BEGIN:VCALENDAR VERSION:2.0 PRODID:-//Florida Veterans for Common Sense - ECPv6.17.1//NONSGML v1.0//EN CALSCALE:GREGORIAN METHOD:PUBLISH X-ORIGINAL-URL:https://floridaveteransforcommonsense.org X-WR-CALDESC:Events for Florida Veterans for Common Sense REFRESH-INTERVAL;VALUE=DURATION:PT1H X-Robots-Tag:noindex X-PUBLISHED-TTL:PT1H BEGIN:VTIMEZONE TZID:UTC BEGIN:STANDARD TZOFFSETFROM:+0000 TZOFFSETTO:+0000 TZNAME:UTC DTSTART:20250101T000000 END:STANDARD END:VTIMEZONE BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTART;TZID=UTC:20260419T140000 DTEND;TZID=UTC:20260419T160000 DTSTAMP:20260408T224746Z CREATED:20260408T193428Z LAST-MODIFIED:20260408T224746Z UID:10000049-1776607200-1776614400@floridaveteransforcommonsense.org SUMMARY:Soul Patrol DESCRIPTION:Don’t miss the Winner of the Directing Award for US Documentaries at Sundance\, Soul Patrol as it uncovers a largely untold chapter of American military history: the first all-Black special operations unit to serve during the Vietnam War and the lasting impact of their service. \nPlease join Florida Veterans for Common Sense in attending the Sarasota Film Festival’s showing of Soul Patrol\, an untold story of Black Americans during the height of the Civil Rights Movement\, fighting for a country that often denied them equality at home. The documentary is framed around a reunion of surviving unit members. \nFor more information and to order tickets use the button below. \n \n Order Tickets\n \n\n Soul Patrol\n April 19\n @\n2:00 PM\n –\n4:00 PM \n\n \n New College of Florida/Sainer Pavillion \n \n\n5313 Bay Shore Rd\n \n Sarasota\,\n FL\n 34243\n United States\n\n\n + Google Map \n\n \n (941) 364-9514 \n \n\n View Venue Website \n\n \nReturn to the FLVCS Calendar. URL:https://floridaveteransforcommonsense.org/event/soul-patrol/ LOCATION:New College of Florida/Sainer Pavillion\, 5313 Bay Shore Rd\, Sarasota\, FL\, 34243\, United States ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/webp:https://floridaveteransforcommonsense.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/04/Soul-Patrol.jpg.webp ORGANIZER;CN="Sarasota Film Festival":MAILTO:info@sarasotafilmfestival.com END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTART;TZID=UTC:20260511T180000 DTEND;TZID=UTC:20260511T190000 DTSTAMP:20260509T170535Z CREATED:20260428T205416Z LAST-MODIFIED:20260509T170535Z UID:10000057-1778522400-1778526000@floridaveteransforcommonsense.org SUMMARY:FLVCS Candidate Meet and Greet DESCRIPTION:Come to the FLVCS Candidate Meet and Greet in the Friendship Hall at Unity of Sarasota from 6:00 PM EDT – 7:00 PM EDT. Candidates from multiple races in the Sarasota area and across Florida will be participating. Don’t miss this opportunity to interact on a 1-1 basis with the candidates. \nWhere and When\nUnity of Sarasota Church \n3023 Proctor Rd\, Sarasota\, FL 342316:00 PM EDT – 7:00 PM EDT \nReturn to the FLVCS Calendar URL:https://floridaveteransforcommonsense.org/event/flvcs-candidate-meet-and-greet/ LOCATION:Unity of Sarasota\, 3023 Proctor Rd\, Sarasota\, FL\, 34231 ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://floridaveteransforcommonsense.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/04/Elections-Ahead-Meet-and-Greet.jpg ORGANIZER;CN="Florida Veterans for Common Sense%2C Inc.":MAILTO:contact@flvcs.us END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTART;TZID=UTC:20260511T190000 DTEND;TZID=UTC:20260511T200000 DTSTAMP:20260428T212824Z CREATED:20260425T205000Z LAST-MODIFIED:20260428T212824Z UID:10000056-1778526000-1778529600@floridaveteransforcommonsense.org SUMMARY:2026 FLVCS May Meeting DESCRIPTION:Don’t miss out on hearing David Jolly\, candidate for Florida Governor. He will be the featured speaker at the 2026 FLVCS May meeting. David is seeking the Democratic nomination for Governor in a crowded Primary field of candidates. \nPlease note\, Florida Primary Election Day is Tuesday\, August 18\, 2026. The Election Day also has voting for nonpartisan elections\, such as the Sarasota County School Board. All registered voters can vote. \nDavid’s Topic\nDavid will speak about his three core principles\, which are anchored in the belief\, that everyone should be treated with kindness\, dignity\, and respect and “…in a future where everyone has a fair shot to build their future in the great state of Florida.” In addition to his three core principles\, David’s message will cover how he intends to address Florida’s affordability crisis\, strengthen Florida’s economy\, restore services for our veterans\, and save our schools\, among other priorities. \nHow to attend\nJoin us the the Unity of Sarasota Church. Meeting details are below. Please invite your family and friends to the 2026 FLVCS May meeting. \nUnity of Sarasota Church\n3023 Proctor Rd\, Sarasota\, FL 34231\n7:00 PM EDT – 8:00 PM EDT \nIf you can not attend in person\, then please join us on Meet. We are no longer using Zoom. No registration is necessary. Click on the button below to join the meeting. \n \n Join Meeting\n \nBio for David Jolly\n \nDavid grew up in Florida\, the son of a pastor. Today\, David and his wife Laura are raising their young family in Pinellas County where he served in Congress from 2014-2017. In Congress\, David focused on helping veterans and seniors\, supporting law enforcement\, protecting the environment\, and bringing resources back to Florida. David’s work to clean up government corruption was featured on 60 Minutes. Readmore about David. \nCandidate Meet & Greet\nThere will be a candidate Meet & Greet in the Friendship Hall at the church from 6:00 PM EDT – 7:00 PM EDT. Candidates from multiple races in the Sarasota area and across Florida have been invited. Don’t miss this opportunity to interact on a 1-1 basis with the candidates. \nImportant information for Florida Voters. \nFind out when\, where\, and how to register and to vote in the upcoming elections on August 18 and November 3. click on the button below. \n \n Voter Information\n \nReturn to FLVCS Calendar URL:https://floridaveteransforcommonsense.org/event/2026-flvcs-may-meeting/ LOCATION:Unity of Sarasota\, 3023 Proctor Rd\, Sarasota\, FL\, 34231 CATEGORIES:Monthly Meeting ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://floridaveteransforcommonsense.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/04/Elections-Ahead-1200x628-1.jpg ORGANIZER;CN="Florida Veterans for Common Sense%2C Inc.":MAILTO:contact@flvcs.us END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTART;TZID=UTC:20260516T130000 DTEND;TZID=UTC:20260516T130000 DTSTAMP:20260415T194457Z CREATED:20260415T194442Z LAST-MODIFIED:20260415T194457Z UID:10000054-1778936400-1778936400@floridaveteransforcommonsense.org SUMMARY:Kayak Trips for Vets - May DESCRIPTION:Return to FLVCS Calendar URL:https://floridaveteransforcommonsense.org/event/kayak-trips-for-vets-may/ LOCATION:FL CATEGORIES:Veterans ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://floridaveteransforcommonsense.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/04/kayakers.jpg ORGANIZER;CN="Wayne Douchkoff":MAILTO:wdouchkoff@aol.com END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTART;TZID=UTC:20260608T180000 DTEND;TZID=UTC:20260608T190000 DTSTAMP:20260603T203004Z CREATED:20260601T182525Z LAST-MODIFIED:20260603T203004Z UID:10000059-1780941600-1780945200@floridaveteransforcommonsense.org SUMMARY:FLVCS FL-16 Meet and Greet DESCRIPTION:Come to the FLVCS FL-16 Candidate Meet and Greet in the Friendship Hall at Unity of Sarasota on Monday\, June 8\, 2026 from 6:00 PM EDT – 7:00 PM EDT. Candidates running for U.S\, Congressional District FL-16 will be attending. FL-16 covers parts of Manatee and Hillsborough Counties. \nThe FLVCS F-16 Meet & Greet is free and open to the public. Please bring your family and friends. Don’t miss this opportunity to interact on a 1-1 basis with the candidates. \nThere will be a Candidate Forum in the church’s sanctuary following the Meet & Greet. \nWhere and When\nUnity of Sarasota Church3023 Proctor Rd\, Sarasota\, FL 34231 \nMonday\, June 8\, 20266:00 PM EDT – 7:00 PM EDT \nReturn to the FLVCS Calendar URL:https://floridaveteransforcommonsense.org/event/flvcs-fl-16-meet-and-greet/ LOCATION:Unity of Sarasota\, 3023 Proctor Rd\, Sarasota\, FL\, 34231 ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://floridaveteransforcommonsense.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/06/Elections-Ahead-FL-16-Meet-and-Greet.jpg ORGANIZER;CN="Florida Veterans for Common Sense%2C Inc.":MAILTO:contact@flvcs.us END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTART;TZID=UTC:20260608T190000 DTEND;TZID=UTC:20260608T200000 DTSTAMP:20260603T202606Z CREATED:20260531T215844Z LAST-MODIFIED:20260603T202606Z UID:10000058-1780945200-1780948800@floridaveteransforcommonsense.org SUMMARY:2026 FLVCS June Meeting DESCRIPTION:The 2026 FLVCS June meeting will feature a Candidate Forum for U.S. Congressional District FL-16. Confirmed candidates are Mark Davis\, Jon Harris\, Kelly Kirschner\, Jan Schneider\, and Eddie Spier. \nHow to attend\nPlease join us in-person at the Unity of Sarasota Church. \nUnity of Sarasota3023 Proctor Rd.Sarasota\, FL 342367:00 PM – 8:00PM EDT \nInvite your friends and neighbors to the 2026 FLVCS June meeting. It is open to all. \nIf you can not attend in person\, then please join us on Meet. We are no longer using Zoom. No registration is necessary. Click on the button below to join the meeting. \n \n Join Meeting\n \nReturn to the FLVCS Calendar. URL:https://floridaveteransforcommonsense.org/event/2026-flvcs-june-meeting/ LOCATION:Unity of Sarasota\, 3023 Proctor Rd\, Sarasota\, FL\, 34231 CATEGORIES:Monthly Meeting ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://floridaveteransforcommonsense.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/03/candidate-forum-1200-x-494-px.jpg ORGANIZER;CN="Florida Veterans for Common Sense%2C Inc.":MAILTO:contact@flvcs.us END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTART;TZID=UTC:20260613T130000 DTEND;TZID=UTC:20260613T130000 DTSTAMP:20260415T195456Z CREATED:20260415T195412Z LAST-MODIFIED:20260415T195456Z UID:10000055-1781355600-1781355600@floridaveteransforcommonsense.org SUMMARY:Kayak Trips for Vets - June DESCRIPTION:Return to FLVCS Calendar URL:https://floridaveteransforcommonsense.org/event/kayak-trips-for-vets-june/ LOCATION:FL CATEGORIES:Veterans ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://floridaveteransforcommonsense.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/04/kayakers.jpg ORGANIZER;CN="Wayne Douchkoff":MAILTO:wdouchkoff@aol.com END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTART;TZID=UTC:20260713T190000 DTEND;TZID=UTC:20260713T200000 DTSTAMP:20260704T161422Z CREATED:20260628T184949Z LAST-MODIFIED:20260704T161422Z UID:10000060-1783969200-1783972800@floridaveteransforcommonsense.org SUMMARY:2026 FLVCS July Meeting DESCRIPTION:U.S. Army Iraq veteran\, Brigadier General Leela Gray\, Ret.\, will be the featured speaker at the 2026 FLVCS July meeting. She is running for Florida Congressional District 13. Don’t miss this opportunity to learn about her positions on \n\nTackling the cost of living crisis\nGrowing economic opportunities\nFighting for our most vulnerable\nProtecting our beaches\, land\, and coastal economy\nNational Security\nClimate Change\n\nThese are some of the most important issues facing Florida and our nation today. \nHow to attend\nPlease join us in-person at the Unity of Sarasota Church. \nUnity of Sarasota3023 Proctor Rd.Sarasota\, FL 34236Monday\, July 13\, 20267:00 PM – 8:00PM EDT \nInvite your friends and neighbors to the 2026 FLVCS July meeting. It is open to all. \nIf you can not attend in person\, then please join us on Meet. We are no longer using Zoom. No registration is necessary. Click on the button below to join the meeting. \n \n Join Meeting\n \nMeet BG Leela Gray\, Ret.\nA third-generation veteran\, attorney\, business leader\, and mother\, Brigadier General (Ret) Leela Gray has never backed down from a tough fight. Raised with humble beginnings\, Leela learned early on what it means to earn your way—working hard in middle and high school\, from babysitting and lifeguarding to fast food service and waiting tables. Her father opened a small auto shop\, and while her family relied on food stamps at times\, they never stopped working to make ends meet.  \nDriven by a call to serve\, Leela became an ROTC cadet and rose steadily through the ranks of  the U.S. Army\, working relentlessly to earn every opportunity and receiving recognition for her  grit\, determination\, and character. Leela served more than 30 years in uniform\, including two combat deployments and a peacekeeping mission. She represented the United States overseas and strengthened combat readiness for our forces in the Middle East. Leela was always focused on one mission: working for the men and women beside her and the American families counting on them back home. \nWhile serving in the Army Reserve\, Leela built a successful civilian career in technology and strategic communications\, growing businesses\, managing budgets\, and serving on advisory boards. After retiring from the military\, she earned her law degree\, helping veterans access healthcare and other critical benefits. Leela is running for Congress because she knows leadership is about solving problems\, protecting our freedoms\, and standing up for hardworking Americans\, not Washington elites. \nLeela and her husband\, Tony\, have lived in the Tampa Bay area for more than 20 years and are proud parents of their daughter\, Bailly.  \n\nThis meeting is free and open to the public. BG Gray’s presentation is part of Florida Veterans for Common Sense’s efforts to educate the public on candidates and issues for the 2026 elections. BG Gray’s expressed views are her own and do not imply FLVCS’s agreement. Her presentation does not constitute FLVCS’s endorsement of her candidacy.  \nReturn to the FLVCS Calendar. URL:https://floridaveteransforcommonsense.org/event/2026-flvcs-july-meeting/ LOCATION:Unity of Sarasota\, 3023 Proctor Rd\, Sarasota\, FL\, 34231 CATEGORIES:Monthly Meeting ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://floridaveteransforcommonsense.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/04/Elections-Ahead-1200x628-1.jpg ORGANIZER;CN="Florida Veterans for Common Sense%2C Inc.":MAILTO:contact@flvcs.us END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTART;TZID=UTC:20260810T190000 DTEND;TZID=UTC:20260810T200000 DTSTAMP:20260727T175219Z CREATED:20260725T201842Z LAST-MODIFIED:20260727T175219Z UID:10000061-1786388400-1786392000@floridaveteransforcommonsense.org SUMMARY:2026 FLVCS August Meeting DESCRIPTION:The 2026 FLVCS August meeting will feature a Candidate Forum for Florida’s Chief Financial Officer. Frank Collige and Earle Ford have confirmed their attendance. Other candidates will be listed as they confirm. Stay tuned. \nDon’t miss this opportunity to learn about their positions on \n\nTackling The cost of living crisis\nLowering high insurance costs\nReducing taxes\nHolding the Florida Government accountable\nImproving disaster preparedness and financial resilience\n\nThese are some of the most important issues facing Florida today. \nHow to attend\nPlease join us in-person at the Unity of Sarasota Church. \nUnity of Sarasota3023 Proctor Rd.Sarasota\, FL 34236Monday\, August 10\, 20267:00 PM – 8:00PM EDT \nInvite your friends and neighbors to the 2026 FLVCS August meeting. It is open to all. \nIf you can not attend in person\, then please join us on Meet. We are no longer using Zoom. No registration is necessary. Click on the button below to join the meeting. \n \n Join Meeting\n \nMeet Frank Collige\nMy name is Dr. Frank W. Collige\, and I am honored to announce my candidacy for Florida Chief Financial Officer (CFO). With decades of experience in leadership\, business development\, financial oversight\, and public service\, I am ready to bring a bold vision and pragmatic solutions to Florida’s financial future. \nFrom my time serving in the U.S. Air Force\, where I was entrusted with safeguarding our nation’s most vital assets\, to my leadership roles in the private sector overseeing multi-million-dollar budgets\, logistical operations\, and regulatory compliance\, I’ve dedicated my life to serving others. Along the way\, I’ve built businesses from the ground up\, expanded operations across state lines\, and worked tirelessly to ensure fairness and accountability in the insurance industry. \nAs the Owner of Property Pros Consulting\, I grew the company to operate in eight states\, managing over 1\,000 insurance claims annually. In this role\, I gained extensive experience identifying and addressing insurance fraud committed by carriers\, contractors\, and the insured. I’ve seen firsthand how unethical practices drive up costs for hardworking Floridians\, and I’ve worked diligently to protect clients from unfair claim denials\, inflated repair costs\, and misleading policy practices. \nMeet Earle Ford\n \nBorn on a U.S. Air Force base and raised in small-town Wyoming\, Earle Ford grew up with the values of hard work\, honesty\, and pride in country. Those values shaped a lifetime of service that has taken him from military service to public service and the fight for accountability at every level of government. \nEarle began his career in the U.S. Army’s Airborne Infantry\, where he helped train America’s special operations units and learned the importance of discipline\, leadership\, and putting mission before self. After his military service\, he became a state prosecutor\, standing up for victims\, protecting communities\, and holding criminals accountable. \nLater\, Earle served as a federal IRS lawyer\, where he scrutinized complex financial schemes\, investigated the ultra-wealthy\, and exposed tax loopholes that allowed powerful interests to avoid paying their fair share. Throughout his career\, his mission has remained the same: fighting for the people\, not the powerful. \nThis meeting is free and open to the public. This Candiates Forum is part of Florida Veterans for Common Sense’s efforts to educate the public on candidates and issues for the 2026 elections. Candidates’ expressed views are their own and do not imply FLVCS’s agreement. Their presentations do not constitute FLVCS’s endorsement of their candidacy. \nReturn to the FLVCS Calendar. URL:https://floridaveteransforcommonsense.org/event/2026-flvcs-august-meeting/ LOCATION:Unity of Sarasota\, 3023 Proctor Rd\, Sarasota\, FL\, 34231 CATEGORIES:Monthly Meeting ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://floridaveteransforcommonsense.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/04/Elections-Ahead-1200x628-1.jpg ORGANIZER;CN="Florida Veterans for Common Sense%2C Inc.":MAILTO:contact@flvcs.us END:VEVENT END:VCALENDAR