All-day program on Monday, October 1 open to the public

Viva Florida 500 will hold a statewide summit in preparation for the 500th anniversary of the founding of Florida by Juan Ponce de Leon in 1513. The meeting, set for Monday, October 1 and held jointly with the St. Augustine 450th Commemoration, will be the last major meeting prior to the launch of the Quincentennial Anniversary in January 2013. The daylong summit and joint meeting will be held in Flagler College’s Lewis Auditorium from 10:00am until 3:00pm with a break for lunch. the meeting is free and open to the public.

Secretary of State Ken Detzner, Department of State representatives, and representatives from the Governor’s Office are scheduled to attend. Also attending are representatives from the consulates of Spain, the United Kingdom, and France, as well as members of the 450th Commemoration Federal Commission. The program will feature a morning session with officials and dignitaries speaking, including Commission Chairman Jay Kislak and Ambassador Andrew Young. The afternoon features an educational forum with speakers from Visit Florida, Florida universities, the Florida Department of Environmental Protection/Division of Recreation and Parks, and other organizations, all designed to assist organizations in the development and marketing of 500th and 450th events.

The City of St. Augustine and the 450th Commemoration are principal partners of Viva Florida with several signature events planned for 2013, including a Picasso exhibition, a Catholic Church commemorative mass celebrating the founding of Florida, reenacted landing, a Spanish royal visit, and a Maritime Heritage Festival. The City of St. Augustine and Flagler College are co-hosting Monday’s meeting.

Note that one or more members of the St. Augustine City Commission may be in attendance at one or more of the sessions held in conjunction with the joint meeting of Viva Florida 500 and St. Augustine’s 450th Commemoration Federal Commission.

For more information, call the city’s 450th Commemoration office at 904.825.1053.

Source: City of St. Augustine