As I was reading the NAIW magazine; Today’s Insurance Professionals , I was reminded that we all are exactly that ! We are diversified professionals! In today’s more “casual” office atmosphere I think we tend to forget who we are and how to conduct ourselves. As we dress more casually it can effect our postures and attitudes. One of the first key things people notice is how we carry and present ourselves. The success of any encounter begins the moment someone lays eyes on you; what will your “aura” say about you?

At one of our meetings I presented a program on Business Etiquette from which all of us learned something new. I now urge all of you to read the article Business Body Language and use the information in your daily business contacts. You can be “casual” without being “unprofessional”!

The Board will be meeting January 31st. We will be trying to put together some programs for the remainder of the year that will benefit each member, if you have any suggestions please contact me. Brenda Weaver did a great job on last month’s program; Shades of Ethics and this month we have a speaker to present some financial advice geared toward women. Please try to attend.

“the roots of true achievement lie in the will to become the best that you can become”

SECRETARY’S MINUTES……….Debbie Musgrave

President Jeannie Upright called the meeting to order at 6:05 pm.
Members attending were: Jeannie, Patsy, Barb Kressler, Donna, Gail, Brenda & myself.

Donna brought Jean MacDermott has her guest.

The Secretary’s Report was accepted as printed in the newsletter.

The Treasurer’s Report was handed out at the meeting, & filed for audit.

Patsy read the collect.

After dinner, Brenda Weaver presented the program.

Ethics: Shades of Black & White
Brenda did a great job of presenting this topic. It was a very
Interesting evening.

What I came away with, is that Ethics are not always Black or White. There are always some people that will rely on the gray areas.

Now back to the Business Meeting.

Nothing to report on the Membership/Public Relations Committee.

Brenda reported that the CPCU class is finished.
Congratulations to all who finished. This was very tough material.

Nothing to report on the Safety Committee.

Patsy has emailed everyone asking for information to complete the Legislative Award for Regional Conference.

Nothing on the Horizon Report.

Discussion:

Barbara Kressler made a motion to keep the local dues the same $19, Brenda Weaver seconded the motion. A vote was taken, the dues will remain the same.

If not done already please turn in the money & tickets to Gail for the Lottery Cards.

We discussed making changes, regarding the award forms we complete in the future. Instead of completing them all, maybe concentrating on 1 or 2 that we feel strongly about.

There will be a board meeting a Gordner Ins. Agency 1/31/07 at 5:30.

Upcoming events: Regional Conference in Connecticut March 26th-28th. Patsy will reserve 3 rooms so far.

Jeannie won the 50/50 drawing, of $7 and donated it back to the delegate fund.

After a rewarding Good of the Cause we adjourned at 7:42 pm.

Respectfully Submitted By,
Dee Musgrave
Secretary

EDUCATION…………….Brenda Weaver

Flood CE Requirements Spur Member Questions

The Insurance Department's publication last November of notice 2006-12 reiterating the need for producers to take continuing education credits in flood insurance has spurred some questions from members.

In short the Flood Insurance Reform Act (FIRA), a federal law passed in 2004, requires all producers writing NFIP policies to be properly trained and educated and directed FEMA to establish minimum training standards. As a result, FEMA established a 3-hour CE credit guideline and encouraged the states to adopt a one-time flood training requirement. Pennsylvania is one of the states that have decided not to adopt a specific flood CE requirement. Instead, the Insurance Department issued its notice to simply notify producers that they are expected to comply with the training required by FIRA.

IA&B recommends that members who sell flood insurance register for an approved flood education class. IA&B is planning additional flood Webinars in the near future as well as the treatment of flood as an additional topic in existing programs such as the Certified Insurance Counselor (CIC) designation or the James K. Ruble Graduate Seminars.

“Never share MVR’s with a commercial client”

If a commercial client asks you for an MVR in order to decide whether or not to hire a driver, and you provide the information (even verbally), you may find yourself facing some serious legal issues. MVRs fall both under the Federal Driver's Privacy Protection Act (FDPPA), and, because they are also considered "consumer reports", under the Fair and Accurate Credit Transactions Act (FACTA), formerly known as FCRA.

As a rule, you should ONLY pull MVRs for underwriting purposes; and accessing or sharing MVRs with the insured to make an employment decision is NOT an insurance underwriting function. Do not rely on a waiver signed by the prospective employee to the employer. It may hold the employer harmless, but not exonerate you for disclosing the information. In addition, it is very likely that:

·        your vendor contract prohibits you from using MVRs for any purpose other than underwriting;
·        You will be deemed a consumer reporting agency and subject to a whole new set of requirements;
·        providing MVRs to a commercial insured for employment purposes is outside the scope of your agency's E&O policy. If your agency is sued because of an improper use of MVRs, the policy would not cover for the loss.

Your client may be entitled to the information, but not to access it through you. You should advise your customer to contact the Department of Transportation (PennDOT) directly.

PROGRAM AND MENU………Gail Bradley

The Feb 21st meeting will be held at Portabella’s Catering in Lightstreet. Dinner will be shared at 6pm. Snow date is February 22nd.

Please RSVP by February 16th by emailing Gail Bradley at brado@ptd.net.

The menu is as follows:
Salads: tossed, waldorf and creamy cucumber
Entrée: chicken marsala, applejack pork
Vegetables: snow peas, parsley potatoes

SAFETY…….Barbara Kressler

More Tips for Weathering the Winter
· Consider using non-toxic de-icing substances such as clean clay cat litter, sand, or fireplace/stove ash to prevent hazardous waste from chemicals. Chemical de-icers can be hazardous to your pets, your trees and shrubs, and the environment. Antifreeze that leak from car engines and chemical snow melters on driveways, roads, and runways can pollute surface waters and groundwater through the soil.
· Winterize your vehicle by checking your air filter and fluid levels, checking tires for tread wear and proper inflation, and checking the condition of your windshield wipers. Ensuring your vehicle is ready for weather changes will reduce damage, which prevents waste from broken parts, and will keep you safe on the road.
· If you have a wood-burning fireplace, save your ashes in a tin instead of throwing them away. Cold wood ashes can be mixed in your compost heap to create a valuable soil amendment that provides nutrients to your garden.
· Use electric snow removal products rather than gasoline-powered ones. While electric products consume energy, they do not emit greenhouse gases. As alternatives, use snow shovels, ice crackers, and brooms to clear snow from your sidewalk, porch, or driveway.
· If you have a manual thermostat or no thermostat at all, one way to save energy and money this winter is to install an ENERGY STAR qualified programmable thermostat. When installed and used with the four pre-programmed temperature settings for weekend and weekdays, you can save about $100 each year while staying comfortable. Before leaving for vacation, turn down your thermostat (or use a programmable one) so that you don't waste natural resources by generating unneeded heat. You can also buy outdoor and indoor lights with timers so that lights don't stay on all night.
· Close the recycling loop. Many articles of clothing, such as jackets, scarves, gloves, and boots, are now made from recycled materials. Most fleece products are made from recycled plastic soda bottles, and certain clothing and shoe manufacturers use recycled cotton scraps and rubber tires to make their products.
· Winter storms often cause power outages. Prevent waste by keeping rechargeable batteries rather than disposable ones stored throughout your house with your flashlights. If you do use disposable batteries, prevent hazardous waste by buying batteries with low mercury content.
· Recycle old newspapers by making rolled paper logs for your fireplace. Roll newspaper sheets around a broom stick until your log is the desired size, then soak your log thoroughly in water. Dry the log overnight and use like ordinary wood. Always follow proper safety precautions when burning anything around your home.
· To make sure your heating system (boiler, furnace or heat pump) is operating at its most efficient, it is a good idea to have a contractor perform a routine check-up and any necessary maintenance on the equipment before freezing weather drives up your energy bill.
· If your heating equipment more than ten years old, it may be time for a replacement to a more energy-efficient unit. While initially an expensive investment, replacing old equipment with ENERGY STAR qualified equipment saves more energy and money in the long run.
For more information check the website www.epa.gov/region03/winter, that is where I found this article.

MEMBERSHIP AND PUBLIC RELATIONS…Gail Bradley

It is the start of another new year and time to work on enlarging our membership in IPSV.

I have put together a letter of invitation to a meeting to send to any potential new member. Give me the name and address of someone you would like to have invited to a meeting and I will see that an invitation is sent to that person. Jeannie gave me the name of someone in her area that I extended an invitation to and I will follow up with her to see if she would like to join us at a future date. I also included a note that we would offer a ride to anyone that would like to ride to their first meeting with someone, so you may be called upon for a ride!

I am still working on the letter to send to employers and hope to have that finished soon. I want it to include all the right information so I am taking my time with it.

Again remember that we are looking for each of the current members to extend an invitation to a fellow insurance professional to join us for a meeting and fellowship and learning what NAIW has to offer.

Remember that the Blood Mobile will be coming up in May - more details will follow

LEGISLATIVE…………………Patsy Lachat

LEG REG REVIEW
2007, Third Issue
(updated 01/24/07)
RENDELL SETS STAGE FOR HEALTH DEBATE
On January 17 Governor Ed Rendell presented his Administration’s vision for health care reform, setting the stage for the year’s dominant insurance issue.  In his press conference he said that his proposal has two basic thrusts, curbing costs and providing insurance to the uninsured which he said numbers almost a million Pennsylvanians.
                             
Cost
Rendell said that health care costs and result on premiums have created a financial burden particularly on small businesses who can no longer afford to offer benefits to employees.  He compared the increase in health care costs of over 75% from 2000-2006 versus an inflation rate over the same period of 17 percent and an increase in PA wages of only 13.3%.  His program would address cost by:
•  Targeting hospital-acquired infections as a cost that can be prevented if hospital implemented the Wagner Model, a hospital Best Practices protocol that (he said) eliminated hospital-acquired infections in Europe and Asia.  Specifically, he would force hospitals to absorb the costs rather than charge the individual or the insurer
•  Reducing emergency rooms use (the most expensive way to get medical care used by uninsured) by:
    - Requiring that hospitals have centers adjacent to emergency rooms for non medical emergencies.
    - Nurse practitioners would be permitted to treat routine problems rather than the patient having to experience delays in  the ER waiting for a doctor.  They would also be allowed to give shots.  (Another provision is that pharmacists would be permitted to give flu shots from their pharmacies, giving patients the option of not going to a doctor’s office.)
•  Prohibiting smoking in public restaurants, bars, and other facilities
•  Creating incentives for medical treatment in underserved areas by:
    -  Forgiving loans for health professionals locating in rural areas
    -  Providing start-up assistance for medical clinics offering services after normal doctors’ hours
•  Prohibiting medical underwriting by health insurers, requiring a modified community rating system, and giving the Insurance Department the authority to review rate filings by for-profit carriers
•  Use of electronic records transfer and access would be stressed in order to reduce duplicative testing. The example was given for someone away from home forced to visit a doctor having a diagnostic test such as an MRI performed because the doctor did not have access to recently performed tests back home.
•  Although not calling for a return to a ‘certificate of need’ re new equipment for health providers, greater use of protocols and reviews could reduce the number of duplicative facilities such as heart or cancer treatment facilities
•  Promote school health education and expand the breakfast program 
 
Insurance
Rendell’s program would expand adultBasic, the uninsured government program begun by former Governor Ridge and change the name to Cover All Pennsylvanians (CAP) program. He said that 71% of PA uninsured are employed and 76% are below 300% of the federal poverty level, or about $ 60 K for a family of four.  Specifically, it would:
-  Require businesses to provide health insurance OR  pay three percent of payroll to the state to the Cover All Pennsylvanians program
-  Allow for a five-year phase in for businesses fewer than 50 employees
-  6-month waiting period before getting into Cover All Pennsylvanians to reduce ‘crowd-out’. An exception to this would be for individuals and dependents who are unemployed.
-  Employees would contribute a share of the costs ranging from ten dollars to $70 dollars a month depending on where they stood relative to the state’s average income. Employers would pay about $130.00 a month per employee. 
-  $280.00 a month is the Rendell estimate of the full state cost per person for the program.
-   Those uninsured making over 300% of the federal poverty level would pay $280.00 a month.
-   Benefits would be consistent with adultBasic plus Rx and some behavioral treatments
 
Funding
This program would be funded by a combination of the following:
•  Tobacco Settlement money now being used for adultBasic and for reimbursing hospitals for uncompensated care
•  Tax on cigars and smokeless tobacco products
•  Increasing the cigarette tax
•   Greater cost controls particularly for wellness programs and Rx generics such as those now used by the Public Employee Benefits Trust Fund that Rendell credits with keeping premium increases for the state to almost nothing
•   A three-percent of payroll cost to businesses not offering health insurance (The word ‘tax’ was not used at the press conference. It is called ‘Fair Share Assessment’.)
•   Draw federal matching funds for those under 300% of the federal poverty level
 
Enactment
Governor Rendell said at his press conference that there are 47 separate pieces of legislation that will have to be passed by the General Assembly in order to enact his total program.  He expected them to be completed by June.  NOTE: His Press Office may have later clarified that not all parts of this program would pass the legislature by that date.
***
 
GENERAL ASSEMBLY NEWS
A future issue of Leg-Reg Review will list committee and leadership changes for House and Senate but here are two updates:
* Senator Terry Punt (R-Franklin) was named to a leadership position by the Senate Republicans.  By assuming the position of Caucus administrator, he relinquished his chairmanship of the powerful Community and Economic Development Committee.
* Senator Don White (R-Indiana) is the new chairman of the Senate Banking & Insurance Committee, the committee through which most insurance legislation (except for Workers Compensation) goes.  White has insurance experience.  He replaces Gib Armstrong (R-Lancaster) who was elected chair of the Senate Appropriations Committee.

MISCELLANEOUS……..

February 14………..Valentines Day

BIRTHDAYS…