Community briefs for March 3, 2016

Posted

Ronald “Doc” Renuart elected President of FOMA
Ronald J. Renuart, SR., DO of Ponte Vedra beach was elected president-elect of the Florida Osteopathic Medical Association (FOMA) during its 113th Annual Convention, held Feb. 17-21. A crowd of more than 1,500 osteopathic physicians, healthcare professionals and students attended the convention.
Renuart earned his osteopathic degree from Nova Southeastern University College of Osteopathic Medine and completed his Internal Medicine Residency with the University of Florida. He is a Fellow of the American College of Physicians and former chief of staff at Baptist Medical Center in Jacksonville Beach. Renuart has served on the Board of Trustees for FOMA, the Executive Board of FOMA and as a delegate to the American Osteopathic Association.
As a colonel in the Florida Army National Guard, he served three combat tours including Iraq and Afghanistan. He served for six years as the chief medical officer for the National Guard and retired after 20 years of decorated service.
In 2005, Renuart was appointed to the State Medicaid Pharmaceutical and Therapeutics Committee by Gov. Jeb Bush and elected to the Florida House of Representatives in 2008. He was the chairman of the Veterans and Military Affairs Committee, vice chair of the Health & Human Services Committee and the K-through-12 Education Subcommittee. During his tenure in the Florida House of Representatives, Rep. Renuart authored landmark legislation pertaining to concussions in youth athletics, prostate cancer research, the Florida GI Bill and the craft distillery industry.

SAYS Observes April National Child Abuse Prevention Month
April is National Child Abuse Prevention Month and since 1989, people nationwide wear the blue ribbon and carry blue pinwheels in April to create awareness of the need to keep kids safe and families strong. During the month of April and throughout the year, St. Augustine Youth Services is dedicated to supporting families and reducing the risk of child abuse and neglect.
The 3rd Annual Pinwheel Parade Against Child Abuse will be held on Saturday, April 2nd at the SAYS campus from 10:00-11:30am. There will be a ceremonial “parade” around the campus, refreshments, free children’s activities plus tables set up with parenting information and people on hand to answer questions about the resources available in St. Johns County. The St. Johns County Sheriff Office will be providing a helicopter (pending weather conditions) plus a crime scene technician will be on site.
Community partners in attendance will include Bucky Beaver from Beaver Toyota, Betty Griffin House,EPIC Behavioral Health, First Tee of SJC, Flagler College Enactus, Girls on the Run, SE Branch Library, SJC Health Department, SJC Supervisor of Elections, Stuart Marchman Behavioral health Care, System of Care-Circuit 7.
“Everyone’s participation is critical,” said Schuyler Siefker, SAYS Executive Director. “Focusing on ways to build and promote the protective factors in every interaction with children and families is the best thing our community can do to prevent child maltreatment and promote optimal child development.”
SAYS is a residential group home which provides therapeutic services for boys who have experienced severe emotional trauma, such as child abuse and neglect. SAYS is celebrating 27 years of serving children and three years in their US1 South campus facility.
SAYS is located at 6624 US 1 South, just north of the SE Branch Library, near SR206. For more information, please call 904-829-1770 or visit www.sayskids.org.

PGA Tour expands use of mobile devices by spectators at tournaments
Effective immediately, fans at PGA Tour events are permitted to take photographs with their mobile devices throughout tournament week, except in areas of play during official tournament rounds or when requested by players, security, and Tour officials to refrain from taking a photo. Previously, the policy restricted all photography to Designated Cell Phone Areas during tournament play.
Anything outside of a mobile device, such as cameras and video recorders, are not allowed during official rounds.
“Our mobile device policy has been met with great enthusiasm by fans,” said Andy Pazder, PGA Tour chief of operations. “We believe the expanded policy will significantly enhance the on-site spectator experience while maintaining a suitable atmosphere for all players on the course.”
In early 2011, the PGA Tour implemented its Mobile Device Policy which allowed fans for the first time to bring their mobile phones into tournaments. The Honda Classic was the first event for which the mobile device policy was implemented as an enhancement to the overall fan experience. This followed testing at five Tour events in late 2010 and early 2011 to gauge the potential impact of mobile devices at PGA Tour events.
The Masters Tournament, U.S. Open, Open Championship, PGA Championship, Ryder Cup and Rio 2016 Olympics are not PGA Tour co-sponsored events and have their own respective policies regarding the use of mobile devices on-site.

—Compiled by Kelly H. McDermott