Message from the President

June, 2026

Make new friends but keep the old, one is silver, the other gold. (A children’s song)

Dear Members and Sponsors,

Our current year, 2026, is almost half gone. We have had the first 2 of our quarterly meetings, with 2 more to go before the year is over. With the help of numerous members and especially our officers and directors the year has been successful.

Our website has been updated and refreshed. Due to the reality of inflation, we have raised our annual dues to $225.00, which is still a bargain considering the benefits of membership:  Four dinner meetings annually at various locations around the County for the convenience of our members; Three of the dinner meetings include Continuing Legal Education opportunities; The fourth meeting is a social event where each member may bring a guest; the National Academy of Continuing Legal Education (NACLE) provides the option of 5 additional on-line CLE credits at no charge to members.

Membership is a fundamental part of our organization, both the addition of new members and retention of current members.  As some of our members think about retirement, I would remind them that whether or not they maintain an office, continuing legal education is required so long as they remain members of the Florida Bar. Through AREC membership, the majority of the required CLE hours per reporting cycle are both available and affordable. That alone makes membership an asset. The dinners and the comradery with fellow members are a bonus. Referrals among our members, based upon various areas of expertise, are encouraged and form a bond amongst our members.

To sustain our vitality, we encourage our current active members to recommend and nominate new members from our professional community.  Additionally, our current members are encouraged to share their knowledge and experience to guide AREC into the future by volunteering to serve as officers and/or directors of AREC.  We encourage members to support our sponsors and use their services when possible, and if appropriate, to explain the benefits of sponsorship and solicit new sponsors

The current year is passing quickly, but with the help of both our members and sponsors, the future of AREC is unlimited.

Ronald E. Shnider

President AREC 2026