spring insider 2015

12
Insider Leland We are proud to announce that Leland Management has once again been voted a Reader’s Choice by the Florida Community Associ- a on Journal in 2015. This year we achieved the Diamond Level award for Community Associa on Management. Thank you to all who voted and helped us reach this achievement. . In the second quarter of 2015, the Leland Manage- ment educa on team will be hos ng 11 Board Cer fi- ca on Courses for commu- nity board members throughout the state of Florida. These courses are free of charge and a endees will receive cer - fica ons from the state confirming their comple- on. To receive your cer fi- ca on visit our website at www.LelandManagement.c om today to register for a course near you. Pickleball USA The Importance of Reserve Studies Fall Into Fabulous Town Center Reserve Social Media & You Manager of the Year Best Prac ces for Data Security Royal Highlands Resident Hero to All In the next few days bills will be voted on in the Florida House (HB 611) and Senate (SB 736) that will be very detrimental to community associa ons should they pass. As we have discussed in previ- ous communica ons, the impact of these bills will be to shi some of the costs and risk related to the sale of a home from buyers/sellers to community associa ons. These bills are opposed by every major organiza on represen ng community associa ons in Flori- da including: The Community Associa on Ins tute (CAI) Community Advocacy Network (CAN) Council of Neighborhood Associa ons (CONA) ● Community Associa on Leadership Lobby (CALL) Space Coast Community Associa on (SCCA) ● Chief Execu ves of Management Companies (CEOMC) Council of North County Neighborhoods (CNCN) The groups pushing these bills have tremendous power and deep pockets. They have over 90 lob- byists now working legislators and have contributed millions of dollars to gain influence. In contrast the not for profit organiza ons represen ng the interests of community associa ons have at best a hand full of part me lobbyist and limited poli cal contribu ons. However, community associa ons do represent the millions of homeowners and voters who live in Florida’s community associa ons. If these homeowners speak up it is very hard for poli cians to ignore them. We encourage you to contact the Legislators to voice your opposi on to these bills. This is likely the only way to stop these bills from becoming law. Time is very limited as these bills could be voted on as early as this Wednesday. If you are interest- ed in reaching out to your legislators please click the link below. http://eepurl.com/bkq5gz Please take a moment now to send these messages. Please also forward this message to other homeowners who may be willing to speak up.

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Page 1: Spring Insider 2015

InsiderLeland

We are proud to announce

that Leland Management

has once again been voted

a Reader’s Choice by the

Florida Community Associ-

a� on Journal in 2015. This

year we achieved the

Diamond Level award for

Community Associa� on

Management. Thank you

to all who voted and

helped us reach this

achievement. .

In the second quarter of

2015, the Leland Manage-

ment educa� on team will

be hos� ng 11 Board Cer� fi-

ca� on Courses for commu-

nity board members

throughout the state of

Florida. These courses are

free of charge and

a� endees will receive cer� -

fica� ons from the state

confirming their comple-

� on. To receive your cer� fi-

ca� on visit our website at

www.LelandManagement.c

om today to register for a

course near you.

• Pickleball USA

• The Importance ofReserve Studies

• Fall Into Fabulous

• Town Center Reserve

• Social Media & You

• Manager of the Year

• Best Prac� ces for Data Security

• Royal Highlands ResidentHero to All

In the next few days bills will be voted on in the Florida House (HB 611) and Senate (SB 736) thatwill be very detrimental to community associa� ons should they pass. As we have discussed in previ-ous communica� ons, the impact of these bills will be to shi� some of the costs and risk related to the sale of a home from buyers/sellers to community associa� ons.

These bills are opposed by every major organiza� on represen� ng community associa� ons in Flori-da including:

The Community Associa� on Ins� tute (CAI) ● Community Advocacy Network (CAN)Council of Neighborhood Associa� ons (CONA) ● Community Associa� on Leadership Lobby (CALL)Space Coast Community Associa� on (SCCA) ● Chief Execu� ves of Management Companies (CEOMC)

Council of North County Neighborhoods (CNCN)

The groups pushing these bills have tremendous power and deep pockets. They have over 90 lob-byists now working legislators and have contributed millions of dollars to gain influence. In contrastthe not for profit organiza� ons represen� ng the interests of community associa� ons have at best a hand full of part � me lobbyist and limited poli� cal contribu� ons.

However, community associa� ons do represent the millions of homeowners and voters who live in Florida’s community associa� ons. If these homeowners speak up it is very hard for poli� cians to ignore them. We encourage you to contact the Legislators to voice your opposi� on to these bills. This is likely the only way to stop these bills from becoming law.

Time is very limited as these bills could be voted on as early as this Wednesday. If you are interest-ed in reaching out to your legislators please click the link below.

http://eepurl.com/bkq5gz

Please take a moment now to send these messages. Please also forward this message to otherhomeowners who may be willing to speak up.

Page 2: Spring Insider 2015

It is well known that Or-

lando, Florida is a popu-

lar vaca� on des� na� on

with a mul� tude of re-

sorts, but loca� on alone

does not determine the

success of a resort. In the

minds of many, a

“resort” is less about the

loca� on and more about

the se� ng. Resort status

is achieved by being able

to provide for the majori-

ty of vaca� oner’s needs

in a luxurious se� ng

with the highest quality

ameni� es. To many, The

Reserve at Town Center

is just that resort.

Located in Davenport,

Florida The Reserve at

Town Center is an exclu-

sive gated community of

94 homes that offers

short term rentals to va-

ca� oners who are look-

ing for a “Resort” like

focused their a� en� on on

enhancing the beauty of

this lovely community and

improving the rental and

resale value of the homes.

In addi� on to the daily

management tasks of the

community, Leland creat-

ed a renewed focus on the

concerns of residents/

owners such as: landscap-

ing, lawn care, mainte-

nance and trash removal.

Another key element was

vendor selec� on. Leland

Management and the

Board at The Reserve at

Town Center were able to

select key vendors that

share in the overall vision

for the community. “The

success here at Town Cen-

ter has been a group

effort, not only by Leland

and the Board but also

vendors that have a vest-

ed interest in the

community beyond that of

a job. Long term partner-

ships with our vendors

have allowed us to build

rela� onships that ensure

the community is per-

forming at the resort lev-

el”, says Sabrina Stephan,

Community Manager.

As a result of all the hard

work from the Board of

Directors, the manage-

ment company and the

vendors, the community

of Town Center is a won-

derful place to vaca� on

and live. People are look-

ing to buy and rent in the

community because of

how it looks and makes

them feel. The Reserve at

Town Center is a Resort

and it a� racts people from

all over the world to bask

in the Florida sun, enjoy

the exci� ng a� rac� ons

and most of all relax in a

beau� ful se� ng.

se� ng. Town Center fits the

bill by offering pools at every

home and gorgeous views of

the surrounding preserve

and landscaping. As the web-

site suggests, The Reserve at

Town Center is the, “Perfect

place to stay during your

dream holiday.” We at Le-

land Management, the Com-

munity Associa� on Manage-

ment Company, could not

agree more.

Crea� ng and maintaining a

resort like status for a com-

munity is not an easy task,

but by working together,

Leland and the Board of Di-

rectors of Town Center make

it happen. Leland has

“Town Center isthe perfect place

to stay during yourdream holiday.”

Page 3: Spring Insider 2015

Disabled is not a word Howard

Slayton uses to describe himself.

Although an accident le� him with

a par� al arm 18 years ago, he con-

� nues to rise to the challenges of

life.

Born and raised in Newhall, Cali-

fornia, Slayton worked as a trou-

bleshooter for a power company in

Sacramento. He was checking on

power lines when he fell off the

telephone pole onto a 12,000 volt

line that shot electricity down his

le� arm, through his body and

blew a hole in his right hip.

“My Levis were smoking” he

said. “When the firemen arrived,

they were surprised I was s� ll

alive.”

Slayton was rushed to the hospi-

tal, where he underwent six sur-

geries. Surgeons were unable to

salvage his arm, severing it just

below the elbow.

“I was at peace with what hap-

pened,” he said. “I was just happy

to be alive.”

Life wasn’t the same a� er his

accident, but Slayton made every

effort to adjust to his circumstanc-

es.

“Everything had to be done

differently”, he said. “I never

looked at it as a disability, only a

challenge. I even had to brush my

teeth differently.”

He said that Donna, his wife of 52

years, was a huge help in his ad-

justment. His two children, nine

grandchildren and six great-

grandchildren also have been an

inspira� on for him.

He re� red a� er his accident

and moved to Leesburg, where

he focused on staying ac� ve. As

a so� ball player, Slayton need-

ed to figure out how to con� n-

ue playing. Catching, throwing

and ba� ng would never be the

same for him. However, he

took the challenge and joined a

league at Royal Highlands.

He also frequently play pickle-

ball, a racquet sport that com-

bines elements of badminton,

tennis, and table tennis.

“Howard is one of the be� er

players I play against”, Ron

Eversole said. “I know when I

see him, the compe� � on is go-

ing to be good. What I admire

about him is that he expects to

be treated like everyone else.

His handicap doesn’t stop him.

In fact, it doesn’t even slow him

down.”

Slayton strives to play to the

best of his ability, despite his

supposed disability.

“Players will look at me and

tell me to do the best I can,” he

said. “A couple points in and

they realize I have no disad-

vantage.”

S� ll, it was hard for Slayton to

adjust to people staring at first.

“I would look at people com-

ing toward me and then turn

around to find they were s� ll

staring at me,” he said. “This

was hard at first, but then I re-

alized how important it was for

me to be a role model since

they were already staring.”

He has reached out to chil-

dren to help them be less afraid

of differences and also to am-

putee veterans who feel dis-

couraged.

“I can’t think of anything I

can’t do that I’ve wanted to

do,” he said. “We must remem-

ber to not think of our life as

disabled. Just accept what

comes and adjust.”

By: Cindy Dian,Daily Commercial

Page 4: Spring Insider 2015

helps assure property values by protec� ng

against declining property values due to

deferred maintenance and inability to keep

up with the aging of common areas and

ameni� es.

A good reserve study shows owners and

poten� al buyers a more accurate and com-

plete picture of the associa� on’s financial

strength. The reserve study should disclose

to buyers, lenders, and others the manner

in which the associa� on is making provi-

sions for non-annual maintenance require-

ments. Preparing a reserve study calls for

explicit associa� on decisions on how to

provide for long term funding, and on the

extent to which the associa� on will set

aside funds on a regular basis for non-

annual maintenance requirements. A good

reserve study may also func� on as a

maintenance planning tool for the associa-

� on.

As we enter into a new year many associ-

a� ons are adop� ng a new budget, many

of which contain a reserve study. Here at

Leland we recommend that associa� ons

maintain a current reserve study as a ba-

rometer for future expenses that are non-

annual. A reserve study provides a cur-

rent es� mate of the costs of repairing

and replacing major common area com-

ponents (such as roofs or pavement) over

the long term. Ideally, all major repair

and replacement costs will be covered by

funds set aside by the associa� on as re-

serves, so that funds are there when

needed. This requires: examina� on of the

associa� on’s repair and replacement obli-

ga� ons; determina� on of costs and � m-

ing of replacement; and determina� on of

the availability of necessary (reserve)

cash resources.

Because the board has a fiduciary duty to

manage associa� on funds and property, a

replacement reserve budget is very im-

portant. Not only does this informa� on

supplement the annual opera� ng budget

in providing owners with financial infor-

ma� on, the reserve study is also an im-

portant management informa� on tool as

the associa� on strives to balance and op-

� mize long-term property values and

costs for the membership.

Poten� al buyers may want to request a

copy of the reserve study before purchas-

ing. Fully reviewing and understanding

the reserve study is an important part of

evalua� ng the value of an associa� on. For

associa� on members, reserve planning

Page 5: Spring Insider 2015

WELCOME

WAGONLeland welcomes the

following communities:

◊ Lakeview Villas

◊ Ocala Downs

◊ Magnolia West

◊ Clermont Yacht Club

◊ Thornbrooke

◊ Estates at Sawgrass

◊ Preserve at Sawgrass

◊ Sawgrass Lakes

◊ St. James Park

◊ Toscana Master

◊ Riverview at GrandHaven

◊ Lake PinelochVillage

◊ The Lemon Tree

◊ Harmony at Lake-wood Ranches

◊ Covington Creek

◊ Water’s Edge

◊ Walden Cove

◊ Windermere Trails

◊ Havencrest

◊ Spring Lake Reserve

◊ Sera Bella

◊ Bay Hill VillageClub

Leland Management’s newest loca� on, located in

Tampa, Florida, opened early April 2015. Serving

as a flagship loca� on, our Tampa Bay divisional

office features a state-of-the-art conference room

ideal for educa� on courses for Board Members

and Community Managers as well as the newest

technologies to support our team. We believe this

new office is representa� ve of our presence as a

leading community associa� on management

company in the Tampa area. Please feel free to

visit us at 12630 Race Track Road, Tampa, FL

33626 or call us at 813-915-6688.

Leland’s New Tampa OfficeOpen for Business

President and CEO, Rebecca Furlow and Human Resources

Director Tracey Clement were nominated for the Orlando

Business Journal’s Women Who Mean Business Awards.

• Stacy Learned promoted to team leader for Collec� ons/A� orney

department

• Anne� e Jones named Pulte Group’s Manager of the Year

• Chad Peck named among Top 3 Onsite Managers of the Year na� onwide

• Misty Oaks Park named finalist for Family Friendly Programs & Ini� a� ves

in the Communi� es of Excellence Awards

• Stonecrest named finalist for Communica� ons & Community in the

Communi� es of Excellence Awards

• Stacy Learned named superstar for month of January

Page 6: Spring Insider 2015

In 2013, Leland Community Associa� on Manag-

er Traci Bradford was approached by her friend Secily

Wilson about becoming involved with an event that

supports and empowers women who are in transi� onal

periods of their life. Traci, who has a background in

community oriented event planning, was enthusias� c

about the possibili� es and agreed to be the event coor-

dinator.

Their first step was to reach out to the commu-

nity and local businesses to gain sponsors and dona-

� ons for the event and a� er a year of hard work and

planning the second annual Fall into Fabulous event

was held on December 6th, 2014 at the Second Harvest

Food Bank on Mercy Drive in Orlando. In partnership

with Harbor House and Gi� ed Ones, Fall into Fabulous

invited thirty women to a day of empowerment and

friendship. The ladies in a� endance were all immersed

in life transi� ons ranging from job loss or failed mar-

riages to termina� ng an abusive rela� onship.

The nearly 6 hour event featured a ladies’

luncheon, mo� va� onal guest speakers, mock inter-

views, and a VIP shopping experience. Together Leland

Vice President, Gary van der Laan, and Simply Self Stor-

age Human Resources Director, Charmaine Green, con-

ducted mock interviews with the women and provided

valuable feedback for those looking to make a career

move. The women also took home new ou� its com-

plete

_________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

We Want to Hear from You!

Does your community have a story or photos of an event you would like to share? Send usyour photos and stories to [email protected] and check us out onFacebook, Twi� er, LinkedIn, and WordPress.

with shoes and accessories to revamp their wardrobe

and provide an extra boost of confidence.

Planning is well underway for the third annual

Fall into Fabulous event to be hosted in December

2015. Should you have any interest in becoming a

sponsor or dona� ng please contact Secily Wilson at

[email protected] for further informa� on.

Page 7: Spring Insider 2015

Best Prac� ces for Data Security

There is no ques� on that modern technology has changed the way we

live. Technology has made us more efficient and open to the outside

world. With the internet you are able to affordably communicate with people

from virtually anywhere around the world as well as save � me by handling a

good por� on of your financial business online (banking, shopping, bill paying).

With these advances comes a price. As we become more open to the

world so does our personal informa� on and our risk for iden� ty the� or fraud

is heightened.

Below are some measures you can take to help protect yourself from the bad characters lurking in the digital world. Fol-

low these � ps to help prevent having your data stolen or your pc disabled.

1. Back up your data - Not only are hackers looking to profit off of iden� ty the� or stealing your banking infor-

ma� on, there is a new breed of hackers who profit off of ransoming your data. The viruses known

as Cryptowall and Cryptoblocker have been very ac� ve in hi� ng corporate and personal compu� ng sites. The best

form of protec� on is to make sure you keep good back ups. If you don't have your data backed up, you may be

stuck paying the ransom and hoping they will return the data to its original form. In addi� on, you are coun� ng on

criminals to keep their word and return the data.

2. Only open email you are expec� ng - Do not open email from unknown sources and never click on an a� ach-

ment or link unless you know who it is coming from and that they intended to send it to you. One of the most

common routes viruses use to invade is through email. Be careful what you open, even emails that appear to be

legi� mate could very dangerous.

3. Avoid phishing scams - Phishing scams use fraudulent emails and fake web sites, masquerading as legi� mate

businesses, to lure unsuspec� ng users into revealing private account or login informa� on. To be safe, if you re-

ceive an email from a business that includes a link to a web site, make certain that the web site you visit is legi� -

mate. Instead of clicking through to the site from within the email, open a separate Web browser and visit the

business’ web site directly to perform the necessary ac� ons. You can also verify that an email is in fact from a le-

gi� mate business by calling the business or agency directly.

4. Create strong passwords - Your password is your last point of protec� on, it needs to be challenging. Avoid com-

mon or obvious combina� ons (such as birthdays, kids names etc.) and avoid using any personal infor-

ma� on. Make your password more secure by adding numbers or special characters. A strong password is a good

line of defense; however, passwords need to be changed periodically and guarded. Using the same password in-

definitely and for mul� ple accounts opens your virtual iden� ty to mul� ple access points for hackers.

5. Be careful what informa� on you send through electronic communica� on - Be careful about sending personal

informa� on such as banking info and social security numbers through electronic communica� ons such as email,

text and discussion boards. Also, never accept IM's (Instant Messages) from strangers as they could be looking to

collect your informa� on.

6. Shop safely - If you are shopping online make sure you are using a store that employs security measures. When

you are at the checkout screen, verify that the Web address begins with h� ps. Also, check to see if a � ny locked

padlock symbol appears at the bo� om right of the checkout screen, or that there is a statement on the checkout

screen sta� ng that the pages are secure with a security technology vendor.

7. Employ an� virus and malware so� ware - Install an� -virus so� ware on your computer and keep it updated.

Make sure that the so� ware(s) you are using provides protec� on from all types of threats such as viruses, spy

ware, adware and spam.

Page 8: Spring Insider 2015

Sweet Game; Sour NameA new game that is sweeping across the U.S. and Canada has made its way into some of our

most ac� ve communi� es. This paddle sport is suitable for all ages and skill levels, is easy to learn

and requires minimal equipment. Combining elements of tennis, badminton and Ping-Pong, Pick-

leball was created in 1965 near Sea� le, Washington. This low impact sport is played on a court

one-third the size of a standard tennis court allowing for longer rallies and more fun. Like tennis

and badminton the goal is to rally the ball back and forth over a net un� l one side cannot return

it. The net in pickleball however is only 34 inches tall as opposed to the 42 inch net used for ten-

nis and the 60 inch net used for badminton. Addi� onally, the pickleball has holes through it, simi-

lar to a wiffleball, that allows it to travel at one-third the speed of a tennis ball and the solid pick-

leball paddle is lightweight. The compe� � ve nature of the game has a� racted over 100,000 play-

ers who compete in local and na� onal tournaments throughout all 50 states. This year Casa Grande, Arizona will host the

USAPA (United States of America Pickleball Associa� on) Na� onal Tournament on November 8th.

Chad Peck first joined the Leland Management team almost 8 years ago as an Associa� on Manager. Chad started his

career as a lifeguard and swim instructor with the YMCA and possess several instructor and trainer level cer� fica� ons. He

graduated from the University of Central Florida with a Bachelor’s degree in Elementary Educa� on. A� er college he spent

a few years traveling the states and teaching. He was given the opportunity to become an Ac� vi-

� es Director for a re� rement community close to his home town and moved back to Lake Coun-

ty. He received his Community Associa� on Manger license and was promoted to Associa� on

Manager within a few months. He is presently the Associa� on Manager for Stonecrest POA, an

ac� ve adult community with 2100 units, located in Summerfield, Florida. Chad is very ac� ve in

the day to day running of the community and has implemented many posi� ve changes since he

took over in 2011. For the last two years the community has been a finalist for the Florida Com-

muni� es of Excellence award in several categories including Water Conserva� on, and Communica� ons and Communi-

ty. Chad has also been a top ten finalist for the Manager of the Year Award in the na� on for the last three years and is

currently in the top 3 finalists for 2015. Chad is a Cer� fied Manager of Community Associa� ons, MBA, and is currently

working on a dual Masters in Human Resources Management and Management and Leadership. In addi� on to his role as

a manager, Chad is heavily involved in his community, teaching instructors and lifeguards at the YMCA and volunteering

several hours a month for different non-profits in the area.

Page 9: Spring Insider 2015

Your Call Is Important To Us

Leland Management con� nues to grow to support the needs of our clients. This quarter we welcomed the following team members:

● Christina Lamoureux ● Paula Roberts ● Jacqueline Albarran ● Trevor Seepersaud ●

● Francesca Lupinacci ● Dionne Harper ● Judy Park ● Gwen Riggs ●

● Christian Martinez ● Fred Kapelewski ●

Your call is important to us and we mean it. Our team of cus-

tomer service specialists works hard to ensure each call is

handled in a � mely manner and each caller experiences the

highest level of customer service. In fact, our call center team

answered 50,463 calls in 2014. Of those, 44,064 were an-

swered in under one minute! Addi� onally, we log and record

all of our calls for training purposes and to track performance.

Go ahead and give us a call, we’ll answer.

Q. “How can I get rid of chinch bugs in my lawn?”

A. Applica� on � ming is key when dealing with chinch bugs. They are most ac� ve in Central Florida between March and November when temperatures are at their highest. Start talking with your pestcontrol provider in March about what products they are planning touse. Some products to control Chinch bug popula� ons include, but are not limited to, Arena, Meridian, Alo� , Bifen XTS, Up-Star Gold,Criterion and Merit. To green up your yard try using a complete fer-

� lizer that is lower in nitrogen and has 4% to 6% Chelated Iron in the blend. Rou� ne follow up inspec� ons are needed and addi� onal treatments may be needed 10 to 14 days a� er the ini� al treatment. It is important to treat a 5 foot buffer area of healthy turf around dead or damaged areas.

This answer brought to you by John Dougherty, LCAM, Cer� fied Arborist, FCHP, FCLC

Senior Community Associa� on Manager, Leland Management

Page 10: Spring Insider 2015

_________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

The closings department at Leland Management is responsible for

aiding homeowners in facilita� ng the closings process whether they

are buying or selling a property in one of our communi� es. This

team of four representa� ves processes everything from deeds to

ques� onnaires and estoppels, verifies tenant approvals, downloads

homeowner payments daily, updates homeowner informa� on, and

ensures each new owner receives a personalized welcome le� er.

The closings department processes all deeds and estoppels received each month while simultaneously providing

each owner with the superior level of customer service they deserve. The closings process can be confusing and

one of the most common ques� ons our closings department receives is in regards to the difference between an

estoppel and a ques� onnaire. To answer this ques� on we have included short descrip� ons of each below.

Estoppels and ques� onnaires are both documents that are processed by Leland Management and can be ordered

via our website, www.communitydocsnow.com. Both documents may be requested when a closing is coming up,

but they serve different purposes. An estoppel is a document typically ordered by a � tle company that is meant to

protect both the buyer and the seller during a closing. The estoppel will disclose any outstanding liens, u� lity bal-

ances, viola� ons, gate access charges, and any addi� onal amounts that may be due to the associa� on such as capi-

tal contribu� ons or resale fees.

Ques� onnaires are documents that are usually ordered by a lender. Lenders require these documents to be com-

pleted in order to verify the financial status of the associa� on. Ques� onnaires vary in length and can range from a

few ques� ons to several pages of ques� ons depending on the lender. Typically, a ques� onnaire will at least ask

whether the associa� on has pending li� ga� on, how many delinquencies there are in the associa� on, and it will also

confirm that an associa� on is strictly residen� al property as opposed to commercial property. The cost of a ques-

� onnaire is usually incurred by whoever is requiring the loan and applies to the associa� on as a whole as opposed

to an individual property.

Page 11: Spring Insider 2015

in the small community division. We wish both communi� es the best of luck in the finals

and are proud to have been a part of this accomplishment.

_________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

Communi� es of Excellence

We are proud to announce that this quarter two of Leland’s

communi� es were named as finalists in the Communi� es of Excel-

lence Awards. Stonecrest is in the running for Communica� ons

and Community in the large community division and Misty Oaks

Park is in the running for Family Friendly Programs and Ini� a� ves

The Florida Sandhill CraneWe have been fortunate the last few months to receive many pictures of beau-

� ful Sandhill Cranes (and their adorable babies) from around the communi� es

we manage. These magnificent birds have become an unofficial resident of al-

most every community in central Florida, and even though they can be bother-

some at � mes (causing complaints about walking out into the roadway regard-

less of traffic) they are a large part of central Florida living. Generally these

well loved birds are found everywhere in the community, in your backyard, the playground, crossing the

street, or at a local golf course.

The Florida Sandhill Crane, scien� fically known as Grus Canadensis Pratensis, is a charcoal gray color

throughout their life except during breeding when there feathers become worn down and are seen as an

ochre color. The average adult male weighs 10.1 lbs and the average adult female weighs 8.9 lbs. Although

their large height (80 to 120 cm) may not lead you to believe it, the large wingspan of the crane (5.4 to 6.9

feet) allows them to soar on high al� tude winds for long periods of � me with just the occasional flap of the

wings. Sandhill Cranes use loud trumpe� ng calls, o� en compared to a French rolling r, to communicate with

each other. Unfortunately almost every species of this magnificent bird, including our very own Florida

Sandhill Crane, are on the endangered species list due to the birds being too comfortable around humans.

These birds are magnificent and awe-inspiring in many ways…they truly are a Florida treasure.

Page 12: Spring Insider 2015

Modern psychology has shown that changes in weather correlate heavily with changes in a� tude and

happiness scores. While the winter season hosts a higher rate of depression, the increase in average

temperatures and longer days has earned Spring a reputa� on as the season of hope and star� ng

fresh.

Perhaps this is why many choose to kick off the season with a spring cleaning. A fresh, clean house

does as much for our outlook as a good therapy session. A 2014 survey showed that 78% of individu-

als who engaged in spring cleaning felt more organized, serene and op� mis� c about the year ahead.

Yes, we know cleaning isn’t the glamorous � p you were hoping for but give it a shot, 78% is almost a

“B” a� er all.

Relax….no, don’t take it like that. Our second � p is to find new ways to relax. Spring is a season flush

with flowers, sunshine and relief from colder weather. Embrace the changes in weather and try gar-

dening, hiking or any new way to get in touch with nature and relax.

If you can’t relax because you know Summer is coming and your beach body aspira� ons went out the

door when hot chocolate came in; stop worrying. Spring’s temperate climate and nearly twelve hour

days are ideal for ge� ng in some extra laps at the pool or going for a walk around the neighborhood.

Exercise also triggers the release of endorphins in the body that leave you ready to tackle our last � p,

ge� ng involved.

Many local organiza� ons and communi� es host events to bring people together,

think Spring Fling. Get involved, meet your neighbors and integrate into your

community this season.

Whatever Spring holds, spring into it.6972 Lake Gloria Blvd

Orlando, FL 32809

407-447-9955 ph

407-447-9899 fax

www.LelandManagement.com

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How to Spring into Spring...