Do you know what it takes to produce and distribute a Treatise update? It takes focus, structure and discipline. These three interrelated hallmarks characterize the production and distribution of the Treatise on Florida Environmental & Land Use Law. Here’s how.

     First, focus provides perspective and purpose. Perspective is the context. The Treatise context is that of a “formal, systematic discourse of observations, interpretations, findings and conclusions of environmental and land use law specific to Florida.” Purpose makes our efforts meaningful. Our purpose is to achieve two ELUL Section goals: (1) to become “the general reference authority” and (2) to be an “educational forum” for Florida's experts and specialists in environmental land use law.

     Second, the distinctiveness of the Treatise, its unique identity if you will, is defined by its structure. Structure comes from standards of substance and process. The ELUL Treatise Guidelines for Authors and Editors: Developing the Treatise on Florida Environmental & Land Use Law set the standards for article format, content and style; the schedule for updating articles; and the deadlines for producing and distributing the Treatise. The “Guidelines” are available as a download.

     Finally, discipline is required to consistently and uniformly achieve the expected results. Discipline is about working purposefully, methodologically and expeditiously. In fact, discipline is critical to enabling 128 authors to regularly create and update articles that cover a range of topics of interest to Florida environmental practitioners.

     In advance of each update, in February and August, authors are personally reminded of the next opportunity for change. Then, as new and updated articles are received, each article is systematically conformed to the specified standards; indexes of authors, cases, citations and subjects are created; and the collection is electronically prepared for distribution on compact disk and online through the Internet.

     By subscription with two updates each year, distribution on compact disk provides electronic access to the entire Treatise with a variety of quick-access navigational and research aids. Individual articles are available on demand through the Internet!

     You can obtain a subscription to the Treatise on compact disk by calling REGfiles at 800/543-1616. Or, to obtain an individual article, just access the online collection. From your computer, go to the URL http://www.shopregfiles.com; select “ELUL Treatise” under Digital Publications; click the chapter title of interest; view the articles; make an electronic purchase; and immediately download to your computer the articles you choose.

     While we begin with publishable articles, producing and distributing the Treatise on Environmental & Land Use Law requires focus, structure and discipline. As you contribute to and use the Treatise, let us know what you think. Send us your comments on what does or does not work and how we can make the Treatise an even more valuable tool.

Ellen B. Prest
President
REGfiles, inc.