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Group Makes Bench Mark

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By JOYCE McKENZIE

jmckenzie@tampatrib.com

Published: January 7, 2009

TEMPLE TERRACE - For decades the Temple Terrace Junior Woman's Club has been known as a hands-on service organization dedicated to doing heartfelt projects that benefit the community.

Its latest endeavor, providing benches at major Hillsborough Area Regional Transit Authority bus stops throughout the city, is meant to offer comfort for bus riders awaiting pickup, as well as the potential for revenue opportunities to offset the nonprofit group's myriad of other service-related expenditures.

Although the project was approved by the city council in 2003, it was just implemented last week through a no-fee, 12-year contract with Metropolitan Systems, a company that also partners in a similar capacity with other nonprofit organizations throughout Florida.

The agreement, which includes a clause stating the company is responsible for the mounting, maintenance and repair of the molded plastic benches, as well as a $1 million liability insurance policy with a $3 million umbrella, also allows the club to generate income through advertisers whose messages are posted on the benches.

Placement of each bench is subject to review, and the city reserves the right to remove any of the benches or advertisements placed on them.
Temple Terrace Mayor Joe Affronti said he favors the program and hopes the city and the club can work together to make certain all the benches are placed according to the guidelines of the Americans with Disabilities Act.

"I think it's a win-win situation for everyone," said club president Lynn Werner. "Out of the generosity of Metro Benches there is no cost to the city or the club, and people waiting for the bus will no longer have to sit on the ground, lean up against buildings or use buckets to sit on."

Bill Rocker, a Metro Systems sales manager who has been working with the club and the city on the project since its inception, is pleased to see it finally come to fruition.

"They look great," Rocker said. "I've had conversations with at least 10 people who said they were very pleased, and a couple of elderly ladies I talked to were just ecstatic."

Misty Winter, a longtime club member who helped coordinate the program, is delighted to watch the project unfold.

"We need to put ourselves in other people's shoes," said Winter, who recalled recently seeing a couple sitting on a shopping cart while waiting for the bus to arrive.

"It's simply the right thing for us to do," she said.

Reporter Joyce McKenzie can be reached at (813) 865-4849.

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