Peter M. Bakker Agency, Inc.
ASSURANCE VOLUME 04 / DECEMBER 2012
LIFESTYLE
FAMILY INSURANCE HEALTH TECHNOLOGY
INSURANCE COVER FLOOD ? UMBRELLA INSURANCE
CHOOSING NATURAL BABY PRODUCTS
HOW TO IMPROVE YOUR CHILDS VOCABULARY
PAGE
40 rneys o t t A . s r e t s ju lic Ad b u P . s r e d il u Roofers . B
S M A C S r D e I t s a O s i AV afterad
From the EDITOR
FROM THE EDITOR
FAMILY & THE HOLIDAYS Family. As the holidays get closer family is on our minds more and more. It’s what the holidays are all about. Relationships, memories, good times. As we enter this holiday season I want to encourage you to think about the meaning of family. There are so many crazy things going on in our world today, many of them negative and unsettling. However, in the midst of all of the craziness is family. It brings a sense of stability in an otherwise uncertain world. For some family may have moved away or be a memory but even in those times the idea will bring strength and warm feelings. We see our agency as an extension of your family, a part of your lives. We want to be involved as your children grow up and as you make your way through life. We see people buying new houses, new cars, putting their kids through college and moving into retirement. We are proud to be a part of that journey and having a part in making it happen. So during this holiday season, we ask that you think of us as you dwell on family. From our family to yours Happy Holidays and looking forward to a prosperous New Year.
Ted Baker Executive Editor
CONTENTS LIFESTYLE HOW CAN I AVOID SCAMS AFTER A DISASTER If your home was destroyed by a hurricane, wildfire or other disaster, be cautious.
DISASTER RECOVERY KIT CHECKLIST
04 06
A disaster, no matter how great or small, can be a hectic time in both your professional and personal life.
HURRICANE PREPAREDNESS CHECKLIST CULTURE OF PREPAREDNESS CULTURE OF PREPAREDNESS PREPARING YOUR BUSINESS / COMMUNITY
08 10 12 14
Not until a disaster strikes is the link between business and community truly realized.
HEALTH
30
HEALTH INSURANCE OPTIONS
HOW TO CHOOSE NATURAL BABY PRODUCTS
In the current economy, many families are in a state of crisis when it comes to their health insurance.
Watch a video on which natural baby products to use.
32
ATTEMPT THESE FACIAL EXERCISES TO APPEAR 10 TO 15 YEARS YOUNGER WITHIN DAYS
34 36
FITNESS MYTHS 10 SIMPLE CHANGES FOR HEALTHIER LIVING
INSURANCE
39 40 41
DOES HOMEOWNERS INSURANCE COVER FLOOD UMBRELLA INSURANCE TEST YOUR INSURANCE IQ: AUTO INSURANCE
TECHNOLOGY
43 44 46
FAMILY
WHAT TO DO WITH YOUR OLD ELECTRONICS SEO MARKETING
HUMOR CARTOONS
GOING GREEN QUOTE AND WISDOM PIECE OF MIND IMPROVE CHILDS VOCABULARY For many parents, encouraging their child to become an active reader can be difficult.
22 22 24 26 28
LIFESTYLE
HOW TO AVOID SCAM IN A DISASTER! If your home was destroyed by a hurricane, wildfire or other disaster, be cautious.
Unfortunately, there are dishonest service providers that prey on disaster victims. They know that people who have lost their homes and valuables may not be thinking clearly. If you have suffered this type of loss, don’t make any rash decisions. Talk to your insurance agent, who may recommend service providers in your area.
Roofers and Builders Don’t be rushed into signing a contract with any company. Instead, collect business cards and get written estimates for the proposed job. Beware of building contractors that encourage you to spend a lot of money on temporary repairs. Payments for temporary repairs are covered as part of the total settlement. If you pay a contractor a large sum for a temporary repair job, you may not have enough money for permanent repairs. In most cases, you should be able to make the temporary repairs yourself. Ask your insurance agent. And remember to keep receipts. Investigate the track record of any roofer, builder or contractor that you consider hiring. Look for professionals that have a solid reputation in your community. You can call your Better Business Bureau for help. Also, get references and never give anyone a deposit until after you have thoroughly researched their background. A common fraud scheme is for a so-called “contractor” to convince a homeowner that a large deposit must be provided before repair work can begin. Frequently, the job will be started, but not completed. Unfortunately, these con artists are never seen or heard from again.
Public Adjusters and Attorneys Don’t make any rash decisions about hiring someone to handle your claim. Be especially wary of individuals who go door-to-door soliciting business in the aftermath of a catastrophe. Most importantly, don’t let anyone scare you into signing a contract. You don’t want to be victimized by someone who comes into town, hoping to make a fast buck. You could end up forfeiting a significant portion of your insurance dollars. Before hiring a public adjuster or an attorney, try to settle your claim directly with your insurance company. Your insurer provides an adjuster at no charge to you. Ask your insurance agent or company representative to help you with your claim and don’t be afraid to ask questions. If you decide to work directly with your insurer, you still have the right to hire a third-party professional to help you. If your claim is complicated and you want to hire a public adjuster or attorney, make sure that person is qualified to handle your case. Ask your friends, relatives or business associates for the names of well-regarded professionals in your community. Also, call your state insurance department regarding a public adjuster, and your state or county bar association about a prospective attorney. Understand that you will have to pay a public adjuster 15 percent and an attorney as much as 30 percent of your total claim settlement.
LIFESTYLE
DISASTER RECOVERY KIT CHECKLIST A disaster, no matter how great or small, can be a hectic time in both your professional and personal life. This disaster recovery kit checklist will provide a breakdown of the items necessary to initiate recovery procedures in the wake of an interruption. One of the primary functions of any recovery kit should be protecting the important records and emergency items of a business in order to ensure a smooth reconstruction of vital information and operations following any disaster. Several kits should be prepared and be easily accessible so that restoration procedures can begin immediately.
Yes No Business Continuity Plan Important Records Insurance Policies Fixed Asset Inventory Contracts Employee Information
Operating System Installation Disks/Software Licensing Keys/Office Supplies Software installation disks Software licensing keys Hardware serial numbers Stamps Writing utensils & notepads Stapler & staples Tape Printer paper Calculators Letterhead
Grab & Go Kits for Employees Medications First aid kit Cash Emergency contact information
Emergency Items Cash Water (one gallon per person per day) Map of the area Three day supply of non perishable food Battery powered/crank radio Flashlight Extra batteries First aid kit Whistle to signal for help Can opener for food (if kit contains food) Blankets Sanitation Dust/filter masks Moist towelettes Plastic garbage bags Paper towels Tools Duct tape Pocket knife Wrench or pliers to turn off utilities Screwdriver Lighter/matches (sealed in plastic bag)
A disaster, no matter how great or small, can be a hectic time in both your professional and personal life.
LIFESTYLE
HURRICANE PREPAREDNESS CHECKLIST A disaster, no matter how great or small, can be a hectic time in both your professional and personal life.
BEFORE THE STORM
DURING THE STORM
Stay up-to-date on the storm’s progress via radio, TV or NOAA
Patrol the property continuously and watch for roof leaks, pipe
Weather Radio All Hazards receiver.
breakage, fire or structural damage. During the height of a windstorm, personnel should remain in a place that has been
Determine safe evacuation routes inland as well as alternative
identified as safe from wind and flood. Constantly monitor any
routes. Review your Shelter-in-Place Plan, making sure your
equipment that must remain on line. During power failure, turn
Disaster Kit is fully stocked and fresh batteries & supplies
off electrical switches to prevent reactivation before necessary
are included. Ensure you have an emergency communication
checks are completed. ✓
plan in place prior to the storm, evacuation, or threat. Backup all data on servers and personal computers. If the backup
Keep listening to radio, TV or NOAA Weather Radio All Hazards
site is within the area that may be affected by the storm, take
to make sure the storm has passed. Wait until an area is declared
backup tapes with you in the evacuation. Ensure remote access
safe before entering to secure the site and survey damage.
to your company website, and establish a team to manage
Secure 24 hour security if needed. Watch for closed roads.
updates to the site during and after the storm. Turn off all non-
If you come upon a barricade or a flooded road, turn around,
critical devices such as server monitors and workstations and
don’t drown. Call Agility and move forward from alert or stand
other non-essential electrical equipment. Check the integrity
down. Survey for safety hazards such as live wires, leaking
of the uninterruptible power supply (UPS). Move the UPS to
gas or flammable liquids, poisonous gases, and damage to
the highest level possible above the floor. Inspect and make
foundations or underground piping. Continue to communicate
emergency repairs to drains, gutters and flashing. Strap or
with all key audiences until the crisis has passed. Consistency
anchor to the roof deck support assembly (e.g., the joists) all
is important, especially with members of the media. Call in key
roof-mounted equipment such as HVAC units and exhaust
personnel and notify contractors to start repairs. Make sure
vents. Call Agility to go on Alert. Alert a third party about your
safety systems are fully implemented before work is allowed
company’s relocation plan in the event the storm makes your
to begin. This means controlling smoking and other open
location inaccessible. Protect/relocate vital records including
flame sources. Require contractors to share responsibility for
your insurance policy. Be sure your risks are protected. Install
establishing fire-safe conditions before and during the job.
windstorm shutters/plywood over windows and doors. Take
Begin salvage as soon as possible to prevent further damage:
the following steps to ensure items outdoors will not blow
o Cover broken windows and torn roof coverings immediately
away or cause damage:
o Separate damaged goods, but beware of accumulating too much combustible debris
o Remove all loose debris o Anchor or relocate all nonessential equipment to a safe indoor location o Secure storage of
inside a building Clean roof drains and remove debris from roof
flammable liquid drums, or move them to a sheltered area (but
to prevent drainage problems.
never into main facility areas) o Anchor all portable buildings (e.g., trailers) to the ground o Secure large cranes and other
YOUR PEOPLE
heavy equipment o Make sure outdoor signs are properly
Have all employees, vendors, client contact information on
braced Ensure that the employees who volunteered to stay
hand. Use the Alert Notification System on myAgility to keep
on site have proper supplies and equipment (drinkable water,
all parties posted on status updates and next steps. During
nonperishable food, medical, flashlights, walkie-talkies). Have
evacuation have a central point of contact for all employees,
cash on hand for post-windstorm needs, such as buying food
and ensure you know where your people are located. During
and supplies, or paying employees and contractors. Ensure you
evacuation consider your phones lines - redirection to cell
know which employees are certified in CPR, EMT, etc.
phones, answering service, Google Voice, or Agility lines could be critical. Following the storm, notify all critical people of next
Repair and fill above-ground tanks with fresh water. Fill fuel
steps, based on damage.
tanks of generators, fire pumps, and all company-owned vehicles. Remove as many goods as possible from the floor,
In flat areas, storm surges may rush many miles inland.
or ship them out of the facility. Shut off natural gas supply to
Hurricanes often generate heavy rainfall, which can cause
minimize fire loss. Disconnect the main electrical feeds to the
severe flooding over wide areas. Hurricanes also may spawn
facility, if possible, to prevent a potential fire caused by short-
deadly tornadoes. Flooding and tornadoes may affect areas
circuiting of damaged equipment.
well inland. You should also prepare for these potential interruptions.
LIFESTYLE
CULTURE OF PREPAREDNESS: THE 72 HOUR RULE 2011 was a year for the record books. Hurricane Irene, numerous blizzards, floods, forest fires, earthquakes, tornadoes and tropical storms have all been vivid reminders of the importance of preparedness. As we have seen, when disaster strikes, roads may be blocked or impassable and it may be several days before disaster assistance can reach you.
It is
critical that you are prepared to be on your own for the first 72 hours after a disaster. The 72 hour rule is the need for all individuals, organizations and communities to be self-sufficient for up to 3 days following an interruption or disaster.
This culture of preparedness is the
responsibility of every part of our society – government, communities, businesses and individuals/families – and municipals play a major role.
CULTURE OF PREPAREDNESS According to the White House Report following Hurricane Katrina, a preparedness culture is founded on four principles: 1.
A shared acknowledgement of the certainty of future catastrophes and that creating a prepared Nation will be a continuing challenge
2.
The importance of initiative and accountability at all levels of society
3.
The role of citizen and community preparedness
4.
The roles of each level of government and the private sector in creating a prepared Nation
ADVERTISMENT
A preparedness culture is founded on the shared understanding that future disasters WILL OCCUR and that every entity, organization and citizen has a responsibility to prepare for and respond appropriately to these incidents.
To create this culture, we must understand that
the burden of preparedness isn’t the sole responsibility government, but that fostering a culture of preparedness throughout a community is an aspect of government responsibility. Also, our lack of a sense of individual responsibility negatively impacts citizens’ ability to prepare for and cope with disasters, so we really need to promote a shift in thinking.
It
is government’s responsibility to change the way academia, private industry, community groups, and individual households think about preparedness. The benefits of a culture of preparedness during a disaster are plentiful.
Specifically,
municipal insurance pool members will be able to continue operating and meet the needs of citizens, while the pool administrators themselves can continue operating and meeting the needs of affected member cities. Emergency response professionals will be able to perform critical tasks more quickly and effectively, and recovery from disasters in general will be faster and more efficient. Data from The Red Cross shows that preparedness saves money, time and effort during disaster response and recovery.
WHERE TO START Preparedness starts at home. Pool administrators can and should assist with, and encourage cities to help employees with personal/family planning.
Here are some ideas to help
individuals and families get started: •
●
Create home disaster kits
•
●
Make evacuation plans
•
●
Shelter in place plan
•
●
Practice drills with children
•
●
Make a plan for family pets
•
●
Address unique needs – medications, special needs/mobility issues, etc.
Full checklists for each of these are available online at www.PrepareMyBusiness.org, www. FEMA.gov, www.RedCross.org, and www.Ready.gov. The next step in preparedness is making sure organizations are well-prepared for disasters as well.
Organizational preparedness
should follow a 10-step plan, as outlined below: 1.
Assess your risk – both internally and externally
2.
Assess your critical business functions
3.
Prepare your critical service providers and suppliers
4.
Create an emergency management plan
5.
Back-up your data
6.
Create a crisis communication plan
7.
Assemble an emergency kit
8.
Review your insurance coverage
9.
Plan for an alternate location
10.
Test your plan
If government, businesses, communities and individuals work together to foster this culture of preparedness, the timeframe for recovery drastically lessens. This culture is becoming the “new normal” for how we can survive disasters and thrive afterwards.
CULTURE OF PREPAREDNESS
THE 72 HOUR RULE
LIFESTYLE
Preparing your Business for Disaster Can Also Save your Community By David Paulison
Not until a disaster strikes is the link between business and community truly realized. Some
statistics
indicate
that
anywhere
from 40 – 60 percent of America’s small to medium sized businesses close after experiencing a disaster. These businesses are simply lost forever; never to reopen their doors to the communities they serve. Historically, when businesses shut their doors, the surrounding communities are very slow to respond as one is connected to the other – the true meaning of community. In 1992, Hurricane Andrew displaced more than one million people in Florida and parts of Louisiana. Until Hurricane Katrina in 2005, Andrew’s heavy rains and tornadoes resulted in what was the most expensive hurricane in U.S. history. In the aftermath of the storm, countless businesses were lost and it took over 10 years for South Dade County to recover. In recent years, the community is finally showing signs of its previous life. Therein lies the key. Why is preparedness vital? These events, either natural or manmade are happening all the time and with increasing frequency, most of the time with little or no warning. Case in point would be the tornado outbreaks this spring in the Midwest and Southeast, and the earthquake of August 23rd in Virginia. Most firms tend to react too late with little or no time to prepare - most operating completely behind the curve. Fortunately for those in the Northeast, the
scope of damage associated with Hurricane
affected the environment and the economy,
Irene was less catastrophic than some had
our infrastructure and our national pride. A
predicted.
Though residents throughout
late evacuation notice resulted in 12,000
the Northeast are still dealing with the
people stranded in the Super Dome – no
after effects of the storm, it is now evident
food, no water, minimal security, and almost
that preparedness efforts were extensive,
no medical care. There was rioting in the
ensuring no further loss of life and property.
streets because no one thought to pre-stage the National Guard.
Hurricane Katrina in 2005 was one of the most destructive disasters the country has
However, what Hurricane Katrina really did
faced, but the faults in the response and
was expose a nationwide lack of planning
recovery following the storm were mostly
and preparedness. And it doesn’t stop with
due to a lack of preparedness. As I walked
hurricanes. The four years I spent as the
the coast of Mississippi after the storm and
Administrator of the Federal Emergency
saw the destruction of the tidal surge it
Management
was the most remarkable thing I had ever
disasters across the country I saw the same
seen. Katrina was a national catastrophe – it
thing in almost every city – most places were
Agency
(FEMA)
evaluating
not prepared. Businesses were not prepared,
and its operations. What in your community
individuals were not prepared, and the cities
There is no clear blueprint to preparing
could cause the most damage and what
themselves were not prepared.
your business for a disaster, but there are
is most likely to happen? When I ask a
several key actions a leader should take
local business leader, “Who is your local
Hurricane season comes around every year
regardless of the size of your organization
emergency manager?” 80 percent of the
and the U.S. has witnessed some big ones –
or geographic location: perform a risk
time they do not have a clue.
Camille, Andrew, Katrina. The affected states
assessment, plan for the unknown, make
leaders
should have been ready, but in retrospect
sure you have an emergency response plan
managers to determine the most vulnerable
were not. And it’s not just hurricanes. This
and kit readily available, and be prepared to
aspects of their organization and what’s
problem exists whether it is a flood, ice
survive alone for at least 72 hours.
most likely to happen in the community.
storm, or tornado – the same pattern time after time. What did we do? We focused on analyzing the failure, looking at the lessons we learned, and how to fix the problem. These failures can be broken down into three deficiencies: (1) lack of imagination, (2) lack of investment, and (3) a lack of willingness to act. Individuals, businesses and government cannot imagine the types of events that can occur in their city or region and therefore are reactive in their decision making rather than proactive. A lack of investment in preparedness includes planning, training, and the durability of facilities. Time after time I’ve gone to hospitals that have generators stored in the basement, so any time there’s a flood
can
utilize
these
Business emergency
Also, plan for the unknown. Be creative, yet
“Hurricane Katrina in 2005 was one of the most destructive disasters the country has faced, but the faults in the response and recovery following the storm were mostly due to a lack of preparedness.”
these become inoperable. Often times we
practical. No one would have ever predicted half of the states in the northeast would go without power because someone threw the wrong switch. Unforeseen events are going to happen, so everyone…everywhere must be prepared. Easy access to an emergency plan and kit, both in your home and office, is very important. Not too long ago, I invited the media to come into my house to see how we as a family were prepared for a storm and the supplies we had in stock. It’s not tough to have a kit ready and well worth the investment of time and money compared to the potential losses of both. PrepareMyBusiness.org provides a checklist of items for a business disaster recovery kit.
recognize these things that have to be done,
A
but we lack the willingness to act.
knowing what could affect the business
business
leader
must
be
informed,
LIFESTYLE
Businesses must also be prepared to act alone in their recovery for a minimum of three days. Where are the weak points in your communication plan? Where will you relocate your office if it is inaccessible? And don’t forget to ask yourself what you personally need proof of if you are without access to your home – passport, drivers license, credit cards, insurance papers, photos of the rooms in your house. Take all of this information and put it in a ‘go’ kit to take during an evacuation. And don’t forget to consider how you will contact your family and a central meeting location should you become separated. The recent earthquake in Virginia affected cell networks all over the northeast, with voice calls nearly impossible in some areas. Be sure you, your family and your coworkers know that text-based messaging may be the only means of communication. Preparing for a disaster also entails the access to key assets to get your business up and running quickly and efficiently. Ensure access to things like power generators, office equipment, IT infrastructure, and the satellite bandwidth to ensure communications. This can be a fairly large undertaking for small and midsized businesses, so seek out a reputable business continuity solution provider to handle these needs. When you can ensure access to the tools necessary to get your operations back up and running in the first couple of days following a disaster, then the recovery happens a lot quicker. In fact, if only gas and grocery stores can remain open, that takes care of 80% of a community’s needs. Disaster preparedness is the responsibility of every part of our society – individuals and families, businesses, communities, and government. When any one of these elements fails the whole system collapses.
LIFESTYLE
CRISIS COMMUNICATIONS PLANNING CHECKLIST During an emergency, it is imperative that those within your organization know how to communicate effectively. This includes both internal and external communications. The following checklist will highlight some recommendations for developing and executing a well-rounded communications strategy in the face of any disaster scenario.
DEVELOPING YOUR COMMUNICATIONS PLAN Start with a General Risk Assessment: • Identify the top threats to your organization and any vulnerabilities • Analyze what business functions are critical to your operations • Identify the resources needed to protect those critical business functions ~ People, Processes, Technology required and Communications needs associated with each Establish a Crisis Management Team, and those within that group responsible for Communications Develop and regularly update an Emergency Contact List to include: • Home Phone • Alternate Mobile • Personal E-mail • Family Contact Information • Evacuation Plan Set up an Alert Notification System capable of multiple means of communication to employees, stakeholders & clients. TEST regularly. Ensure that employee, vendor & supplier mobile voice communications are not reliant on a single network. Utilize multiple carriers and train all critical personnel on the use of text messaging. Establish a separate, formal notification plan for employees’ immediate families and close relatives in the event of loss of life, missing personnel, etc. Additionally, ensure that caregivers and daycare operators upon whom employees depend on can receive appropriate information. Ensure that a formal system exists to integrate new hires into the Crisis Communications Plan Consider establishing a public hot line, or a “dark” Website that can be activated on short notice to provide information during an emergency to everyone in the community Consider an Online Social Networking Platform for web-based crisis communications (Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn, etc.) Establish a universal and easily accessible database of information about the company. Database should include company background information, critical documents, key contacts, passwords, etc. Consider setting up a password-protected online message board specific to your organization Establish remote hosting for your corporate website • Ensure proper bandwidth capability for spikes in traffic during crises • Ensure remote access to your website, and establish a team to manage updates to the site during disasters Develop a tactical response plan for Voice/Phone redirection Establish processes & plans to re-establish your network connectivity • E-mail • Core Processing • Virtual Private Network (VPN) • Remote Services Coordinate all Crisis Communications Planning with key vendors and suppliers to ensure seamless transition
LIFESTYLE
Appealing Sunrooms Add beauty to your homes
Everyone would love to have modern home exteriors for attractive
It is now simple to remodel your homes with appealing replacement
look. It’s because excellent sunrooms and fantastic outdoors would
windows and vinyl siding. Choose for windows made of materials
improve the quality of your homes. You may have seen sunrooms in
which could save your monthly bills and are easily maintained. If you
your neighbors’ and friends’ houses. Have you ever thought of the
are looking for durable Missouri sunrooms for pleasing outdoors,
benefits these sunrooms offer you? Along with providing wonderful
various options are available to fulfill your dreams. Sunrooms can
appearance to your outdoors, sunrooms have amazing other
be installed in fascinating designs, styles and shapes. Your decision
benefits. It provides excellent atmosphere to enjoy with your family
regarding the selection of windows and siding is much important as
and friends in times of parties and special occasions. Sunrooms are
this can increase the value of your homes. Studies have proved that
the perfect place for relaxation. Usually after the whole day of hard
you can improve health by relaxing in sunlight atmosphere.
work, your mind would long for a place to relax for a while. With sunrooms, you would love spending evenings outdoors.
Whether you look for a place to relax after work or to enjoy with family and friends, sunrooms will be the best option. Remodeling companies in Springfield MO provides all of these rebuilding options for your homes. Experienced and qualified professionals can help you fulfill your home improvement needs. You have an option to select from the fascinating designs and styles of Missouri siding and sunrooms to enjoy its excellent benefits. Forget painting repairs and other maintenance costs by using vinyl siding and windows. Add beauty, comfort and style to your homes with amazing exteriors.
Sunrooms look excellent with beautiful replacement windows during winter season as you can enjoy the sun by staying indoors itself. This is the safe way of getting lots of sunlight. One of the useful investments you make in your life is for home remodeling since it is the first impression which decides the value of your homes. Covering your homes with vinyl siding and installing finest replacement windows is an excellent way of impressing your guests. Sunrooms can help you stay free from unwanted noise and bugs. Replacement windows reduce the energy bills and make your house look fantastic. You can enjoy peaceful atmosphere in your indoor living spaces. Vinyl siding and windows are easy to install and maintain and so your house will have a natural look. During winter season, you can better understand whether the windows of your home are providing enough insulation or not. If you feel the cold inside, then your windows are to be replaced.
FAMILY
GOING GREEN
IS SO MUCH SIMPLER THAN MOST PEOPLE THINK
An increasing number of people are now
If you wish to save even more on gas, take the chance to car pool when you can and only
wanting to do their part to save the planet
mow your lawn two times a month instead of weekly. A gorgeous lawn is good to have but
due to the worsening problems caused by
skipping an additional week before you mow again shouldn’t significantly affect it. Using a
global warming. Unfortunately, numerous
manual push mower like those more normally used many, many years ago will help to save
people assume that going green is costly
the environment even more. Numerous hardware shops still carry this type of mower.
and time consuming. Read on to discover several immediate things you can do to get
When people make up their mind to try green living, it’s easy to make a few lifestyle
on on the path to living green.
modifications that will benefit our environment. Likewise, you can find lots of info all over the Internet on other ways to start living green, you only have to look for it.
Recycling is the top way to start. A lot of people continue to place glass and aluminum items in their normal garbage even though recycling is not that hard to do today. In the US, it’s not hard to locate a trash service that offers glass and aluminum recycling choices. Many people still continue to discard these items even though recycling bins are not hard to find. It merely takes a few minutes to wash off the cans and bottles before placing them into the recycle bin. Newspapers
are
another
item
that
overburden our landfills. Virtually all people will merely take their daily paper and toss it in the garbage when they are done with it. But, there are many other uses that you can get out of your newsprint other than poring over it it. Did you know that you can keep your windows clean using newspapers? If you’re tired of seeing small white fragments and streaks on your windowpanes after you clean them with paper towels and cleaner, try to use old newspapers instead. Several community
groups
run
regular
paper
drives. Merely compilepile all of your old newspapers, put them in a stack, and see if the paper drive organizers will come to your location and pick them up. One more thing that could help you to start to live green is to begin walking a bit more. Lots of people routinely drive short distances merely to buy one thing at their local corner market. If you just walk to the store, not only could it take less time, because you won’t have to locate a parking spot, but you will be saving money on gas and helping to save planet Earth by not burning those fuels.
Family
FAMILY
“The bond that links one’s true family is not necessarily one of blood but of respect and joy in each other’s life.” RichardBach
I like this quote from Richard Bach’s “Illusions”
because
it
gives
us
the
opportunity to become purposeful about who we hold dear in our life and call “family.” Now, don’t misunderstand, this is in no way meant to diminish the value of one’s biological family. In fact, when our biological, familial relationships are created and maintained around the concepts of respect and joy, they offer an opportunity for love and fulfillment that is almost unparalleled in our experience of life. The sense of shared history combined with quality familial bonds can be very powerful factors in the creation of “the best of all worlds” as it applies to relationships.
treat us with a lack of respect and love. We are not giving them very good information, and are in a sense colluding with, or supporting their problematic behavior.
The problem seems to arise when we find ourselves beating our heads against a
So, what can we do ... try and make them change? Well, we can try, however, my guess is that
wall, trying to create relationships with
they are not going to respond with “What a wonderful idea. Thank you for sharing.” Further,
people based upon “should,” obligation,
they are not likely to feel very “respected” by our pointing out what’s wrong with them.
and/or the fact that in the past someone had sex with somebody else and we were
Instead, I suggest that we first become clear about the qualities, core values, and/or criteria
the result. Chances are these are people
that are important to us in creating and maintaining all of our relationships (respect and
that we wouldn’t dream of spending time
joy in each other’s lives, for example). We can then take responsibility for modeling these
with, were they not part of our biological
qualities (this is a very important step because we can’t expect others to treat us in ways
family. Chances are also good that these
we are not willing to model). Further, we can let others know what’s important to us in a
relationships
and
relationship and see who chooses to join us in our declaration of respect and joy. Those that
maintained around the concepts of “respect
agree with these concepts and are willing to take responsibility in co-creating relationships
and joy in each other’s life.” So, how’s that
in these ways become part of our real family, and we go on to strengthen and deepen these
working for you? Probably not very well, and I
quality relationships. For those who choose not to join us in our commitment to a quality
am going to suggest that it isn’t even serving
relationship, we bless them, and let them know that if they ever change their mind, we would
the other members of your biological family
love to have them back in our lives.
aren’t
being
created
either. Why not? Well, when we continue to interact with people even when they are
The blessing is that they receive good information about the effect of refusing to treat people
being dysfunctional (treating us and others
with love and respect. Maybe if they hear this from enough people, they may choose to
with a lack of respect and love), the message
change. Either way, however, we have chosen to avoid participating in (and thus supporting)
that we are inadvertently sending is that
dysfunctional relationships, and are now taking 100% responsibility for creating the type of
their dysfunctional behavior is acceptable,
relationships in which we believe. The type that reflects a “family” where respect and joy in
even effective. They then have no reason
each other’s life is the bond that lasts forever.
to change, and every reason to continue to
Take care and God bless, Dr. Bill
FAMILY
For Families, Peace of Mind Is Priceless (Family
Features)
American
families
higher than the cost of insuring them.
understand the importance of protecting
Does my policy cover items stolen or damaged while not on the property (i.e.
their assets and possessions. For a growing
“I’m covered by my landlord’s insurance.”
stolen from your car)?
number
renters,
Landlords carry insurance to cover structural
McDonald recommends making sure you
protection plans provide peace of mind
of
homeowners
and
damage to the building, but it does not cover
are
that their possessions can be repaired or
your personal property. Nor does it protect
you file a claim without replacement cost
replaced if the unexpected happens.
you from liability for structural damage you
coverage, you’ll get paid what the item is
might cause.
worth now, not for the cost of replacing it
“Renters insurance is one of those things
with a brand new item. It’s definitely worth
you hope you never need, but accidents
the investment,” she said.
Renters Insurance
covered
for
replacement
costs. “If
For about 37 million Americans, renting
do happen - and it pays to make sure you
a house or apartment is more affordable,
and your property are fully protected,”
Learn more and get a quote at www.
and
to
said Kathy McDonald, president, Property
rentersecurity.com.
home ownership. But there are some
Solutions at Assurant Specialty Property.
disadvantages
to
“In addition to protecting your possessions,
the Bureau of Justice Statistics, renters are
renters insurance can protect you against
50 percent more likely than homeowners
personal liability, too. If you accidentally
Whether you are a renter, a homeowner
to be robbed. Likewise, the National Fire
start a kitchen fire or flood in the bathroom
or are just living with one, it’s likely that
Protection
270
and it damages your apartment, or a
you have possessions that you care about.
apartment fires break out each day in the
neighbor’s apartment, you’re the one that’s
Extended service contracts can help you
United
liable, not your landlord.”
protect your valuable possessions from
sometimes
even
to
renting.
Association
States.
preferable,
While
According
reports
that
homeowners
are
required to have insurance against these types of problems, most renters are not.
Get the Right Coverage
In fact, a survey by Apartments.com found
Protecting Your Possessions
mechanical failure, breakage and other perils after the manufacturer’s warranty expires.
that 67 percent of respondents did not have
The amount of insurance you need will
renters insurance.
depend on what you want to protect and
Gaming systems, televisions, smartphones,
the types of hazards you want to safeguard
tablets, laptops and other electronics are
Why don’t more renters insure their valuable
against. Your insurance agent can give you
now an important part of everyday life, and
possessions?
specifics based on your state and the kind of
you don’t want to be without them for long.
policy you want. Ask questions such as:
But when an electronic device gets damaged
Here
are
three
common
misconceptions that could be standing in the way of peace of mind.
or simply breaks down, renters insurance What hazards are included? Do I need a
won’t cover it, and the manufacturer’s
“I can’t afford it.” The average renters
separate policy for specific circumstances?
warranty might not be enough to pay
insurance policy costs less than $200 per
Are my roommates covered by the policy?
for repair or replacement. Many product
year, according to the National Association
What optional coverage is available (such as
warranties only cover parts and labor for up
of Insurance Commissioners (NAIC).
flood or earthquake coverage)?
to 90 days after purchase.
How much liability coverage is provided? “I don’t have anything worth protecting.”
Will I receive additional living expenses if I
“If
Clothing, appliances and electronics can
have to live elsewhere while my apartment
money into an expensive electronic device,
all be covered under renters insurance. The
is being repaired?
you want to know you can get it repaired
cost of replacing your computer, television,
Do I need additional coverage for damages
quickly,”
smart phone or gaming system will likely be
or injuries caused by my pet?
of Assurant Solutions’ extended service
you’ve
said
invested
Joe
your
Erdeman,
hard-earned
president
repair or replacement if you need it. The NAIC recommends taking these steps to create your own home inventory: Make a list of your possessions, including jewelry,
electronics,
fine
art,
family
heirlooms, collections, furniture, toys, CDs, clothing, sports equipment, tools, etc. Photograph or videotape each item, and document a brief description including age, purchase price and estimated current value. Remember to open drawers and closets to document what’s inside. Attach copies of original sales receipts and/ or appraisal documents. Be sure to note model and serial numbers. protection business. “Extended service contracts provide important coverage for the items you just can’t live without.” An extended service contract provides for normal wear and tear as well as accidental damage, and provides additional coverage that your renters insurance won’t cover. You get 24/7 customer and technical support, coverage for 100 percent of the parts and labor cost, and assistance from licensed and insured trade professionals.
When looking for an extended service contract, ask yourself these questions. What are the terms and conditions of the coverage? Does it provide toll-free telephone and/or online access to technical support? Who pays for shipping and handling if a product must be returned? Does the contract include a “no lemon” policy? Does it provide in-home service? Does the contract include accidental damage coverage? Erdeman noted that extended warranties for computers now provide a variety of ways to get
Store your inventory and related documents in a safe, easily accessible place such as a secured online site, a fire-proof box or in a safe deposit box. You may want to share a copy with your insurance provider so he or she can make necessary updates to your coverage. Review and update your inventory annually and whenever you make a significant purchase. The NAIC offers a free mobile app that captures and electronically stores images, descriptions, bar codes and serial numbers. You can download the myHOME Scr.APP. book app for iPhone users at the App Store.
support. Online chat and telephone technical support provide services that range from basic troubleshooting to defragging drives, optimizing speed and addressing malfunctioning keys. At any time of the day or night, consumers won’t be left in the dark. Help is always available to provide answers to common questions about computer troubles. To learn more about protecting your possessions, visit www.assurantsolutions. com/extendedprotection or visit them on Facebook at www.facebook.com/ AssurantSolutionsSocial.
Take Inventory A home inventory is one of the best ways to make sure your property is fully protected. A well-documented list of your possessions will help you get the right amount of coverage to fully protect your valuables. And the information stored in your inventory could help with
cLICK TO VIEW How To choose natural baby products VIDEO
FAMILY
Unlock Your Child’s, Reading Potential (Family
Features)
For
many
parents,
encouraging their child to become an active reader can be difficult. And because each child learns at a different pace, it can be hard for parents to determine how to best further their child’s reading skill growth. The experts at K12 Inc., America’s leader in online learning for students in grades kindergarten through 12, are familiar with the need to individualize lesson plans, as well as reading lists, to best support the success of each child. Importantly, children often mirror the habits of their parents, including their reading habits. “Get caught reading! Nothing motivates the youngest learners like mom and dad can. If you read for pleasure, your kids will want to read for enjoyment, too,” said Director of Primary Literacy, Kristen J. Kinney-Haines, Ed.D. “Also, read as a family. No matter your age, we never outgrow the enjoyment and comfort of hearing a great story read to us. Allow everyone a chance to be the reader even the littlest ones, who can chime in with sight words.” Here are more tips for encouraging your child to read, which in turn expands their vocabulary and helps aid in further studies.
Early Readers For those children beginning to learn letters and words, remember that story time alone is not the only key to unlocking their reading potential. Reading programs such as the PhonicsWorks(tm) program created by the experts at K12 are designed to help children recognize the relationship between sounds and letters, to develop fluency, and
to continue to develop a more extensive vocabulary. Learn more at www.k12.com. Start with picture books. Remember that you must make the act of reading a story exciting. Picture books are a great way to introduce the act of reading - or simply flipping through a book - to young children. Let them read with you. As you read to your child, ask them to help you spell out words. Make sure you point out words as you read, to reinforce the sounds each letter, and combinations of letters, makes.
Recommended books for early readers:
readers: “The Chronicles of Narnia” series by C. S. Lewis, “Chocolate Fever,” by Robert Kimmel
“The Doorbell Rang,” by Pat Hutchins, the
Smith, and “The Borrowers” series by Mary Norton.
“Frog and Toad” series by Arnold Lobel, and
Advanced Readers
the “Amelia Bedelia” series by Peggy Parish.
For children reading at an advanced level, it is important to ensure they are exposed to an
Independent Readers
ever-increasing library.
As your child continues to develop their skill level, look to books they can enjoy on their
Find a reading program. Enroll your child in a regional or national reading program to help
own.
further motivate their reading practices. Start a book club. Encourage your child to start a book club with friends. Making the act
Visit the library often. Updating your child’s
of reading a more social practice is important as your child gets older. In addition, you are
book
preparing your child for classroom conversations focusing on reading materials for when
shelf
is
crucial
for
independent
readers. Parents should ensure their child
they attend a higher educational institution.
has access to books that will garner their
Recommended books for advanced readers: “The Catcher in the Rye,” by J. D. Salinger,
attention and challenge their vocabulary.
“Sense and Sensibility” by Jane Austen and “Fahrenheit 451 by Ray Bradbury.”
Study challenging words. Because new
Want more recommendations for your readers? K12 provides a free, downloadable list
reading
based on reading skill level, visit www.k12.com.
materials
vocabulary,
will
practice
provide
looking
up
further tricky
words in the dictionary with your child and encourage them to keep a list of new words and definitions learned from each new book. Recommended
books
for
independent
HEALTH
Health Insurance Options That Don’t Break the Bank or group. One of the most important things to
understand
about
individual
health
insurance plans is that they are typically more difficult to obtain. Since it is for an individual or family, the medical history of each person will be looked at much more carefully than under a group plan, where the risk is spread over all paying members.
Short Term Health Insurance For those who are in-between jobs, short term insurance plans may be a good option. Coverage ranges from one to six months and can help if there is a medical crisis in an already difficult time. They are limited however. They will not cover a pre-existing condition or preventative care.
Student Health Insurance Another group usually in need of cheap In the current economy, many families are in a state of crisis when it comes to their health
health insurance are students. Increasingly,
insurance. From lay-offs to business closing completely, many people now find themselves
schools are making having health insurance
without a job or any kind of insurance for their family. With the high price of COBRA, those
one of the requirements of enrollment. To
who have experienced downsizing don’t even have that as an option.
make sure that medical insurance continues uninterrupted, families should be shopping
Most recently, the unemployed or uninsured need to find cheap health insurance for
for cheap health insurance plans long before
themselves or family and wondering what are the options. Sometimes, reading a health
school enrollment.
insurance policy can leave you more confused than before. Readers are often left wondering exactly what their coverage is and under what circumstances. With every penny counting, it
Defined Benefit
is important to make an informed decision.
Getting Informed
For those who have been turned down by major insurance companies for preexisting conditions, a defined benefit may be a
Finding cheap health insurance is not just about finding one that is affordable. It is also about
cheap
one that covers the things most important to your life and the circumstances surrounding
plans provide defined coverage and do
your needs. One of the most valuable things you can do before choosing an insurance is get
not cover catastrophic coverage. They are
informed. Understanding some of the terms will go a long way in getting proper coverage:
easy to understand and provide first dollar
Family and Individual Coverage
health
insurance
option.
These
coverage. Although they may not seem to be cheap, or exceptionally affordable, they are a much better alternative then managing
Individual or family coverage is obtained by the individual and separate from any company
the cost of a serious illness alone.
Good Questions to Ask About Health Insurance Obtaining cheap health insurance can be a difficult and confusing process, but asking good questions can help you get the coverage you need: - Are there ways for individuals to gain group insurance? A health insurance agent can help an individual discover possible group plans through credit unions or trade associations. - What is Risk? Knowing what insurance looks at to calculate their risk, and your cost, can lower your risk and cost. - How do I know what is covered and what is not? Knowing exactly what the plan covers as well as it’s limits will help you to choose the one that best fits you expectations. You can trust an agent to help you understand the coverage terms as well as the limits. Finding cheap health insurance can be a difficult, but important task. A financial downturn can cause many to consider going without coverage for a time, but that decision can end up a very costly one both financially and for one’s health. A local agent can help you find a plan that not only meets your needs, but is affordable as well.
HEALTH
Attempt These Facial Exercises To Appear 10 To 15 Years Younger Within Days
1.
How to get rid of eye wrinkles:
Using your forefingers (The fingers you point with) place them at the corners of the eyes and with firm pressure, make little outward circles. Do not push your fingers into your eye. This face exercise will tone and firm the small muscles and thin tissue round the eyes. 2.
The best way to look younger by
smoothing out laugh lines: Again with the tips of your forefingers, situate them in the middle of the smile, or laugh lines, and do small, firm outward circles. Firm enough to exercise the underlying tissue, but not enough to cause you discomfort. 3.
The best way to lift hog jowls and
firm sagging face skin: Thrust your chin out and with the back of your hands, slap firmly up and down along the jaw line. Your hands must be stiff whilst you do this face exercise. 4.
A way to lift and get rid of turkey
neck: Utilize the tips of your forefingers and position them on either side of your windpipe along your throat. Move your fingertips firmly up and down along the windpipe, but not enough to curb air flow.
or soft drinks) to help with the kidneys to
to the skin and still exercises the underlying
By employing this together with the face
flush out built up toxins. Secondly, consume
neck and face muscles. Since the tissue
toning exercise for lifting hog jowls, this will
Vitamin K every day. This really helps with
has augmented blood flow and amplified
expand and stretch the muscles and pull up
diminishing rings and puffiness round the
oxygen intake, it expands and tightens the
any droopy neck skin.
eyes. Thirdly, take your forefingers and put
overlying skin towards it. Therefore wrinkles
them in the ridge at the base of your eye
disappear and ultimately fade away. At the
Lifting sagging face skin with cheek
sockets (Just below the eyes in line with the
same time, the skin lifts and firms and rich
exercises: Yet again using the tips of your
pupils). The position is on that bone where
natural color is restored.
index fingers, place them in the depression
the face tissue is fine. Make small outward
of your cheek bones, horizontally to your
circles whilst keeping your eyes open.
5.
Merely using these few facial exercises tips
nostrils, in line with the pupils of your eyes.
will make a colossal change to your looks
Practise little, firm outward circles with your
7.
Ironing out forehead wrinkles and
and may well make you look years younger
fingertips. This will enlarge the underlying
lines: With your forefingers, work the points
in a couple of weeks. The more frequently
muscle, and increase the blood flow to
between the hairline and your eyebrows
you do them, the better the results.
the middle area of your face. As the tissue
in line with your pupils with small inward
expands, it pulls the loose skin towards the
circles. This works the supporting muscles
muscle. You will obtain a healthy glow to
of the forehead which will elevate the
your cheeks.
forehead skin.
6.
It is always advisable to apply a moisturizing
A cure for bags below the eyes:
Firstly, bags below the eyes, or eye bags, are
cream
often symptoms of other things going on in
exercises because this works in the moisture
the body. Drink a lot of water (not coffee, tea,
when
performing
yoga
facial
HEALTH
FitnessMyths Have you been doing the same exercise routine for years without seeing any promising results? Have you been told that a typical workout should consist of three sets of 12 reps with the weights and at least 30 minutes of cardio? When it comes to exercising for health benefits, there happen to be an endless array of fitness myths in circulation. It’s time you knew the truth about exercise myths and facts.
Exercise Myths and Facts The Exercise Myth #1: The best way to strengthen your heart and prevent heart disease is through aerobic exercise. The truth is that sprint interval training and weight lifting are superior to achieving cardiovascular health. Regular exercise is very important for overall health, however for many people, spending a large amount of time doing aerobic exercise is not very time efficient or even very healthy. Many studies note that interval training and weight training are more advantageous than a simple 45-minute walk on a treadmill. When exercising for health, incorporate spring training into your workout by doing three to five rounds of 30-60 second bursts of cardio at your highest intensity, followed by two to four-minute rest periods of walking. The Exercise Myth #2: If workouts aren’t getting you the results you want, you must work out more. If a half hour on the treadmill isn’t producing results, it’s time you considered your intensity level. It’s the intensity that you want to increase NOT the volume if you want to increase your results. Intensity takes effort. If you’re sitting on the bike at the gym reading a magazine or having a conversation, that’s a low-intensity, high volume workout. This type of workout is not going to be very useful. Increasing the volume of workouts can actually lead to over-training syndrome, which can cause body aches, fatigue poor performance and even heart damage. Worse yet, overtraining syndrome can last for months even after a reduction or cessation of the activity that caused the problem in the first place. The Exercise Myth #3: Athletes are examples of perfectly healthy human beings. Athletes have a shorter lifespan than the average couch potato. The average elite
athlete will die by the age of 67, considerably lower than the 76-year expectancy of the average American. In fact, according to the NFL Players Association, the average life expectancy of an NFL player is 58 years. The excess volume of training causes “wear and tear” on the body and results in the premature aging of athletes.
The Exercise Myth #6: Sit-ups and crunches will reduce your waist size.
The Exercise Myth #4: A very slow heart rate is a sign that you’re in great shape.
The Exercise Myth #7: Sports drinks keep you from getting dehydrated and encourage athletic performance.
An excessively slow heart rate is actually a sign of cardiac damage. Your nervous system can become distorted by overtraining, leading to fatigue, sleeplessness and pain disorders like fibromyalgia. Your normal resting heart rate should be in the 60s or low 70s. Anything lower is a sign of a problem. When you over-train, you run the risk of decreasing your heart rate which can lead to cardiac autonomic nervous system imbalance. Long-term endurance training significantly influences how the autonomic nervous system controls heart function. Endurance training increases parasympathetic activity and decreases sympathetic activity in the human heart.
“The average elite athlete will die by the age of 67 considerably lower than the 76-year expectancy of the average American. ” The Exercise Myth #5: Exercising a body part will reduce the amount of fat on that part. The truth is, in order to lose fat on any part of your body, you must lose weight overall. Spot training will not cause fat loss on any particular body part, but will improve the muscle tone to the part that is trained. When exercising for health and weight loss, make sure to incorporate sprint interval training and weight training.
These exercises will actually build up the muscles of your abdomen increasing the size of your waist. In order to shed flab around your waist, you must lose weight overall.
These beverages are high in sugar levels and often contain high fructose corn syrup. They will actually cause dehydration and worsen athletic performance. You’re better off drinking water. When it comes to exercise, less is often better than more. To get the most out of your workouts, keep these fitness myths in mind and you’ll be on your way to better results when exercising for health. For the best results, keep the tips in mind as well: • Train no more than two-three hours per week, and make sure to take two full days off each week • Weight train each body part once or twice a week and incorporate interval training on the days that you do not do weights • Choose appropriate weight in which you can one set of six to 12 reps to exhaustion • Use correct posture, proper technique, full range of motion, proper isolation and constant tension when lifting weights • Don’t work out when sick, late at night or when you experience symptoms of overtraining. For over 20 years, Dr Michael E. Rothman has dedicated his life to helping his patients understand the “how & why” of their health. At MD Wellness, he will help find the cause of your symptoms via his Metabolically Directed Functional Medicine approach. He is a true blend of traditional & alternative medicine, integrating Eastern & Western methods. http://www.mdwellnessmd.com
HEALTH
10 Simple Changes For Healthier Living
Complete a Body Cleanse Following a 10 or 20 day program to eliminate
toxins
from
your
body
can
significantly improve your overall health. Some of the benefits of detoxing include lower cholesterol, more energy, better sleep and less joint pain.
Don’t Rush Through Your Meals One reason people eat more than they actually need is because they don’t give their body time to digest.By slowing down and enjoying your meals, you will give your brain time to register the fact that your stomach is full. Avoid Sitting for More than an Hour at a Time Recent
studies
have
found
multiple
problems that can arise from sitting all day. If you have a desk job, make sure you at least Improving your overall health doesn’t have to be difficult. To get on the right track, here are ten simple changes you can make to begin living a healthier life:
Start Stretching You don’t have to be an athlete to benefit from stretching. As little as 5 minutes of stretching a day can improve your flexibility and help you avoid a wide range of mobility problems.
Put One or More Live Plants Inside of Your Home Multiple studies have found that people who have at least one live plant inside of their home experience less stress and are happier on a daily basis. What’s really neat about this change is not only will it make you healthier, but it will also add character to your home’s interior.
Stop Drinking Calories One of the biggest nutritional shifts of the last few decades is the number of calories that people now consume from drinks. Fancy coffee drinks and elaborate cocktails can have anywhere from 300 to 700 calories.In addition to water, if you still need something warm to drink try decaf green tea….its a healthier choice than coffee and has far less calories.
stand up for a few minutes at the beginning or end of every hour.
Start Lifting Weights Free weights aren’t just for bodybuilders. Not only can resistance exercises help you build lean muscle that will give your entire body a toned appearance, but they can actually increase your body’s ability to burn calories.
Go for a Daily Walk A lot of people believe that they don’t have time for cardio.However, cardio isn’t limited to 75 minute sessions on a treadmill. You can improve your cardiovascular health with a simple 15 minute daily walk.An additional benefit is the exposure to sunlight will help keep your circadian rhythm in sync.
Ask for a Different Side Most restaurants serve sides that are some form of highly processed carbs. Instead of settling for these less than ideal complements to your meals, simply ask to substitute raw, grilled or steamed vegetables.
Smile As silly as it may sound, smiling can make you healthier by improving your overall psychological
state.This
simple
change
is so effective that health professionals often incorporate it into their treatment of various conditions.
INSURANCE
DOES MY HOMEOWNERS
INSURANCECOVER
FLOODING?
house could be flooded by melting snow, an overflowing creek or pond or water running down a steep hill. Don’t wait for a flood season warning on the evening news to buy a policy—there is a 30-day waiting period before the coverage takes effect. Excess flood insurance is also available from some private insurers for those who need
additional
insurance
protection
over and above the basic policy or whose community does not participate in the NFIP. Standard homeowners and renters insurance does not cover flood damage. Flood coverage, however, is available in the form of a separate policy both from the National Flood Insurance Program - NFIP ( 888-379-9531
) and from a few private insurers.
The NFIP provides coverage for up to $250,000 for the structure of the home and $100,000 for personal possessions. The NFIP policy provides replacement cost coverage for the structure of your home, but only actual cash value coverage for your possessions. Replacement cost coverage pays to rebuild your home as it was before the damage. Actual cash value is replacement cost coverage minus depreciation so that the older your possessions are, the less you will get if they are damaged. There may also be limits on coverage for furniture and other belongings stored in your basement. Flood insurance is available for renters as well as homeowners. You will need flood insurance if you live in a designated flood zone. But flooding can also occur in inland areas and away from major rivers. Consider buying a flood insurance policy if your
Depending on the amount of coverage purchased, an excess flood insurance policy will cover damage above the limits of the federal program on the same basis as the federal
program—replacement
cost
for
the structure and actual cash value for the contents. Excess flood insurance is available in all parts of the country—in high risk flood zones along the coast and close to major rivers as well as in areas of lower risk—wherever the federal program is available. It can be purchased through
from
specialized
independent
companies
insurance
agents,
or from regular homeowners insurance companies that have arrangements with a specialized insurer to provide coverage to their policyholders. To find out whether private primary flood insurance is available in your area, contact your insurance agent.
INSURANCE
SHOULD I PURCHASE AN UMBRELLA LIABILITY POLICY?
If you are ever sued, your standard homeowners or auto policy will provide you with some liability coverage, paying for judgements against you and your attorney’s fees, up to a limit set in the policy. However, in our litigious society, you may want to have an extra layer of liability protection. That’s what a personal umbrella liability policy provides. An umbrella policy kicks in when you reach the limit on the underlying liability coverage in a homeowners, renters, condo or auto policy. It will also cover you for things such as libel and slander. For about $150 to $300 per year you can buy a $1 million personal umbrella liability policy. The next million will cost about $75, and $50 for every million after that. Because the personal umbrella policy goes into effect after the underlying coverage is exhausted, there are certain limits that usually must be met in order to purchase this coverage. Most insurers will want you to have about $250,000 of liability insurance on your auto policy and $300,000 of liability insurance on your homeowners policy before selling you an umbrella liability policy for $1 million of additional coverage.
cLICK TO VIEW Test Your Insurance IQ: Auto Insurance VIDEO
TECHNOLOGY
WHAT TO DO WITH YOUR OLD ELECTRONICS Mobile
phones,
laptops,
tablets,
game
consoles, cameras - electronic devices are a big part of American life. In fact, Americans own an average of 24 electronic products per household, according to the Consumer Electronics
Association.
With
technology
changing so rapidly and new “it” devices hitting the market every few months, a lot of those devices get discarded quickly. That adds up to a lot of potential e-waste. In fact, a recent survey sponsored by RadioShack found: More than 90 million American adults 18 and over have unused technology products lying around the house. As part of that pile of retired tech, a third of mobile phone users report owning unused phones - and more than half of those with unused phones own two or more. Some
unused
electronics
just
collect
dust, but many get thrown away. The Environmental
Protection
Agency’s
most
recent report showed that nearly 1.8 million
radioshacktradeandsave.com
for
appraisal
information.
com or www.e-stewards.org to find a recycling center near you. Many states have regulations about disposing and recycling
tons of e-waste was simply trashed. When you complete your trade in a store, you’ll
electronics. Learn more about your state’s
Fortunately, it’s easier than ever to keep old
immediately receive the appraised value in the
laws at www.electronicstakeback.com.
electronics out of the waste stream.
form of a store gift card (except where prohibited by law). Trade-ins may also be completed via
Don’t Forget the Batteries. Recycling your
Donate. Donations give schools, nonprofits
mail by requesting a free shipping label available
rechargeable batteries is another easy step
and
to
on the program website. In that case, a store gift
you can take. Retailers like RadioShack also
otherwise
card for the trade-in value will be mailed after
recycle rechargeable batteries. To date, the
the product is received.
company has collected more than 5 million
lower-income
equipment
they
families might
access
not
afford. Before donating, check with the
pounds in rechargeable batteries through
organization to see what they need. There’s even a free Trade & Save app available
Call2Recycle (www.Call2Recycle.org).
Trade Up. If you are ready to upgrade to
to appraise your unused technology using iOS
something new, programs such as RadioShack’s
and Android devices. Products traded in are
Don’t let your old electronics gather dust or
Trade & Save let you swap retired technology for
refurbished or recycled.
add to the waste stream. It just takes a few simple steps to put your devices to better
store credit toward your purchase. Simply bring eligible working electronics and accessories
Recycle. Electronics in nonworking condition
to a participating store or log on to www.
should be recycled. Check www.Earth911.
use.
TECHNOLOGY
Search Engine Marketing Is It For Your Business? The marketing strategy of any business has a lot to do with its success or failure. The best products can nosedive and the lesser products can scale great heights just because of a great marketing strategy. On the web, there are lots of people doing business through selling a host of products. In this Internet age, to be successful in any business it is vital to have a web presence. You need the best marketing strategies to market your goods really well on the web. Using affordable search engine marketing is the best way to go about the marketing strategy on the web. Every business works under a set budget. Affordable search engine marketing is the best way to go about the entire thing. If you have a web presence for your business, then you must make all efforts to tell everyone all about your site. How can anyone know if you do not tell them something about your business and its website? For promoting your site on the web, you can try search engine optimization. In search engine marketing you can commence pay per click advertising, affiliate marketing programs, Internet marketing and content optimization and management. There are some ethical and unethical methods that can be used for promotion. It is up to you to decide what measures you want to adopt for popularizing your business. It all boils down to adopting the most effective search engine marketing strategy. Online visitors use the help of search engines to find anything online. So you must realize how important it is for your site to rank at the top of major search engines.
Before you actually go about starting any business on the web, you must conduct research properly. Conducting research means that you decide on a budget, decide on the marketing strategy and also find out who the target audience of your product it. Also through the research, find out what marketing strategy is working and what is not working. While choosing your marketing strategy, keep in mind the choice and preference of your target audience. What is the use of any search engine marketing strategy if you are not able to reach out to your prospective clients?
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Having lots of optimized and relevant content is one affordable search engine marketing strategy that can be very easily adopted and implemented by any business. Content
management
is
the
process
through which you can add new optimized content to your site. It is a fact that no one will come to see your site, if they do not get what they are looking for in adequate quantity. So make it a point to regularly add new features, pictures and fresh content to your site.
“Before you actually go about starting any business on the web, you must conduct research properly. Conducting research means that you decide on a budget, decide on the marketing strategy and also find out who the target audience of your product it.� Undertaking
affordable
search
engine
marketing helps your business in two ways. First of all you can afford the marketing strategy
within
your
limited
budget.
Secondly you adopted those marketing strategies that are bound to bring positive results to your business. There is a huge competition on the web and adopting affordable search engine marketing is the best way of going about it and coming out on top.
HUMOUR
GOOD NEWS:
You may be eligible for exclusive group savings through your employer or association membership...
EVEN BETTER NEWS: We offer payroll deduction and no down payment for your ultimate convenience!1
Big discounts. Payroll deduction. And no down payment. Contact us today to see if you qualify! Peter M. Bakker, Sr. Peter M. Bakker Agency, Inc. 302 West Main Street, Suite 206 Avon, CT 06001 860-676-1957 webinfo@bakkerinsurance.com www.bakkerinsurance.com
Who do you work for?® 1 Subject to availability, individual qualification, and program limitations. MetLife Auto & Home is a brand of Metropolitan Property and Casualty Insurance Company and its affiliates: Metropolitan Casualty Insurance Company, Metropolitan Direct Property and Casualty Insurance Company, Metropolitan General Insurance Company, Metropolitan Group Property and Casualty Insurance Company, and Metropolitan Lloyds Insurance Company of Texas, all with administrative home offices in Warwick, RI. Coverage, rates, and discounts are available in most states to those who qualify. ©2011 MetLife Auto & Home L1111217862(exp0313)(All States)(DC) © 2011 PNTS 1110-3930
MEET THE TEAM Carole A. Reynolds
With over fifty-one years in the insurance business and working with four different Independent Insurance Agencies, Carole has seen many changes in the industry since 1961. She started her career rating Personal Lines Fire and Liability policies, and then became a licensed insurance agent, notary and office manager in 1974. Carole was honored by being included in the Who’s Who in the American Women publication, was President for seven different years of the Insurance Women of Litchfield County and, also, President & Secretary of the Independent Insurance Agents of Litchfield County for many years. Carole is currently a Commercial Lines Customer Service Agent.
James S. Lacock Jim has been an associate agent with the Peter M. Bakker Agency, Inc. since 2003 after 34 years of claims, marketing and agency experience with several regional insurance companies and insurance agencies. As a former officer of NLC Insurance Companies, Jim has a perspective of the insurance industry that few agents can offer their customers.
Wayne S. Martin
Alan M. Burstein Alan has been in the insurance business for 38 years. He started in his family’s insurance agency in New Britain after graduating from UCONN where he majored in Economics and minored in insurance. He is a past president of the New Britain Independent Insurance Agents Association. He sold his agency in 1999 and joined the Bakker Agency in October of 1999. He is a Certified Insurance Counselor (CIC).
Wayne has been in the insurance business since 1971 after graduating from the University of Connecticut with a degree in education. In the early years he worked for several large companies as a senior commercial underwriter including Kemper, Zurich, Cigna and Atlantic Mutual. In 1984 he joined his father-in-law’sinsurance agency which was located in West Hartford, CT. In 1993, he moved to the Peter M Bakker Agency, Inc. where he is a Vice President, producer and helps manage the commercial lines department.
Melissa S. Riddell Melissa joined the Peter M. Bakker Agency in September 2004 as a file clerk after spending the previous 14 years as a “stay at home mom” running her own home day care. Prior to that, she worked for The Hartford for 10 years in the Premium Accounting Department. Her tenure as a file clerk was short lived. She pursued getting her Producer License in March 2005 and became a Customer Service Agent in the Commercial Lines Department.
Susan S. Balon Sue began her career in the insurance business as a receptionist in a small, family-owned agency in New York. She later joined a large agency in Hartford as a personal lines customer service representative and then a small, family owned agency in West Hartford which eventually joined the Peter M. Bakker Agency. Sue has been a Customer Service Agent in the Commercial Lines Department for the past 10 years.
John T. Maschi John graduated from Southern Ct State University in 1977 with a degree in education and for 3 yrs was a Special Needs teacher at Suffield High School. He joined the Travelers Ins. Co. in 1980 as a Personal Lines Underwriter and then Marketing Representative. In 1985 he joined the Peter M. Bakker Agency as a junior partner. In 1992 he was appointed Executive Vice President and senior partner of the Bakker Agency. In 1995 John completed the course work and achieved designation as a Certified Insurance Counselor (CIC). He is currently in charge of the Commercial Lines Department.
ASSURANCE