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Florida Community Association Journal and Becker & Poliakoff Announce 3rd Annual Florida Communities of Excellence Awards

Florida Community Association Journal and Becker & Poliakoff Announce 3rd Annual Florida Communities of Excellence Awards

For Immediate Release
Media Contact:

Alan Penchansky
The Pen Group Communications
Tel: (305) 529-1944
email: 
alan@thepengroup.com

FT. LAUDERDALE, FL, October 19, 2011 – The Florida Community Association Journal and Becker & Poliakoff today announced the call for entries in the 2011 “Florida Communities of Excellence Awards.” Professional community managers, board members, unit- and home-owners, and residents are encouraged to nominate their favorite communities for the awards which recognize and document the achievements of condominium and homeowners associations statewide. Complete information about the Awards and submission forms can be found at www.communitiesofexcellence.net.

The Florida Communities of Excellence Awards highlight the positive and productive initiatives that enhance community living and help maintain the value of residential property investments in shared-ownership communities throughout Florida. Now in its third year, the independently judged program enables the top communities in the state to promote their accomplishments and raise their profiles while documenting their success and enabling others to learn from their accomplishments across numerous categories.

“The Communities of Excellence Awards saw 100% growth in its first two years and the program will expand even further for 2011,” said Jim McMurry, publication director for the Journal, which co-founded the Awards with the law firm Becker & Poliakoff, P.A.

“In its first two years, more than 160,000 residents have participated in the program through their community associations,” said Ken Direktor, the lead attorney for Becker & Poliakoff’s statewide Community Association Law practice. “We are proud to help recognize excellence in communities throughout Florida.”

“With new categories, including Trendsetter Awards for the most forward-thinking communities, and a new program recognizing the vital contribution of community managers, this year’s program will be more engaging and more exciting,” Mr. McMurry added.

For 2011, a distinguished judging panel of independent experts with backgrounds in community management, consulting, public safety, public policy, education, journalism, energy & water conservation and environmental advocacy, will evaluate entries in the following 10 categories:

1.  Best Web Site and Internet Communications (Presented by Comcast)
2.  Trendsetter Awards (Presented by Associa)
3.  Safety & Security Initiatives
4.  Disaster Preparedness Initiatives
5.  Civic Volunteerism and Advocacy
6.  Family Friendly Programs & Initiatives
7.  Financial Innovation (Presented by The Continental Group)
8.  Florida-Friendly Landscaping™
9.  Energy & Water Conservation (Non-landscaping)
10.  Sustainable Practices (Non-landscaping)

For 2011, two communities will receive the Award in each category with communities that have more than 400 units and communities with fewer than 400 judged separately. Two “Community of the Year” Awards – one condominium and one HOA – also will be bestowed, recognizing exceptional communities whose level of achievement in their category submissions is so high that they stand out from all the other awards recipients.

Finalists will be announced in the March Florida Community Association Journal. Winners and finalists will be honored at the Florida Communities of Excellence Conference & Awards Ceremony in late March, 2011. This year’s event will be held in Broward County. Board members, residents and community managers are invited to attend the day-long event and admission is free.

The 2011 Awards also will introduce “Managers of Excellence,” recognizing professionals whose communities have distinguished themselves with consistently high rankings in the initial three years of the Awards.

The 2011 Awards are being enhanced by participation of companies that are dedicated to serving the residents of condominiums and homeowner associations who have joined as 2010 corporate sponsors, including Associa, Comcast, The Continental Group, Association Financial Services, Kent Security Systems, Aquatic Systems, BB&T Association Services, The BCH Group, First Southern Bank and KW Management.

The awards are open to all Florida Community Associations (Condominium, HOA, and Cooperative).There is no cost to submit an entry and communities may enter in multiple categories. The deadline for submissions is January 15, 2011.

About Florida Communities of Excellence Awards
The first independently judged program to bring attention to the quality of Community Association living state-wide, the Florida Communities of Excellence Awards are co-sponsored by The Florida Community Association Journal and Becker & Poliakoff, P.A., a diversified commercial law firm with the largest community association law practice in the State of Florida. The awards highlight significant accomplishments and best practices in addressing the needs and concerns of residents and communities in multiple categories. Complete information at www.communitiesofexcellence.net.

About the Florida Community Association Journal
Founded in 1986, the Florida Community Association Journal provides news and vital information to operators of condominiums, homeowners associations, cooperatives and other multi-unit communities and has earned the reputation of being the industry’s most authoritative voice. The monthly publication contains news and feature articles dealing with areas of interest to managers and board members, including legal matters, accounting practices, insurance, rules enforcement, cost-saving practices, industry events, building and grounds maintenance, security solutions, education and more. Additional information at www.flcaj.com.

About Becker & Poliakoff P.A.
Becker & Poliakoff is a diverse commercial law firm with more than 125 attorneys in 13 Florida offices, New York City, New Jersey, Nassau (Bahamas), Prague and affiliated international offices. Celebrating its thirty-seventh (37th) year of serving clients, the firm has seven primary areas of practice: Real Estate, Construction, Community Association, Customs & International Trade, Business Litigation, Corporate & Securities, and Government Law & Lobbying.