Fort Myers Beach — Volunteers and town staff announced at the Oct. 22 meeting of the Bay Oaks Recreational Campus Advisory Board that a new nonprofit friends group, Friends of Bay Oaks, has an organizing board, a bank account with about $18,700 and plans to support programming and special events at Bay Oaks.

Michelle Cherny, who briefed the board on behalf of the new group, said the friends organization had convened, established officers and opened a custodial account at a local institution. “We have 18 little over $18,700 in that account to get that group started,” she said.

Why it matters: A functioning friends group gives Bay Oaks a vehicle to raise private donations and underwrite special events, equipment purchases and small capital items that the town’s operating budget does not cover. Board members and staff said the new group will also help with volunteer recruitment and event logistics.

Planned events and priorities

- Pickleball tournament: BORCAB member Joy Sullivan said she plans a Friends-sponsored pickleball tournament for March 21 with a March-Madness theme; she is working with staff to file necessary applications with the town.

- Seasonal events and programming: Staff described recent and upcoming programming that Friends might support, including the Nov. 8 powerlifting meet, a Nov. 15 Beach Kid Foundation pickleball event, family holiday events and the forthcoming Fright Night community event with inflatables, DJ and trunk-or-treat expectations of roughly 300 attendees.

- Concession stand and small capital purchases: Board members asked whether a former concession building repurposed for public-works office space could be reallocated or if Friends funds could instead be spent on small-ticket items (popcorn machine, gift cards for contests, portable concession supplies) to support events. Staff said some concession items have been purchased previously and that any reallocation of the repurposed concession stand would be discussed at a future agenda item.

Governance and next steps

Friends organizers said the group will continue recruiting members and a board member to fill vacancies, coordinate with staff on event approvals, and provide a table and presence at upcoming events to raise awareness and funds. Staff and board members noted that Friends activities must remain mindful of public-meeting and Sunshine laws when organizers are also board members.

Cherny and staff said Friends plans to meet at Bay Oaks for its next organizing meeting and to coordinate next steps with town staff on fundraising and vendor logistics.

The advisory board did not take any formal vote concerning the Friends group at the meeting; staff said they will provide further details about the group's bylaws and fundraising plans as those are developed.