4th         Election Day
             GO VOTE!

7-8th     AL Council of NAIW State Meeting

9th        Full Moon

11th      Veteran’s Day

11-13     PIA Agent’s License Review, Jackson, MS

14th       NAIW “Inroads” Emailed

18th       CISR Agency Operations, Kenner, LA

20th       CISR Agency Operations, Baton Rouge, LA

21st        “Today’s Insurance Professional” Mailed

27th       Thanksgiving

27-28th   NAIW National Closed

Virginia has suffered 35,000 insured automobile losses from Hurricane Isabel, the most of any state affected by the storm, according to the Insurance Services Office, Inc.

Goodyear Tire & Rubber Company has received conditional approval for a class-action settlement – potentially as large as $236 million – related to allegedly faulty heating hoses the company manufactured, contingent on Goodyear’s receipt of insurance funds, the company said.

The discussion over the importation of prescription drugs from Canada is drawing more and more interest as governors in at least four states pressure Congress to allow the practice.

Fast moving wildfires ravaging large swaths of Southern California this week were estimated to have destroyed more than 1,000 homes and still were threatening as many as 40,000 more on October 28, according to the California Office of Emergency Services.

Mold spores continually float in and out of houses and other environments, and most lie dormant for years. But given the proper condition of excessive moisture, some spores germinate, which spurs mold growth on anything from wood and carpet to foods, making some people feel sick.

About 35 percent of the population has allergies.  Having allergies means there is a predisposition to develop an allergic sensitivity to a variety of things, including molds. In those people, molds are a problem or trigger factor.

For those sensitive to molds, prolonged exposure can cause eye irritation, nasal stuffiness or wheezing.   More severe reactions are possible in people with allergies, asthma, respiratory disease or a weakened immune system and include fever, shortness of breath or infection.

Recent lawsuits over moldy homes and reports of "toxic mold" have fueled undue hysteria.  While people need to know if they have a mold problem, they shouldn't obsess over it.  The Environmental Protection Agency also plays down the hype surrounding the health threat of mold.   "I think the notion that this is some widespread epidemic in the United States is really overblown," says the EPA's Elissa Feldman.

So what should you do if you've got a moldy menace?  “Go to the source,” Feldman says.  "If you have a mold problem, you have a moisture problem," Feldman explains. "If you have a moisture problem, you need to find out what it is and fix it."

According to the EPA, if you have more than 10 square feet of visible mold, it's time to call in a professional. But in modest cases, the answer can be as simple as a call to the plumber to fix leaky pipes, and a little soapy water.  The CDC reports a thorough cleaning with bleach and water removes most cases of growing mold.

Be aware. A leader is conscious of the dynamics of the situations over which he/she presides.

Be flexible. A leader can act on information and situations presented, but he/she must often accommodate people who act differently.

Be a contributor. A leader can help broaden the perspectives of those he/she leads.

Be a learner. Things change. A leader needs a deep and balanced understanding of the people and the environment with which he/she is involved.

Be realistic. A leader must be aware of the reality of issues and how they may impact those one leads.

Be a risk taker. A leader moves ahead many times trying new things knowing that not all the loose ends are tied-up, that not every one is fully aboard, and that success is not assured.

Be enthusiastic. A leader shows one's belief in what one is doing.

Be a role model. A leader goes by the maxim of "practice what you preach."

Be patient. A leader is not born; he/she is developed.

Be yourself. A leader not only considers thoughts on leadership but also adds his/her own uniqueness to them.
 

Mentoring is a critical ingredient in every leader's recipe for survival in a fast-changing world of enterprise. It is a very crucial leadership skill needed to corner the only market that matters: talent.  Research has shown that mentoring has a major impact on retaining talent.  It is also one of the key things employees are interested in having as part of their employment agreement.

Mentoring involves four key ingredients.   They are:

Humility, or relinquishing efforts to control everything. It's indicative of a leader who is devoted to learning, not feeding his Napoleon complex.

Inclusion, or listening intently to employees to discover the feelings behind words and responding in a way that acknowledges those feelings.

Generosity, or giving the gift of advice and feedback conveyed with a passion for learning and concern for the learner, without expecting anything in return.

Freedom, or pushing the relationship beyond the boundaries that are normally expected.

Mentoring is an honor.  With the exception of love, there is no greater gift one can give than the gift of growth.  Mentoring touches employees daily. Ways that you can mentor are sending e-mail messages that are inspirational or acknowledge achievements, regularly collaborating with individuals to set and evaluate goals, and providing outside training to enrich staff members.
 

Below is a list of the 10 most stolen cars in 2002.

1. 1989 Toyota Camry
2. 1991 Toyota Camry
3. 1990 Toyota Camry
4. 2000 Honda Civic SI
5. 1994 Honda Accord EX
6. 1994 Chevrolet C1500 4x2
7. 1995 Honda Accord EX
8. 1988 Toyota Camry
9. 1994 Honda Accord LX
10. 1996 Honda Accord LX

Congrats go out to Keri Morrell who was awarded the AAMGA award at the State Meeting and to Ruthie Phillips for winning the CWC Speak-Off.  Both will go on to West Palm Beach, FL in April 2004 to represent our state at Regional Conference.

Keri Morrell has just returned from a trip to see her father and take in the annual Beanfest and Outhouse Races in Mountain View, Arkansas.  She is looking forward to spending time with her husband and two oldest grandsons teaching them how to hunt.

Virginia Zeigler is enrolled in the IIAM E&O seminar in November. She is also still working on the SW MS Genealogical Society's cemetery database project.

The deadline to apply for a NAIW Education Foundation Scholarship is December 1, 2003.  If you are going to apply for a scholarship, make sure you get your paperwork in on time!

The deadline for Regional Awards is December 12, 2003.  If you are applying for an award you must turn in 6 copies of the award application to the RVP, Frankie Tobias, by the deadline.

The Insurance Women of Southwest MS donated 35 magazines in October to the Southwest MS Regional Medical Center to be placed in waiting areas throughout the hospital.