Chairman’s Message

Florida continues to lead on school choice for parents and students

The Legislature has passed bills maximizing parental choice by expanding eligibility and streamlining school choice scholarship programs for students with unique abilities and students from lower income families. The Senate passed House Bill 7045, School Choice, sponsored in the Senate by Senator Manny Diaz, Jr.

“I’m pleased to see the Senate stand with Florida parents who overwhelmingly support expanding eligibility for these popular school choice programs. We know that parents are their children’s first and best educators, a fact that has certainly been highlighted over the last year,” Senate President Wilton Simpson said. “We want school choice to be an option for every family. This important legislation further streamlines our existing school choice scholarships, and expands eligibility for lower income families, families of students with unique abilities, adopted children, and children whose parents serve in our military.”

The legislation expands school choice to allow a family of four earning less than $100,000 to receive full funding for K-12 education costs at a school of their choice under an expansion of the Family Empowerment Scholarship Program. Eligibility is expanded to students who are not enrolled in a public school, students of parents serving in the military, and students who are in foster care or adopted.

Read much more here: https://www.flsenate.gov/Media/PressReleases/Show/3963

The Wall Street Journal ran a terrific editorial on Florida’s school choice bill, the final line of which is: Florida is a haven for overtaxed northerners, but it’s also an education refuge for low- and middle-income families.

Read more here:
https://www.myfloridahouse.gov/Sections/Documents/loaddoc.aspx?DocumentType=Press%20Release&FileName=764

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Holding Big Tech accountable. Both chambers of the Florida Legislature have now approved legislation barring social media companies from deplatforming political candidates. It’s a classic free speech, anti-censorship, equal access and protection bill for all Floridians.

Republicans and free-speech advocates — and just a lot of Americans — were outraged after the sitting President of the United States, President Donald Trump, was suspended and then banned from Facebook and Twitter in January on the spurious accusation that his content had the potential to incite violence. It did not, but plenty of content that the social media platforms do allow does have the potential, and expectation, to incite violence — such as Antifa organizing on their platforms.

After the appalling, partisan ban of the President,the New York Post, Parler, and Republican candidates such as Laura Loomer, Governor Ron DeSantis called for laws stopping the social media giants from doing this again. After all, for better or worse, they are the public square now and access to them is required for free speech to flourish. Under the measure, social media giants would be forbidden to suspend the accounts of candidates for more than 60 days before an election has been resolved.

Read more here: https://www.baynews9.com/fl/tampa/news/2021/04/28/florida-house-oks-bills-banning-social-media-deplatforming–voting-drop-boxes-

Legislation

The Florida House and Senate have agreed to a budget that is balanced, while making record investments in flood mitigation, education and leaving $6 billion in budget reserves. The 2021 General Appropriations Act prepares Florida today for a better tomorrow. In reconciling the House and Senate budgets, both sides praised the other for their spirit of cooperation throughout the process.

“Working together with our partners in the Senate, we were able to craft a budget that funds immediate needs and also long-term priorities for the future,” House Speaker Chris Sprowls said. “In the greenest budget in Florida’s history, we respond to the needs of our state in areas like flooding mitigation, state park maintenance and water quality. We provide unprecedented levels of budget reserves, make record investments in higher-education funding, fund an overhaul of our workforce system and extend postpartum Medicaid coverage from two months to a full year.”

House Appropriations Committee Chair Trumbull said: “We make smart, good-government investments into programs that provide lasting benefits for generations. From unprecedented infrastructure funding to record investments into beach renourishment to bonuses for teachers and front-line workers, we make the right decisions for Florida’s future.”

The $101.5 billion budget includes $6.9 billion in federal funding from Medicaid increases and federal education stimulus funds. If those funds were not included, the budget would be $94.6 billion, slightly above the $92.3 billion budget approved last year.

Read more here: https://www.myfloridahouse.gov/Sections/Documents/loaddoc.aspx?DocumentType=Press%20Release&FileName=763

Florida Update

Governor DeSantis announced a historic gaming compact between the State of Florida and the Seminole Tribe of Florida. The agreement will generate a minimum of $2.5 billion in new state revenue over the next five years, and an estimated $6 billion through 2030.

“This historic compact expands economic opportunity, tourism, and recreation, and bolsters the fiscal success of our state in one fell swoop for the benefit of all Floridians and Seminoles alike,” Governor DeSantis said. “Our agreement establishes the framework to generate billions in new revenue and untold waves of positive economic impact.”

Larger and more expansive than any other gaming compact in U.S. history, the agreement increases the revenue to the State of Florida from the Seminole Tribe from no revenue to over $6 billion over the next decade, with a guaranteed minimum of $2.5 billion during the first five years. Most notably, the compact modernizes the gaming industry through the authorization of sports betting in Florida through the Tribe. The agreement also provides protections for pari-mutuel operations and the opportunity to participate in sports betting offered by the Tribe.

Read more here: https://www.flgov.com/2021/04/23/governor-ron-desantis-strikes-historic-gaming-compact-with-seminole-tribe-of-florida/

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Governor DeSantis announced significant progress in the Everglades Agricultural Area Reservoir Project in a press conference where he was joined by Florida Department of Environmental Protection Secretary Noah Valenstein and the South Florida Water Management District to announce significant progress on the Everglades Agricultural Area Reservoir Project.

The SFWMD Governing Board unanimously approved an agreement with the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers that keeps the Corps on track to begin federal construction on the reservoir component this year. In April 2020, Governor DeSantis announced that the South Florida Water Management District began construction on the State of Florida’s component of the project, the stormwater treatment area, 12 months ahead of schedule.

“Today marks a critical milestone for Everglades restoration and achieving our state’s long-term environmental goals,” Governor DeSantis said.

Read more: https://www.flgov.com/2021/04/22/governor-ron-desantis-announces-major-milestone-to-advance-eaa-reservoir-project/

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Chief Financial Officer Jimmy Patronis needled Michigan Governor Gretchen Whitmer with a letter this week in response to ongoing revelations that she and a top staffer visited Florida recently after telling Michigan residents they should not travel — particularly to Florida. CFO Patronis provided the governor and her staff with tourism materials from the state’s “Visit Florida” marketing board to “help plan” their next trip down.

“Now that you and your COO have personally experienced what the Sunshine State has to offer, I encourage you to share your experiences publicly. More importantly, however, don’t be a stranger!”

Read more here: https://www.foxnews.com/politics/desantis-cabinet-member-trolls-michigans-whitmer-over-travel-mess-by-sending-tourism-pamphlets

REMEMBER: @FloridaGOP and retweet and share. The Republican message must be spread around the state and you are integral to making that happen.

Article by our February speaker Gene Kopelson

As President Trump returns home from his successful trip to Asia, America and her Asian allies face the continued specter of North Korea fulfilling its threats to launch nuclear-tipped intercontinental ballistic missiles.

A major component of our present defenses is the latest generation of our antimissile defense shield, proposed by President Ronald Reagan in the early 1980s as his Strategic Defense Initiative (SDI). But few realize just how long Reagan had pushed for America to create such a workable defense shield: In fact, it was 50 years ago this month.

In late September 1967, California’s Republican governor, Ronald Reagan, was flying east after a successful campaign stop in his home state of Illinois. Reagan was some ten months into his first presidential campaign, which had begun only a few weeks after winning the governorship the prior November. Reagan was to meet the all-important senator from South Carolina, Strom Thurmond, who was about to release his own autobiography, edited by conservative icon Lee Edwards. One of Thurmond’s favorite topics was antiballistic missiles.

As Reagan landed, Time hit the newsstands with a cover story on a possible American defensive missile shield aimed to protect the United States. Both land-based and space-based defensive missiles were envisioned. The article also revealed that Soviets were already completing their own defensive missile shield around Moscow, and the Johnson administration felt that all that America could do was to design our own system to prevent a Chinese attack. Thurmond later would tell candidate Richard Nixon that his, Thurmond’s support, was dependent on whether Nixon would agree to fund such a defense program, so it is highly likely that Thurmond discussed it with Reagan as well.

A few weeks later at a campaign stop in Seattle on November 10, the press asked Reagan as to whether America should match the Soviets’ expenditure for weapons in space. Reagan’s answer is noteworthy:

“I am one who has followed with interest the discussion in the press, and in magazine articles, and so forth, statements and interviews by various people associated with both the military and space … Perhaps we are understating and underspending in the space program with regard to the military possibilities of space.”

Clearly, Reagan had been processing the idea of a missile defense shield over many weeks. But as a potential president of the United States come January 1969, he wanted to learn much more. He had read voraciously on the subject but wanted to see things first hand. Fortunately, the exact cutting edge research center was just around the corner from the gubernatorial mansion in Sacramento. Reagan had his staff arrange a private gubernatorial visit to America’s Lawrence-Livermore National Laboratory.

Dr. Edward Teller was the physicist in charge of developing America’s possible defensive missile shield.

Reagan’s visit was not a publicity stunt for a brief time. Instead, Reagan spent many hours there and was without the press. Teller showed Reagan all the various projects. Teller recalled that Reagan was a careful listener who asked a dozen questions which were thoughtful and to the point.

During the third week of July 1968, a short national debate occurred about America signing an Anti Ballistic Missile (ABM) Treaty with the Soviet Union. In the treaty, Moscow could keep its missile shield but the U.S. would forgo any further development. Dr. Teller testified before the Senate Foreign Relations Committee and urged that America not give up its plans to develop an antimissile shield. But the strongest words came in Amarillo from candidate Reagan:

“In recent days there have been big smiles in the Kremlin… But I wonder if they are smiling or laughing at us? We are now ready to talk a nuclear weapon treaty that will stop us from protecting our cities, as theirs are already protected on an anti-ballistic missile program.”
Reagan went on tearing into the Soviet Union as a country that has broken “more than 50 treaties” and feels it can break any treaty when it fits its national interests. He almost used the words, “Evil Empire.”

For candidate Reagan in 1968, the ABM treaty would pass, and Reagan’s idea of a missile defense shield would lie dormant for a decade and a half until President Reagan again would meet with Dr. Teller and SDI would be proposed. Despite Democrats’ scoffing at the idea and attempts to defeat any funding for it, resolute Reagan would stand firm for his idea, even when it would mean the breakdown of negotiations with Gorbachev in Reykjavik.

In the second decade of the twenty-first century, America is facing the twin nuclear-tipped missile threats from North Korea and Iran. The heart of our and our allies’ defenses owes its existence to the foresight of Ronald Reagan fifty years ago.

Gene Kopelson is the author of “Reagan’s 1968 Dress Rehearsal: Ike, RFK, and Reagan’s Emergence as a World Statesman” (Figueroa Press, 2016) and has published about Reagan’s 1966 successful gubernatorial campaign with Americans of Mexican descent. To read more of his reports, Go Here Now.

Posts by Gene Kopelson

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• Choosing Israel, Trump Mirrors Reagan
• View More Posts by Gene Kopelson

Jim Carter

I hope you are enjoying your summer! It was a terrific Independence Day in Naples. The 4th of July parade was a big success .

While we didn’t meet in July, August will start another full year of great programs as we go into election year 2018. Hard to believe!! Another round of critical elections as Governor Scott is termed out and running for the U.S.Senate against incumbent Democrat Bill Nelson. I’m already contacting candidates who are expected to run for Governor.

This fall our Salute to Veterans NOVEMBER 3, at the Hilton, will be an awesome event. Keni Thomas, an Army Ranger who fought in the battle of Mogadishu known to us by the movie BLACK HAWK Down based on the book by the same title. He was a consultant to the movie production as he relived that 18 hour fire fight where 19 Americans died an 78 were wounded. Sgt. Thomas stayed in the Army for three more years as a Ranger team leader Keni got out of the Army to pursue his music career. He is an award winning Nashville recording artist. His band Cornbread was featured in the film Sweet Home in Alabama and regularly tours with the CSO to entertain our troops.

Keni Thomas

His book “Get It On” is already a best seller. His message is powerful and has been engaged by many Fortune 100 companies as an outstanding Motivational speaker.
This is going to be a memorable Salute to Veterans Event. You don’t want to miss it. Tickets will go on sale August 1. The fee is $35.for everyone, EXCEPT the first 50 Veterans, who register out side of our membership, will be our guests. This is a major community out reach. Sponsor packages will be announced August 1. Preferred seating is available for table purchases of 8.

Go to our web site or Facebook page to keep updated on this event. Yes, Keni is the son of our own John Thomas, Col.US Army(ret). If it wasn’t for John , this event wouldn’t happen. View the event here.
Jim Carter,
President

Cybersecurity education and awareness is your first line of defense against attacks.

Get ready for a mind blowing session on how attackers gain access to your computer, with Gregory P. Scasny on Cyber Security.

Scasny is the CEO of Cybersecurity Defense Solutions

The best security technology in the world can’t help you unless you understand how to safeguard sensitive data and protect resources. This will involve putting practices and policies in place that promote security be able to identify and avoid risks.

Tips to be Covered

• Keeping a clean machine: You should have clear rules for you will install and keep on your computers.
• Following good password practices: Making passwords long and strong, with a mix of uppercase and lowercase letters, numbers and symbols, along with changing them routinely and keeping them private are the easiest and most effective steps you can take to protect your data.
• When in doubt, throw it out: Do not to open suspicious links in email, tweets, posts, online ads, messages or attachments – even if you know the source.
• Backing up your work: Whether you set your computers to backup automatically or do it yourselves, employees should be instructed on their role in protecting your work.

Register Now – Click Here

Gregory Scasny

Bio: Gregory P. Scasny

Cyber Security Systems

Greg is currently the CEO of CDS. He leads the strategic and technological
vision for the Network Security business solutions within CDS.
Greg is a graduate of Purdue University with a Bachelor’s Degree in Electrical
Engineering and Technology, with a focus on networking and
communications. A native of Northwest Indiana, Greg was employed out of
college as a ICS/Systems Engineer for Bethlehem Steel, where he worked and
was trained on securing various communication and control systems,
including very large scale ICS networks, SCADA Systems and VAX/VMS
Systems.

From Bethlehem, Greg started a Managed IT services company that provided IT and Information Security
services to businesses. in addition to his management duties, Greg led the information security side of
the IT business, designing several network security platforms that are installed at hundreds of sites still
today.

Upon exiting that business, Greg started CDS in 2014 to focus on information security as the core
business. At CDS, Greg is responsible for leading the consulting and product development of the
business, which includes in-depth cyber-security assessments, penetration testing, security program
implementation, virtual CISO services, SOC implementation, Intrusion Detection and Analysis, Threat
Intelligence and Deceptive Blue Team Defense Tactics. We truly take a “purple team” approach to our
client cyber security needs.

Greg is very active in the Southwest Florida Community. Greg has served on the Board of Directors for
the Southwest Florida Regional Technology Partnership, serves on the Business Advisory Committee for
Dunbar High School, The Advisory Board for The Rocket Lounge, The Cybersecurity Advisory Board for
Fort Myers Technical College, The Hodges University School of Technology Advisory Board and is also a
returning alumni for the News Press Young Professionals Advisory Board.

Greg has served as a mentor to the Ft Myers High School Cyber-Patriot Program and also has served on
the Citizen’s Editorial Board for The News Press. Recently, Greg has been named Cybersecurity Advisor
for Florida Gulf Coast University to assist in building a “Cyber-Lab” for their Cybersecurity Program.
Greg is a regular guest on WINK News, Fox 4 News, ABC-7 News and NBC-2 News in Fort Myers Florida
for Cybersecurity, Hacking stories and expertise. In addition, Greg has provided Cybersecurity Awareness
Training for the entire City of Cape Coral and for the IRS Cybercrimes Division in Tampa Fl. Greg has also
presented at the Cyber Ready conference at MacDill Air Force Base in Tampa Florida on Incident
Response.

Greg regularly volunteers to do speaking engagements, TV appearances and panel discussions on
Information Security, Hacking, Best Practices and Incident Response.

Topic: Active Shooter Training

The goal of this training, regardless of whether it is provided in a classroom setting or by viewing the video, is not to create unnecessary fear. The goal is to empower our community members with the knowledge and practical options so they may avoid, minimize or deter this type of threat should it ever happen to them or their loved ones, no matter where they may be.

Sgt. Neal Bohannon will be the presenter.

In addition to Sgt. Bohannon’s presentation, Sheriff Rambosk will be in attendance. Sherriff Rambosk would like to provide the audience with a state of the agency briefing.

RSVP – Click Here

Beginning at 7:30am

Cost:  $20 for Members $25 for Non-Members
Buffet Breakfast

Place:  Pelican Marsh Golf Club
Address: 1810 Persimmon Dr, Naples, FL
Club Phone:(239) 293-2399

Directions – Click Here

Watch The Video: