JUNE 2020

IMPORTANT INFO

Online Meetings

eNewsletterA publication by the Guardian Association of Pinellas County for the purpose of promoting advocacy & education.

GuardianTheProfessional

Guardian

WHAT TO DO IF YOUR WARD IS ARRESTED

We’re pleased to welcome Attorney Nick Robinson to our nextGAPC general membership meeting which will take place by Zoom VideoConferencing. His topic will be “What To Do If Your Ward Is Arrested”.Attorney Robinson will be presenting a helpful overview of the criminalprocess from start to finish as well as explaining the most important infor-mation guardians/attorneys need to know, from the perspective ofguardianship.

Nick Robinson is a partner at the law firm of Ripley, Whisenhunt andRobinson. Admitted to the Florida Bar in 2011, he worked at the Public Defender’s Office beforeentering private practice. He focuses on Guardianship, Estate Planning, Elder Law and Probate/Trustmatters.

We look forward to joining together, virtually, on Wednesday, June 10th, 12:00 p.m. at this ZoomConference Link. Please RSVP at our GAPC’s website. Members will also receive an email with theabove link for access to this meeting. One CEU is provide for Guardian members in good standing.

Nicolas S. Robinson, Esq.

WEDNESDAY, JUNE 10, 12:00 - 2:00 P.M. VIA ZOOM VIDEO CONFERENCING

FRIDAY, JUNE 26, 9:00 A.M.VIA ZOOM VIDEO CONFERENCING

The GAPC Board of Directors announces Orlando A. Acosta has beenappointed to serve on the Board. Orlando, a Professional Guardian, is aretired U.S. Air Force officer and native New Yorker. The Air Force brought himto Florida in 2005 and decided to stay. He lives in St. Petersburg with hisfiancée and the last of their blended five children. He tickles the ivories on occasion,is a native Spanish-speaker, and is involved in St. Petersburg politics. Orlandobecame a professional guardian to address the needs of the forgotten andexploited elderly in our society. He is honored to be welcomed by like-mindedand dedicated professionals and looks forward to serving the Association.

PLEASE RSVP TO ASSOCIATION WEBSITE

GENERAL MEMBERSHIP:

NETWORKING:

Orlando A. Acosta

NEW BOARD OF DIRECTOR MEMBER APPOINTED

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ASSOCIATION COMMUNICATIONS

P.O. Box 1826, Pinellas Park, FL 33780Info@GuardianAssociation.orgwww.GuardianAssociation.org

https://facebook.com/GuardianAssociationPinellas

President .......................................................... Irene Rausch

Vice President ........................................................ Lori Clark

Secretary .................................................... Michelle Lowack

Treasurer ........................................................... Keith Crosby

Administration CommitteeIrene Rausch, Chair

Budget & Finance CommitteeKeith Crosby, Chair

By-Laws, Ethics, Legislative CommitteeTimothy Perenich, Esq., Chair

Aubrey Posey Hitchcock, Esq., Co-Chair

Conference CommitteeIrene Rausch, Chair

Michelle Lowack, Co-Chair

Education CommitteeLori Clark, Chair

Everyday Essentials CommitteeEileen Dougan, Chair

Membership CommitteeMichelle Lowack, Chair

Public Relations CommitteeDenise Povolish, Chair

Social Media CommitteeDenise Povolish, Chair

2020 Board of DirectorsOfficers

Board Members

Committees

Orlando Acosta

Eileen Dougan

Marianne Fisher.

Aubrey Posey Hitchcock, Esq

Timothy Perenich, Esq.

Denise Povolish

Committee Meetings

There will be NO PHYSICAL COMMITEE MEETINGSduring the month of June. Please check with Committee

Chairs for possible Zoom Meetings by email atinfo@GuardianAssociation.org. You may also check our GAPC

Facebook page for notifications of committee meetings.

PUBLIC RELATIONS COMMITTEE

Meets by Zoom Video Conferencing Tuesday, June 16th, 2:00 p.m.Please email info@GuardianAssociation.org with any questionson connecting to this meeting.

Welcometo our new members!

DOUG BARTHOLOMEW

Two Labs Construction

DANA HERSHER-CARLTON, M.S., M.A.Guardian

MICHELLE STONER

Guardian

Guardian Association of Pinellas County (GAPC)does not promote or vouch for the services providedby any of its members. Members wishing to dobusiness with one another are strongly encouragedto do their own public records searches andbackground screenings before entering into anybusiness relationship. GAPC accepts no liabilityfor any information identified from those searches/screenings or any claims arising from any verbal orwritten agreements members may engage in withone another.

FOLLOW US ONSOCIAL MEDIA

During this time of guarantine, Guardians andHealthcare professionals can keep connected andinformed of upcoming meetings and other events.

Division of Inspector GeneralOffice of Ken Burke

Clerk of the Circuit Court and Comptroller for Pinellas County, Florida

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HOW TO CONTACT US:If we can be of assistance, please call:Division of Inspector General, PIU ....... 727-464-8371Division of Inspector General, Fax .......... 727-464-8386Probate Court Records ........................ 727-464-3321 Guardianship Hotline ......... 727-45FRAUD (453-7283)

Please note: If there is a topic youwould like discussed in any of ourupcoming monthly newsletter articles,please email it to:

asadowska@mypinellasclerk.org

Hector Collazo, Jr., Inspector General/Chief Audit Executive, who joined the Pinellas CountyClerk of the Circuit Court and Comptroller Division of Inspector General (IG) in 2005 is retiringJune 30th. Hector has over 30 years of professional experience in government and non-profitorganizations with 25 years of auditing and investigating experience. Hector became theDirector in 2009.

Anne DiNatale, Senior Inspector General, who joined the IG in 2000, is retiring September30th. Anne, who previously worked with the State of New York for 21 years as a Senior Auditor,has been auditing and investigating guardianships for the last 18 years within the Florida SixthJudicial Circuit Court of Pinellas County, as well as conducting investigations of professionalguardians throughout Florida on behalf of the Office of Professional andPublic Guardians (OPPG).

As of June 20th, the guardianship team will include:

Melissa Dondero, Inspector General/Chief Audit Executive, has been withthe IG for 17 years. Melissa started out as an entry level auditor, wasmentored by experienced and knowledgeable coworkers, and eventuallyworked her way up to management. Melissa had been an Assistant Inspector General the lastsix years, conducting audits, investigations, reviews, and consulting projects, working with theState Attorney’s Office, law enforcement, and other agencies in support of criminal investiga-tions, as well as managing staff and several ongoing audits and investigations.

Ava Sadowska, Assistant Inspector General, has been with the IGfor 10 years. Ava, who has over 23 years of professional auditingexperience, has been an Assistant Inspector General for the last fiveyears. Ava has been conducting audits, investigations, reviews, andconsulting projects as well as managing staff and several ongoingaudits and investigations including those involving guardianships.

Darcy Eckert, Senior Inspector General, who joined the IG in 2015and has over ten years of professional auditing experience.

James Nassiri, Inspector General I, who joined the IG in 2019 and waspreviously a patrol deputy for five years with the Pinellas County Sheriff’sOffice.

Allan Weistock, Inspector General I, who joined the IG in 2019 and was previously a detectivefor seven years with the Pinellas County Sheriff’s Office

Member of the StatewideInvestigation Alliance

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CHANGES, GOODBYE, AND HELLO

The Sixth Judicial Circuit recently published a suggested form for a Petition for

Attorney’s Fee attorney’s along with an Attorney Fee Review Checklist. A Guardian Fee

Review Checklist was also published. The Checklists should be completed and filed

with any guardian or attorney fee petitions filed. All documents are available at:

http://www.jud6.org/GeneralPublic/GuardianshipForms.html#otherforms

in pdf and Microsoft word format. The Court has determined that using these forms

will streamline their process for review of fee petitions. An additional resource filled

with helpful Fee Petition pointers is available here:

http://www.jud6.org/GeneralPublic/GuardianshipForms/Guardian%20Fee%20Pointers%206th%20JudUpdate.pdf.

Help out the Court by reviewing the pointers and utilizing the new forms.

Wondering what to do in a Zoom hearing? Not only do Zoom hearings seem to be the wave of the future,

but because vulnerable adults often have to appear at guardianship hearings, Zoom hearings may be with

guardians and guardianship attorneys for a while. The Sixth Circuit has also published guidance for attorneys

and parties appearing at Zoom hearings. It is available here:

http://www.jud6.org/UsingZoomforCourtHearings-Participants.pdf.

COURT UPDATES - FEE PETITION FORMS

BY AUBREY POSEY, ESQ., HITCHCOCK LAW GROUP

Aubrey Posey, Esq.

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EverydayEssentials

EverydayEssentials

ShampooHairbrush

CombsSoap

ToothbrushToothpasteBody Wash

Incontinence ProductsLotion

Word Search BooksColoring Books

Pens/Crayons/Colored PencilsGreeting Cards

(with stamp included on envelope)

TissuesCosmetics (powder, blush, lipstick)

Costume JewelryNail Polish

Nail Polish RemoverAftershaveCotton Balls

The GAPC is collecting new, unopened items for the indigent seniors in ourcommunity.Items needed include, but are not limited to the following:

UPDATE: EEvveerryyddaayy EEsssseennttiiaallss ffoorr nneeeeddyy sseenniioorrss aarree ccrruucciiaall aatt tthhiiss ttiimmee.. If you can possiblydonate to this GAPC effort now, there are two ways set up for you to give while we are having only virtual meetings.(1) Go to the GAPC website and look for a donate button where you can use your credit card to donate directly.(2) Contact Eileen Dougan at douganem@gmail.com and arrange for her to pick up your items.

Please remember organizations are welcome and encouraged to make financial contributions at any time toEveryday Essentials.

TIPS FOR USING ZOOMBY ORLANDO ACOSTA

Zoom has helped us connect and reconnect, and now seems to be a permanent part of how we do our work.Here are some things we can do to make it a better experience for ourselves and other Zoomers:

#1 – Install the Zoom client app.

#2 – Test yourself in Zoom’s ‘safe room’.

You’ll connect to a solo meeting exactly like you would a real one (see #4 below). Try it all out, have fun.But practice #3, next!

#3 - Mute yourself and start your video. Your cat, the lawn service, or the toilet flushing might not alwaysbe welcome sounds (I’ve heard all three!). And too many people talking at once makes it impossible some-times to understand anything. But folks do want to see you.

#4 – Use the emailed link to join a real Zoom meeting. This is the easiest way to join a meeting.

#5 – Make sure your name is displayed. If you didn’t during setup, then, unfortunately, there’s no easyway to do this after – it takes several steps to get to your name. The easiest way is through the Zoom application.Go to Settings (or Preferences) and select Profile. Then select “Edit My Profile”. You can update your name there.

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Reboot your system (always good to do).Go to zoom.us (just type it in like that). In the upper right corner:Zoom will know what sort of computer you have. Just click “Download”Follow the normal procedures for installing software.If asked, allow Zoom access to your microphone and camera.Enter your first/last name when asked.Accept the default in everything else.

Go to zoom.us/test. Click the blue “Join” button.

Stay muted until you want to talk;Click the Unmute button, speak, and click again. ---OR--- Press the space bar like a walkie-talkie.For video, just click “Start video” and you’re set. If the cat photo-bombs you, or you need to exercisesome discretion, click the same button (which now says “Stop video”) and you’re set.A red slash means your mic/video is OFFClicking on the Unmute or Start Video will do just that, and they’ll switch to Mute and Stop Video.It’s always the same button.

Open/run the Zoom application first.Go to the invite email and click on the long link inside it. The computer will either

a) connect you to the meeting, orb) confirm you want to connect to the meeting in Zoom. Either way, you’ll connect to the meeting.

You may be put in a waiting room. Unfortunately, there aren’t any magazines or Muzak playing. Thehost probably wants to make sure who you are before letting you in (so make sure your name is in yourprofile in Step #1 above).

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