To the Mayor of the city of Venice, her Council Members and Elders:

Greetings.
We represent gondola operators throughout the United States, Canada, the Caribbean and several other English-speaking countries. In visiting www.vogaveneta.it we have read about your situation with the Squero San Trovaso and we are deeply concerned. Like many gondola operators in your fair city we view the oldest squero in the world to be "holy ground".

Each of us has visited or dreamed of someday visiting the legendary place where gondolas have been built and serviced alongside a church since the seventeenth century. The Squero San Trovaso is, for all intents and purposes, the birthplace of our beautiful gondola. Because San Trovaso is a cooperative squero it represents the success we can all achieve when we place our differences aside, focus on the boats we all love, and work together.

The Squero San Trovaso, while it may not be as grand in scale and tourist popularity as the Piazza San Marco or the Rialto Bridge, it is a vital landmark to the city of Venice; it serves as much more than just a place for gondoliers to work on their boats and it must continue to exist for the benefit of us all and for the benefit of the gondola. We thank you for your time and consideration and we thank the beautiful city of Venice for the important role she has played in each of our lives.

With respect and reverence,
Greg Mohr - Vice President
Gondola Society of America
Member of Gruppo Sportivo Voga Veneta Mestre