Florida CFO Alex Sink Headlines Event Hosted By Community Advocacy Network
FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla. (January 21, 2008)--- Florida Chief Financial Officer Alex Sink was the keynote speaker for a special dinner and panel discussion hosted by the Community Advocacy Network (CAN-www.canfl.com), one of Florida’s leading voices for common interest ownership communities. CAN hosted the event, held January 18 at the Signature Grand in Davie, on behalf of the Broward Coalition, the county’s largest and most powerful coalition of condominium and homeowner associations. More than 175 CAN members, association presidents and representatives, affinity partners and other community leaders attended the event.
Sink gave her address on “The State of the State’s Economy,” which included pending legislation affecting common interest ownership communities. CAN Executive Director Donna DiMaggio Berger, also a partner with the law firm of Katzman & Korr, talked about what association leaders can do to be better advocates for their communities. In addition, several experts addressed issues that affect Florida communities: Leo Delgado, President of CSI Associates talked about the digital age and FCC rulings; Corey Hayes of MASTEC/DIRECT PLUS spoke about telecommunications for community associations; Monte Kane of Kane & Company P.A. discussed fiscal responsibilities of board members; and attorney Alan Garfinkel of the Garfinkel Trial Group addressed insurance issues affecting associations.
“We were pleased to be able to bring together all of these experts under one roof to discuss important topics that affect associations and the dedicated volunteer directors who lead them,” said Donna DiMaggio Berger.
The CAN initiative focuses on education, outreach and advocacy services for all community associations including condominiums, cooperatives, homeowners’ associations, mobile home communities and timeshares in the state. CAN works on behalf of these groups to promote positive legislation and policies at the local, state and federal levels.
Through its interactive web site platform, CAN informs its members of pending legislation and provides them with the tools necessary to play a vital part in the political processes which impact their communities. The “Capitol Connection” e-mail feature enables members to quickly and easily correspond directly with members of the Florida Legislature, Senate and House Committees, City and County Commissions as well as local media outlets.
Another integral part of CAN is its “Affinity Program,” a resource that provides members with access to special discounts and services from participating vendors. The program features participants from various categories including banks, insurance agencies, property management services and accountants.
In addition to this feature, CAN also provides members with ongoing information on “best practices” they can implement in their own communities to save money and streamline operations as well as valuable information regarding hurricane recovery, insurance and financial resources.
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About Community Advocacy Network (CAN):
CAN is a non-profit organization that advocates on behalf of all types of common interest ownership communities to ensure their unique needs are understood by public policy makers. CAN assists its members with intensely targeted advocacy campaigns at all levels of government. CAN also offers its members an “Affinity Program,” which provides access to special discounts and services from participating vendors. CAN memberships cost $150 per community association with discounts being offered to umbrella organizations. For more information, contact Donna DiMaggio Berger at 954-315-0372 or visit www.canfl.com.