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Guinness World Book of Records - Longest Continuous Handshake contest, Duffy Square, Jan 14th, 8pm-until the last hand tires.
WHEREAS, John-Clark Levin and Jason Soll have submitted an application to host a special event in Father Duffy Square to begin on Friday January 14, 2011 at 8:00 PM, in order to conduct the "World's Longest Handshake 2011" competition; and
WHEREAS, Mr. Levin currently is a junior at Claremont McKenna College in Claremont, CA, and twice broke the record for the world's longest handshake, with officially recorded times of 10 hours, 10 minutes and 10 seconds and of 15 hours, 15 minutes and 15 seconds; and
WHEREAS, These competitive wins have been featured in the renowned Guinness Book of World Records, and it is expected that whomever wins the proposed "World's Longest Handshake 2011" would break the current record and be featured in the Guinness Book; and
WHEREAS, The proposed special event would require a small roped off area of approximately 800 square feet, to be located near the TKTS bleachers; and
WHEREAS, Within the 800 square feet roped off area, the following should fit comfortably within the ropes:
- One chair for each competitor
- Each team's coach (optional)
- Media/Press
- Food/beverages as requested by competitors
- Doctors or paramedics on rotation shifts
- Video cameras filming each group's attempt
- Official adjudicator from Guinness Book of World Records
- Portable heaters
- Small portable screens to display the current time of the shake and the funds raised so far
- Banners posting the event's website; and
WHEREAS, The proposed event would have six to twelve teams of two shaking hands continuously until all but one team has dropped out due to fatigue, hunger, or accidental breaking of the shake; and
WHEREAS, The load-in/set-up and dismantling/load-out times each should have durations of approximately 90 minutes or less, and based on the historical precedents it is estimated that the actual competition would have a duration of approximately 24 hours or less; and
WHEREAS, The event organizers have made arrangements to relocate the competition in the case of inclement weather, or should the duration be longer than anticipated; and
WHEREAS, There would be neither corporate sponsors nor advertisements, signage is unobtrusive, with information limited to posting the event's website: www.shakinghistory.com; and
WHEREAS, Donations would be collected online to support charities represented by the competitors, which may include Teach for America, New Zealand Down's Syndrome Foundation, Nepalese Women's Organization, Israeli-Palestinian Institute for Peace, American Cancer Society, International Red Cross, KIPP Schools, Clermont McKenna College and/or Amnesty International, and the team that shakes hands longest wins a larger proportion of the proceeds for the charity of its choice; and
WHEREAS, The proposed event would occur during an off-peak season, and access to the TKTS bleachers and booths, and the adjacent Broadway plaza will remain open to the public; and
WHEREAS, The applicant is currently working closely with the Times Square Alliance, the New York City Department of Parks & Recreation, and other agencies to ensure that their event would be conducted in a safe, satisfactory and successful manner; therefore, be it
RESOLVED, That Community Board Five recommends approval of John-Clark Levin and Jason Soll's application to conduct the "World's Longest Handshake 2011" competition in Father Duffy Square starting on Friday January 14, 2011.
The above resolution passed by a vote of 32 in favor; 2 opposed; 1 abstaining.