*Disclaimer and Warning:
PCB College Spring Break may be hazardous to your health, safety and well being.
Dear valued students and guests,
There have been hundreds and thousands of reported (and unreported) rapes, injuries, hospitalizations, arrests and many, many unfortunate deaths over the last 20 years.
(20 year actual stats to follow here: #: deaths__, rapes__, arrests__, injuries__, DUI’s,etc)
We plead with you to exercise extreme caution during your stay here in PCB and heed the following advice:
Never, ever get separated from those you came with or be left alone at your hotel or place of entertainment;
Never, ever accept any drink you did not see poured or opened fresh from a bottle or can because of the extreme possibility of a date rape type substance or drug that has been added;
Always have a designated member of your group that stays sober to oversee the group you are with and to act as your own security and protector from those desiring to rape, assault or hurt you or anyone in your group. There method of operation is to separate and control;
More warnings to be added;
TDC also is requested establish a 3-Digit 24/7 emergency hotline handled by “trained professionals” and a budget for advertising for future “Breakers and victims in desiring help, in trouble or immediate danger…”
(Cell phones do not give 911 their exact locations on the beach and time is of essence.)
With Hope,
Mark Canfora (Resident) 6716 Gulf Drive PCB, Fl 32408
____________________________________________________________________________
Contact Info:
Mark Canfora Ministries
Our Desire: Families for a Safe Panama City Beach.
Our Vision:
“A Celebration of Life & Family” during Spring Break promoting family values through Family Reunions and Gatherings during Spring Break and the Easter Season;
http://www.celebrationoflifeandfamily.com (Coming Soon)in place of College SB.
MarkCanfora@aol.com
Mark Canfora Ministries
3707 23rd St
PC, Fl 32401
850 257 5300 Nationwide Cell: 330 865-1000
A Summary of Notes from the Message to Board:
Credentials:
Married/Father of 5/Resident Panama City Beach/County
2 years PM IB…heads in Beds
Sales &Marketing 30 years…
Ohio Real Estate Broker
National Franchisor PPRE
Mark Canfora Investments
Project Manager Highrise develop.
Real Estate Investor & Consultant
& A Victims Rights Advocate
1997-Precent Youth Ministry… Ohio/here
Founder & Director Street Missions to the poor since 1997…
_____________________________________________________________________________
#1 best thing I ever did:Salvation in Christ…changed my life/filled the void in my heart/life;
_____________________________________________________________________________
I Appear Today as a 2 year resident and Father with a family living on the beach.
Also a father who knows the pain of the loss of a child gone to heaven before him. http://www.markfest.org
I lift up in prayer the young lady brutally raped and thrown from the 6th floor by thay wicked man.
And prayers for all those deceased, raped, date raped, assaulted, and forever scarred over the last 20 years while here on “our watch” in PCB during Spring Break.
Foundation of true Christianity in Christ:
…in Love: We HAVE Compassion…feel others pain
What if it was your child tossed from 6th floor like nothing more than a bag of garbage…?
Your daughter…?
What would be your stance today Re SB?
Children come into PCB full of hope/anticipation…yet thousands leave with lives scarred, broken and never to be the same…no where to turn….I pray they find peace in God.
Today as a
A voice for the voiceless, hopeless, hurt…and wounded…
Our response to the victims through the years…more horrible reminders:
Annual reminders for wounded families, friends and loved left behind…TDC: $150,000 to MTV and their wicked agenda…abusing women and advocating music to kill police…,
The likes of Predator Joe Francis arrive and seek, devour and abuse our children……then we cry foul!
Then there is the scandal mag tv show Ocean Force…yet another insult to past victims and PCB giving 12 months of bad PR and re-opening the wounds of victims all over again at the mere click of a remore control…shame on us!
A LINE DRAWN IN THE SAND THIS YEAR>>>>
A Silent Voice crying out:
NO MORE!!!
In closing… the members were invited to attend now deceased, Natalie Holloway’s mother’s talk on the dangers of Spring Break next week at Florida State PC.
This was an official public notice given to the TDC committee that they are put on public notice and now are aware of the past, present and future dangers to the Children and College Students they invite here to PCB.
That a proper warning and disclaimer should accompanty all future marketing and advertising.
(2)
Families and Victims of abuse and crime want three things:
1 The Truth Told;
2)Abuse and or (Abusers) to stop and never to harm someone again);
3) A policy put in place to prevent future abuse;
Answers:
1) Admit there is a very serious problem with PCB Spring Break:
Stop ignoring and minimizing the victims and their families ongoing pain and suffering.
Statements like “there are more deaths at Disney/year than PCB Spring Break. Or people die everyday in car accidents.”
In some Sales & Marketing companies in the business world this is called
“damage control.” (Especially after a major incident or tragedy.)
Also known as ”minimizing and spin control.”
This type of quote is adding insult and furthering the pain of victims and is way out of context.
Conveniently leaving out this fact: that millions and millions and millions of people attend Disney annually compared to the 250,000-300,000 here/year…Let’s do a death, rape, assault, arrest, injury, etc comparison with proper ratio/visitors/year.
2) Self Evident…The abuser or the venue for the abuser(s) to cease.
3) No More promotion of College Spring Break! Don’t promote or invite any group or organization that the activities lead to numerous cases of pain, suffering and death of the visitors and their families.
Indian Summer and othe ritems were termed event failures because of $$$ loss…what does that make College SB….a Catastrophic failure…No More!
If anyone can access the actual numbers of deaths, rapes, assaults, arrest, and serious injuries…that will surley show the horror and history of Spring Break in PCB over the last 20 years…my prayers go out to previous poster…the mother for her son…a drowing victim.
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Dear Mark,
I truly hope you keep working on your mission. My son who drowned in 1995 was not a spring breaker, but recruited by his fraternity to go to the Summit in May. It was the weekend before finals at Georgia Tech. My son left school around noon and got to the Summit around 5:00 P.M. When they checked in no one warned the boys about the bad surf. There was not a disclaimer or warning about anything. The boys went to their room and changed clothes. It was then about 5:30 and they went to the beach to swim. There were flags of every color flying from everywhere and no lifeguards. Also there wer not any signs that read SWIM AT YOUR OWN RISK-NO LIFEGUARDS ON DUTY. No one knew at that time that there never any lifeguards who went into the ocean to save swimmers in distress. My son and six others saw that the waves were big and thought it would be fun to body surf. As soon as they passed the sandbar all of the boys started to be pull out into the Gulf. Five of the boys could swim out of the rip current except for my son. He stayed above water for 30 minutes yelling for help. A guest that was on an upper floor called to the desk to tell them that boys were in the water and needed help. The desk said that they would call the PCB police. The quest did not see anyone coming so she called the desk again and was told that the police were on the way. Finally the guest called 911 herself and was told that they knew about it. When the guest went down to the beach because she still did not see any rescue attempts, she saw the police had arrived but they did not do rescues. She and the boys were told to go and look in their room, the parking lot, and up and down the beach. That night the boys called me to say that my son was missing. The police never called so I called the police. The policeman that answered the phone did not know anything about my son so I was transfered to another poloceman. He told me that my body would probably wash up on the beach in 24 to 36 hours and then they would do recovery. Since I was fifteen hours away from PCB I immediately sent my daughter and her husband who lived in Atlanta at that time there. The police would not give her any information about my son. On Sunday morning at about 4:00 AM the boys called me to tell me that my sons body had washed up. The police would not let his sister identify him they made one of the boys. Needless to say my daughter was very upset.
Please put some kind of warnings in each room not behind the door but on the bathroom mirror. Thanks for all the work you are doing.
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THE SOLUTION TO THE SPRING BREAK PROBLEM IS SIMPLE. IF STUDENTS ARE GETTING DRUNK AND DISORDERLY; CALL THE POLICE AND HAVE THEM ARRESTED FOR PUBLIC INTOXICATION AND VANDALISM (IF APPLICABLE),THEN HAVE IT BROADCAST LIVE AND PUBLIC. THERE’S A LOT OF MONEY TO BE MADE IN COURT COSTS AND HEFTY FINES; (KEEP IN MIND THAT THIS IS ALSO MONEY GOING BACK INTO THE ECONOMY.)AFTER A FEW CLIPS OF THIS ON CNN SPRING BREAKERS SHOULD GET THE MESSAGE. THERE’S NOT A WHOLE LOT OUT THERE WORSE THAN SPENDING YOUR ENTIRE VACATION IN JAIL FOR DOING SOMETHING STUPID, INSTEAD OF ON THE BEACH…AND AS AN AFTERTHOUGHT IS ALL OF THE CRAZINESS REALLY WORTH IT JUST TO SELL A FEW BEERS TO SOME UNDERAGE GIRLS ;(AND I KNOW THEY’RE NOT ALL 21!); SO THEY’LL FLASH THEY’RE BOOBS!? COME ON!!!
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Hello, Bonnie glad to see that you have not let the cause go and are still telling people about what happened to Randy in 1995. Times have not changed neither have the restrictions put upon kids visiting Panama City Beach. Saying that they should be escorted with a parent is a joke. It’s the fact that kids or should we call them young adults make these trips to such places as Panama City Beach that spend little to no revenue of preventing deaths. The spend millions on advertising and rebuilding but pick and squabble over the amount it will cost to properly safe guard their water. Considering it is the gulf that these kids comes to play in, and everyone knows it, then why not put in your advertisments how much you spend on surf training your life guards, your life boats, and tell how many there are drowning in your waters each year. And Bonnie sorry noone even took notice or addressed your issue. Wish there was a way to find you again.
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PCB Spring Break for college students is awesome. Stop all the bitching and complaining.. If you don’t wanna deal with spring breakers, GO TO ANOTHER BEACH.
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Mollie,
Thank you for your comment. I am sure that all of us stakeholders will find it very helpful as we continue to work on a solution that works for the entire community.
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