Services
Annual Retainer Services
In addition to lowering the hourly billing rate, the Annual Retainer entitles the Association to the following four delineated services, at no additional charge:
- Community Up-Date;
- Preparation of the annual meeting notice package, including the ballot, proxy (as applicable), first and second notice, notice of intent to become a candidate, affidavit of mailing and instructions for the election;
- Advanced notice of and registration preference for educational conferences and workshops sponsored by the Firm; and
- At the Association’s request, one free visit in the event of a catastrophic casualty loss.
In addition, at no cost to the Association, Annual Retainer clients will be automatically enrolled as a member of the Firm’s Community Association Leadership Lobby ("CALL"), a lobbying effort which will track Florida legislation that significantly impacts our Community Association clients.
The extent and limit of legal services are determined by the client. There are no monthly minimum fees.
Community Update Newsletter
For more than twenty five years, Becker & Poliakoff attorneys have published a monthly newsletter, Community Up-Date, to keep owners, board members, and management professionals informed about developments in Community Association law, notes on significant case decisions, helpful tips on the business aspect of Association operations, and details on changes in legislation and administrative decisions. Click here to access the Community Update Archives
Educational Programs
Each year, Becker & Poliakoff attorneys speak publicly to leaders in community associations throughout Florida at the annual Community Association Leadership Conferences held in fifteen separate locations. Topics include for example, Legislative Changes/Legal Update, Trends in Collections/Foreclosures and Case Law update and various topics related to the management and operation of community associations.
In addition, our attorneys provide education and training to Board members and managers at various civic associations, presidents clubs, master associations, industry trade groups, chambers of commerce and through Palm Beach College, Edison College and many other groups. These programs are educational in nature and provided free to the community as a public service.
CALL — The Community Association Leadership Lobby
CALL is a statewide advocacy group which represents the interests of our over 4,000 community association clients. CALL provides information, education and other tools through the CALL website (www.callbp.com) and email alerts to keep its members up to date on issues and legislation that impact them and their communities. CALL membership is a part of the annual retainer services provided to retainer clients of Becker & Poliakoff. Click here to visit the CALL website.
Through the Legislator Connect tool on the website, a CALL member can contact all 160 members of the Florida Legislature (and specifically contact their own Representative and Senator) to convey his or her opinion on a particular bill with just the click of a button. CALL has established a strong reputation with legislators and public opinion leaders as a credible voice for the ever increasing number of Floridians living in common ownership housing. The website is accessible by each community association by using the Firm matter number as the password to log on to the site.
