PORT ST. LUCIE PEOPLE
porate fella and said, ‘I don’t know who you are, but I know
someone important when I see him.’ ” When Smith laid out
his plan the response was, “What is the litter policy?” Smith
replied, “Pick it up.”
He cut a deal to clean the swale if they maintained their
landscaping and parking lot. In the beginning, the buildup
was terrible. PNC Bank agreed to help. Then the local Air
Force JROTC assisted. “You gotta get to God,” Smith says, “or
the people who have clout.”
One by one, he got the attention of managers, spilling over
to commercial maintenance and lawn service workers. Residents
would come along asking if they could help. Among
his cohorts is Susie Madenbach. “I’m a member of the Giraffe
Society,” she says, “ — the ones who stick their necks out.”
“I hope this brings a sense of community pride,” Smith
adds. “People feel good when they see clean streets.”
Leading by example, he presented an action plan to the
Port St. Lucie Rotary Club, hoping to instill his passion in
others. The Rotary Community Corps emerged as an umbrella
organization for high school students requiring volunteer
hours. The right connection was made and the St. Lucie
County School Board approved the plan.
“This solves the problem a high school student has: They
need a place to volunteer and have transportation,” he
says. “The city cannot authorize unchaperoned youth due
to liability issues. Because Rotary is a third-party insurer,
problem’s solved! Young people can pick up trash in
their own neighborhoods. We hold them accountable and
everyone is happy.”
He is always looking for ways to expand.
“It’s all about people, partnerships and prevention.”E
road trash with enthusiasm and vigor. He desires people to
connect and collect because in doing so, lives will be affected.
The hope is to change attitudes about litter and convert behaviors
What sets Smith apart is his energy — it’s boundless. He
maintains an action-oriented and practical philosophy when
approaching business managers. His first breakthrough came
while on daily litter pickup at a McDonald’s. He noticed two
men who looked like managers. “I guessed one was a cor
Port St. Lucie Magazine 55
GARY SMITH
Age: 74
Hometown: Port St. Lucie
Occupation: Retired attorney and
ordained minister.
Family: Wife, Kay; daughter,
Lauren Smith-Meinhardt; son-inlaw,
Mel Meinhardt; son, Park;
and grandson Luke
Education: Bachelor of Arts, University of Pittsburgh; Master
of Divinity, Methodist Theological School, Delaware, Ohio;
Juris Doctor, Duquesne University School of Law.
Hobbies: Ping pong, reading American history, traveling,
dining with friends and activities with the Rotarians and
St. Lucie Chamber of Commerce.
Who/what inspires me: “Building community.”
Something most people don’t know about me: “I was an
avid motorcyclist; my wife and I rode BMW motorcycles in
20 countries, mainly in Europe — Belgium and the UK. We
were ambassadors of the BMW Club/Motorcycle Owners
of America.”
for the greater good.
FORT
PIERCE
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