Saturday, May 24, 2008

All-Time Attendance High at CFCAR Event

ORLANDO, FL-- The Central Florida Commercial Association of REALTORS® Presidents’ Council Commercial Real Estate Forum Leadership Luncheon recently took place with record attendance by participating associations.

The luncheon – sponsored by Holland & Knight LLP – was held in an effort to unify the voice of the commercial real estate industry. It addressed issues facing practitioners in today’s marketplace.

The mission of the Presidents’ Council is to convene the leadership of Central Florida’s real estate related associations, thereby creating a forum for the facilitation of local, state and national action that positively affects the smart growth of the region, as well as the sharing of resources and ideas that will allow member associations to become more efficient and effective in accomplishing their goals.

Over 50 business leaders representing 28 commercial real estate organizations and associations came together at this luncheon to discuss business interests that could affect the fabric of Florida’s business climate. Issues such as Hometown Democracy, encroaching property rights issues and rising government relations were lively topics for the panelists and speakers.

Presentations were given on the second phase of Hometown Democracy’s effort to stymie developers and overburden local governments. This broad-based business meeting showed the interests – and emotion – this topic can generate.


Mark Wilson, (photo at left) President & CEO of the Florida Chamber of Commerce, spoke to attendees and stated that even though Hometown Democracy failed to obtain the necessary signatures to place the amendment on the November ballot, supporters will continue with the process in hopes of making it on the 2010 ballot.

Ryan Houck, Executive Director of Floridians for Smarter Growth and the point person in defeating the amendment, said, “Hometown Democracy isn’t smart or slow growth. It is no growth at all.” While speaking, Houck stressed that vigilance and focus is important in not becoming complacent about the issue. He stated, “Hometown Democracy is bad for hometowns and worse for democracy.”

Don Madden, (photo at right) Director of Organizational Development for the Coalition for Property Rights, spoke on their efforts to educate the public and elected officials on the importance of property rights. This concept has steadily eroded since the founding fathers incorporation of it as a basis for our political and economic system.

The association’s website is http://www.presidentscouncilfl.com/ or more information can be found at http://www.cfcar.net/.

For more information on CFCAR, please visit http://www.cfcar.net/
or call 407-816-7368.

CONTACT:
Jaclyn Whiddon
Blue Sky Partners, Inc.
407-948-9172
JWhiddon@BlueSkyPartners.com

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