Greetings! ,  

   

So much is going on with Florida Alimony Reform that I don't know where to begin.

 

We have finalized the artwork and message on our "Do Not Get Divorce in Florida" billboard campaign and expect two billboards to go up in the Tallahassee area by the end of this month.   We hope that the media will pick up on this, and we will certainly contact them to inform them about it when the time is ripe. I don't think the Family Section of the Florida Bar is going to like the fact that we are educating our citizens and driving their divorce business to other States.....oh well!   Maybe the Family Section of the Bar should try working harder to allow for fair divorce laws that help the citizens and families here in Florida.

 

Our "Do Not Get Divorced in Florida" billboard campaign will also be supported by a newly designed website.  We are working on the website as we speak, but expect everything ready to go and functional by May 26th.  Our website is always being updated with new information, so please visit it often at FloridaAlimonyReform.com.

 

A recent article was published in the Bradenton Herald that discusses reform of the Family Court System. Many of us have already made our comments on this article, please sign in and make yours.

 

Also, please page down a little where it says 'alimony' and take a look at a response given to the Fl. Bar News story I mentioned in my last email. Doug Balog, Esq., does a great job of challenging David Manz's comments about FAR, as well as questioning the overall validity of permanent alimony and current alimony law in general.

 

Debbie Israel, our FAR Second Wives Club leader and other SWC members will be interviewed on the 7 or 8am slot of the Fox 35 news network this Thursday, May 24th. Fox 35 does a great job in helping spread the word that change is necessary for Florida.  Please watch if you can. I'm sure we will eventually get a copy or the video link on You Tube for future viewing. Good luck, Debbie et al.  

 

We are excited about some othere events that are also on our horizon. In the middle of June I'm off to New Jersey to speak at their first (and hopefully, if new legislation passes, last) alimony reform conference. New Jersey is looking at Florida very closely to see what we are doing, and how we are doing it to facilitate changes here in the Sunshine State. New Jersey alimony payers are experiencing similar challenges to us, with their Family Law Section, and would like to learn from us how to go about working towards real reform.

 

Chuck, I, as well as some other core group members will be heading to Naples at the end of June to meet with some of our membership who may be interested in supporting our cause to a greater extent. Believe me when I say that we need all the help we can get to take on the influential, and well funded litigators of the Family Section of the Florida Bar.   I thank our Naples members in advance of our meeting for their consideration.

 

In July we have two events to help support our Legislative Sponsor, Ritch Workman. On July 28th we will be organizing a fund-raiser for Representative Workman at the WMFE studios in Orlando at 11510 East Colonial Drive from 11am-2pm.  Please put this date on your calendar and send us an email at info@floridaalimonyreform.com to RSVP so we have an idea of how many will show up. Your core group will be in attendance, and we hope many other members of FAR as well. This is important! We want Ritch to continue to champion our cause and we have a responsibility to help him maintain his position in the legislature. He will be available to answer your questions personally. We will remind you again of this event as we get closer to the day.

 

The very next weekend, on August 4th, is the Workman Warrior event. FAR will be one of the main sponsors. This is where Ritch huffs and puffs with the rest of us to finish the 5k run in Wickham Park. I'll be attending this one as well. We will be running for the Sentinels of Freedom, Space Coast as well as towards statewide alimony reform. Come join us!

 

We are thrilled that we have already received promises from various Senators who want to sponsor and/or co-sponsor our Bill. We will be moving forward soon to help draft new legislation that we can bring to our sponsors for their approval and eventual filing.

 

We are also gathering information with regard to our future PAC. We will inform you more about that as things progress.

 

We remain loyal to the cause and are continually working hard for your benefit, for the benefit of our families and for the thousands of other Florida citizens who are affected by our current antiquated alimony laws.

 

Please support us in any way you can. One suggestion is: maybe you would consider not eating out one night and instead, contributing that amount to the alimony reform movement as a donation.... As they say, every little bit helps.....but I hope you are a big eater!  ;)

 

 

Thank you again for all you've done.

 

Remember, if we let up, we lose.