1st    ACSR Mod #2, Personal Auto, Flowood MS

10th    PIA E&O and Time Management, Jackson

14th     PIA Personal Umbrella and Boat Coverages, Jackson

15th     Tax Day

            NAIW Hall of Fame Essays Due

17th     IW of SW MS Monthly Business Meeting

22nd     IIAM Return of the Dirty Dozen, Flowood

23rd     Administrative Professional’s Day

            IIAM Adjusters Say the Darndest Things, Flowood

24th     PIA Personal Auto, McComb

            IIAM Risk Management, Flowood

25th     IW of SW MS Monthly Newsletter goes out

26th     Arbor Day

A.M. Best Company has downgraded the financial rating of Boston-based insurer Liberty Mutual Insurance Companies.  They announced that it downgraded Liberty’s rating from “A+” (Superior) to “A” (Excellent.)

The U.S. Supreme Court has decided a claimant who has asbestosis and is physically impaired may be awarded damages for fear of developing cancer in the future because of exposure to asbestos.

Jefferson – Pilot Corp. said it has settled a seven-year-old lawsuit in North Carolina over its sales and servicing of thousands of life policies.

 By:  Ruth E. Phillips, CISR
        Education Chairman

Most agents know that a homeowner’s policy does not coverage damage from flood.  With all the recent rains Southwest Mississippi has had, several people are interested in flood insurance.  Are you up to date on your flood knowledge.  Below is a list of top 10 facts every insurance agent should know about the National Flood Insurance Program.
 

1. Almost every building in a participating community can be covered by flood insurance.

2. There is an easy to write low risk flood insurance policy for low to moderate flood risk areas.

3. The National Flood Insurance Reform Act of 1994 increased the limits of flood insurance coverage.

4. Easy to rate software is available.

5. Credit cards are now accepted.

6. Provisional rating makes closings easier.

7. Contact the community building permit office for elevation information.

8. National Flood Insurance Program policies cover many basement elements.

9. Federal disaster loans and grants will require the purchase of flood insurance.

10. Buy Now! There is a 30-day waiting period.

Do you have more questions about NFIP?  Take a few minutes and check out www.fema.org they have all the info you need to make sure your insureds have all the coverage they need.
 .

By Ruth Phillips, CISR

My friends often joke that my reality is not the same as theirs.  In my reality, people are always nice to each other.  There are no arguments, name-calling, or door slamming.  Also, in my reality it never rains and the sun is purple.  Of course, my reality is a dream.  Everyday we have to deal with difficult people.  Below are some ideas that might help you.

The key to dealing with difficult people is to put yourself in the other person’s shoes and look for the truth in what that person is saying.

Some difficult people are sulkers.  When there is a problem, they may sulk or act angry and refuse to talk.  Give this person a chance to talk.  If they don’t want to talk let them withdraw.  They will know that you are willing to listen to them, when they are ready.

Other difficult people can be noisy critics.  Critics can be harsh.  There are times when they can be abusive and you may just need to walk away.  But if the problem is one that you want solved, it’s important to allow the other person to salvage some self-esteem.  There’s nearly always a grain of truth in the other person’s point of view.  If you acknowledge this, and show empathy towards their problem, they will be less defensive and more likely to listen to you when they’re done.

Some difficult people are complainers.  These people usually don’t want advice.  They just want someone to listen and understand.  The complainer will usually run out of gas and stop complaining.  The secret is not to give advice, just listen and not take offense.

Responding to difficult people can be tough.  The moment you give up your need to control or be right, the other person will begin relaxing and start listening to you.

Keri Morrell is on her way to Washington D.C.!  She is once again going to our nation’s capital with several other PIA members.  She is also looking forward to going turkey hunting, as she has never done this before.  Hopefully, she will be
able to find a turkey.

Virginia Zeigler is going to stay busy during the month of April.  She is, as always, spending time spoiling her grandchildren!
On April 5th, she is going to the Belzoni Catfish Festival.  She is also planning to go to Natchez for the Historic Natchez Pageant.  She also has plans to go to Houma on April 12th for the Southdown Plantation Marketplace Arts, Crafts and
Food Festival.  If all that wasn’t enough, she is even cooking Easter dinner for her family!

Congrats go out to Mary Jones for her recent engagement!  She and Tim have set a date for a small wedding on May 24, 2003.  On a sadder note, all our thoughts and prayers go out to Dawn and her family for her recent miscarriage.

Ruthie Phillips is planning on attending an E & O Workshop on April 10th.  She was also recently nominated as 2003 CSR
of the Year for the state of Mississippi by the National Alliance

Deborah Ledford just finished helping and attending the Region IV Conference.  She was the hostess for the National Representative Candace K. Robinson.  Deb knows Candi so she had lots of fun.

Bea Jones’ surprised everyone recently when we ate at the new Mexican restaurant in McComb.  Bea is not too fond of Mexican food and she usually orders a hamburger.  But, for the first time that anyone can remember, Bea did not order a hamburger!  She had a Mexican dish with nachos and cheese!
 

In the spirit of April Fool’s Day, here is a little quiz to test your Urban Legend knowledge.  The answers appear at the bottom of the page. (No peeking!)

True or False?

1. By collecting the pull-tabs from soda cans, you can earn time on kidney dialysis machines.
2. Alligators live in the New York sewers.
3. Static electricity can ignite gasoline vapors during refueling.
4. Seven women have died after smelling a free perfume sample mailed to them.
5. Microsoft will send you money for forwarding emails.
6. Applebee’s will mail you a gift certificate for forwarding emails.
7. You can avoid points on your MVR by overpaying tickets and fines.
8. The price of generic drugs can vary from one pharmacy to the next.
9. Car thieves can steal your car by writing down the VIN and using it to obtain a duplicate key from the auto dealership.
10. The “Dell Dude,” Benjamin Curtis, was fired because of a drug bust.

The Answers

1. False.
2. False.
3. True.
4. False.
5. False. -Email that is forwarded can’t be tracked.
6. False. -There is no such thin as a free lunch.
7. False.
8. True. –Shop around.
9. True – In December 2002, a man who was involved in a multi state car theft ring, was arrested. He wrote down the VIN numbers for the cars he wanted to steal then proceeded to make phony titles for these cars.  Because he had proof that he owned the car (the phony title) the dealership made him a duplicate key.  This scheme has been successfully used but does not pose a threat to the average car owner.
10. False.