Dear Fellow Floridian:
Memorial Day, unfortunately, has become more about retail and parties
than understanding the importance of remembrance and the solemn
celebration it should be in our lives. We may not think about the Civil
War when we think about Memorial Day, although it would 
make
perfect sense to do so.
The history of Memorial Day and how we honor our fallen heroes is rooted in a
day from the Civil War called Decoration Day. In the late 1860s, northern Civil
War veterans led by Gen. John A. Logan called for a day of remembrance: “The
30th of May is designated for the purpose…decorating the graves of comrades who
died in defense of their country…and whose bodies now lie in almost every city,
village and hamlet churchyard in the land…”
As you come together with family and friends, remember those who gave their
lives throughout our history so that we can enjoy the freedoms we have today.
Remember the families missing a mother, father, sister, brother or friend, and
wave your flag for them. Decorate your home in the colors of our flag, and keep
our fallen heroes and their families in your thoughts and prayers so the ideals
and principles that America’s soldiers fight and die for are never forgotten.
Jeff Atwater
Chief Financial Officer
State of Florida
Hurricane Season Begins on June 1
As we rapidly approach a day Floridians know very well – June 1, the
beginning of hurricane season – it is time to start preparing
financially
for a potential storm. Floridians know how to harden and prepare their
homes and businesses and have the necessary supplies stored in case they
are left for days without electricity.
This season, CFO Atwater urges you to make hurricane financial
preparedness part of your hurricane checklist. Having adequate insurance
coverage for your property, securing important documents before a storm
and having the ability to recover after a storm will help protect you
financially this hurricane season.
The top three reasons homeowners strike out when it comes to
insurance claims are insufficient documentation, lack of adequate
insurance coverage and failure to retain proof of damage.
For more on hurricane preparedness, visit
www.MyFloridaCFO.com/division/consumers and click on Disaster
Preparedness, or call 1-877-My-FL-CFO (1-877-693-5236).
State Loss Prevention Award Winners
Florida Chief Financial Officer Jeff Atwater announced the state
agency, university and individual winners of the 2011 Loss
Prevention Awards. The awards were presented at a ceremony held on
Tuesday in Tallahassee for excellence in loss prevention on behalf
of the Interagency Advisory Council (IAC) on Loss Prevention, made
up of 48 state agencies and universities, and the Department of
Financial Services’ (DFS) Division of Risk Management.
“Along with the Interagency Advisory Council, I am honored to recognize state
agencies and universities that have gone the extra mile to reduce workers’ comp
and other preventable losses,” CFO Jeff Atwater said. “Their loss reductions
mean that the tax dollars hardworking Floridians send to their government go
further in serving our fellow Floridians.”
The Loss Prevention Awards are based on the performance of the agencies and
universities in respect to claims cost and frequency. In order to receive an
award, agencies had to rank at the top in claims frequency reduction or claims
cost reduction in separate categories for small, medium and large agencies.
Individual safety coordinators and alternate safety coordinators were recognized
based upon their agency performances and their involvement with interagency and
statewide risk-management activities. One agency was selected for the “Award of
Excellence” based on agency performance and contributions to statewide risk
management. Two agencies were selected for sustained performance for consistent
reductions in cost and frequency.
- Award of Excellence:
Department of Environmental Protection
- Awards for Sustained Performance:
Florida State University, Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission
- Awards for Reduction in Claims Costs:
Florida International University, Department of Agriculture and Consumer
Services, Department of Military Affairs, University of South Florida,
Department of Elder Affairs, Division of Administrative Hearings, Department of
Transportation, Agency for Persons with Disabilities, New College of Florida
- Awards for Reduction in Claims Frequency:
Justice
Administration Commission, Department of Business and Professional Regulations,
Department of Citrus, Department of Corrections, Florida Gulf Coast University,
Department of Management Services, Florida State University, Department of
Financial Services
- The Safety Coordinator of the Year:
Laymon Gray,
Florida State University; Andy Snuggs, Justice Administration Commission; Tommy
Blankenship, Department of Juvenile Justice
- Alternate Safety Coordinator of the Year:
Paul
Palmiotto, Department of Law Enforcement; Mark Eacker, Department of
Transportation; John Criswell, Department of Juvenile Justice
The Florida Legislature established the IAC on Loss Prevention in 1979. It is
composed of the safety coordinators from each state department and a
representative designated by the Division of Risk Management. The council meets
quarterly to discuss and find solutions for safety problems within state
government.
A Roadmap for your Financial Future
The spring issue of Florida’s Bottom Line focuses on how Florida can attract
much-needed investors to support Florida’s entrepreneurs,
who can effectively grow health care, technology and manufacturing in our
state's burgeoning economy. Our companion website provides the most up-to-date
financial and economic statistics for Florida, serving as a roadmap for your
financial future.
Visit Florida's Bottom Line website at
http://www.myfloridacfo.com/floridasbottomline/.