May 23, 2009 - PAINT PROJECT BULLETIN!!!: We are pleased to announce that the environmentally vulnerable eastern face of the building is finished! Thanks to President Dee Lanzillo, we are finally starting to "get ahead" of the potentially expensive shutter-related delays. However, the unusually severe winds and intermittent rainfalls continue to plague our timetable. Despite these obstacles, the contractor has completed all of the Stack 1 balconies and is focusing on the windows. Contractor Gary Hricko has also removed all of the Stack 2 shutters as pre-arranged with unit owners. Click Here for the full scoop! LEGISLATIVE ALERT!!!: For those of you concerned the upcoming $multi-million statutory sprinkler retrofit assessment, Click Here to learn what you can do about it.

May 7, 2009 - On Monday, May 11^th, the paint project will move to stack number 2. The first step will be to power wash the stack wall (comparable to a moderate rainfall) - so bring in any delicate balcony furnishings ASAP and close your windows. However, since the primer, patching and paint applications will immediately follow, stack 2 residents should also start bringing in the balance of their balcony furnishings (the only way to guarantee their safety). Hurricane Shutter Owners: It is critically important to check that your shutters are fully operational!!! Click Here to learn why - as well as other important project details!

April 23, 2009 - BULLETIN!!!: We regret interrupting this article with a Paint Project Bulletin! The pool will be closed starting Monday, April 27^th to help keep our precious residents and guests safe! However, alternative arrangements have been made to accommodate pool and beach enthusiasts. Click Here to grab all the details! Now - back to the article. Seven years ago, the Florida Legislature passed a clandestine bill requiring Florida Associations 75 feet above grade to retrofit full sprinkler systems by 2014 or install an “Engineered Life Safety System” with sprinklered common areas and unit foyers. Thousands of outraged associations characterized the new law as a $multi-billion payday for certain vested interests instead of effective fire protection. Following the 2004 and 2005 serial hurricanes, Florida Associations were forced to pay $millions for code compliant upgrades required by windstorm carriers, additional $millions for deductibles, uninsured losses and suddenly trebled insurance premiums. When the housing market collapsed last year, the recessionary impact on community associations was catastrophic. Many associations financed the crushing expenses to help keep significant numbers of mostly elderly fixed income residents in their homes. Statehouse Representative Ellyn Bogdanoff filed a bill, HB 419, that extends the retrofit deadline until 2025, affording unit owners an opportunity to amortize their association’s bloated debt service before paying another sizable assessment. If you perceive a benefit to delaying this huge expense, Click Here to learn what your alternatives are.

April 8, 2009 - On Monday morning, April 13^th, the Regency Tower Paint Project will commence. The project will start on the east side of the building, extending around the southeast corner to encompass the entire number one stack. The first order of business will be to remove the shutters from those units in the number one stack whose owners made the appropriate pre-construction arrangements with the contractor. After removing the shutters and patching any resulting holes or cracks, H&H Painting will power wash the east side of the building (facing the ocean), continuing around the southeast corner all the way to the upper patio deck. While an area under the "one" stack will be cordoned off to protect our residents, the south side of the pool deck and the pool will be available for lounging, sun and fun. Click Here to read about the steps that stack one unit owners must take in preparation for the upcoming project.

March 28, 2009 - Heads Up! There will be a Special Meeting convened on March 30, 2009 at 10:30 AM in the Rendezvous Room. As was stated in the last Board Meeting, despite the hundreds of foreclosures along the Galt Mile, Regency Tower - with ZERO foreclosed units - has thus far dodged the bullet. Foreclosed units quickly translate into increased expenses for every association member. Given the fiscal pressures afflicting South Florida residents as a result of our current economic downturn, they are sometimes unable to pay obligations on time. In hopes of avoiding future foreclosures, we are seeking to allow the Board some flexibility in responding to threatened delinquencies. Click Here to understand the steps to follow if you anticipate being delinquent in paying Quarterly & Special Assessments.

March 20, 2009 - To make the Paint Project color selection process as fully inclusive as possible, a letter was sent to every member of the Regency Tower Association containing two computer enhanced graphics of Regency Tower simulating the general appearance when painted with each of the two color combinations. Upon receipt, please return your choice ASAP! Click Here to read the letter. Click Here to see the two computer enhanced graphics.

March 18, 2009 - The people have spoken. On Thursday, March 12, 2009, the Regency Tower Annual Meeting was convened at 7 PM in the Rendezvous Room. Since the indefatigable Election Committee was still counting votes at 7:30 PM, the Annual meeting was temporarily recessed and the Regular Meeting was convened. Amid reading of the Committee Reports, Election Committee Chair Ofelia Alleguez announced that the count had been completed, triggering reconvention of the Annual Meeting. Pertinacious yet exhausted, Ofelia requested that Secretary Fern McBride read the election results. Votes were cast as follows for the five candidates running for the four open seats on the association Board: Iris Anastasi (66 votes), Eileen Bendis (49 votes), Dott Nicholson Brown (89 votes), Maria “Dee” Lanzillo (86 votes) and Robert Nagle (88 votes). Click Here to learn what happened at both meetings. Click Here to see the slate of officers elected by the Board during the Regular Meeting. To read about the upcoming Paint Project, the beautiful newly equipped Exercise Room, our Insurance status, the search for a building manager, Security, Maintenance, Beautification, We Care, Web Site, Landscaping and other critical aspects of our home, Click Here to review the Committee Reports. Click Here for money, aggravation and time-saving Notices & Reminders. For President Dott Nicholson-Brown's annual "snapshot" of association affairs, Click Here to her "State of the Association" report. Well - DIG IN!

March 10, 2009 - On Thursday, March 12, 2009, the Regency Tower Annual Meeting will be convened at 7 PM in the Rendezvous Room. For those still unaware, Carlos Pereira has returned to assume control of association security. The popular former Security Chief is compiling a comprehensive "Regency Tower Security Training Manual" that will better standardize procedures for existing staff and clarify response expectations for new hires. Click Here for Carlos' greeting to residents!

March 1, 2009 - As you have probably heard, at the Governor's February 18^th Town Hall Meeting at the Beach Community Center, Charlie Crist administered a healthy dose of relief and pride to the residents of the Galt Mile neighborhood. After familiarizing himself with the issues surrounding the planned "Calypso Project", he rose to the challenge and announced that "Its Gone," eliciting a 10 minute standing ovation from the audience of 300 local residents and their public officials. To learn what happened that afternoon, Click Here. By the way - your emails, letters and the two hundred and forty seven signatures by Regency Tower residents, visitors and employees on the "No Calypso!" petition played a significant part in the Governor's decision! For those of you "plagued" by "NIMBY" issues, GET OVER IT!

February 15, 2009 - On Wednesday, February 18^th, Governor Charlie Crist will hold a Town Hall Meeting for Galt Mile residents at the Beach Community Center (3351 NE 33^rd Avenue). The meeting will convene at 11:30 AM and Regency Tower residents can meet and pose questions to the "People's Governor" during the event. Arrive early since seating is limited. Free on site parking will be available. For additional information, contact Pio Ieraci, President, Galt Mile Community Association at 954-489-9430 or Click Here. You can also contact Eric Berkowitz or Fern McBride with questions!

December 20, 2008 - On Tuesday, December 9^th, Regency Tower Board Meeting attendees got two for one. The Regency Tower Budget Meeting was preceded by a Special Meeting called to address an enigmatic obstacle created in Tallahassee for no ostensible reason. A vast majority of the State's 24,000 Condo Associations elect Board Members for two year terms - as per their Condominium Documents. A lame duck legislator quietly inserted a provision into an omnibus Condo bill that mandated one year terms for every Florida Board member, undermining the will of millions of Condo owners. When thousands of complaints flooded the Statehouse and Senate chambers during the last week of the session, the Statehouse Speaker and Majority Whip forced the bill sponsor to amend the provision, recognizing the right of association members to decide if their Board members could serve for one or two years - PROVIDED those tens of thousands of Associations each conduct an expensive full-member vote to affirm language ALREADY IN THEIR CONDO DOCS! How Regency Tower voters expressed their will was undertaken at the Special Meeting. The annual Budget Meeting followed on the heels of the Special Meeting, wherein the Board voted to accept the CY 2009 Association budget reviewed at the November 13^th Budget Presentation. The archived Meeting Minutes for the Budget Presentation are available for your perusal by Clicking Here. To see what happened at the December 9^th Special and Regular Budget Meetings, Click Here. The Committee Reports are available Here and New Business (including consideration of a property manager) can be read Here. President Dott Nicholson-Brown shares her perspective about life in Regency Tower in her Presidents Report and read a tip that can save you a bundle on your phone bill in the Notices & Reminder page. By the way, its not too late to contribute to the Employee Holiday Fund! Those of you interested in familiarizing yourselves with the 007-Like credentials of Hank Gomez, our new Chief of Security, should Click Here. Well... all this should keep you occupied for a while!

October 16, 2008 - On Wednesday, October 22^nd, Regency Tower residents will be afforded an opportunity to meet the candidates running for the 2 municipal offices that directly impact our lives - the mayoralty and the District 1 Commission seat. A candidate debate is scheduled for 6:30 PM the Beach Community Center (3351 NE 33^rd Avenue). Invitations have been accepted by Mayoral Candidates Statehouse Representative Jack Seiler, Former Commissioner Dean Trantalis and Businessman Earl Rynerson to meet with their prospective Galt Mile constituents. Attorney Steve Rossi, who replaced Cyndi Hutchinson as a mayoral candidate, was also invited. Similarly, Commission District 1 hopefuls Commissioner Christine Teel, former Police Chief Bruce Roberts and Attorney Inger Garcia will also introduce their platforms to voters. Click Here for additional meeting info.

October 1, 2008 - The minutes for the Tuesday, September 23^rd, Regency Tower Board Meeting are here! Secretary Fern McBride has broken her previous land speed records for compiling and editing meeting results. Read the Pets policy clarification, what's happening with our landscaping, what Hurricane Dee Lanzillo has cleaned up, fixed or rehabilitated, how Dott, Bob and Bill are squeezing every nickel to keep maintenance costs in check and Iris' beautification plans. Click Here to the Board Meeting minutes, Click Here for the Committee Reports, Click Here for the Pets Policy under New Business, Click Here for the Dott Nicholson-Brown's President's Report and Click Here to the archived March, 2008 meeting info.

Also, Click Here to read Notices and Reminders, including a new city enforcement policy requiring building permits for all interior construction except for floor coverings, wall coverings, painting and emergency repairs.

September 24, 2008 - On Tuesday, September 23^rd, the City of Fort Lauderdale issued a precautionary water advisory. While performing routine maintenance on aeration system blowers at the Fiveash Water Treatment Plant, almost a quart of lubricant accidentally spilled into an open water basin, triggering an immediate shut down of the Fiveash water pumps and a battery of water quality tests to ensure the water's potability. Customers were advised to use bottled water for drinking and cooking and to avoid consuming or cooking with any tap water (even if boiled). The advisory also included Lauderdale-by-the-Sea, Oakland Park, Port Everglades Authority, Village of Sea Ranch Lakes, Wilton Manors, and sections of Davie and Tamarac. On September 24^th, The City of Fort Lauderdale Public Works Department lifted the water advisory for customers in Fort Lauderdale and the other communities. Laboratory results confirmed that City of Fort Lauderdale water met all primary drinking water standards. Click Here to read the official lifting of the City Advisory.

September 14, 2008 - On Saturday, September 20, 2008, from 9 a.m. to noon, Regency Tower residents are invited to participate in Broward County's Annual International Coastal Cleanup. Last year, 1,400 volunteers collected more than 4,500 pounds of garbage along Broward County beaches. The two locations covering the Galt Mile neighborhood are in Lauderdale-by-the-Sea and Oakland Park. For the northern part of the Mile, go to the Lauderdale-by-the-Sea location - sign in at East Commercial Boulevard at Anglin’s Pier. For the southern part of the Mile, go to the Oakland Park Coastal Cleanup Site - sign in at Northeast 27^th Street and North Atlantic Boulevard at Vista Park. Click Here to learn how you can help!

July 4, 2008 - You have probably heard about the planned construction of a Deepwater Port for the offloading of Liquefied Natural Gas directly across from the Galt Mile Beach. A French company – Suez – that is underwriting this construction has spent $millions in marketing revenues mischaracterizing the Calypso project as safe and beneficial. According to the U.S. Government, this is not true! To help clarify the issues at stake, we are holding two viewings in the Game Room of an award winning 25-minute video that will illuminate a host of ominous consequences threatened by this gasworks. Please join friends and neighbors as we familiarize ourselves with our options – before they disappear!!!

This is the video everyone is talking about! Viewings in Plaza South, Commodore and Southpoint packed the house. In less than a half hour, you will understand why this has become a controversial flashpoint along the entire beach.

June 10, 2008 - On April 7^th, a meeting of the Galt Mile Presidents Council was convened to inform Association officials about the planned placement of “Calypso”, a two-part “Deepwater Port” for the offloading of Liquefied Natural Gas (LNG) 7 and 10 miles from the densely populated Galt Mile beach. Since then, the prospect of experiencing a deadly all-consuming conflagration in order to provide a French Energy Corporation with more profitable product distribution has enraged Galt Mile residents, our neighboring communities and our public officials. Click here to find out why.

March 28, 2008 - The Regency Tower Board of Directors is pleased to announce that Unit 1701, an undervalued apartment acquired by exercising the Association’s “Right of First Refusal”, has been sold for $639,000. Immediately following the March 27^th closing, the short term bridge financing that fueled the transaction was fully discharged and the residual profit deposited into the Association’s Money Market Account. Click here to learn how we made out and about the motives that drove the transaction.

March 16, 2008 - The People have spoken. At the Annual Owners Meeting on March 13^th, the residents of Regency Tower made known their will. Three of the four able candidates were elected to the Board of Directors for two year terms. At the Regular Board Meeting that followed the Annual meeting, Officers were installed for the upcoming year. Who are they? Click here to see who won Board seats. Click here to see the officers. Click Here to read Dott Nicholson-Brown's President's Report. Click Here for new reminders posted to make life easier.

March 5, 2008 - Residents with analog cable boxes or cable-ready televisions heard an annoying ZZZZZZZ instead of the audio while trying to watch HBO on channel 99. Some building “experts” quickly offered a litany of curious reasons for the static, such as “Comcast is trying to force us to buy a digital box” or “a satellite crashed.” Alas, it was simply a minor glitch which was cleared up in 5 minutes. HBO is fully operational again. Click here to get the whole story.

Notice: Scrolling above are important Notices and Updates that affect Regency Tower residents and mirrors the information that scrolls across your House Channel 95. When scrolling text is underlined, click on the text to get an expanded version of the underlined update. Non-dynamic (still) versions of the content are presented on the site’s Special Updates or Notices & Reminder pages. These pages are accessible from the upper left side menu on every page of the Web Site. Click Here to access the Weather section of the Special Updates page. It includes current National Hurricane Advisories and Storm Tracks. Click Here to get Comcast’s basic and digital Cable Channel Lineups.

The key feature that renders The Regency Tower unique is its residents. An exciting blend of young and old, they hail from all points of the globe. Our active Social Committee is constantly organizing an extensive roster of activities. Planned outings to the Theater, the racetrack, a variety of interesting restaurants, Art Galleries, and “Dinner Theater” are available to everyone. For “homebodies” there are barbecues, talent shows, “hobby nights”, weekly bingo, “theme” parties, and exercising with our "State of the Art" equipment. All residents benefit from the attentions of a group of sensitive caring individuals who comprise the “WE CARE” Committee.

The Regency Tower, along with the rest of the Galt Ocean Mile, is undergoing a rebirth. We’ve built a new roof, refurbished all of our balconies, renovated the hallway and elevator lobby on every floor, freshly painted and waterproofed the building, modernized and redecorated our elevators, redecorated the lobby, added a separate pedestrian entrance adjacent to a new garage door, installed a new main entry, built a new Exercise Room with quality equipment and secured the premises with new fences. Pool, Ping-Pong and Poker tables dominate the new Game Room featuring a Bar and a DVD-ready Big-Screen Television. Resurfaced with high quality pavers, the newly waterproofed parking deck is illuminated by modern new high intensity lamps. All building planters were rebuilt and imbued with an automatically timed irrigation and electrical network. New heat pumps efficiently warm our recently recoated pool while an invisible new wind barrier shelters poolside sunbathers. A system of French Drains in our lower driveway feed a recently excavated well to guarantee a dry garage in all weather conditions. New code-compliant fire safety and keyless security systems bring personal safety and security into the 21^st century. New landscaping bathes the “reinvented” Regency Tower in lush greenery and striking tropical color!

Regency Tower is also one of the two most “hurricane-resistant” residential hi-rise structures in the Galt Ocean Mile neighborhood. As found in all new coastal construction, every glazed opening in the entire building is fitted with impact rated glass – windows and doors. Since first retrofitted, not one impact rated window or door has been penetrated by hurricane winds or debris. Also, windstorm damage to any window (individual unit or common area) is covered by a dedicated zero-deductible insurance policy. Installed in 2003, the “Millennium Roof” is rated to withstand Category 5 weather events and has never been infiltrated. Since every unit and common area is fully mitigated, Regency Tower homeowners enjoy the financial advantages of continued eligibility for commercial windstorm insurance.

As a result of these efforts, our residents have seen a substantial increase in the value of their homes. We anticipate that this trend will continue. Conversely, the highly efficient structural, plumbing, electrical and administrative upgrades have served to offset normal upward pressure on maintenance costs. Whether you prefer glorious private beach bound seclusion or an interesting balance of well-befriended activities, The Regency Tower is a wonderful place to live!