12 Things To Do During the Corona Virus Pandemic

1. Follow common sense health precautions like diligent hand washing, social distancing, and unnecessary contact with others.
2. Work from home if you can.
3. Embrace your inner introvert. Enjoy a time of staying home alone or home with your family.
4. If you have children, take the time to home school them while they're school is closed. Its a good time to work with them one on one on their favorite or weakest subjects.
5. Read a book, instead of spending too much time on social media or watching the news. My suggestions in honor of these times are: “Love in the Time of Cholera” by Gabriel Garcia Marquez. And yes, it is set during a cholera epidemic in South America, but it is also a love story and a modern classic. I have read this book many times, and it is one of my all time favorites. Another book I recommend due to its timely setting is “The Decameron” by Giovanni Bocaccio, which is set during the 14^th century black plague epidemic. Its about a group of friends who go to a villa in the Italian countryside to escape the Black Death in the city. The book is the stories they tell to entertain each other during their confinement. I have not yet read The Decameron, but have ordered online. I'll let you know how I like it.
6. Go on virtual tours of the world's museums. Follow the links on this page:

Enjoy! https://www.travelandleisure.com/attractions/museums-galleries/museums-with-virtual-tours

7. Like something more physical? Clean. Cleaning can be very therapeutic and satisfying. Putting your house in order can give you a sense of control over your environment and help beat anxiety and depression. Even if you're a world class housekeeper, there's always that closet or those junk drawers or the garage that could use some organization.
8. Catch up on things you've put off. Get those taxes done; complete that online course; or work on your secret manuscript.
9. Stay in touch with others. Talk on the phone, face time, and skype are all good ways to stay “in touch” without touching. Some people need human contact as much as they need water, so don't deny yourself the sustenance. Depending on your personality, isolation from others can be easy or extremely difficult. Know yourself.
10. Home improvement or craft projects. Many people have a backlog of materials and to do lists for projects that they haven't had time to complete. Well, now's the time. You'll gain satisfaction from a completed project, and it will help pass the time in a constructive way.
11. Draw or paint. Play music. Write a book. Learn a new song. Anything creative will give you satisfaction and help avoid stress.
12. Get outside. Open up the windows. Fresh air and sunshine were heroes in battling the 1918 flue epidemic. Here's an article now circulating online: https://medium.com/@ra.hobday/coronavirus-and-the-sun-a-lesson-from-the-1918-influenza-pandemic-509151dc8065https://www.travelandleisure.com/attractions/museums-galleries/museums-with-virtual-tours

What IS Medicaid Planning? Part I

If you're confused, you're not alone. Most of us know that Medicaid is a federal health insurance program for low income people. Ok. But how are you supposed to plan to have Medicaid? Or worse, does Medicaid Planning mean planning to be low income? The short and confusing answer is – yes and no.

First, let me make clear that I am not any sort of attorney, let alone an Elder Law Attorney. Yet, I think I have knowledge and insight into all of this from my personal experiences with my mother. My mother was on Medicaid the last two and a half years of her life, and if she had not qualified for Medicaid her last years would have been much different. Without Medicaid she literally could not have been able to afford to live in an Assisted Living Facility. Mom had no assets. She had sold her house years before, did not own a car, had no investments – she only owned her furniture and personal items. Some of this was likely purposeful on her part. She had rented a condo from me at least 10 years earlier and when I asked her if I could add her name to the deed so that she could homestead the property, she refused. She said no, that in case she had to go in a nursing home, she didn't want them to be able to take the property. That's really not the rule. She was wrong on that. But, I know now how she was thinking and probably why she didn't own a house or condo anymore.

I am a Florida legal document preparer and strictly forbidden by the Florida Supreme Court and the Florida Bar to assist anyone with Medicaid Planning. However, I think, and hope, the right to free speech, First Amendment to the U.S. Constitution is still in place and on my side in trying to explain how Medicaid Planning works. This article only speaks about Medicaid Planning in Florida. Because, although Medicaid is a federal program each state has different rules as to how they administer the program.

This is Part I of a series, and first I'll explain my mother's financial situation and why she qualified to begin with. Mom was 96 years old when she applied (rather we applied for her), she was in relatively good health, and her only income was her social security income. She received around $1800. per month in social security.

For a time, she actually could and did manage financially to live in an apartment on her social security income alone. But with age she became forgetful. When we found out that Mom wasn't paying her utility bills on time, my sister asked Mom to sign a Power of Attorney and took charge of her finances. Looking to Mom's future needs, my sister and I started looking around for an Assisted Living Facility. Mom had glaucoma for many years which was controlled by using daily eye drops. She could see, but as she grew older her eyesight diminished. When she couldn't safely cook her own meals anymore, she came to live with my husband and me.

Having Mom in our house was difficult. I was happy to be able to help, and thankful that she didn't need any personal care. But, I cooked, cleaned, washed her clothes, took her to her doctors, and set up social activities for her. The social thing was the hardest for my mom, she liked being around people. I think she found my husband and I boring. Our company wasn't enough to entertain her. I was exhausted.

I was aware that Mom was entitled through her Medicaid to receive 10 hours per week of home health care. I called an agency, but they never returned my call so I just kept doing what I was doing. By now Mom had a caseworker through her Medicaid and besides knowing that Mom was entitled to home health care, I learned that she was also entitled to long term care because of her Medicaid.

So we looked around for an Assisted Living Facility that was affordable and that fit her criteria. She requested that the facility be at the beach and that she have a private room. We found one that fit the bill. If she were to self pay the cost would have been around $2400 per month -- $800. more than her monthly income. But, since she had Medicaid long term care through United Health Care, Medicaid picked up the difference. The various facilities that accept Medicaid have contracts set up with the long term care insurance providers and subsidize the costs. About a year later, when I noticed that the ALF was going downhill we moved her to a different one. The second one was slightly more expensive. Self pay would have been $3000. per month. But the difference in the self pay cost made no difference in my mother's finances. She handed over her $1800. and she received the same services as if she had paid entirely out of pocket.

My mother was able to live in an Assisted Living Facility with absolutely no out of pocket expenses. By law, she was entitled to keep $54 per month of her social security income for incidental expenses, like haircuts, and snacks. The amount sounds excessively paltry until you consider that she didn't have anything to spend her money on anyway. She was happy and comfortable with activities to engage in, and a staff to help her. The medical staff at the ALF gave her eye drops twice a day as prescribed, and gave her other pills or medications as needed. The structured environment suited her as the meals were at a set time everyday and she had menu choices. The few times that she was late for a meal, someone would knock on her door to make sure she was alright. I was close enough to the facility so that I could visit as often as I liked, and tried to go see her at least a couple of times per week. And, most importantly to her, there was always someone around to talk to.

As of October 2018, the income cap to receive Medicaid was $2250. For a single person, the asset ceiling is $2000. In my mother's scenario she automatically qualified because her circumstances neatly fit the criteria, but what about people whose income is too high, or have assets valued at more? And what about married couples?.

In parts II, III, and maybe IV, I'll try to explain these other scenarios. Both my sister and I are college educated, but finding the information, keeping up with the paperwork, and understanding the options was still daunting. Whether you're reading this for yourself, or for mom, dad, grandma, or grandpa – educate yourself as much as possible. You may ultimately need to see an elder law attorney, but having the information in advance, may save you time and money in the long run.

Court Reporters in Family and Civil Court

Many novice pro se litigants believe that a court reporter will automatically be present during their civil or family law court proceedings. That belief is generally wrong. Hearings before a Family Law General Magistrate are tape recorded, as are criminal proceedings. However, hearings before a Circuit Court Judge, including a Family Court Judge, usually are not. At least not automatically; and not free of charge. As a document preparer, I encourage my pro se customers to appear at contentious court hearings with a court reporter in tow.

The litigant who hires the court reporter typically bears the cost, but may try to split costs with the opposing party. Court reporters generally charge an hourly fee to attend the hearing based on the length of time allotted and their fee structure. Expect to pay a minimum of $100 for the court reporter to attend the hearing. Then if you decide you need the proceedings transcribed, additional fees apply. Transcription fees are charged by the page. A court reporter may be able to provide a ball park estimate as to transcription cost based on the length of the hearing.

In general, you won't need to have the proceedings transcribed if the hearing goes well, or, at least, as expected. Its only when things go wrong, that the value of a court reporter becomes clear. Hiring a court reporter is a bit like insurance. You hope you'll never need to use it, but are certainly relieved if you purchase it and then need it.

Having a written transcript can benefit you in many ways.

• First, there is a record of the proceedings. You won't have to rely on your memory about what you said, what the other party said, or what the judge said.
• Second, you may find that you need to use the transcript in further proceedings. Maybe the opposing party said something during the hearing, that raises a new question. You might want to further explore the new issue with a discovery request for clarification.
• And, third, if you find that you need to appeal the judge's ruling, having a written transcript of the proceedings will be extremely helpful.

The very presence of a court reporter in the room may help you. People, including the opposing party and the judge, tend to behave better when they know every word is on record.

So, if you're headed to court, go ahead and hire a court reporter. It may be an unnecessary expense. Or, having had a court reporter present may prove invaluable.

I am for justice.

I am a Florida legal document preparer and the statewide Director of the Florida Association of Legal Document Preparers (FALDP). I am not a paralegal. By definition, paralegals work directly under the supervision of an attorney, I do not. I work directly for consumers who are representing themselves in a court case. Self-represented consumers are called pro se litigants. I call these consumers customers. I don't call them clients, mostly because that's what attorneys call their customers, and I don't want to be anything like or run my business anything like an attorney.

In fact, I go to great pains to not operate like an attorney. Most importantly, I don't give legal advice. My customers always know that I'm not an attorney. In fact, they cannot avoid knowing that I'm not an attorney. My business is virtual, everything I do is over the phone and over the internet. I never meet with my customers face to face. In the first telephone conversation I have with any new or potential customer, I say: As you probably know, I'm not an attorney, I'm a Florida legal document preparer. And what that means is I can prepare documents, explain procedure, and give you legal information, but I cannot provide advice or representation. Frequently I have to interrupt my new or potential customer to get those words said.

The potential customer called with a question. They almost always begin the conversation with – I have a question. After I say my thirty second speech, I then say – and I'll answer your question as I can. They they ask the question, which frequently begins with – how much would you charge – for whatever it is that they need.

I listen to what they need, may ask a few questions for clarity, and then tell them what I charge. This is not called a consultation and is especially not called a “free consultation” although that is exactly what it is. It is called a conversation. Document preparers are specifically prohibited from offering free consultations according to Florida case law which found that a “free consultation” is something that an attorney offers and does, and document preparers are not allowed to offer or do free consultations because a free consultation amounts to the unauthorized practice of law (UPL). Go figure. So its called a conversation.

After the conversation, I request the consumer's email address and tell them, my next step is to send them an email which will include a summary of this conversation, all of my contact information, a price quote, and a link to my website. I tell them they can submit payment on my site through paypal.

The email I send always says the same thing, except for the exact type of service they requested varies according to their request. For example, if the consumer wants a divorce and has children, my email says.

Hi ….,

I'm following up our phone conversation for document preparation for a Petition for Dissolution of Marriage with Children. As we discussed, my fee is $255 for the petition documents; and an additional $75 for the Parenting Plan. Please visit my site to learn more about my services – www.for-the-people-of-Florida.com – and you can submit payment on my site with a credit or debit card through paypal whenever you're ready.

Thank you for the opportunity to assist you.

Best Regards,

In the signature of my email I include these words: I am not an attorney and do not provide legal advice. When a customer goes to my site he sees those words again. Before the customer submits payment he is required to click a box to acknowledge that he has read my disclaimer, disclosure, and site policies. Without clicking the box, he cannot arrive at the payment page. The disclaimer, disclosure and site policies are here - http://www.for-the-people-of-florida.com/disclaimer-and-disclosure.php

After the customer pays, I intake the information I need to prepare their documents. If the customer wants divorce documents prepared or any other type of family law documents prepared, I set up a phone appointment so that I can intake their information during a phone call. Forms for family law are on the Florida Supreme Court's site – www.flcourts.org – and the rule is that when a document preparer is using Florida Supreme Court approved forms, she can intake the information verbally. So that's what I do. Family law forms are nearly the only Florida Supreme Court approved forms in existence. Even forms for federal filings such as bankruptcy and immigration are not considered Florida Supreme Court approved forms.

I don't prepare forms for bankruptcy or immigration. I do, however, prepare other types of forms which are not Florida Supreme Court approved. I prepare documents for Early Termination of Probation, a few Expunge & Seal, Answers for civil court, and Summary Administration of Estate. For all of these I intake the customer's information in writing. Exactly how that works is the subject of another article which will be coming soon.

The reason I'm writing this series of articles is that I want to make it clear to consumers, potential customers, attorneys, and the Florida Bar exactly what I do. I also want everyone to understand why I do what I do. I am for the little guy. I am for the downtrodden. I am for the consumer who needs documents and hiring an attorney is out of the question. I am for justice. 

Calling people of good conscience.

The white supremacist march, rally, and agenda is unconscionable. They admit to being Nazis. They carry torches and the Nazi symbols and plainly identify as Nazis, white supremacists. Each of us with good conscience must call them out for what they are. We cannot deny their right to free speech, but each of us with good conscience must raise our voices against them. The white supremacists, radical right, Nazis, alt-right, or called by any other name seek only to destroy more of what is good about America.

Our fathers, my father, fought in World War II to defeat Nazi Germany. The Trump regime has invited the worst of the worst to come out of the woodwork, to skitter out from the dark places where they used to hide, and now openly spout their hatred. Do not doubt that their hate is for America. Their hate is a threat to all of us with good conscience. Their hate is damaging America. Trump asked for this when he brought an edge of hate and violence into political discourse during his campaign. Trump asked for this when he repeatedly failed to disavow the white supremacists claims that they are doing Trump's work.

Be clear that the white supremacists, our modern day Nazis, are the lunatic fringe of society. A fraction of 1% of white Americans support the idea of a white only country. Most Americans, white, black, Asian, and Hispanic support the idea that America is a melting pot of people from different cultures who have come together to build a country that is uniquely our own. Most Americans embrace the diversity and are proud of our country and proud that America stands for freedom and liberty for all.

The purported reason for the clash between white supremacists and mainstream America was the city of Charlottesville's decision to remove a statue of Confederate General Robert E. Lee from the town's park. The white supremacists were supposedly protesting the removal of that statue. Their protest included torch carrying, Nazi swastikas, and running over and killing an anti-racist protester. Nineteen others were wounded. The right wing lunatic fringe likes to pretend that they are not the violent oncs. Obviously not so. The driver of the car rammed other cars that were then pushed into the crowd. That driver, now in custody, and facing a murder charge, backed up his car at a high speed and left the scene.

Black people have reason to be upset that a symbol of slavery, Robert E. Lee, stood in the town square. I wonder how white people would react if say, a statue of Bobby Seale or Huey Newton were put in its place.

To black people and all people of color - the lunatic white supremacist fringe does not represent all white people. Not by a long shot. I am a southern woman. I have lived in the south most of my life. I was raised to know that the racist mind-set is the mind-set of poor white trash.

To white people, including white conservatives and republicans - we are better than this. If you believe as I do that our current administration has promoted this violence and this hate, speak up. Speak in defense of others. Use your white privilege to help others who were not born with that accidental privilege of the lily white. Know that you have had advantages and have not had to deal with the daily struggles that people of color encounter regularly.

And, if you're still convinced that Black Lives Matter is an affront to whites everywhere. Get over it. Black lives do matter, they have always mattered. The historic and recent spate of law enforcement killing unarmed black women and men is indefensible. It is undeniable that black people and people of color are killed by law enforcement much more frequently than whites. If you're law enforcement, and in a position to make things better, do it now before its too late.

The last thing America needs is an all out race war. Don't doubt that the current regime wants a war one way or the other, so that he can swoop in and be the only one to bring order. Police state, lock down, genetic cleansing, mass deportations, what else? These are the events that happened in Nazi Germany, and they happened because the good Germans didn't stand up. Stand up - all with good conscience, stand up before its too late.

Privatization of Medicare and Social Security

This is a non-partisan issue:

Tell Sen. Rubio: Don’t Privatize Medicare or Social Security

President-elect Donald Trump has put forward plans to privatize some of our nation’s vital services. Working people are concerned that he may consider House Speaker Paul Ryan’s Medicare privatization plan, as well as Social Security privatization. This would be devastating for people who rely on these programs.

Tell Sen. Rubio to oppose Medicare and Social 

Security privatization.

Here’s how you can help:

Step 1: Address Sen. Rubio - 1650 Prudential Dr #220, Jacksonville, FL 32207

• Dear Sen. Rubio,

Step 2: Share Something Personal

• Write something personal about why you care about preserving Medicare and Social Security. Tell him why these services are important to you.

Step 3: Make the Point That Our Communities Rely on Medicare and Social Security, and Privatization Does Not Work

• Last year, over 4 million Floridians benefited from Medicare, and over 570,000 relied on Supplemental Security Income through Social Security.
• Instead of reducing health care costs, Ryan’s plan would likely increase them.
• Medicare as we know it is already efficient, and offers health care at rock-bottom costs.

Step 4: Sign the Letter

• Sign your letter and include your mailing address. It also is good to provide your phone number and email address.

If you want to write a letter and mail it, you can use the following format. It doesn't need to be long or complicated. OR if you would prefer to return your letter to me, I can have them hand delivered to Senator Rubio. Email your letters to me at floridalegalforms@gmail.com and please send them as a doc or pdf attachment. Thank you!

A sample letter could go something like this:

December __, 2016

To: Senator Rubio

From: Ella M. Roe

Re: Do not privatize Social Security or Medicare

Dear Senator Rubio,

I am a 95 year-old woman with glaucoma. I rely on Medicare and Social Security. I have lived and worked in Florida since 1956. My deductibles are low and I would prefer that they stay that way. If Social Security and Medicare were privatized I don’t know how I would survive.

Protect Floridians and please do not allow either of these programs to be privatized.

Ella M. Roe

407-xxx-xxxx

xxxx Cutler Drive

Orlando, FL 328xx

My mom at the age of 81. In Costa Rica ready to ride the zipline!

Friends don't let friends vote Trump.

I try my best to refrain from commenting on politics, but this time ... enough is enough. If I alienate you as a reader, so be it. I don't want to be like the German citizens who looked the other way during Adolf Hitler's rise to power. Of course, we all want America to be great, who doesn't? Trump's rhetoric is racist, damaging and divisive. Let alone that he is inciting violence. I came across the following as a comment online. I would give proper credit, but I don't know where I found it. Good information, here it is:

"On several occasions, Trump is recorded at his rallies exhorting his minions to commit acts of violence against those who disagree with him and offering to pay the legal expenses of anyone who acts on his "suggestions."

Nov 22, 2015: Video showed a gang of men kicking and punching a Black Lives Matter protester at a rally in Birmingham, Alabama. When asked about the Alabama incident, Trump blamed the victim. "Maybe he should have been roughed up because it was absolutely disgusting what he was doing."

Feb 1, 2016: Trump told his supporters, "There may be somebody with tomatoes in the audience. If you see somebody getting ready to throw a tomato, knock the #$%$ out of them, would you? Seriously. Okay? Just knock the hell -- I promise you, I will pay for the legal fees."

Feb. 22, 2016: Trump has even threatened to personally get in on the action. "I'd like to punch him in the face, I'll tell ya," he said of a protester.

Trump should be charged with a Federal offense, Solicitation to commit a crime of violence:

18 U.S. Code § 373 - Solicitation to commit a crime of violence

(a) Whoever, with intent that another person engage in conduct constituting a felony that has as an element the use, attempted use, or threatened use of physical force against property or against the person of another in violation of the laws of the United States, and under circumstances strongly corroborative of that intent, solicits, commands, induces, or otherwise endeavors to persuade such other person to engage in such conduct, shall be imprisoned not more than one-half the maximum term of imprisonment or (notwithstanding section 3571) fined not more than one-half of the maximum fine prescribed for the punishment of the crime solicited, or both; or if the crime solicited is punishable by life imprisonment or death, shall be imprisoned for not more than twenty years."

Some of Trump's Positions (from his campaign site):

Immigration Reform:

A nation without borders is not a nation. There must be a wall across the southern border. Make Mexico Pay For The Wall

Gun Control/ Second Amendment:

The Second Amendment to our Constitution is clear. The right of the people to keep and bear Arms shall not be infringed upon. Period.

My Comments:

Immigration Reform according to Trump:

Build a wall AND make Mexico pay for it? How exactly is that supposed to work? How can we make Mexico pay for a wall? Many of us would like to see the immigration laws enforced, I include myself in that, but at what cost? Do we want to completely alienate Mexico, which despite all their foibles, has always been a U.S. ally. Are we to believe the Mexicans come and take our jobs? Why not punish the employers who hire undocumented workers? Are we to believe that Mexicans over burden our welfare system? I doubt it, at minimum you need to prove who you are to collect any sort of welfare benefits. There are not really hand-outs to undocumented aliens, other than emergency medical care. Are we to be so lacking in humanity to deny that as well?

Gun Control/ Second Amendment according to Trump:

I don't really have a dog in that hunt. I see both sides. My problem with Trump's statement on his site, is that he MISSTATES the Second Amendment. That is not what the Second Amendment says. Period.

The Second Amendment:

 "A well regulated militia being necessary to the security of a free state, the right of the people to keep and bear arms shall not be infringed."

Gun advocates, including Trump, tend to leave out the first clause of the Second Amendment, particularly the part about "A well regulated militia..." to drive home their point. When Trump misstates a constitutional amendment on his campaign site during a run for the republican nomination, he makes himself a complete liar to me. Remember, Hitler always advised to go for the big lie.

An article I came across that is a first hand impression of a Trump rally is here.

FALDP Conference Update - 9/13/14 - Conference Info, Specials, and More

The Florida Association of Legal Document Preparers is now well into our fourth year! Formed in May of 2010, this trade association continues to grow, adding new members, and assisting pro se litigants statewide. FALDP - Empowering the People.

The Florida Association of Legal Document Preparers – FALDP – is proud to announce our Fifth Annual Conference. This year we are hosting our conference In Daytona Beach, Florida - "The World's Most Famous Beach" on Saturday, September 13, at the Fountain Beach Resort, located at 313 S. Atlantic Avenue, Daytona Beach.

Since our last press release many exciting plans have come together.

CONFERENCE AGENDA

9:00 - Ruth Tick, Director - Introduce the Day; FALDP Mission;

Morning Break

10:00 - Guest Speaker - Frank S. Adamo, author and motivational speaker -“Discover the 3 Top Secrets to Smartly Achieve your Goals,”   - followed by discussion

11:00 - Guest Speaker -Circuit Court Judge John Alexander, Seventh Circuit Administrative Judge who oversees family court judge in the Seventh Judicial Circuit ~ "What Florida family law judges want pro se litigants to know."

12:00 - Lunch - provided by FALDP at no charge

1:00 - Ruth Tick - Guided Discussion - Serving the Under Served and Finding your Niche in the Marketplace

2:00 - Guest Speaker - Jennifer Milne, Esquire "Pro Se Empowerment ... The Thing That Keeps Attorneys Up at Night"

Break

3:00 - Ruth Tick - A Look Ahead - New Developments, Opportunities, and Courses

4:00 - Awards, Prizes and Giveaways

FALDP Trivia ~ Business card drawing ~  Who traveled the farthest prize ~

Member of the year award ~ And more!

Please visit our Conference Info Page for more detailed information about our conference.

SPEAKER'S BIOS

Guest Speaker ~ Circuit Court Judge John Alexander

Circuit Judge John M. Alexander was elected to the bench in 1996. He earned an undergraduate degree from the University of Florida and a juris doctor from Ohio Northern University. His past judicial assignments include criminal, civil, probate, juvenile and domestic relations. The administrative judge for St. Johns County, Judge Alexander currently presides in the unified family court at the Richard O. Watson Judicial Center in St. Augustine. In addition to being the administrative judge for St. Johns County, he also serves as the administrative judge for all the family law judges in the entire 7th Judicial Circuit.

Guest Speaker ~ Jennifer Milne, Esquire

Jennifer H. Milne, attorney-founder of South Florida Legal Rescue, LLC.  attended the University of Hawaii Richardson School of Law and is licensed in two states, Hawaii and Florida.  She is also a member of the Florida Bar Family Law Section.  The primary goal of SFLR, LLC is to protect the parental rights of both fathers and mothers who are threatened with losing time-sharing/custody of their children.  Her practice and approach with child time-sharing/custody cases has been distinctly shaped by her own personal experience. Several years ago, she and her husband fought for custody of her stepson.  Like too many parents out there, her husband was unjustifiably denied access to his child for months.   Absent exceptional circumstances, Ms. Milne strongly believes that a child needs both parents.

Guest Speaker ~ Frank S. Adamo

Since 2002 Frank S. Adamo has been receiving enthusiastic reviews for his workshops, presentations, coaching and training in the United States and as far away as Georgia in Eastern Europe and Indonesia in Southeast Asia.

Frank is a communications skills specialist; an international instructor, trainer, and coach; a published author of 31 Tips to Becoming an Effective Presenter; a contributor to three books, Discover your Inner Strengthswith Brian Tracy, Ken Blanchard, and Stephen Covey; Yes You Can! with Dr. Warren Bennis and Jim Rohn; as well as Heart of a Toastmaster; and a writer of several articles.

He completed his latest book this year, Smartly Track your Goals to Superior Achievements with Ease. Frank began this book because he had a heart attack and stroke in January 2011 which prevented him from achieving most of his goals for that year. During the process of completing his book, Frank discovered three secrets to getting back on track and achieving his goals. Frank is now available to reveal these top secrets in a presentation called “Discover the 3 Top Secrets to Smartly Achieving your Goals.”

Amazing Conference, Online Courses,and Membership Specials

~~~ New Membership/Conference Special~~~

Amazing Special #1: We still have space for more dedicated document preparers at our Fifth Annual FALDP Conference. Special Offer for New Members ~ only $125 ~ for the Conference Fee & Annual Membership Fee combined. This represents a $25. savings, off of our regular $75. membership + $75. conference fee. Our Fifth Annual Conference is a full day event on September 13, in Daytona Beach, Florida.  Please visit our conference page for more details. This special will continue as long as we have space available in our meeting room; we expect to run out of seats around August 15. So hurry!

~~ Three Course Bundle = FreeConference + Free Membership ~~

Amazing Special #2: Three Course Bundle includes conference fee and membership at no additional charge - savings of $150+. Our course bundles represent a per course savings already, and with this amazing special, you can save even more. Our three course bundle is $459. - choose any three of our online courses.

         Courses include:

• Parental Responsibility
• Debt Defense
• Post-Conviction Document Preparation
• Introduction to Preparing Florida Legal Documents
• Immigration
• Becoming a Successful Landlord Landlord/Tenant
• Preparing Florida Divorce Documents
• Living Trusts & Estate Planning Document Preparation
• Bankruptcy Basics - Chapter 7 Personal Bankruptcy

Graduates of Florida paralegal programs benefit from our online courses because our courses are specific to preparing the exact documents most needed by pro se litigants. Frequently, consumers are overwhelmed by the amount of detailed information they must learn in order to complete their legal task. It is common for a consumer to purchase a forms packet from the clerk of court, only to put it aside in frustration, and then seek out a legal document preparer for help.

~~~~~ Turn Key Bundle includesConference ~~~~

Amazing Special #3: The Turn Key Business Bundle always offers an expansive package of business services. The FALDP Turn Key Business Bundle always includes annual membership -- but now and until further notice -- also includes free entry into the Fifth Annual Conference on September 13, 2014 in Daytona Beach, Florida. The Turn Key Business Bundle, for a flat price of only $499. offers all of the tools you'll need to start a legal document preparation business. Can't find a job? Create one!

The Florida Association of Legal Document Preparers is at the forefront of helping consumers access the legal system, empowering consumers to pursue their cause or defend themselves. We proudly serve the under served. If you're a document preparer and want to be part of something bigger than all of us, join our association and attend this important conference.

Contact

staff@faldp.org

800-515-0496

Net Neutrality - Submit your Comments to the FCC

Friends-

I just submitted a comment to the Federal Communications Commission in support of Net Neutrality. We only have a few hours left to stand up for Net Neutrality before the FCC's current comment period closes.

The important email below is from the groups behind the new Battle for the Net website -- it explains how you can take action too.

Please read on and join me in taking a stand!

Just a few hours to go. That’s how long we have to get pro-Net Neutrality comments submitted to the FCC in front of their first comment period deadline — and save the Internet from the clutches of Comcast, Time Warner, and their ilk.

Let’s make our power clear, by submitting more comments than the FCC’s ever seen before.

Click here to visit our brand new website and send the FCC a formal comment demanding support for Net Neutrality. It’ll only take a minute:

https://www.battleforthenet.com

We're in a battle to for the Internet as we know it. Net Neutrality guarantees all websites — start-ups, blogs, independent media — an even playing field. It’s essentially the First Amendment of the Internet.

But the cable companies want to gut Net Neutrality to increase their profits: Without Net Neutrality, those corporations can kill websites by relegating them to slow lanes if they don’t pay fees — or if they just don’t like the content they contain.

Many of you have already signed petitions to the FCC or President Obama — and so have literally millions of others. That’s incredible — and it’s had a huge impact. But now we all need to go one step further and submit formal comments into the FCC’s Net Neutrality proceeding.

It’s really quick and easy, and carries way more weight than the usual petition signature does. You’ll be a formal part of the process.

Click here to submit a formal comment to the FCC before the end of this comment period — it’s over TODAY:

https://www.battleforthenet.com

Originally the FCC was poised to undermine Net Neutrality all together. Because we all pushed back, now they’re considering adopting rules that would save it.

But they’ll only do so if we speak out again, even louder.

We can make a huge statement: We have a chance of submitting more comments than the FCC has ever received on an issue before.

The cable companies have millions of dollars and armies of lobbyists and public relations firms -- and since they own so much of the communications infrastructure, it's especially easy for them to push their propaganda.

But we have millions of people on our side — and our only chance of beating the cable companies is if we all take a stand, together.

Click here to visit our brand new website and send the FCC a formal comment demanding support for Net Neutrality. It’ll only take a minute:

https://www.battleforthenet.com

Thanks!

Happy Mother's Day to My Mom & All Moms

Happy Mother's Day!

A few years ago I wrote an article about my mom for a travel magazine - Escape Artist "It's Never Too Late to Follow Your Fun". This tribute is an update and adaptation from that article, in case it seems familiar. My mom is still alive, active, engaged, lucid, independent, funny, and opinionated. In short, a great lady. I'm not able to visit her today for Mother's Day, but we're planning a road trip at the end of this month, a cross Florida trek so that she can attend a friend's birthday celebration. In good conscience, I couldn't let her take the hound, although she says she wouldn't mind. Following is my original article, with an update at the end.

"It's Never Too Late to Follow Your Fun"

Ready for Zip Line - Costa Rica

With a mysterious smile and a flourish, I placed the picture of Mom squarely in front of the couple sitting across the table. Paula and George were only a few years older than me; and were saying that they were much too old to vacation. That was the wrong thing to say. 

Selling timeshare vacations isn’t easy, and I rarely refrained from using sales technique to make a point. The photo of Mom which I placed before their eyes, showed her calm and smiling, harnessed and ready to zoom the zip line through the Costa Rican canopy.  

Different people enjoy leisure time in different ways. Some want nothing more from a Caribbean vacation than white sand, hot sun, and icy drinks. Others want to explore the local culture, taking in museums by day and salsa clubs by night. 

Still others like more excitement and challenge. My mom is in the last group.

It isn’t easy to write about my mom; my mother, who is also a grandmother and a great grandmother.

Adventurous and independent are the two words that best describe her. Born in the twenties, a child of the Great Depression, Mom’s life has been endlessly interesting. Through good years and bad years, she has never lost her indefatigable spirit.
  
As a young woman she earned a college degree, when most women didn’t. She  assembled electrical components, doing her patriotic part, to assist in World War II’s war effort. And, she learned how to fly. Looking at the photograph of her standing in front of that tiny plane, called an Ercoupe, always makes me think of romantic faraway places. Years later she raised the five of us; and after Dad left, all on her own. Teaching us through word and example, everyday of our lives, that we can do anything we set our minds to. Thanks, Mom.

MOM WASTED NO TIME MOURNING HER EMPTY NEST. INSTEAD, SHE GOT BUSY DOING ALL THE THINGS SHE COULDN’T DO, ALL THOSE YEARS

Mom in front of her Ercoupe

Once we were all grown and gone, Mom wasted no time mourning her empty nest. Instead, she got busy doing all the things she couldn’t do, all those years. Now free of the responsibility of taking care of a bunch of kids, she lived her dream. At age sixty Mom learned how to sail.
  
When I lived at home, I never had an inkling that Mom was the least bit interested in sailing. She never gave me the feeling that she wished I’d hurry up and grow up so that she could have some fun. She might have thought that, but she never let it show. One fine day she signed herself up for a sailing safety course offered by the Red Cross. At the time, I remember thinking it strange, since Mom didn’t own a boat. Lack of actually owning a boat never once slowed her down.
  
Mom learned all of the intricacies of sailing. She nimbly ties elaborate sailing knots; and learned how to use a sextant to navigate by the stars. For a decade or more, with old friends and new, Mom went sailing. Establishing a network of sailor friends, she was in constant demand to crew on someone’s boat. 

On any given weekend, you could bet that Mom was sailing. She transformed herself into such an efficient sailor that her skills were sought after and welcomed by experienced captains vying to win the next regatta. Sailboat racing became her favorite as she much preferred the drama of competition to a tame day sail.

All the years I was growing up I had never realized that Mom wanted to travel. I should have figured it out since her college degree is in French. But, she always claimed that she learned French only so that she could write her diary in a foreign language; keeping it secret from her pesky younger cousin, our Uncle Carl. I’m not sure if she has visited France, but I know that she has traveled throughout the Caribbean.

A few years ago we planned a family trip to Mexico. Mom opted out a few weeks ahead, because she found a better opportunity. One of her sailing buddies, Phyllis, had booked a cabin on a cruise ship and invited Mom along.

This was no ordinary cruise. It was a thirty day cruise, in a reconditioned Norwegian Ice-cutter, that began in the Caribbean, voyaging all the way around South America‘s Cape of Good Hope, docking in exotic ports all along.

***

I'm the crunch in the sandwich generation. I continue to admire Mom and look after her as well as I can. I'm also happy to be a Mom, without my son I would have missed out on one of the best parts of life.

Response from Senator Bill Nelson regarding Net Neutrality

Thank you for contacting me regarding net neutrality.  I share your concern for a fair and open Internet.        On April 30, I sent a letter to Federal Communications Commission (FCC) Chairman Tom Wheeler asking him to take steps to ensure that the Internet remains open and accessible to all users and content providers.  Specifically, I asked Chairman Wheeler to avoid a framework in the FCC's proposed Open Internet Notice of Proposed Rulemaking that would allow some content providers to sign “paid prioritization" or "fast lane" agreements with Internet Service Providers (ISPs).  This approach could upset the basic concept of an open Internet by creating a "two-tier" system of access that would be very difficult to remedy in the future.        I also asked Chairman Wheeler to carefully consider the current legal framework for ISPs, and seek additional comment on whether it would be beneficial to reclassify ISPs as telecommunications common carriers under Title II of the Communications Act, instead of their current deregulated treatment under section 706 of the Communications Act.        I have a long history of fighting for a free and open Internet and remain committed to this goal.  Thank you again for contacting me on this important issue, and please do not hesitate to contact me in the future.                                      Sincerely,                                    Bill Nelson   P.S. From time to time, I compile electronic news briefs highlighting key issues and hot topics of particular importance to Floridians.  If you'd like to receive these e-briefs, visit my Web site and sign up for them at http://billnelson.senate.gov/news/ebriefs.cfm

Confused about Florida's real real estate recovery?

I used the search string - Florida real estate recovery 2014 - 


and received the following collection of conflicting results:


2014 looks like another good year for Florida real estate, but ...
www.heraldtribune.com/.../20140210/.../30210...‎



Housing recovery will slow in 2014: Florida Realtors
tbo.com/.../housing-recovery-will-slow-in-2014-flori...‎





Debt Repayment in Florida Hurt by Sluggish Real Estate ...
www.bloomberg.com/.../2014.../debt-repayment-in-flori...‎

STORY: Foreign Buyers Drive Florida's Housing Recovery
www.businessweek.com/.../foreign-buyers-driv...‎

..
Florida housing market heating up again - Chicago Tribune
articles.chicagotribune.com › ... › Fort Myers‎



...
Housing recovery radar: Where are the next hot spots?
www.cnbc.com/id/100961977‎





There's economic optimism for 2014 …but not a lot - Miami ...
www.miamiherald.com › Business‎

Top 10 real estate trends for 2014 - CBS News
www.cbsnews.com/news/top-10-real-estate-trends-for-2014/‎

..
Florida Home Prices and Home Values - Zillow
www.zillow.com/fl/home-values/‎







After a Slow Start, Florida's Housing Market Recovery Picks ...
pascoflrealestate.typepad.com/...realtor/2014/.../after-a-slow-start-floridas...‎



Mar 26, 2014 - ORLANDO, Fla. – March 26, 2014 – Florida was one of the first states to feel the effect of a national recession with job losses starting in April ...