News from August 2006
Insurance Reform Committee
The Property and Casualty Insurance Reform Committee held an organizational meeting on August 8th in Tallahassee. Chaired by Lt. Governor Toni Jennings, the Committee will make recommendations to the Governor, President of the Senate and Speaker of the House of Representatives regarding insurance issues in Florida. As the first meeting is organizational, no public testimony will be heard. Future meetings will offer opportunities for residents across Florida to provide input and comments to the committee. For more information, please visit www.myflorida.com.
GOVERNOR BUSH APPOINTS FIFTEEN TO THE NEWLY-CREATED PROPERTY & CASUALTY INSURANCE REFORM COMMITTEE
PROPERTY & CASUALTY INSURANCE REFORM COMMITTEE
Lieutenant Governor Toni Jennings, of Tallahassee, appointed as Chair, for a term beginning July 26, 2006 and ending May 15, 2007.
Senator JD Alexander, of Lake Wales, appointed for a term beginning July 26, 2006 and ending May 15, 2007.
Lee Arnold, of Clearwater, chief executive officer with Colliers Arnold International, appointed for a term beginning July 26, 2006 and ending May 15, 2007.
Representative Donald Brown, of DeFuniak Springs, appointed for a term beginning July 26, 2006 and ending May 15, 2007.
Leslie Chapman-Henderson, of Tallahassee, president, Federal Alliance for Safe Homes, appointed for a term beginning July 26, 2006 and ending May 15, 2007.
Joseph Collins, of Jacksonville, chief executive officer and owner, Collins Group, Inc., appointed for a term beginning July 26, 2006 and ending May 15, 2007.
Manuel de Zarraga, of Coral Gables, executive managing director, Holliday, Fenoglio Fowler, LLP, appointed for a term beginning July 26, 2006 and ending May 15, 2007.
Robert Helms, of Jacksonville, Florida chief executive officer, Wachovia, appointed for a term beginning July 26, 2006 and ending May 15, 2007.
Frank Kowalski, of Palmetto Bay, president and chief executive officer, Koski & Co., Inc., appointed for a term beginning July 26, 2006 and ending May 15, 2007.
A.D. “Sandy” MacKinnon, of Tampa, chief executive officer and owner, Yale Lift Trucks of Florida and Georgia, appointed for a term beginning July 26, 2006 and ending May 15, 2007.
Bill Montford, of Tallahassee, chief executive officer, Florida Association of District School Superintendents, appointed for a term beginning July 26, 2006 and ending May 15, 2007.
Representative Dennis Ross, of Lakeland, appointed for a term beginning July 26, 2006 and ending May 15, 2007.
Larry Schultz, of Rockledge, Mayor, City of Rockledge, appointed for a term beginning July 26, 2006 and ending May 15, 2007.
Linda Shelly, of Tallahassee, shareholder, Fowler, White, Boggs, Banker, appointed for a term beginning July 26, 2006 and ending May 15, 2007.
Barbara Weese, of Leesburg, retired, appointed for a term beginning July 26, 2006 and ending May 15, 2007.
Additionally, Governor Bush will appoint insurance industry representatives to a technical advisory council to serve as a resource to the Property and Casualty Insurance Reform Committee by providing expertise on industry related matters.
Posted on 9 August 2006
Terrorist Threat
Following the exposure of the terrorist threat to airlines and subsequent security measures being taken at airports, the Department of Transport has issued the following advice:
The following measures are to take place with immediate effect:
¨ Passengers may take through the airport security search point, in a single (ideally transparent) plastic carrier bag, only the following items. Nothing may be carried in pockets: pocket size wallets and pocket size purses plus contents (for example money, credit cards, identity cards etc (not handbags).
¨ Travel documents essential for the journey (for example passports and travel tickets).
¨ Prescription medicines and medical items sufficient and essential for the flight (e.g., diabetic kit), except in liquid form unless verified as authentic.
¨ Spectacles and sunglasses, without cases.
¨ Contact lens holders, without bottles of solution.
¨ For those travelling with an infant: baby food, milk (the contents of each bottle must be tasted by the accompanying passenger) and sanitary items sufficient and essential for the flight (nappies, wipes, creams and nappy disposal bags).
¨ Female sanitary items sufficient and essential for the flight, if unboxed (e.g. tampons, pads, towels and wipes).
¨ Tissues (unboxed) and/or handkerchiefs.
¨ Keys (but no electrical key fobs).
¨ All passengers must be hand searched, and their footwear and all items they are carrying must be x-ray searched.
¨ Pushchairs and walking aids must be x-ray screened, and only airport provided wheelchairs may pass through the screening point.
FOR USA BOUND PASSENGERS ONLY
In addition to the above, all passengers boarding flights to the USA and all the items they are carrying, including those acquired after the central screening point, must be subjected to secondary search at the boarding gate. Any liquids discovered must be removed from the passenger.
Posted on 10 August 2006
Baggage Restrictions Eased
BAA has relaxed restrictions following the government’s decision to reduce the terror alert from critical to severe.Passengers will now be allowed to bring permitted items in one cabin bag, which should be no bigger than 16cm by 35 cm by 45 cm. This is equivalent to a small laptop bag.
Cabin baggage must not contain any cosmetics, toiletries, liquids or drinks.
However, cabin baggage can contain electronic equipment, including laptops, prescribed medicines in liquid form eg. diabetic medicines, baby milk and liquid baby food (the contents of each bottle must be tasted by the parent).
Once in the departure lounge passengers may purchase any item in any store and take it onto the aircraft as normal unless travelling to the US.
Travellers to the US will not be permitted to take any liquid or gel items purchased in the departures lounge into the aircraft cabin. All food or beverage items must be consumed before boarding
Posted on 16 August 2006
Yvonne's Management Closes
With the following letter troubled Yvonne's Property Management company closes it's doors leaving owners and guests high and dry:-
August 18, 2006
Yvonne’s Property Management
2629 Waverly Barn Road-Suite 129
Davenport, FL 33897
Dear Homeowners;
It is with deep regret that the management of Yvonne’s Property Management must cease doing business. Many factors have led to this action, which we will attempt to address in this correspondence.
First, as is evident; Yvonne’s has suffered from the down turn and devaluation of the real estate market. The sell off of homes in our area at lower asking prices, has left our market gluttonous with available homes. The rise in vacation clubs and resorts has further impacted our ability to meet our commission rates. Also, high fuel costs have taken their toll on Florida vacationers and all the services they would normally use, causing a drop in the purchases/sale of short-term rentals as well as the need for management services
During our expansion Yvonne’s fell prey to a few employees whose unscrupulous actions caused physical and financial damage to our business and some of the properties we were managing. By the time Yvonne’s was able to account for this damage the real estate down turn hindered Yvonne’s ability to right our issues.
As you may be certain these issues spawned a few lawsuits. These could have been surpassed; however one was so aggressive in tactics, that an unexpected disclosure of our client list allowed for some misinformation to lead to the loss of 50 percent of our business and properties. Many clients have stood with us in this siege and we will be forever thankful for their loyalty.
The combination of market down turns, over population of available homes, unscrupulous employee activities, aggressive lawsuits, and loss of properties have led Yvonne’s to go out of business. We had hoped to right our issues and continue leading the way in vacation property management. However, this is not possible at this juncture.
On behalf of all homeowners; we have given your keys to Ridge Vacation Homes. We have done this so that your homes will not be abandoned until you pick-up your keys. We have no other means of returning your keys to you. We have no association with Ridge Vacation Homes except as a curtsy to you to be able to obtain your keys. Yvonne’s Property Management as well as Ridge Vacation Homes is not responsible for your property and or the contents within your property; this is effective immediately. Please contact Ridge Vacation Homes at ridgevillas@yahoo.com or call 863-420-9476. They are available to pick keys up Monday through Friday hours 9:00 am to 5:00 pm.
Your patronage and understanding is greatly appreciated and we truly understand the difficulties we are all feeling at this time.
Thank you for your time and consideration in this matter.
Posted on 20 August 2006
