Volume 4 Number 45
November 9, 2007

Fellow Floridian:

This week, CFO Sink traveled to the United Kingdom as a guest of the British government at the invitation of Consul General Keith Allan of Miami. Both England and Scotland are world leaders in studying and preparing for the risks and opportunities presented by climate change.

 “In a relatively short amount of time there has been tremendous progress in Florida, which is showing the world that action to tackle climate change is happening in the United States,” said Consul General Allan.

While overseas, CFO Sink also met with reinsurance executives to discuss her plan to reform Florida’s Hurricane Catastrophe Fund and expand the role of private reinsurance in Florida. Additionally, CFO Sink met with economic organizations in England and Scotland and the London office of Enterprise Florida to explore trade and investment opportunities between Florida and the United Kingdom.

You can see pictures from CFO Sink’s trip to the United Kingdom here.

 



 

 

 REP. FITZGERALD DELIVERS $5,000 CHECK FROM THE MY SAFE FLORIDA HOME PROGRAM TO SARASOTA RESIDENT

On behalf of Florida Chief Financial Officer Alex Sink and the My Safe Florida Home (MSFH) program, Representative Keith Fitzgerald (D-Sarasota) personally delivered a matching grant reimbursement for $5,000 to a Sarasota homeowner who hardened her home through the state’s MSFH program. At the event today, Rep. Fitzgerald discussed the financial and safety incentives available through the MSFH program and encouraged more homeowners in the area to sign up for the program’s free wind inspections.

“Mitigation is the best way to protect your home. It will reduce the state’s exposure to hurricane damage and it can result in savings on your wind insurance premium,” said CFO Sink, who oversees the Department of Financial Services. “I encourage more Floridians to follow Howard Houle’s lead and sign up for free wind inspections through the My Safe Florida Home program.”

Howard Houle, a 57-year-old resident of Sarasota, received a grant reimbursement Monday after hardening his homes opening protections. After having his home inspected by a MSFH inspector, Houle received a report indicating that hardening all of his home’s window and door openings would help strengthen his home to hurricanes. Based on information from his inspection report, Houle made $15,700 worth of improvements on his home.  CONTINUED
 

 

  

 

 

FINANCIAL LITERACY COUNCIL TO CONVENE SIXTH MEETING IN MIAMI ON WEDNESDAY

In an ongoing effort to increase financial literacy and help Floridians make better financial decisions, Florida Chief Financial Officer Alex Sink announced that the Financial Literacy Council will convene its sixth meeting in Miami. The meeting will be held from 9 a.m. – 2 p.m. on Wednesday, November 14, 2007, at the United Way of Miami-Dade in the Ansin Building.

At Wednesday’s meeting, the council will discuss the content of the annual report due to the Governor and Florida Legislature on January 1, 2008, as well as hear presentations from the following groups; Acción USA Florida, CompuCredit Corporation, Miami Saves, and the Human Services Coalition.

The sixth meeting of the Financial Literacy Council will be as follows:

DATE:         Wednesday, November 14, 2007
TIME:          9:00 a.m. – 2:00 p.m.
LOCATION: United Way of Miami-Dade
                   The Ansin Building
                   3250 SW 3rd Ave
                   Miami, FL 33129  CONTINUED

 

CFO SINK AND COMMISSIONER BRONSON TO HOST FINAL WORKSHOP “CONVERSATIONS ON CLIMATE CHANGE”
Third Conversation to Focus on the Financial Impacts of Climate Change

Florida Chief Financial Officer Alex Sink and Commissioner of Agriculture Charles Bronson will host the final in a series of “Conversations on Climate Change,” on November 13, 2007, at 11:00 a.m. Wednesday’s workshop, set to begin after the Florida Cabinet meeting, is titled Climate Change: The Bottom Line.

CFO Sink and Commissioner Bronson have partnered to host a series of four climate change workshops, each featuring new topics and national experts in areas such as: the science of rising sea levels, renewable energy sources, carbon offset and pricing, the impact of climate change on the insurance and financial industries, and more. The sessions will also give elected officials, business leaders and Floridians the opportunity to understand how these challenges and potential solutions present opportunities for the growth of new industries in our state.

Guest speakers at the workshop will include:

Mindy Lubber, President of Ceres

Lewis Milford, President of Clean Energy States Alliance

Dr. Robert Muir-Wood, Chief Research Officer of Risk Management Solutions

By logging onto www.floridaclimatechange.com, Floridians can learn about climate change, review the meeting dates and agendas for the conversations, watch a Web cast of Wednesday’s workshop, and read about initiatives in other states.



STATE FIRE MARSHAL’S OFFICE ANNOUNCES 13TH ANNUAL GREAT FLORIDA FIRE SCHOOL

Firefighters from throughout Florida converged this week in the Central Florida community of Avon Park to receive the latest training on firefighting and investigative techniques to help them prepare for potential disaster, whether manmade or natural.

Chief Financial Officer Alex Sink, who also serves as State Fire Marshal and oversees the Florida State Fire College, said the 13th Annual Great Florida Fire School will help Florida’s firefighters access ongoing training they need to better protect their communities and themselves. The classes began on Wednesday, November 7, 2007, and continue through Sunday, November 11, 2007. Most events will be held at the South Florida Community College, just south of downtown Avon Park.  CONTINUED

“We are committed to ensuring Florida’s emergency responders have access to the best and most up-to-date training and information to accomplish their work successfully and safely,” said CFO Sink. CONTINUED