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COVID-19 & Technology: Resident Communication, Virtual Meetings & Electronic Voting

COVID-19 & Technology: Resident Communication, Virtual Meetings & Electronic Voting

  • Posted: May 03, 2020
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COVID-19 & Technology: Resident Communication, Virtual Meetings & Electronic Voting

On April 7th, 2020 we had a live webinar

More than 200 people attended the webinar and it was requested that we record it and allow others to watch it.

You can watch the recorded webinar and learn about how to communicate with your residents in an age when we are practicing social distancing and the benefits of hosting a virtual meeting.

We covered several topics including:

Helping your team and residents stay safer by implementing digital  communication channels instead of physical interactions with community staff.

Alleviating the additional stress of situations like COVID-19 by leveraging  technology to organize and run your condo more effectively.

Reducing costs and efforts by hosting virtual meetings.

Here is the link: Watch and Learn

https://ding.conciergeplus.com/webinar–covid19–and–technology

Peter Pietrzkiewicz
sales@conciergeplus.com
Concierge Plus Inc.

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WEBINAR: ASSOCIATION CONTINUITY & COVID-19 CONCERNS, REOPENING AMENITIES & MORE by Castle Group, Kaye Bender Rembaum and Plastridge Insurance

WEBINAR: ASSOCIATION CONTINUITY & COVID-19 CONCERNS, REOPENING AMENITIES & MORE by Castle Group, Kaye Bender Rembaum and Plastridge Insurance

  • Posted: May 01, 2020
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WEBINAR: ASSOCIATION CONTINUITY & COVID-19 CONCERNS, REOPENING AMENITIES & MORE

Date/Time  May 7, 2020
12:00 pm – 1:00 pm

REGISTER HERE

Castle Group, Kaye Bender Rembaum and Plastridge Insurance invite you to a webinar:  “Association Continuity and Other COVID-19 Concerns”, Episode 2

You are invited to join episode 2 of “Association Continuity and other COVID-19 Concerns” with a special focus on re-opening community amenities and more. Panelists include:
  • Craig Vaughan, Castle Group – President;
  • Michael S . Bender & Jeffrey A. Rembaum, Kaye Bender Rembaum, Board Certified in Condominium and Planned Development Law
  • Brendan T. Lynch, AIP AAI, Plastridge Insurance Agency, President
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COVID-19 SURFACE TESTING – NEXT DAY RESULTS AVAILABLE!

COVID-19 SURFACE TESTING – NEXT DAY RESULTS AVAILABLE!

  • Posted: May 01, 2020
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COVID-19 SURFACE TESTING

NEXT DAY RESULTS AVAILABLE!

CVOID-19 CDC RECOMMENDATIONS AND INFORMATION

According to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), COVID-19 is a respiratory illness that can spread from person-to-person. The main infection route is between people who are in close contact with one another (within about 6 feet) through respiratory droplets produced when an infected person coughs or sneezes.

It also may be possible that a person can contract COVID-19 by touching a surface or object that has the virus on it, and then touching their own mouth, nose, or eyes. Currently, transmission from surfaces is not thought to be the main way the virus spread, however the CDC’s April 13th update remarked: “COVID-19 is a new disease and we are still learning about how it spreads and the severity of illness it causes.”

 

As mentioned on our homepage, recent studies suggest that the CVOID-19 virus may remain viable and infective on surfaces for hours to days, depending on the surface material type (fabric, tile, steel, etc.).

Thorough cleaning and disinfection of frequently touched surfaces are recommended by the CDC and believed to be essential in preventing the spread of infection.

The presence or absence of the viral genetic material on environmental surfaces can now be directly tested with EMSL’s new CVOID-19 molecular-based test and used to demonstrate effectiveness of cleaning protocols.

 

Air Quality Assessors of Florida only performs the physical sampling of surfaces recommended to test by request of our client and in no way can guarantee the entire site is clear from COVID 19. AQA sends all samples to an accredited laboratory for analysis.

Call us or visit our website to schedule your assessment or request more information. We will get back to you with 24 hours.

844-CALL-AQA

 

 

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How the Coronavirus Can Affect Your Insurance Claim By Bobby Parsons / Cohen Law Group

How the Coronavirus Can Affect Your Insurance Claim By Bobby Parsons / Cohen Law Group

  • Posted: Apr 28, 2020
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How the Coronavirus Can Affect Your Insurance Claim

By Bobby Parsons / Cohen Law Group

 

As the Coronavirus continues to spread throughout the globe, many industries will experience closures and slowdowns, as well as implement various protocols limiting their productivity. For instance, the Florida court system has already issued an administrative order limiting court appearances that would require the gathering of a substantial number of people in an effort to curtail further spreading of the virus. The extent of such protocols being put in place during the near-term future remains unclear, but it is safe to assume, the business interruptions we have seen thus far are only the beginning until a vaccine is developed, or the virus runs its natural course.

Many offices are closing their doors for the foreseeable future and requesting employees to work from home. The most recent recommendations from the authorities include a moratorium on gatherings of ten people or more, down from fifty only a few days ago. The spreading of the virus, and the associated efforts to curtail its spread, will certainly impact all aspects of our lives, and suffering a loss to your home or property would only serve to make an impossible situation worse.

Insurance companies are very large, with vast amounts of employees. Should you suffer a loss to your property, an insurance company will likely be ill-equipped at this time to properly adjust your claim due to limitations on its productivity like those discussed above. Normally, an insurance company must conclude its investigation of your claim within ninety days. However, this rule is subject to a provision that allows insurance companies to exceed this timeline during exigent circumstances, like the one we are all dealing with today. What this means, is that your claim could get stuck in limbo while the global issue of the coronavirus runs its course. Scheduling inspections, hiring contractors, gathering documents from your insurance agent, and other steps ordinarily conducted during an insurance company’s investigation into a claim will take much longer than usual.

Given the uncertain nature of the near-term future regarding the ability to properly address your insurance claim, what is a property owner to do should it experience a loss? The most important thing to do in a time like this, is to protect the property from further damage and stabilize it. This could be something as simple as placing a tarp on the roof after suffering a leak. Even though the carrier is likely going to take quite some time to investigate the loss, this does not absolve a property owner of its responsibility to protect the property from further damage. Likewise, a property owner must also preserve the property to the best of its ability for inspection by the insurance company at a later date. Literally maintaining possession of damaged property may be a virtual impossibility due to contaminants or some other risk. However, should this occur, property owners should document such property thoroughly, and consider storing the damaged property with a third party better-equipped to handle such property. As the spread of the coronavirus continues to wreak havoc, it is important to know that an insurance company’s investigation into a property claim is likely to take much longer than normal, and it is equally important to understand how a property owner needs to adapt to the drawn out process.

 

If you have any questions regarding this, you can call our office 24 hours a day at 407-917-3192.

Robert "Bobby" Parsons, Esq.

Robert “Bobby” Parsons, Esq.

Learn more about Bobby here!

DISCLAIMER: This website is for informational purposes only and does not provide legal advice. Please do not act or refrain from acting based on anything you read on this site. Using this site or communicating with Cohen Law Group through this site does not form an attorney/client relationship. This site is legal advertising. Please review the full disclaimer for more information by clicking here.

 

 

 

 

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Concierge Plus: technology for modern property management

Concierge Plus: technology for modern property management

  • Posted: Apr 28, 2020
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Concierge Plus: technology for modern property management

by Chris Cooney
Senior Sales Executive — Concierge Plus
T: 305-850-7676 x128 — M: 786-667-0056

 

Our property management platform makes life easier for property managers and security companies by increasing efficiencies, improving resident service, and automating administrative processes so your condo or HOA runs more efficiently.

 

Getting started is fast and easy!

In less than a week, you’ll be handling maintenance requests, amenity bookings, visitor parking, package tracking, resident announcements, and resident information on a secure website, accessible to you at anytime from anywhere. Take your condo online today! Our dedicated Customer Success Specialist team will train your building staff, including on-site training at your location.

 

Improved Workflow

Improved Workflow

We make it a snap to handle service requests, amenity bookings, package deliveries, tracking visitors, and visitor parking.

Convenient Online Access

Convenient Online Access

Say goodbye to paper and binders by digitizing administrative tasks, while giving residents easy online access to many services.

Feature-Rich, All-in Pricing

Feature-Rich, All-in Pricing

Embrace a platform offering control and total flexibility, as well as competitive pricing, product updates and great customer service.

 

Discover the most cost-effective solution on the market

Competitive pricing is just the beginning. Concierge Plus is designed to save you time, money, and effort. Say goodbye to inefficient administrative tasks, mountains of paperwork, and time-consuming processes.

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After the Pandemic: How Community Associations Can Recover in the New Economy. by Mitchell Drimmer of Axela

After the Pandemic: How Community Associations Can Recover in the New Economy. by Mitchell Drimmer of Axela

  • Posted: Apr 28, 2020
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After the Pandemic: How Community Associations Can Recover in the New Economy.

by Mitchell Drimmer of Axela Technologies

 

Is Your Condo or HOA Prepared?

Download : How Community Associations Can Recover in the New Economy

With a pandemic crippling the global economy, community associations must prepare for the effects this will have on the housing market.

We must face the grim reality that the ripple effects of the coronavirus may cripple our economy for years to come, long after the virus itself has been contained, as people lose their incomes and families struggle to make ends meet.

Community associations are already beginning to feel the effects of the recession with homeowners in financial crisis opting not to pay association fees, and this trend looks like it will get worse before it gets better. And with foreclosures on temporary deferment during the shutdown, the typical methods communities use to collect are unavailable.

But there is hope for communities to navigate this new recession economy. Community associations are one of the few industries that can successfully weather economic depression. You just need to know what tools to leverage to keep the budget healthy.

The American consumer will be making choices: “Should I pay my Visa or Mastercard bill or my community association fees?”

This whitepaper explores the options that are available to community associations and reveals what actions you can take to not just protect your community, but to thrive in the new recession economy we are facing.

 

 

HOW THE FUTURE COLLECTS

Axela Technologies is dedicated to helping create streamlined accounts receivable and collections for management companies, condo associations and homeowners associations.

Our proven collection methods help community associations realize higher returns and lower delinquency ratings at virtually no risk to the organization.

Axela is fully compliant with Fair Debt Collection Practices Act (FDCPA), Fair Credit Reporting Act (FCRA), Telephone Consumer Protection Act (TCPA).

 

Get a Free Consultation with a
Collections Expert

Need a Better Cash Flow for Your Condo or HOA?

Your Collections process may be what’s holding your budget back. Let us help with this free analysis of your collections process.

Call Us
305-392-0389

 

 

 

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IT’S TIME FOR SOME NEW LEGISLATION FOR VOTING for OUR ASSOCIATIONS By Eric Glazer, Esq.

IT’S TIME FOR SOME NEW LEGISLATION FOR VOTING for OUR ASSOCIATIONS By Eric Glazer, Esq.

  • Posted: Apr 28, 2020
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IT’S TIME FOR SOME NEW LEGISLATION

By Eric Glazer, Esq.

 

No doubt we have been in unchartered waters for the past few weeks now.  Boards have been uncertain about how, when and where they can hold board meetings.  Unit owners are upset that they have heard that their Board is actually having meetings that they cannot attend.  Decisions are being made at meetings that are not properly noticed.  No doubt decisions and votes are being made by e-mail, even though the statute clearly prohibits it.

       Despite the extraordinary powers given to Boards under the emergency powers statute, there are a few things that remain clear;

  1. Board meetings must still be noticed;
  2. Unit owners have the right to attend board meetings;
  3. Board members still cannot vote by e-mail;
  4. Board members have the right to appear at Board meetings via telephone, real-time videoconferencing, or similar real-time electronic or video communication and it counts toward a quorum, and such member may vote as if physically present. A speaker must be used so that the conversation of such members may be heard by the board or committee members attending in person as well as by any unit owners present at a meeting.
  5. Unit owners who are not on the Board have no right to attend their Board meeting via the same technology that Board members get to use.

So what needs fixing?  Obviously, in light of recent events, all board meetings and unit owner meetings must be made available to the owners through technology.  Nobody should be forced to attend a meeting in person if board members are not forced.  .  Now, before anyone starts yelling that this is impossible…… it isn’t.  There was pushback about having a mandatory website that would hold all of the association’s records.  We learned it works great.  There was pushback when it came to on-line voting.  We learned it works great.

For me however, these past few weeks have been an incredible learning experience.  I have had the joy and honor of continuing to teach the Board Certification and Legal Update seminars.  There are 130 people on-line at one time!  We are on-line for three hours.  It works perfectly.  And after my part is over, everyone who wants to be heard gets to be heard.  Don’t tell me Board meetings can’t be run the same way.  They can.  Easily.  Far fewer people typically attend a board meeting.

So, it’s clear that it’s now time for unit owners to get the same rights as board members do and have the opportunity to appear at their Board and unit owner meetings through the use of technology.  If you still choose to attend in person, even better.  The choice should be yours.

 

 

 

The State of Florida Property Management Association has looked into these issues for voting and have found in Florida,  There are a few companies that had the insite and looked into the future of Online Voting. 

 

Supported by SFPMA:  BeckerBALLOT  –  Use this software for board of directors votes, amendment of governing documents, waive reserves and approval of material alterations and more! Your members need to simply log in, cast their votes and be on their way.

BeckerBALLOT, a joint partnership between Becker & Poliakoff and SHYFT digital. 

We offer an easy-to-use, secure electronic voting software solution that is compliant with state law. We provide the ability for members in condominiums, cooperatives and homeowner associations to cast their votes online.  You will be able to easily and seamlessly facilitate and increase member participation in important votes. All votes stay secure, anonymous and tracked for validity.

Once your Board adopts a Resolution which offers an online voting system for your members, members consenting to vote online may register and vote using BeckerBALLOT.com

 

 

Please join us from the comfort of your home or office for one of our upcoming online webinars where we will demo the vote creation and management tools with opportunity for Q&A.

April 28: 10:30 – 11:30 am: Register Now
May 5: 10:30 – 11:30 am: Register Now
May 12: 10:30 – 11:30 am: Register Now

 

 

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Upcoming Events: Join Florida’s Top Industry Leaders, for informative Webinars and Board Member Certification events

Upcoming Events: Join Florida’s Top Industry Leaders, for informative Webinars and Board Member Certification events

  • Posted: Apr 23, 2020
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Upcoming Events: Join Florida’s Top Industry Leaders, for informative Webinars and Board Member Certification events

 

Webinars are an excellent way to publish frequent, high-value content, Once a webinar has been produced, you and your creative team can repurpose and optimize it into several pieces of valuable content. Members of SFPMA and Other Leaders in our Industry have provided these

to help with social distancing yet keeping you informed.  Take a look at this list of events – Join and sign up!

 

 

Join our own Andrew Black, a Board Certified Specialist in Condominium and Planned Development Law, online for distance learning with the Condominium Association Board Member Certification Course .
This provides CE credit for CAMs and fulfills state requirements for Condominium Association Board Members.
Course Number: 9630075 | Provider Number: 0005092
Two (2) CEU’s in IFM or ELE
Wednesday, April 29th, 2020
1:00 PM – 3:00 PM
NOTE: When registering, you must use a valid email address in order to be able to receive your certificate and or CE credit.
After you register, you will receive instructions about how to join the Zoom webinar.
Join us as we discuss the implications COVID-19 is having on your association’s financials. 
Thursday | April 30 | 11am – 12 Noon
Rafael Aquino , Co-founder of Affinity Management
Michael Bender , Esq., BCS, Kaye Bender Rembaum
Lisa Magill , Esq., BCS, Kaye Bender Rembaum
Alex Leonardo , Lanter Leonardo & DiCrescenzo CPA

 

Join us for a WEBINAR: On, Assessment Collections during the Coronavirus Crisis

April 29 @ 2:30 pm – 3:30 pm EDT

WHAT: Assessment Collections During Crisis Q&A
WHEN: Wednesday, April 29th @ 2:30pm EST

Register to Attend this Webinar

With millions out of work due to the COVID-19 pandemic, homeowners associations and condo associations are starting to feel the crunch of increased delinquencies. When homeowners are in financial crisis, association dues takes a back seat to other essentials. But community associations need the funds to maintain the health and safety of everyone in the community.

In this webinar, Axela Technologies President of Business Development, Mitch Drimmer will be joining host Russell Munz, Founder of Community Financials and Douglas Levy Counsel for Community Association Practice Group at Rees Broome, PC to answer your questions on how you can maintain a healthy community while still exercising compassion during this crisis.

Get your ‘coronavirus in the community’ assessment collection questions ready and join us online:

 

COVID-19 Message: Watch our Recorded Webinars  

WITH:  CASTLE GROUP FOUNDER AND CEO JAMES DONNELLY & DONNA DiMAGGIO Esq.  BECKER SHAREHOLDER WITH BECKER LAWFIRM

We recognize there is a growing concern as the outbreak and impact of the coronavirus (COVID-19) continues to evolve. The safety and wellbeing of our teammates and residents are Castle’s top priority. Most importantly, we want you to know, we are prepared. We are working around the clock to monitor the situation, while partnering with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and other state and local health officials on response efforts, as well as to provide you with the most up-to-date information.

At our sites, our teams are working diligently to take precautions and steps to ensure a clean and safe environment. We are making every effort to customize our plan based on specific community’s needs.

We remain committed to you, and to doing our part as an organization to ensure the health and wellness of every teammate, resident and community.

Sincerely,
James Donnelly
Founder and CEO

https://www.castlegroup.com/covid-19-message/.

 

WE ARE CONTINUING TO CERTIFY HUNDREDS OF YOU!
April 23rd, at 6:00 p.m. – SOLD OUT.
NEXT CLASS – APRIL 30TH, 6:00 P.M.
Just because we’re stuck in our homes doesn’t mean we can’t get together —- and learn together — remotely – in a safe and fun way.  NO EXCUSES.
Florida law allows the Board Certification class to be taught via a video conference and that’s exactly what we’re doing.
All you need is a device with a camera so I know you are there and speakers so you can hear me.
OUR FIRST FOUR ON-LINE CLASSES WERE AN AMAZING SUCCESS!
If you want to register, send an e-mail to: lydia@condo-laws.com
If you want to sign up, just provide us with an an e-mail address.  I will then send you a link that you need to click on to start the live seminar.  Make sure to go to: GoTo Meeting
in advance to simply download the program

 

 

The CDC recommends wearing face coverings in public settings where social distancing is difficult (e.g., grocery stores and pharmacies).

What does this mean for Florida condos and cooperatives in a growing number of hotspots where people must pass each other in narrow corridors or elevators?

Should requiring residents to wear face coverings in these or other common areas be part of your community’s Covid-19 protocols until such time as the CDC lifts this requirement?

 

Please be safe ~Stay Inside 

 

 

 

 

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Community associations are already beginning to feel the effects of the recession with homeowners in financial crisis opting not to pay association fees?

Community associations are already beginning to feel the effects of the recession with homeowners in financial crisis opting not to pay association fees?

With everyone sheltering in place, the Coronavirus pandemic has already pushed the country into a recession. Economists don’t know how long it will take to recover, but we know it will take a lot of hard work to get back to ‘business as usual’.
Community associations are already beginning to feel the effects of the recession with homeowners in financial crisis opting not to pay association fees, and this trend looks like it will get worse before it gets better. And with foreclosures on temporary deferment during the shutdown, the typical methods communities use to collect are unavailable.
But there is hope for communities to navigate this new recession economy. Community associations are one of the few industries that can successfully weather economic depression. You just need to know what tools to leverage to keep the budget healthy.

The new white paper, After the Pandemic, explores the options that are available to community associations and reveals what actions you can take to not just protect your community, but to thrive in the new recession economy we are facing.

 

 

Download the White paper, “After the Pandemic: How Community Associations Can Recover in the New Economy” today!

 

Axela’s platform can easily review your delinquency issues and provide a customized collections plan.

We recover funds utilizing information acquired from your association, third-party data aggregators, and credit reporting agencies.

Our highly trained and accredited in-house collectors will work respectfully with your association members to resolve delinquencies as quickly as possible.

 

Call Us
305-392-0389

Sales & General Inquiries
admin@axela-tech.com

 

 

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Professional Home & Office Decontamination for Coronavirus by Flash BioClean

Professional Home & Office Decontamination for Coronavirus by Flash BioClean

  • Posted: Apr 20, 2020
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Professional Home & Office Decontamination for Coronavirus by Flash BioClean

 

Indoor Environmental Mitigation and Remediation

Flash Restore specializes in Emergency, and non Emergency, Indoor Environmental Mitigation, Remediation and Decontamination of building materials and their systems, contaminated by Fire, Water, Mold, Hazardous Materials, Pests, and Biological Hazards.

Flash BioClean, which is a dba of Flash Restore, is providing services to treat coronavirus in Homes, Offices, Condos, Assisted Living, Rentals, and all kinds of indoor environments. I have attached a really great brochure that explains it all. Flash BioClean is not your ordinary cleaning company as we are trained, certified, licensed, and insured to work with biohazards and have been for years.

 

FLASH BIOCLEAN COVID-19 BROCHURE

 

Donald Brodsky
C: 561-722-7572
Donald@FlashRestore.com

Flash Restore
6000 Park of Commerce Blvd
Suite C
Boca Raton, FL, 33487
O: 844.FLASH24
O: 844.352.7424
O: 561-475-3000
www.FlashRestore.com

 

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