Broward

Executive Director: Kathy Bohlander
(866) 414-4771
FSPABroward@FloridaPoolPro.com

“WOW” Broward Chapter was very busy for the month of May!
May 20 was Broward’s 9th Annual ‘Fishin Mission.’ This event was sponsored by, HornerXpress, AquaCal, Jandy, Pentair, Proline, SCP, Premix, Protect-A-Child, Portobello America, Raypak, Hayward, SGM and Zodiac. Our sponsors are the greatest, always there to lend a helping hand, whenever the need arises!
Sunday morning at 6:30 a.m. all of the anglers showed up at the pier to start the tournament. The seas were not what anyone expected for a May morning! Reports said that the seas were 12 foot, only the fittest survived! The winning boat with 103.60 lbs. of fish was the “Rebound” with the Jandy Crew. Second place went to “Naughty Girl” Team Horner, with a catch of 72.34 lbs followed by a close third “ Killin Time “ LaGasse Pools and Swimming Pools By Ike Jr. with a catch of 60.6 lbs! Misty Knight, Jandy, caught the largest fish, a tuna that weighted 29.15 lbs, but was not in the “Fishin Pool.” The largest fish caught that qualified for the “Fishin Pool” was caught by Jim Smith, LaGasse Pools, a 19.12 lb dolphin. A good time was had by all as this was the largest tournament to date.
Thank you to Scott Taggart, Signature Pools for supplying all of the boats with the rules.
On May 29 our Annual Government Relations Dinner was held at the Jacaranda Country Club, in Plantation. FSPA members from all Chapters were invited to attend. Fred Dudley was our master of ceremony and our guest speaker was Congresswoman Debbie Wasserman Schultz. Congresswoman Schultz reported on the Federal Pool and Spa legislation that she recently re-introduced into Congress. Representatives Franklin Sands and Evan Jenne, as well as legislative assistant Javier Garcia for Representative Ari Porth also gave reports. Jennifer Hatfield gave a Government Relations update.
The Broward Chapter board of Directors is looking for people who want to help make a difference in our industry please contact Rick Myers, AutoPilot Systems, at 954-650-6320




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Central Florida

Executive Director: Mary Manion
(800) 416-6774
FSPACentralFlorida@FloridaPoolPro.com

Although the Chapter does not meet in June, July or August, there is a lot of activity within the Chapter and its committees. First and foremost, is the sub-contractor continuing education classes. The date is Thursday, July 19, 2007, at the Anthony and Sylvan Training Facility , 1150 Emma Oaks Trail, Suite 140, Lake Mary. The first CILB approved class, Workplace Safety will begin promptly at 8:00 a.m., course #0006954, 1 hour, meets WS requirement, instructor: Jonathan Parker; followed by Workers Compensation at 9:15 a.m., course #0006955, 1 hour, meets WC requirement, instructor: Ken Brown; and the business practice class, Alternative Dispute Resolution, will begin at 10:30 a.m., course #0007785 2 hours, meets BP requirement, instructor: Alan Cooper / Roy Lenois. Florida Pool & Spa Association d/b/a Florida Swimming Pool Association providership #0000917. There will be a one hour lunch break from 12:30 p.m. -1:30 p.m. and the remainder of the afternoon will be spent with those sub-contractors who would like some assistance filling out the application forms.
The class fees, payable by cash or check at the door (no credit cards) are as follows: FSPA members: $12 per class or all classes for $30. Non-member fees are $20 per class or all classes for $55. Again, remember, only those who make reservations will be accepted.
These classes are limited to the first 75 contractors to RSVP. You must RSVP before July 17. Please call the Chapter office at 800-416-6774 and leave your name, your company name , and how many will be attending, There will be no call backs.
Attention builders: if you offer Arbitration in your contracts as sole means to dispute settlement, you or a member of staff must attend the “alternative dispute resolution” CILB approved class. All three classes are CILB approved for licensing requirements and any state licensed pool professional may take the classes. But, if you offer Arbitration in your contract, this class must be taken by December 31 to receive the member fee for Arbitration. Non-compliance will result is being charged the full $2,500, non-member fee for Arbitration.
This will be the fourth time these classes have been presented in the Central Florida Chapter and it is our hope that all builders have notified their subs accordingly as to how to become licensed and the three CILB approved classes they must attend to even apply for their license.
Most municipalities and counties have been very lenient about enforcing the sub-contractor licensing. However, after the first of the year, it is our understanding that these laws will be enforced, will be extremely costly and could force you to loose your business. Is anything worth that?
September 11, at the Sheraton – Downtown, (formerly the Radisson -Ivanhoe) the Chapter will be hosting a “Meet your Candidates” Night. Colleen Salvage and Ken Gregory will serve as co- chairs of the event which should prove to be an interesting and informative evening.
October 12, 2007 is the Mad Hatters Party! This is our annual Charity event and be sure to save the date! It’s going to really be a Mad….Mad…..Party.

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Charlotte Harbor

Executive Director: Andy Mallison
(800) 569-6774 Ext. 11
FSPACharlotteHarbor@FloridaPoolPro.com

Due to the busy summer schedule of our Chapter members, there are no events planned for the month of July. There will however be a table top on July 19 at the Sun N’ Fun Resort in Sarasota. Pool contractors in Charlotte County are encouraged to attend and to get their subcontractors to this event, as the courses that are required for their license are being offered, as well as instructions on completing the application forms for submission to the state.

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East Central Florida

Executive Director: Lynn Hecklinger
(386) 673-0038
FSPAEastCentralFlorida@FloridaPoolPro.com

The East Central Florida Chapter begins its summer hiatus this month, with members concentrating on their busiest season. There are no Chapter board of directors or membership meetings slated for either July or August.
The ECF Chapter Builders Council had its second, productive meeting on June 7 and the Chapter board of directors and membership met on June 20.
Happy, prosperous summer to all!



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Florida Gulf Coast

Executive Director: Andy Mallison
(800) 569-6774 Ext. 11
FSPAFloridaGulfCoast@FloridaPoolPro.com

Due to the busy summer schedule of our Chapter members, there are no events planned for the month of July. There will however be a table top on July 19 at the Sun N’ Fun Resort in Sarasota. Pool contractors in Lee and Collier County are encouraged to attend and to get their subcontractor’s to this event, as the courses that are required for their license are being offered, as well as instructions on completing the application forms for submission to the state.
Plans are still being made to organize a golf tournament for the Florida Gulf Coast Chapter for the fall of 2007. The summer months will be spent by the Chapter staff on personally contacting each member of the Chapter to conduct a quick survey to determine their interests. Volunteers are need for the golf committee! Have a great summer!

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Florida West Coast

Executive Director: Jeanie Oxley
(727) 403-8784
FSPAFloridaWestCoast@FloridaPoolPro.com

We hope that you are all having a wonderful summer. Although we are on “Summer Break” from Chapter meetings, the next Chapter Board of Directors meeting will be held at noon on July 12 at Belleaire Pool Supply, Inc., located at 1702 West Bay Drive; Largo. Call 727-483-9671 if you need directions. Please note that this meeting is one week later than normal due to the July 4th holiday. Remember that all members are invited and encouraged to attend Board meetings.
The Florida West Coast Chapter was delighted to host the FSPA Board of Directors quarterly meeting at the Hilton Clearwater Beach Resort in June. In spite of lots of construction, Clearwater Beach is a wonderful location. More news about these meetings in the next Florida Pool Prosm.
Contact the Chapter office with your e-mail address to view photos of the May 19 Florida West Coast Chapter Golf Tournament online at www.snapfish.com. These pics are a hoot!
Save the date! Florida West Coast Chapter’s Annual Table Top Event will be held at Ruth Eckerd Hall on October 2, 2007. This event is always filled with great information, products, prizes and lots of fun. We are looking forward to seeing all of you there.
Thank all of you who contributed articles for the Wet Gazette. Keep them coming! They will be included as space permits. Please call the office with ideas and suggestions for Chapter meetings.

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Greater Miami

Contact FSPA
(800) 548-6774

No news this month.

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Manasota
Executive Director: Andy Mallison
(800) 569-6774 Ext. 11
FSPAManasota@FloridaPoolPro.com

The Manasota Chapter Table Top will be held on Thursday, July 19 at the Sun N’Fun Resort in Sarasota. The event will include the three required CE courses (Workers Compensation, Workplace Safety and a Business Practices course), dinner, the table top with our exhibitors and a subcontractor license activation workshop. Full details will be mailed to all members, subcontractors and made available via fax, e-mail and at local distributors.

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North Central Florida
Executive Director: Tammy Hayslett
(352) 522-0400
FSPANorthCentralFlorida@FloridaPoolPro.com

The July 11 Chapter meeting will be held at SCP-Gainesville. The Chapter board meeting begins at 6:00 p.m., dinner and the Chapter meeting begin at 7:00 p.m. and the product of the month presentation begins at 8:00 p.m.
At our August meeting we will have a 2 CE Credit Course on Hydraulics. Our speaker will be Connie Sue Centrella, HornerXpress. The August meeting will be held in Gainesville at the CrossCreek Restaurant at the Best Western Hotel. Please contact me if you need directions.
The final draft on our Chapter’s Bylaws have been sent out to all members of the North Central Florida Chapter. Please take time to read them as many changes have been made.
Please be looking in your mail box. As of June, a monthly newsletter is being sent to all of our members. The newsletter will give you a brief overview of the topics of discussion during the meeting. The newsletter will be mailed within one week following the Chapter meetings. The Chapter’s Safety Council, Builders Council and Golf Chairman have been providing information at our meetings that everyone can benefit from.
Again, I would like to remind our members of our upcoming Annual Golf Tournament that will be held on October 13 at the spectacular Candler Hills Golf Club in Ocala. It will be a best ball scramble shotgun style start. Please contact Tammy Hayslett, Executive Director at (352) 465-0689 or Tom Bush at (352) 317-6640 to get more information. We are currently taking registrations for foursomes so please register early to secure your golf carts for the event.
Please have a safe 4th of July holiday and also please remember our troops in Iraq!

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Northeast Florida
Executive Director: Mitch Brooks
(800) 569-6774 Ext. 12
FSPANorthEastFlorida@FloridaPoolPro.com

No Chapter meetings in July or August! Have a great summer!
Watch your mail/fax for important information regarding a special meeting with our representatives in the state legislature for early this fall. We need all our business owners to attend this reception to tell the “pool party” story and our needs as an industry.
Having a problem with a Building Inspector? All contractors please let us know of any problems you’re having with any of our local Building Departments. We have a great relationship with our building departments and have partnered to solve some of the challenges contractors are having in the field with inspectors. Report any recent problems to Mitch Brooks.


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Palm Beach

Executive Director: Doris Rohner
FSPAPalmBeach@FloridaPoolPro.com

Soon we will have a Government Relations meeting with local Legislative Representatives and Jennifer Hatfield, FSPA Director of Government & Public Affairs, as our guests and speakers. This will be a great time to talk to our guests, and get your questions answered. Hopefully, everyone is having a great summer.

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Polk County

Executive Director: Mary Manion
(800) 416-6774
FSPAPolkCounty@FloridaPoolPro.com

Your Board of Directors is busy this summer making some major changes in the Polk County Chapter. A very successful “Mini Strategic Planning Session” was held at the SCP Training Facility with members of the Board present and several interested Chapter members. And it was a most interesting and most productive meeting. Each person was asked to give one reason for joining FSPA. The reasons varied from education, hand-on training, community awareness, legislative issues, profit, sub-contractor licensing, networking, business and personal growth to being a member of the trade association for the swimming pool industry. The next question addressed was why not all companies participate in meetings. The answers range from not setting aside the time to attend, to apathy, to not being able to see “what’s in it for me.”
The next task was to try to find solutions to the participation problem. It has been decided to coordinate the meetings with the two major distribution centers and not interfere with their programs or events. We will host our Chapter meeting on the third Wednesday of January, March, April, May, September, October, and November. This way, all members can plan ahead on an annual basis for meeting schedules. We are also going to coordinate our programs so they do not conflict with the Distribution Centers, so if they are doing C.E., we may do a hands-on meeting or a business booster.
It was decided that we need better communication with our members, especially legislatively, and what is going on in the county, so look for a new “newsletter” that will come out after Florida Pool Prosm that will focus on local news. We also hope to encourage more participation from our sub-contractors and offer classes and assistance to them as well.
The biggest task was in the development of a new Mission Statement. The Board will be voting on the final statement at the June Board Meeting and will be revealing it next issue. Also will be some redefinition of responsibilities from the Board and members alike and new recruiting methods. Please, you are encouraged to attend our monthly Board meetings. They are held on the third Wednesday of the month at either SCP or HornerXpress. Call the Chapter office for more information.

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Space Coast
Executi Director: Bill Britz
(321) 779-0103
FSPASpaceCoast@FloridaPoolPro.com

Our Board of Directors will meet as planned on Thursday July 12, at 4:30 p.m. at our Executive Director’s home.
The Space Coast Chapter general Membership Meetings will not meet in July and August.
Our Builders Council normally meets on the first Thursday of each month: However no meeting will be held in July. All association members are encouraged to attend these meetings.
Our Service Council will not meet in July.
Start making your plans to attend our next General membership meeting in September that will be held concurrently with our Builders Council on the first Thursday of the month.

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Tampa Bay
Executive Director: Karen Cobo
(813) 265-2907
FSPATampaBay@FloridaPoolPro.com

New Executive Director Karen Cobo has been working with Eleanor Cox learning about FSPA and the Tampa Bay Chapter. The mailing address will remain the same, P.O. Box 15062, Tampa, FL 33684-5062. NOTE: The new telephone number will be (813) 265-2907 effective July 2, 2007.
The Chapter was approached by Koren Price about the Rotary Camp of Brandon, a camp for children with special needs. Rotary Camp Florida Inc., is a 501(c)(3) not for profit corporation, operating strictly on contributions. All donations are tax deductible. They need assistance with the camp’s swimming pool. At the May board meeting and dinner meeting and the Chapter made a commitment to offer assistance to the camp.
Special thanks from Rotary Camp Florida Inc. to thank the following FSPA members who have stepped forward to date: Blue Skies Pool Service, Florida Water Products, Gorman Company, Gunn Sales, Halcyon Technologies, HornerXpress, Natural Springs Pools, SCP Distributors, Trendsetters Pools, Sunshine Pool Service of Tampa Bay, Vak Pak Industries.
To be able to bring a smile to a child’s face that normally deals with hardships and suffering, should make us all proud to be in the swimming pool industry.
The Chapter is asking each of our members to donate $50, or whatever you can, to this very worthwhile cause. Rotary’s Camp Florida, Inc., 1915 Camp Florida Road, Brandon, FL 33510, (813) 654-4042 attention Koren or Robin.
The Annual Family Bowling Outing will be held on Saturday, August 4, 2007, 12:30 p.m. at the Pinarama Bowling Lanes at 5008 S. Dale Mabry, Tampa, just south of Gandy on the east side of Dale Mabry. Early reservations are a must! Paid reservations must be received by Monday, July 16. Call the Tampa Bay Chapter for more details. Donations and/or prizes will be greatly appreciated.
Are your sub contractors aware that they must be fully licensed in their specialty phase of pool construction in the state of Florida by January 1, 2008?
The Hillsborough County Building/Permitting offices will be closed every other Friday, effective June 15, 2007.
Pasco County now is requiring a new Survey Plat for pool permits if the old Survey Plat is over one year old.

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For additional information about any of the events or meetings listed in the Chapter News, please contact the Executive Director listed at the top of each Chapter's News. Event meeting and information can also be found in Chapter newsletters sent to members and available at local distributors.