Community Associations Network Industry News

KNOXVILLE, Tenn.-- (SUBMITTED)--Oct. 24, 2008--BioPet Vet Lab, a Knoxville, Tenn., DNA laboratory, announced Friday the introduction of PooPrints(TM), a program designed to encourage dog owners to pick up their dog's "droppings." The program is targeted initially to neighborhoods, but could be applied to any municipality that wants to clean up its public areas. The PooPrints(TM) program recommends that a home owner association (HOA) pass an amendment to its existing covenant that requires all dog owners in the community to have their dogs' DNA analyzed and filed with Bio-Pet's "DNA World Pet Registry."

Once the DNA is on file, any dropping found in the public areas of the neighborhood can be sent to BioPet to be analyzed and matched up with the DNA already on file. Once the dog is identified, an email report is sent to the HOA, which then can identify the offending owner. The matching process takes three to four days after receipt to process. With positive proof through the DNA matchup, the association may elect to impose fines on the offenders, which will defray the cost of the program to the HOA.

Participating dog owners gain several potential benefits in addition to the possibility of a cleaner neighborhood. Their dog's DNA is on permanent file, providing positive "proof of ownership"; they receive a lifetime membership in the "DNA World Pet Registry," which allows them a place to store and manage their dog's health and care records; they receive an ID Tag printed with "DNA Pet ID" and a toll free number that will help to reunite a lost dog with its owner.

There are 75 million dogs in the U.S. and it is estimated that they produce 3.6 billion pounds of dog waste per year. That is equivalent to filling 800 football fields one foot high. What many do not realize is the health hazard dog waste presents. Campylobacter, salmonella, toxocaria, and other harmful microbes can all be found in dog waste. These germs can be picked up by children and adults causing diarrhea, fever, muscle aches, headache, vomiting, rash, cough, and even vision loss. Moreover, these germs make their way into the water supply, endangering natural fisheries and waterways, and providing a secondary exposure of humans to these health dangers.

The PooPrints(TM) program designed to do away with poop litter is not limited to home owners associations, but could be adopted by condominiums, apartments, cities, counties and states. The PooPrints(TM) program is low cost: to register each dog with its DNA on file is $29.95. Follow-on processing of waste samples is also just $49.95 per sample. BioPet provides complete program kits to the HOA which include waste sampling devices and containers for shipment.

Posted by Joe at 6:46 PM | Permalink

Duluth, Ga (Vocus) Octeber 17, 2008 -- Industry leading community website provider AtHomeNet (www.AtHomeNet.com) recently held their fourth annual Training Camp on Sept.24th at the Gwinnett Center in Duluth, Georgia. The annual event attracted over one hundred Association Managers, Community Administrators, and neighborhood volunteers from a variety of states including Florida, Massachusetts, and North Carolina to name a few.

AtHomeNet’s Training Camp has traditionally been a chance for clients both long term or new to the website service to network with each other while attending a series of classes, discussion groups, and one on one sessions hosted by AtHomeNet’s staff. The event mainly focuses on utilizing AtHomeNet’s Community Association Web Site service to improve communications and enhance efficiency in residential communities, large scale HOAs and subdivisions. There was also a series of courses aimed at clients of their Association Management Website service as well as general Homeowner & Condo Association volunteers and Administrators.This year’s Training Camp also featured classes introducing AtHomeNet’s newest version ‘AtHomeNet Elite,” which is scheduled for a fourth quarter release.

“Whether you are a volunteer in a small Condo high-rise, or a multi-property Community Manager working for a large firm, Training Camp 2008 had a course designed to talk directly to you and address your particular set of needs,” stated Jeff Sanders, AtHomeNet’s Director Of Technology.

“It was particularly refreshing to see such a wide variety of AtHomeNet website users. We had a young lady from a Georgia HOA who had only signed up for our service two days ago; on the other side we had an Association manager with over 200 properties that had been with us for more than 5 years. That’s what this event is all about, bringing communities and Homeowner Association industry leaders together under one roof to share and learn,” added Marketing Director Susan Sanders.

A new addition to this year’s camp was a complimentary DVD which featured a summary version of all of the classes offered during the event. Attendees appreciated this, as there were times when two classes offered at the same time were both of high interest. The DVD alleviated their concerns about missing any classes they could not attend. The limited edition DVD is also available for purchase online by visiting the company’s site or entering the following Url into a browser. http://www.yourcommunitybulletins.com/TrainingCamp/OnlinePayment/trainingcamp2008_onlinepay.htm

About AtHomeNet

AtHomeNet is the nation's premiere provider of customized, affordable websites for Communities, Condo & Homeowner Associations, and Professional Association Management Firms. The company was founded in 1998 by husband and wife team Jeff & Susan Sanders. With their websites in most of the U.S states as well as several countries abroad, AtHomeNet continues to grow as a company and enhance their services in the ever expanding world of online technology.

For more information on the company, visit AtHomeNet.com or contact Susan Sanders at 1-800-556-7852

Posted by Joe at 11:08 AM | Permalink

FT. LAUDERDALE, FL -- 10/16/08 -- Becker & Poliakoff, P.A., a diversified commercial law firm with more than 120 attorneys in 13 Florida offices, New York City and affiliated international offices, today announced its receipt of the prized "Law Firm of the Year" award from the Latin Builders Association.

Presented each year by the Miami-based Latin Builders Association (LBA), the annual award recognizes firms for their expertise and integrity in working with the business community and the construction industry in South Florida. Nominations are made by fellow LBA members who recognize the achievements of the best corporate and business law firms working within the association and the local construction industry.

The award was presented during the "The 2008 LBA Stars" 28th Annual Awards Banquet, held by the Latin Builders Association's on Saturday, October 11 at the Miami Airport Hilton. Receiving the "Law Firm of the Year" award on behalf of Becker & Poliakoff was attorney Carlos Gimenez, who is part of the firm's Government Law & Lobbying Group and is a member of the Board of the Latin Builders Association.

Also attending the ceremony on behalf of Becker & Poliakoff were Alan Becker, the firm's co-Founder and Managing Shareholder, Miguel Diaz de la Portilla, shareholder and lead attorney in the firm's Government Law and Lobbying practice in Miami-Dade County; and, Board Certified Construction Lawyer Belinda Bacon, a registered Florida Professional Engineer and attorney who practices exclusively in the firm's Construction Law and Litigation practice.

"Becker & Poliakoff is very pleased to have received this prestigious award from the Latin Builders Association," Alan Becker said. "With eight board certified construction lawyers and an experienced group of real estate and land use attorneys, Becker & Poliakoff prides itself on providing our extensive building industry knowledge to counsel our clients in the construction industry and local business community as we transition through these turbulent economic times."

"We are pleased to honor Becker & Poliakoff for its many heartfelt contributions to our community. They are an important part of the LBA and provide valuable leadership to the legal, business and civic communities," said Ovi Vento, president of the Latin Builders Association.

The 2008 award recipients were chosen from 43 categories and included Becker & Poliakoff as "Law Firm of the Year," Mercantile Bank as "Bank of the Year" and many others businesses and community leaders. In the nominating process this year, Becker & Poliakoff shared the "Law Firm" category with other leading South Florida law firms, including Broad & Cassel and Piedra & Associates.

"The 2008 LBA All Stars" awards ceremony was sponsored by Tamiami Chrysler Jeep Dodge, Mercantile Bank, FPL and Comcast, and was attended by some 500 members and guests of the Latin Builders Association, the South Florida construction industry and business community.

About Becker & Poliakoff

Becker & Poliakoff is a diverse commercial law firm with more than 120 attorneys in 13 Florida offices, New York City and affiliated international offices. Celebrating its thirty sixth (36th) year of serving clients, the firm has seven primary areas of practice: Real Estate, Construction, Community Association, International Trade & Customs, Commercial Litigation, Corporate, Tax & Securities, and Government Law & Lobbying. For more information, visit: www.becker-poliakoff.com.

About the Latin Builders Association

The Latin Builders Association is an energetic, non-profit organization that encompasses a vast array of individuals and companies related to South Florida's vibrant construction industry. Since its establishment in 1971, Latin Builders Association has embodied the interests of builders, developers, contractors, architects, engineers, plumbers, electricians and tradesmen associated with the business of construction, striving to provide a vital forum for discussion, networking, training/development, and representation at the local and state level. For more information, visit: www.latinbuilders.org.

Posted by Joe at 11:07 AM | Permalink

Problem-solving tools include free online access to neighborhood covenants and restrictions

(October 16, 2008) – A new online tool for solving problems and improving understanding in neighborhoods throughout Allen County went live today.

The Allen County Recorder’s Office Neighborhood Resource Center can be found on the web at www.allencountyrecorder.us/neighborhoods.

Among the tools offered by the Neighborhood Resource Center is free searchable access to the recorded covenants and restrictions of subdivisions and condominium developments.

"All too often, property owners are unaware of the covenants in place in their subdivisions," said Allen County Recorder John McGauley. "Lack of easy access to this information leaves neighbors vulnerable to frustrating mistakes that routinely snowball into drawn-out conflicts. The Neighborhood Resource Center will be a powerful new tool for reducing this source of conflict between neighbors."

Also included on the site are links to Fort Wayne, New Haven and Allen County neighborhood information, such as contact lists, meeting dates and informational resources. Downloadable maps of the county will allow users to find subdivision names and, in many cases, section numbers.

The Neighborhood Resource Center was developed at a cost of $6,500, paid for using fee revenue collected by the Recorder’s Office. In early 2007, initial estimates of the project cost exceeded $100,000. A low-cost solution was possible by creating the site as an add-on to a new, web-accessible records management system installed by the Recorder’s Office in June 2007.

In order to search the Neighborhood Resource Center for covenants, users will have to at least part of their subdivision name. Subdivision names and neighborhood association names are not always the same. The subdivision name can be found on the owner’s deed and in the property’s legal description.

The site will automatically search all documents that might contain covenants. Users may have to look at more than one document before finding the one containing their covenants. Covenants are amended on rare occasions, so property owners should check for updates from time to time.

####

John McGauley
Allen County Recorder
john.mcgauley@allencounty.us
(260) 449-7391

Posted by Joe at 12:04 PM | Permalink