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| Quote of the Month |
To be able to carry money without spending it;
To be able to bear an injustice without retaliating;
To be able to do one’s duty when critical eyes watch;
To be able to keep at a job until it is finished;
To be able to do the work and let others receive the recognition;
To be able to accept criticism without letting it whip you;
To be able like those who push you down;
To be able love when hate is all about you;
To follow God when others put detour signs in your path;
To have a peace of heart and mind because you have given God your best.
This is the true measure of success.
- Author Unknown |
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Upcoming Meeting
No Meeting Scheduled.
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March 2009
President’s Message
My father used to say during tough times, “When you come down from the mountain top and you’re in the valley, don’t pout it, plow it!”
He taught me that much of life is made up of valleys followed by occasional “mountaintop” experiences. He explained that the mountaintops would have no meaning without the experiences of the valleys but also reminded me that the valley is where the good soil lies. It may not have the best view or provide the most R&R but the productivity potential was best in that valley.
As I’ve travelled the State talking with agents and Reps. lately many of you just seem “beaten down”. It’s like the industry might evaporate right out from under you or that your employer might decide to let you go in an effort to slash expenses.
We’re in a valley, plain and simple, but we still have a choice!
We don’t have to sit around and pout and complain about the changes coming upon us; we can start plowing and planting seeds for our future!
Look, this great country of ours has survived the Great Depression, multiple recessions, and your least favorite politician (whoever that might be) and we survived them all! You aren’t out of business; there are customers out there who need your help!
You will get through this, but you MUST keep doing your part. You already know that many of the solutions being discussed today are not the answer to your customers’ issues. So you become the answer they need. Work harder and serve your customers; they need you now more than ever!
Take some time to think anew about what your customers want and need, to add those services other agents and carriers are not willing to. It’s time to ask ourselves again, “what can I do to be better”, and, “what did I do that brought success in my past that I am not doing now”.
For hundreds of years top quality service, in almost any industry, has made for success. So don’t pout it, PLOW IT!
Shan Ricketts – President |
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| First Name |
Last Name |
Company |
Chapter |
| James |
Barkley |
Design Benefit Services, Inc. |
GANORTHWEST |
| Janice |
Barkley |
Design Benefit Services, Inc |
GANORTHWEST |
| Daniel |
Carlton |
Big Oak Advisors |
GASOUTH |
| Anne |
Eisenhardt |
BIS Benefits, Inc. |
GAATLANTA |
| Claire |
Elliott |
Coventry Healthcare of GA |
GAATLANTA |
| Kenneth |
Goodman |
American Stop Loss |
GAATLANTA |
| Joseph |
Haire |
Humana Inc |
GAATLANTA |
| Maria |
Handwork |
BIS Benefits, Inc. |
GAATLANTA |
| Elisa |
Hayden |
Schiebel & Associates, LLC |
GAATLANTA |
| Bret |
Hightower |
Vxtra Partners, LLC |
GAATLANTA |
| Silvia |
Hincles |
TIS, Inc Dba the Insurance Store |
GAATLANTA |
| Linda |
Joyner |
Coventry Healthcare of GA |
GAATLANTA |
| Wilson |
Mathews |
Wilson F Matthews Insurance |
GASOATLANTA |
| Linda |
McRorie |
Admin America, Inc. |
GAATLANTA |
| Taylor |
Miller |
1st Medical Network |
GAATLANTA |
| Elizabeth |
Moore |
BlueCross BlueShield of GA |
GAATLANTA |
| Penny |
Morgan |
BIS Benefits, Inc. |
GAATLANTA |
| Patrick |
ORourke |
Humana |
GAATLANTA |
| Carl |
Papp |
Managed Care Repair, Inc. |
GAATLANTA |
| Julianne |
Purcell |
Vision Service Plan (VSP) |
GAATLANTA |
| Chad |
Purvis |
Coventry HealthCare of GA |
GAATLANTA |
| Chuck |
Ray |
eNrollment Technologies |
GAATLANTA |
| Jennifer |
Rosenberger |
Rick Bailey & Company, Inc. |
GAATLANTA |
| Kirk |
Rouse |
Doherty, Duggan & Rouse Insurors, Inc. |
GASOUTH |
| Heather |
Rubnitz |
Rubnitz & Ebenconcepts |
GACOASTAL |
| Linda |
Smith |
BenSource Employee Benefits |
GAATLANTA |
| Jack |
Stephens |
Workable Solutions, Inc. |
GAATLANTA |
| Margaret |
Tolbert |
Tolbert & Associates |
GAMIDDLE |
| Richard |
Van Leuvan |
Peachtree Planning Corporation |
GAATLANTA |
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It seems like wellness is everywhere you look these days. We see it talked about on television, we read about it on product packaging, and, more and more, we are hearing about it in corporate settings. Corporate wellness programs have joined hospital health fairs in helping to spread the wellness movement.
The main focus of corporate wellness programs is to help employees modify their “controllable behavior.” These behaviors include things like overeating, tobacco use and physical inactivity. While such programs are becoming a common part of many employee benefit programs, very few companies choose to administer these programs themselves. Instead, most turn to their health insurance carrier or a third party vendor for help.
A comprehensive wellness program should include five key elements:
(1) health assessment, intervention and materials promoting behavior change,
(2) personal health coaches for high-risk members,
(3) an incentive program to motivate employees and encourage participation,
(4) an Employee Assistance Program (EAP), which is a 24/7 nurse line offering confidential counseling and immediate health care assistance, and
(5) detailed reports for the employer that show how the wellness program is performing.
Corporate wellness programs usually take about three years to begin to yield a return on the investment required to implement and maintain them. But once they hit their stride, most wellness programs are capable of returning from $3 to $5 on every $1 spent. This return on investment includes reduced health and disability claims, lower absenteeism and improved presenteeism.
The beauty of a well-designed wellness program is that it changes not only employees’ bodies, but also their minds and lives. One employee who participated in his company’s program remarked, “I used to think I had to go to the gym to exercise. Now I realize that I can exercise at any waking hour. I can park further from the office entrance, and I can choose to use the stairs rather than the elevator. I count my blessings every day for the gift of exercise.”
A corporate wellness program will benefit both a company’s employees and its bottom line. If you have one at your company, I encourage you to take full advantage. If you don’t, maybe you should ask yourself why not.
Kevin Smith MAIIA Past President and AAHU President
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| Recently Long Term Care has gotten some traction in the poliitcal lime light. Make sure that you seek credible news regarding Long Term Care and related political agenda by looking for information from:
Harley Gordon, President, Corporation for Long Term Care Certification, Inc.
Jesse Slome, President, American Association for Long Term Care Insurance
Stephen Moses, President, The Center for Long Term Care Reform, Inc.
Ed Pinnock, President, Society of Certified Senior Advisors.
Special thanks for the information to David Johnson. |
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| SAAHU will be selling raffle tickets as a fund raising effort.
The holder of the winning ticket will be awarded a vacation package for one week at a location of chioce within the Worldwide Travel Network. Vacation dates for any location will be available to the winner for travel dates from April 1st 2008 thru March of 2010.
Contact Ron with SAAHU @ 706-527-4790 or e-mail Ron at albinassoc@aol.com for e-Tickets. Cost is $20. The drawing will be held on April 7th. |
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| GAHU STATE EVENTS
GAHU 19th ANNUAL SYMPOSIUM & EDUCATIONAL EXPO
MAY 5th through 8th 2009 - Renaissance Waverly Hotel, Atlanta, GA
COBRA / HIPPA & FSAs, HRAs and HSAs – A Comparison
Full Day Program - April 21st, 2009 - Cobb Chamber of Commerce, Atlanta, GA
GAHU St. Patrick's Day Social
March 17th, 2009 - 4:30 p.m. until 7:00 p.m. - Eclipse di Luna - Atlanta, GA
GAHU Local Chapter Meetings - 2009
Atlanta:
- 3rd Friday of each month 7:30 AM - 10:00 AM
Coastal Empire (Savannah):
- 3rd Friday of each month 11:30 AM - 2:00 PM
CSRA (Augusta):
- 2nd Wednesday of each month 7:00 AM - 10:00 AM
Middle Georgia (Macon):
- 2nd Thursday of each month 10:00 AM - 12:00 Noon
March 19: Ethics. Joint meeting with NAIFA at GA Industrial Home
Special Time:8:30 AM - Noon
April 23rd: COBRA by Quida Peterson of Conexis at the Idle Hour Country Club, MaconNortheast Georgia (Commerce):
May 14: Panel comprised of 4 area hospital CEO's at the Idle Hour Country Club.
Special Time: 9:30 AM - Noon.
- 2nd Wednesday of each month 8:30 AM - 10:30 AM
This Months' Topic on February 11th will be with Donald Jackson of Greater Georgia Life with "New Blue Vision" & "TBD."
Northwest Georgia (Calhoun):
- 2nd Wednesday of each month 8:30 AM - 10:30AM
South Atlanta (College Park):
- 3rd Thursday of each month 11:30 AM - 2:00 PM
South Georgia:
- Twice per year – meeting dates and times to be announced.
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