Archive for May, 2009
Summer Pool Safety
Friday, May 22nd, 2009 | Job Safety, School Safety | No Comments
According to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, drowning is the second leading cause of injury-related death among children under the age of fifteen.
Many schools have already dismissed for the summer and many children and their parents will be headed to the swimming pool for a summer of fun. Good safety habits make for a safe and fun summer.
It is never too early to teach a child to swim. The best instructor is one that is certified by the American Red Cross. Classes are taught at most neighborhood pools and are available for swimmers of all ages.
Children should never be left unsupervised in the pool. For their safety, children need your full attention. Even if a lifeguard is available, parents still need to watch out for the safety of their child. Many accidents occur when one parent thinks the other parent is watching when neither parent is watching. Do not engage in other activities that would take your eyes away from your child.
Once you establish good safety habits, they will soon become part of your routine and your summer days will be filled with fun.
Donna Robinson
Customer Service Representative
Next Generation Underwriters
615.822.5454
drobinson@nguins.com
Region 4 Holds Quarterly Meeting at Wildwood Stables in Crossville.
Friday, May 22nd, 2009 | Uncategorized | No Comments
Region 4 Leader Vickie Houston of Crab Orchard Utility District continues to plan great meetings for the TAUD members as Wildwood Stables located East of Crossville was the setting for the May 21st gathering.
The meeting consisted of programs and presentations on Water Storage by Chris Jones of Guthrie Sales and Service, Harold Corum of McGill & Associates, GIS Software and GPS Hardware & Services by Chris Blair of MapSync Inc., Trey Lyon of Spatial Data Integration and Craig Haney of Walter A. Wood Company.
Members also heard reports from John Hall of TAUD on the TUBPA Low Interest Loan Program from Wiley Bros.-Aintree Capital Corp. These loans are designed to meet the following upgrades, infrastructure improvements, automated meter reading systems, headquarter renovations and construction, equipment purchases and various other projects.
Jerry Jolley of Rural Development gave members a report on the ‘Loan Program’ offered through RDA. Johnny Walker of TDEC gave a report and updates on State Requirements and upcoming changes for 2010.
Executive Director Bob Freudenthal and John Hall of TAUD gave members the latest updates on Bills being tracked in the State Legislature. Bob and John have also just returned from Washington D.C. where they attended the National Water and Wastewater Convention and gave a report on the Stimulus Money and how Utility Districts can benefit.
A home cooked lunch with Grilled Chicken and Pork Chops was sponsored by Guthrie Sales and Service, McGill & Associates, United Utilities, MapSync Inc. and Walter A. Wood Company. As always, members are encouraged to support the Associate Members who provide funding for TAUD programs.
After lunch was conclude, TAUD Members had the options of a round of Golf at Deer Creek in Crossville or a trail ride at the Wildwood Stables.
We thank Vickie Houston Region Leader and Wildwood Stables for the hospitality in hosting the event.
Kirk Smith
Account Executive
Next Generation Underwriters
615.822.5454
ksmith@nguins.com
Region 11 Holds final ‘Best Tasting Water Contest’ for 2009
Friday, May 22nd, 2009 | Where we will be | No Comments
Jackson Energy Authority Training Facility (JEA) was the host for the quarterly meeting for Region 11 held May 19th which included the ‘Best Tasting Water Contest’ serving as the final contest for 2009. Region 11 consist of Chester, Decatur, Fayette, Hardeman, Hardin, Haywood, Henderson, Madison, McNairy, Shelby and Tipton Counties. The Region Leader is Nick Newman of Memphis Gas Light and Water Utility District.
Eight different utilities from Region 11 submitted samples of their drinking water for competition. The Districts that entered where: First Utility District of Tipton County, Germantown Water Systems, Jackson Energy Authority, Lexington Utilities, MGLW, Mumford Utilities, Parsons Utility Systems and Poplar Grove Utility District. The Judges for the contest were: Ali Kahn with the Tennessee Department of Conservation Jackson Field Office, Joel Howard with the Rural Development Administration, Kirk Smith of Next Generation Underwriters Inc., and Jonathan Cummings of Wascon Inc. Water was judged in the areas of clarity, bouquet, and taste in accordance with the rules from TAUD.
After the contest, members heard reports from Ali Kahn of the Jackson Environmental Field Office along with Bish Thomas of Rural Development. Tony Wyatt for TAUD gave members an update on the upcoming classes to be held at the Training Center in Murfreesboro for CE Credits. Tony also informed members about the two classes coming up on Safety Compliance and a TOSHA Class to be held at Walden’s Ridge Utility District in June.
Larry Lewis of TAUD gave members presentation on the TUPBA low interest loan program from Wiley Bros.-Aintree Capital Corp. This program is designed for infrastructure improvements, automated meter reading systems, headquarter renovations and construction, equipment purchases and various other projects.
Region Leader Nick Newman gave a report on the Legislative Bills being tracked by TAUD.
Before members headed over the Casey Jones Museum and Restaurant for lunch, Larry Lewis made the announcement that Mumford Utilities would return to Memphis to represent Region 11 for the second time in a row. This water contest was also the first in 2009 to conduct an overtime format to declare a winner.
We thank Nick Newman of MGLW and Jackson Energy Authority for their Hospitality in hosting the quarterly meeting.
Kirk Smith
Account Executive
Next Generation Underwriters
615.822.5454
ksmith@nguins.com
From left to right… Joel Howard of Rural Development, Kirk Smith of Next Generation Underwriters, Lynn Hughey and Mark Walker of Mumford Utilities, Ali Kahn of Jackson Environmental Field Office and Jonathan Cummings of Wascon Inc.
CLAIMS QUESTION OF THE WEEK:
Wednesday, May 13th, 2009 | Claims Questions | No Comments
Is an injured employee paid for lost time away from work to attend a doctor appointment, follow-up appointment, physical therapy or any type of Diagnostic testing during work hours?
-No, not unless it is a company policy
Please refer to your company employee handbook as this policy can vary.
Kathy Kinard
Claims Representative
Safety Engineering Consultants
615.826.4274
kkinard@sectn.com
Region 5 holds ‘Best Tasting Water Contest’, HUD shocks attendees.
Wednesday, May 13th, 2009 | Where we will be | No Comments
West Wilson Utility District served as the host for the quarterly meeting for Region 5. Although turnout was below the normal attendance, TAUD Members heard presentations from Joe Lewis of American Backflow Inspectors Corporation and Ken Rickvalsky of McWane Pipe Ductile 101. Joe’s presentation was very educational on the importance of maintaining the proper backflow within the system to allow peak performance and trouble free operations. Ken Rickvalsky discussed the proper techniques to installing ductile pipe safely and trouble free. Ken presented a 30 minute power point presentation on the installation of ductile pipe.
While the program was progressing, our panel of judges were in the process of tasting the 5 Utility participants water samples. Larry Lewis of TAUD who also serves as our Official Referee (his other profession) gave the results to the attendee’s and announced that ‘Hendersonville Utility District’ will represent Region 5 in the State Championship June 7 and 8 in Memphis. Congratulations to Tom Atchley and his staff at Hendersonville Utility District.
Members also heard reports from Loan Specialist Terence McGhee of Rural Development, plus a representative was on hand from TDEC to bring members up to date with new rules and regulations. Executive Director, Bob Freudenthal from TAUD was on hand to give members a report on the Legislative Bills that are being tracked in the State House along with updates from TAUD Headquarters. Bob also reminded members in attendance to register for the upcoming Annual Business Conference in Memphis on June 7th and 8th.
To finish up the program, members headed on over to Baker’s Cafeteria for a home cooked lunch.
Thanks to Freddie Weston, Region 5 Leader and West Wilson Utility District for their hospitality.
Kirk Smith
Account Executive
Next Generation Underwriters
615.822.5454
ksmith@nguins.com
Stretch and Flex
Tuesday, May 12th, 2009 | Job Safety, School Safety | No Comments
Safety Engineering Consultants would recommend that at least hourly these occupations work through a stretch and flex program for 2 minutes every hour. The minimum requirements should include the stretches below.
To Bid or Not To Bid - That is the Question
Monday, May 4th, 2009 | Insurance Topics | No Comments
The current economy and shrinking tax receipts have caused everyone involved in local and state government to look for ways to use available funds in the most conservative way.
For example, some county governments have found ways to provide adequate law enforcement protection using fewer patrol cars or simply driving fewer miles while schools may have found ways to delay capital expenditures to a time when more funds are available. We can find numerous examples but the bottom line is that all of us must work diligently to make the best use of the resources available.
This is not a new concept to most of us who have worked in the public sector. It seems that there is always pressure on available resources. We have always been open to new ideas and new ways to make the most of the resources at our disposal. This was the case in 1987 when a group of schools got together and found a way to buy insurance for their schools through their own non-profit governmental entity using concepts of frugality well known to any public servant. The resulting Tennessee Risk Management Trust was formed on the premise that it would be owned by its members and operated by public officials only for the benefit of those who were member/owners. It would not have need to be profitable but if it was, only its member entities would receive the benefit of any profits. It was designed to use the best in low overhead concepts, much like those employed by its member schools, counties and other governmental entities. Again, the resulting savings would be passed on to its member/owners.
After 21 years of operation, the Tennessee Risk Management Trust has withstood the test of time and performance through many political, regulatory and competitive challenges. It continues to include twelve of its thirteen original members. Since 1987 it has covered well over 75% of Tennessee’s schools and began covering entities other than schools in 2001. Among its current membership, 96% have enjoyed the benefits of being a TNRMT member for more than five years and 82% for more than 10 years. The Tennessee Risk Management Trust’s members enjoy an equity position in more than $20 million in surplus funds because of these efforts.
The TNRMT renewal is coming up again on July 1st. As a member, you will see articles written and hear from many for-profit insurance agencies and companies who will promise a reduction in your cost if you will just let them bid on your insurance. All these articles and promises are self serving or at best misguided if they suggest that you should bid for a commercial insurance company against an intergovernmental pool such as TNRMT in which you are already a member.
We are aware of a recent magazine article featuring a testimonial from a school system talking about how much money they saved by bidding one commercial insurance company against another. Bidding insurance is advisable and the article is certainly accurate if you only accept bids from commercial insurance companies, as this school system has done. This school has never been a member of an intergovernmental pool nor has it ever asked for a quote from TNRMT. However, this school system would likely have had an even more pleasant surprise, had they invited TNRMT to participate in the bid process.
The differences between a pool and a commercial, for-profit insurance company are many but the basic difference is that a commercial insurance company has only one motivation. That is to get more money from you than they pay in company overhead and give back in claims. This is done through getting as much money from their insureds as possible while resolving any claims as cheaply as possible to retain the highest profit margin possible at the end of the policy term. This money/profit is retained by the company for benefit of stockholders as dividends or to executives as salary increases or bonuses at the expense of the governmental entities they insure.
An intergovernmental pool also has only one motivation and purpose. That purpose is to take care of its member/owner’s risk management needs while having no reason to be loyal to any other master. If a pool charges more premium than is necessary to pay the costs and overhead of operations, this surplus cannot be paid to anyone other than its members. TNRMT has paid $4 million back to its 145 members as dividends in the past two years and will distribute another $2 million on July 1st of 2009. If these same members were participants in a for-profit insurance company for the past three years, this $6 million would have been retained as profits by the insurance company and paid to private individuals as profit or to executives as salary increases or bonuses in addition to the increased overhead and commissions already paid to these for-profit companies.
The reality of the facts about pools and for-profit insurance companies will be universally ignored by those promising to save you money while being motivated only by profit. Facts speak louder than promises. Since 1987, the TNRMT has consistently covered the risk management needs of over 75% of Tennessee’s schools and has covered almost half of the State’s county governments since 2002. If there were a better and less expensive alternative, such an alternative or company would have been more prominent than TNRMT after 21 years! THE PROOF IS IN THE PUDDING.
If there were an advantage to bidding against an intergovernmental insurance pool, why would TCA 29-20-407 exclude members of TNRMT from the requirement of bidding against their own program? Why do purchasing laws REQUIRE you to bid if you purchase insurance (a commodity) from a for-profit insurance company? Why would the Comptroller of the State of Tennessee agree with TCA 29-20-407 that you are not required to bid against your own pool? The Tennessee Governmental Tort Liability Act is intended to recognize that there is a distinct, measurable, cost saving advantage for membership in the longevity and stability of such a pool.
All this becomes clear when you ask yourself this question: “If you own an oil well and can pump gasoline out of it for your own use, would you solicit bids to buy gasoline at a retail price from someone else?” CERTAINLY NOT!!!
However, the retailers or for-profit insurance companies will offer bargain basement prices to have you believe they can consistently provide a less expensive product than you can provide for yourself. How is it possible to get more product for your money when you pay someone else’s profit?
The next time you read an article or talk to someone encouraging you to bid insurance and leave TNRMT on the promise of lower cost, the only accurate assumption you can make is that they are misguided or want to keep the profit for themselves that you would otherwise receive as a member of TNRMT.
We are always here to help or answer your questions.
John Evans
President
Next Generation Underwriters
615.822.5454
jevans@nguins.com