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Free Lunch Winner for the Month:
To start again Fall 2008
Year End Grand Prize Winner:
Mark Ohlstrom from Unigard Insurance
Prize: $75 gift certificate to C.I. Shenanigans Restaurant
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Monthly Meeting Dates and Topics |
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2007-2008 Meeting Dates and Topics
September 20,2007
Motives and Indicators of Arson
October 11,2007
Attorney Presentation on New WA laws and issues
November 9,2007 - I - Day Meeting from 7:45AM - 1:00 PM
***Note this is a Friday-
FEMA - 4 FEMA approved CE credits - cost will be $40
December 13, 2007
Charity of President's choice
Cat Tales Zoological Park
January 10, 2008
Personal Development, Keri Johnson
February 14, 2008
Identity Theft Insurance, Mark Patrick
March 13, 2008 Ethics Meeting from 7:45 am to 11:15 am
Ethics &Risk Management for Agent’s and Brokers / Errors and Omissions
Brenda Stover, CPCU
April 10, 2008
Methods of Auto Theft - Anti Theft Systems & New Innovations - How safe is your vehicle?
Scott Wahl & Russ McBride, Senior SIU Investigators for State Farm Insurance
May 8, 2008
Officer Elections and planning meeting, members only
Be sure to always rsvp one week in advance to Debbie Johnston
* IDAHO CE CREDITS! We will apply for Continuing Education Credits in both Washington and Idaho.
Lunch meetings are $15 for both members and Non Members
Each time you attend a monthly meeting, your name will be entered to win a free lunch at the next meeting. If you fill out the brief questionaire at the end of everymeeting, your name will get entered a second time so your chance will double.
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Chapter Officers 2008 - 2009 |
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Our chapter has teamed up with Safeco Insurance and the Safeco Cares Committee to provide volunteer opportunities to CPCUs. We will be keeping our chapter website updated with current and upcoming projects that the Safeco Cares Committee is working on and we invite all our local CPCUs in Idaho and Washington to participate.
Employee-managed Safeco Cares Committees serve as liaisons between Safeco and the communities where the company does business. Committee members work with non-profit organizations to plan volunteer projects for groups of employees. Your local committee is comprised of employees crossing over several different departments.
If you're interested please sign up via our website at: http://inside.safeco.com/volunteer/. Click on Give Time, Find a Project, Volunteer, then enter the project ID # from below that you're interested in volunteering for.
- April 14th - April 25th: Penny Drive benefiting Spokane Guilds' School & Neuromuscular Center (no volunteers)
Every year Safeco teams up with the Guild School for their Annual Penny Drive. This year we will be collecting pennies within our site. We'll be competing against each other in teams…so start saving those pennies now! The team who has the most $$ per person collected will win their choice of a pizza party or $5.00 gift card for each team member, you decide! If your team would like to participate, please send me a note and I'll be sure to get a milk jug from the Guild School to you.
For example, if Team A has 10 members and collected $60.00, that's an average of $6.00 per person. If Team B has 3 members and collects $25.00, that's an average of $8.33 per person. So Team B would be the winner. Each team will need to keep track of their total $$ collected.
- #363 Saturday, May 3rd: Habitat for Humanity (volunteers 16 years and older needed)
Gain great skills while helping Spokane build stronger families! The Habitat staff provides all the training on the job, and can help you accomplish any job safely. By volunteering for Habitat for Humanity-Spokane on May 3rd you’ll be helping continue the legacy of assisting low income families build safe, affordable homes. We’ll be looking to volunteer as a group from 8:30am to 12pm – but even an hour or two is a great way to show your support. This year’s event will be located at 5517 E Union (near Fancher and Trent). We’ll provide maps.
Don’t wait – sign up now!
- Go to: https://www.easymatch.com/safecovolunteer
- Click on the Volunteer option
- Type in Project ID #: 363
- Click on “Safeco’s Annual Habitat Event”
- Sign up yourself and your family members!
- Need help signing up for this event? – call Jeff Sparks (jeffsp) @ 499-3751
Habitat of Humanity is dedicated to helping Spokane build a stronger community, and Safeco is proud to partner with them once again this year. Sign up today for our May 3rd event – a great volunteer activity for family members 16 yrs or older! Plan on wearing your Safeco Cares Tee Shirt for the event (let us know if you need one!).
Questions – e-mail or call Jeff Sparks, 499-3751 or Jeffsp@safeco.com
Fun facts about Habitat of Spokane:
1988: First Habitat-Spokane home built
181: Completed homes to date (November, 2007)
9: Homes currently under construction
400+ Children have received shelter and security through Habitat for Humanity-Spokane
20 new homes: 2007/2008 Goal
$80,000: Average cost to build a 3-bedroom Habitat home, including land.
$350: Typical monthly house payment including taxes, insurance, and 0% interest loan repayment
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Qualifications for Homeowners
- Currently living in inadequate housing conditions
- Ability to repay a 0%-interest loan
- Desire to own a home
- Willingness to put 500 hours of sweat equity into building homes
- Ability to pay closing costs of $2,000
- Meet income criteria of 25-50% of median income:
Family Size Gross Annual Income
One $10,075-$20,150
Three $12,950-$25,900
Five $15,550-$31,100
- # TBD Saturday, May 17th: American Lung Association 2008 Spokane Asthma Walk (volunteers needed - family friendly event!)
Last year over 100 of your Safeco friends and family from the Liberty Lake office walked to help those with lung disease and they raised nearly 10K that went to help our families breathe easy.
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Plan to attend a family friendly event that is fun for all ages. A short 3 mile walk in Mirabeau Park and a health fair are offered on Saturday morning May 17th.
Access this link for more information about your Safeco Cares team of walkers http://www.alaw.org/asthmawalk
Or email tawspa@safeco.com for additional information on registration and Safeco matching funds.
If you know ten people, you know someone with asthma. Join us to Walk and Blow the Whistle on Asthma.
- It is estimated that 20.3 million Americans suffer from Asthma. Of those 20.3 million approximately 5.5 million are children.
- Asthma is responsible for more lost school days than any other chronic disease.
- Even more frightening is the 55% increase in the death rate from asthma over the last 20 years. Every four days, someone in Washington State dies from asthma.
- The economic cost of asthma is unbelievable - over $14 billion dollars is spent annually to keep asthma and its potentially deadly affects under control.
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Spokane Is Golden - AGAIN! |
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To: Scott J. Zinkgraf, CPCU
RE: Circle of Excellence
CC: Kenneth K. Kanehiro, CPCU
Tami M. Wahl, CPCU
I am pleased to announce that the Spokane Chapter has earned the 2007 CPCU Society Circle of Excellence. Your chapter has qualified for the Gold level, the highest category of achievement in this comprehensive program! Congratulations!
The attainment of the Gold Circle of Excellence marks your chapter as a leader in the CPCU Society and in the community you serve. Thank you for your dedication of time and talent this past year. Please extend my congratulations to your leadership team and all chapter members who planned and participated in your many activities during the year.
Through the Circle of Excellence Program, I have an opportunity to view all the creative and worthwhile activities our chapters report. These activities promote the visibility of the CPCU designation, help members achieve career success, provide outreach to communities and mentor new designees and candidates assuring our future growth. Your chapter’s achievements each year are very gratifying and the sum total of all chapter efforts is impressive indeed! I hope you will continue to use the Circle of Excellence program to provide direction for your chapter and help you deliver value to your members.
In September, the 2007 Gold Circle will be mailed to your current chapter president. Please insert your Circle into the Circle of Excellence plaque you were sent previously and display it at chapter events. Make sure all your members are aware of this achievement and its significance. Plan time during your upcoming Conferment or I-Day program for a presentation ceremony.
The Spokane Chapter will also be recognized at the Annual Meeting and Seminars in Honolulu in a special Circle of Excellence display in the registration area and during the Circle of Excellence Recognition Luncheon on Tuesday, September 11, 2007. A formal invitation to the luncheon will be sent to you this summer.
Congratulations again on an outstanding achievement! You can take pride in the strength of your chapter. Best wishes to the Spokane Chapter for continued success!
Sincerely,
Betsey L. Brewer, CPCU
2006-2007 CPCU Society President
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Monthly Meeting Announcement |
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To: Members of the Spokane CPCU Chapter and Associate Members
Re: Spokane Chapter CPCU Meeting on Thursday, May 8, 2008 from 11:30 a.m. to 1:00 p.m.
Where: The Spokane Club, W. 1002 Riverside
Cost: $15 for members and associate members
Welcome to our year end meeting where we will hold our Officer Elections, and we will ratify the entire slate of officers for next year.
After the selection and the ratification of officers, Mary Jane, our treasurer, will discuss the Treasurer’s report for this past year, as well as the results of our surveys, and some of the ideas she took away from April’s National Leadership Institute and Chapter Leader Training in Orlando, FL.
Cass, our vice president, will discuss when next year’s officers will meet this summer to discuss and plan for next year.
Finally, we will open up the discussion to members to ask them what types of meetings they would like to see next year. Please bring your ideas and your suggestions to this meeting.
Thank you for making this year such a success!
Lunch is served promptly at 11:30 a.m. at the Spokane Club and the cost is $15.00. Room selection will depend on the number of attendees. We are responsible to pay for all RSVP's when we notify the Spokane Club of the number of attendees. We do bill for any RSVP that is unable to attend the meeting.
Please RSVP our Reservations Chairperson, Debbie Johnston, by noon on Thursday, May 1, 2008
Debbie Johnston, CPCU
Email: djohnston@moloneyoneill.com
For more information on upcoming meetings please visit the chapter web site.
http://spokane.cpcusociety.org
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May 13, 2008
At our May meeting, the members elected Josh Tyndell to the office of Secretary for the 2008-2009 season. The members then ratified the entire slate of officers for next year. I am proud to announce your Spokane Chapter CPCU Society Officers for the 2008-2009 season. They are:
Cass Cossairt, President
Mary Jane McCall, Vice President
Lisa Wren, Treasurer
Josh Tyndell, Secretary
After the selection and ratification of the officers, Mary Jane discussed the Treasurer’s report for this past year, as well as the results of our surveys, and some of the ideas she took away from April’s National Leadership Institute and Chapter Leader Training in Orlando, FL. Cass then discussed how next year’s officers will meet this summer to discuss and plan for next year’s meetings. Finally, we opened up the discussion to the members to ask them what types of presentations and topics they would like to see next year at our Chapter meetings. Some good ideas were generated as possible topics for discussion.
I am proud of the work the Chapter has done this past season, and I want to thank my fellow officers for all their invaluable assistance. It has been my honor and privilege to serve as your President this past year, and I look forward to enjoying future meetings with all of you.
Have a terrific summer and we will see you in September!
Tami M. Wahl, CPCU
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Dr. Mike's Favorite Insurance Sites |
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Insurance and Risk Management Websites
There are many valuable internet sites relating to insurance and risk management. A listing of some helpful sites is provided here. The listing does not include sites for private insurance companies and brokerages, although most of these organizations have a web address.
The American Institute for CPCU and the CPCU Society each have a web presence. If you’ve not already done so, access the sites:
www.aicpcu.org/ and www.cpcusociety.org/
Interested in starting work on a CLU or ChFC designation? Then visit the American College web site to learn about these designations:
www.amercoll.edu/
Have a question about insurance regulation in the State of Washington? Then visit the Insurance Department web site:
www.insurance.wa.gov/
The National Association of Insurance Commissioners (NAIC) is a regulatory body based in Kansas City. Membership consists of the ranking regulator from each state. While the organization cannot enact laws on its own, the NAIC drafts “model laws” which may be introduced in state legislatures, promoting regulatory uniformity. The NAIC coordinates reviews of insurance companies and also possesses a wealth of data about the insurance industry. The NAIC's web address is:
www.naic.org/
There is another organization that promotes insurance professionalism and continuing education. The National Alliance for Insurance Education and Research is based in Austin, TX. The National Alliance sponsors the CIC (Certified Insurance Counselor), CRM (Certified Risk Manager), and CISR (Certified Insurance Service Representative) designations. The National Alliance’s web address is:
www.scic.com/
The cost of insurance fraud is significant and all insureds bear a portion of the cost through higher premiums. There are a number of groups that attempt to prevent insurance fraud and to reduce the cost of insurance fraud. One such group is the Coalition Against Insurance Fraud. Visit their web site at:
www.insurancefraud.org/
Which state is the most “captive friendly”? It’s Vermont, by a wide margin. Indeed, in the fall of 2001, Vermont licensed its 500th captive insurance company. To learn more about the benefits of captive insurers and why Vermont is such a popular domestic domicile, visit:
www.thinkvermont.com/captive/
There are a number of resources on-line that deal with insurance law issues. Some web sites are sponsored by law firms willing to assist insureds. The address provided below is for a web site that is typical in this regard. Visit:
www.comsumerlawpage.com/
The best-known organization for drafting insurance forms is the Insurance Services Office (ISO). To learn more about ISO and the many services offered by this organization, visit their web site at:
www.iso.com/
The Legal Information Institute of the Cornell School of Law provides a wonderful web site with information about many aspects of legal liability. Visit the site at:
www.law.cornell.edu/
A site dealing with all aspects of personal insurance (life, health, homeowners, auto, umbrella, boat, etc.), as well as many personal insurance issues can be found at:
www.insure.com/
The goal of the Insurance Information Institute (III) is to promote understanding of property and liability insurance. III’s website contains a wealth of information, including papers/news briefs dealing with timely topics. Visit the Insurance Information Institute’s web site at:
www.iii.org/
There are many web sites available that also provide information helpful in making a life insurance purchase. Many life insurance companies have their own web sites, and there are sites that enable you to obtain life insurance quotes. The web site referenced below is typical of these sites and provides good advice and some helpful links. Access the site at:
www.1stinsured.com/
Most large cities have a RIMS Chapter. RIMS is the Risk and Insurance Management Society. RIMS helps to promote education and information important to practicing corporate risk managers. Visit the national RIMS web site at:
www.rims.org/
While RIMS is oriented toward private sector risk managers, risk management is also important for public entities (e.g. cities, universities, hospitals, etc.). The “public risk management” analog to RIMS is PERI, the Public Entity Risk Institute. Visit PERI’s web site at:
www.riskinstitute.org/
National Underwriter Company, a Cincinnati-based publisher is famous for its weekly insurance publications, National Underwriter Property/Casualty and National Underwriter Life/Health. The organization also publishes other monographs dealing with insurance issues. Explore the National Underwriter web site:
www.nuco.com/
The other major insurance news weekly is Business Insurance. BI provides news on all facets of insurance. BI’s web site address is:
www.businessinsurance.com/
Two sites with general information about property and casualty insurance, products, and suppliers are found at:
www.propertyandcasualty.com/
and
www.riskandinsurance.com/
Want information about the life insurance industry? The American Council of Life Insurers is a Washington D.C.-based organization that has a wealth of data about the life insurance industry. The organization serves as an advocate for issues important to the industry and publishes a booklet about the industry called The Life Insurance Fact Book. Visit the ACLI at:
www.acli.org/
A Web site providing valuable information about annuities and Individual Retirement Accounts (IRAs) can be found at:
www.annuity.com/
The Health Insurance Association of America's web site provides detailed information about individual and group health insurance plans. You can access the web site at:
www.hiaa.org/
For helpful information on many aspects of personal finance, including insurance, visit Kiplinger’s Personal Finance web page:
www.kiplinger.com/
We’re all impacted in some way by the Social Security Program. To learn more about Social Security and to obtain a rough estimate of Social Security benefits, visit:
www.ssa.gov/
To learn more about the independent agency system (also called the "American Agency system"), visit the Independent Insurance Agents of America’s (IIAA, aka “The Big I”) web site at:
www.iiaa.org/
What is the current outlook for employment in the insurance industry? Consult the Bureau of Labor Statistics Web site to learn about insurance employment today and in the future. Access the Web site at:
www.stats.bls.gov/
To learn what it takes to become an actuary, who (in addition to insurers) employs actuaries, the types of projects actuaries complete, how the actuarial job is rated by Jobs Rated Almanac, and average compensation for actuaries, visit the "Casualty Actuarial Society" web site at:
www.casact.org/
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Become a CPCU Champion
Promote CPCU Society to fellow employees and decision makers. Post meeting announcements at your workplace.
Candidate Mentoring
Reduce barriers to completion of the CPCU program by mentoring a candidate. Send encouraging emails at key dates throughout the year. Mentor candidates provided by IIA.
Continuing Professional Development (CPD)
Encourage and assist chapter members to qualify and apply for Continuing Professional Development certification or recertification.
Good Works
Coordinate community service activities which improve the lives of those in the community while letting others know that CPCU’s do make a difference.
Membership
Locate and renew lapsed members
Involve new designees
Recruit candidate members
Nominating
Recruit and identify individuals for leadership for the following year.
Public Relations
Newspaper, radio, media relations, press releases to communicate the activities of the chapter in the local area and within the CPCU Society.
Speakers Bureau
Speak to local school groups on issues of insurance
To sign up for a committee, please contact any of the CPCU officers.
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Commercial Agri Underwriter (#20353 )
The Spokane branch office of Unigard Insurance has an immediate opening for a commercial agri underwriter. In this role you will be an integral member of our respected underwriting team. You’ll be given an opportunity to grow your career by working on a variety premium sizes and risks from the simple to the complex! We will count on you to renew policies and work on a variety of new business. You'll develop strong relationships with our independent agents and learn to help them manage their book of business. As you broaden your experience, you will develop growth of profitable business within the territory by occasionally visiting your agents and discussing risk selection, risk improvement, and agency production.
If you have at least a year of experience underwriting commercial agri accounts and like working in a fast-paced, sales oriented team environment, we hope you consider growing with us. We reward our team with competitive benefits, incentive/bonus opportunities, a generous time-off package and flexible work environment.
Please visit www.unigard.com for the details and to apply.
EOE
Allied Insurance/Nationwide
For more information, or to apply for the positions, visit their website http://www.nationwide.com.
All Lines Insurance
Busy insurance agency looking for a licensed property and casualty agent to work in our personal lines department. We are a growing business that is service oriented and uses a team approach to meet our client’s insurance needs. Salary and benefits will depend on experience. Please fax a résumé to 509-624-3972
Associated Independent Agencies, Inc.
Full Time Personal Lines CSR needed in Colville branch of AIA Insurance. Minimum 1 year experience required. Benefits include medical insurance, 401k, paid vacation, flex days. Growing branch with promotional opportunities. Email or mail résumé to the following: Fred Lee, CIC
Associated Independent Agencies, Inc.
145 S. Main / PO Box 151
Colville WA 99114
509-684-5041
509-684-2544 (Fax)
flee@aiains.com
Farmers Insurance
Northside Farmers office is looking for a 15 to 20 hr per week CSR to help in our agency. Salary and hours depending on experience.
Please contact Jerry Rochelle, :4402 N Wall, Spokane, WA 99205327-1515, fax 327-4167, jrochelle@farmersagent.com
Fireman’s Fund
To view positions available, please use the following link: http://www.firemansfund.com.
Group Health NW
To view positions available, please use the following link: www.ghc.org.
Kemper Home and Auto
Kemper Auto and Home Group, a subsidiary of Unitrin, Inc., is currently seeking a Personal Lines Claims Representative generalist with experience for our growing regional office in Spokane, WA.
The successful candidate will have at least 3 years experience handling PL auto claims with total loss, auto physical damage and BI / litigation experience desired. We are looking for candidates with the desire to grow their claims career with a strong A-rated company. The employee will be responsible for making sure the KAHG policyholder receives the service, protection and benefits that were purchased, while at the same time controlling loss and expense payments.
College degree and/or AIC designation preferred or the equivalent in work related experience. Strong oral and written communication, problem solving, analysis, organization, decision making, teamwork and customer service skills are valued traits in the Kemper Auto and Home environment. Please submit resumes with cover letter and salary requirement to: Glen Lyons- HR Manager, Kemper Auto and Home, 80 Blue Ravine Road, Suite 200, Folsom, CA 95630, or by fax to (916) 294-2584, or via email to glyons@kahg.com.EEO-M/F/H/V
Payne Financial Group
To view positions available, please use the following link: http://www.pfgworld.com.
Premera Insurance
To view positions available, please use the following link: www.premera.com.
Principal Financial
To view positions available, please use the following link: www.principal.com/careers/index.htm.
St. Paul/Travelers
To view positions available with St. Paul/Travelers, please use the following link: http://www.stpaultravelers.com/careers/.
Safeco
Safeco has positions available! You can apply right on-line! Please copy and paste the following link into your browser for information!https://secure.safeco.com/secure/employment/jobcenter.asp
Unigard
To view positions available with Unigard, please use the following link: http://www.unigard-jobs.com/unigard/jobboard/.
Are you an employer who would like to be included in the employment section of our newsletter?
Please contact Lisa Wren at Kemper at lwren@eKemper.com or 509-323-4405 if you are an employer and would like to be included in the monthly Employment section of the Spokane Chapter of the CPCU Society Newsletter.
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