Organized by the Community Association, reps from the “alphabet soup” of Venetian organizations spoke at a highly appreciated and well-attended Residents Orientation on January 21st. In addition to the Community Association, the CDD (Community Development District), POA (Property Owners Association), and Neighborhood Associations discussed their responsibilities and addressed numerous questions about individual issues.

On January 13, Sarasota County Deputy Lt. Cathy Duff of the Crime Prevention Unit reviewed all that we can do to provide for our own personal safety.

Lt. Duff made us aware to lock our doors, never open doors to strangers, have a peep hole in your door, invest in a doorbell camera (they are cheap!), keep a clear view to your door, and install a good dead bolt.

On December 8, two officers (Sgt Montez and Det. Lt. Kenny) from the Venice Police Department presented an informative overview of prevalent predatory scams that pose a significant threat to everyone. The presentation was well-received and provided valuable insights into the extent and severity of these dangers.

It was an immense honor that the VGRC Community Association presented NASA Astronaut and U.S. Navy Captain (Ret.) Sunita “Suni” Williams at the River Club on December 1, 2025.

Residents were captivated by her genuine personality and the captivating description of her life and experiences as an American astronaut. Suni Williams was selected as an astronaut by NASA in 1998 and has since become a veteran of three space missions. Over her three flights, she has logged an impressive 608 days in space. For more information about her, please refer to her full bio here.

Suni graciously met all requests for photos and chats, bringing immense delight to everyone present. Meeting Suni was truly a memorable event for all the residents who attended.   See the video “286 Days in Space with Suni Williams” by clicking here.