A massive production like the Gigantic Nautical Flea Market takes a team of skilled, intelligent individuals. They’re the ones behind the operation, with hundreds of vendors and thousands of visitors who come to Founders Park in Islamorada for two days of shopping, food and fun. Proceeds from the event go to assist local students’ continued education after high school.
Terry Abel, “El Jefe,” holds some important tasks as the club president. Not only does he spend endless hours in meetings and responding to event questions, but he’s also the one who reveals the volunteer T-shirt the Tuesday before the big event. This year’s color? Hot pink. Abel is Islamorada fire chief.
Claire Johnson is the event chair who wrangles the troops for a production unlike any other in the Florida Keys. Johnson, too, spends endless hours ensuring every facet of the flea market brings an experience that many attendees come back for every year. Johnson is a Realtor with Coastal Realty of the Florida Keys.
Mary Beth Harris, Centennial Bank business development officer, took on the monumental task of organizing the newest feature: 13 food trucks. She first joined the ranks of Rotary some 10 years ago and will have over 40 volunteer hours in the event by the end of the weekend. “Take your time and use the map to check all the vendors,” she said. “Come hungry and come both days, so you don’t miss anything.”
The Florida Keys Electric Co-op’s “Director of Safety and Loss Control and Procurement” will have a much smaller title at this weekend’s Flea Market — bartender. Walt Stephens joined the Upper Keys Rotary Club about five years ago and for the past few years has managed the road signs for the event. This year he will be managing “Walt’s Beer Emporium” at the north end of the great lawn and expects to have 50 volunteer hours in. “Come early and stay late to avoid traffic on both ends,” he said. “And spend lots of money because when you buy a beer, you are sending a kid to college.”
Not a single person on the face of Planet Earth is more essential to the success of the Flea Market than Anna Richards. Using sophisticated technology like rulers and an Etch-a-Sketch, she plots out the entire park for vendors, food trucks, restrooms and drink stations. Richards was inducted into the club long before official records were kept, but she’s considered one of the first female members of the Rotary International. She claims to have met her husband at the Flea Market and her children may or may not have been conceived at the event. “I like to party, so I like to support events that promote that lifestyle,” Richards may have said. “Stay hydrated. Stay classy. Rotary rules!”
2022 is significant for the Flea Market for many reasons — most notably as the year Nicole Horne (Kraus) passes the torch of managing more than 350 vendors to Maria Jones. A fairly new member of the club, she now has one of the most demanding responsibilities of the event, which will start on next year’s event the day after this year’s wraps. In addition to her non-profit activities, Jones serves as the Florida Keys Electric Co-op’s director of member services and government relations. “Bring lots of cash because there will be cool stuff for everyone — whether you are a boater or not,” she said.
The Sponsor Czar for the Flea Market joined the Upper Keys Rotary Club about four year ago and is on pace to exceed this year’s fundraising goals for the Flea Market. Karly Venezia is a savvy businesswoman who juggles her non-profit work with her husband’s business and their two young boys. “Our sponsors have helped make this Rotary event one of the largest fundraisers in the entire county,” she said. “Please take a moment and thank them at the event.”
Rob Stober arrives at the flea market on a belt-driven bicycle, sporting a wide brimmed hat and brandishing a large grid sheet denoting the over 400 volunteers and their duties and time slots throughout the weekend. Stober joined the Upper Keys Rotary Club more than a decade ago and has been volunteering there ever since. Stober is a litigator and partner at Hershoff, Lupino and Yagel. “Wear comfortable shoes,” he said. “That’s good advice from my grandma. And don’t miss Joe Roth’s Bloody Mary booth.”
Frank Derfler, a member of the Upper Keys Rotary since 2009, is the marketing director for the club and the Gigantic Nautical Flea Market. In addition to telling the Flea Market’s story through a variety of media, Defler actively supports the Rotary’s student-affiliated organization, the Interact Club. He starts recruiting and herding scholarship recipients and Interact members as volunteers in January and puts in countless hours toward making the event a success.
Derfler’s Pro Tip (DPT) 1: Come on Sunday; DPT 2: If attending on Saturday, come after 1 p.m.; DPT 3: Park at Coral Shores and take the shuttle buses to the park.
He’s considered the “Wizard of the Flea Market” as Chris Trentine performs some of the greatest feats — all behind the scenes and with little fanfare. A former club president, Trentine owns and operates CBT Construction and is a co-founder of Islamorada Brewery & Distillery. A member of Rotary since 2009, Trentine does just about everything from supplying additional hands for setup to lending his companies’ resources to the event. “Support the vendors and buy 50/50 raffle tickets,” he said. “This helps more kids go to college or trade school.”
Tricia Hynes plays the combination of air traffic controller and the ultimate greeter. On the morning before the flea market fun, Hynes is stationed at the front of the park welcoming vendors and directing them to their spots. She also ensures they have everything they need for a successful weekend. A Rotarian since 2008, she puts in roughly 24 hours of volunteer time into the event. She advises attendees to come early. And most of all, wear sunscreen. “So many people who are local really show appreciation for what we have done,” she says. “So many people comment that their child received a scholarship. A lot of families will volunteer as a way of showing appreciation for the scholarship. The vendors are also upbeat and friendly as they make their way to their spots.”
