POST SANDY

First, we hope everyone is safe in the aftermath of Superstorm Sandy.

In efforts to provide the best service to our agents and their clients we wanted to pass on some useful information:

• Homeowners / businesses should take photos or videos showing the extent of losses before cleaning up damage.
• Only necessary repairs to prevent further damage to property, like covering broken windows, should be done at this time.  Permanent repairs should not be made until after insurers have inspected losses.  Damaged personal property should be kept until after an insurance settlement has been reached.
• Homeowners and business owners should cooperate fully with their insurer.
• Keep a diary of all conversations with agents, adjusters, etc and include name, time, dates and details of each call.
• Please check if your area is required to boil water... it is the small things that can mean so much during these tough times. Gas is hard to find in the tri-state area, so only drive when necessary and car-pool when you can.

Most importantly, keep safe.  Objects can be replaced.

Red Cross and FEMA have set up stations throughout NJ and NY.
FEMA - 800-621-3362 www.disasterassistance.gov  www.fema.gov
Red Cross information: http://www.redcross.org/mobile-apps/hurricane-app  http://www.redcross.org/find-help/contact-family/register-safe-listing

Our industry has pulled together through disasters before, and we will pull together through this.

Thank you for your trust.

Your friends at Jimcor Agencies

Excess & Surplus Lines Business in NY

Many agents around the country write NY business, some of which falls into the E & S Marketplace.

At Jimcor Agencies we want our agency partners to have access to the tools they need to successfully compete in this environment.  Therefor we felt it important to forward this information by ELANY (Excess Lines Association of NY) regarding Affidavit Part C.

Use of New Affidavit Part C Reminder

We hope this assists you in writing business.

Thank you once again for choosing Jimcor Agencies.

Dryer Fires

Dryer fires are becoming all too common.

According to a report by FEMA there are an estimated 2,900 clothes dryer fires in residential buildings reported to US fire departments each year causing approximately 5 deaths, 100 injuries and $35 million in property losses.  Failure to clean was the leading factor contributing to the ignition of clothes dryer fires in residential buildings.  (http://www.usfa.fema.gov/media/press/2012releases/080712.shtm)

Do you bring items like this to the attention of your homeowner policyholders?  What about apartment buildings or condo associations where there is a shared laundry space?  What about a nursing home?

This is not only a residential risk!

Here are interesting articles providing more information and statistics for your review as well as a Dryer Safety Top Ten List

http://www.insurancejournal.com/news/national/2012/08/20/260075.htm#.UDdqPUX6mq4.email

http://www.suffolknewsherald.com/2012/06/13/dryer-fire-sparks-evacuation-at-nursing-home/

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/06/09/fire-at-robert-de-niros-n_n_1583205.html

http://www.lintalert.com/safety_tips.htm

If you are looking for homeowners, condo, apartment and other insurance please contact one of Jimcor's specialists who can match your risk with the best company.

Olympic Size Insurance Risks

Have you been watching the Olympics?  Cheering on the good ole’ USA?  Ever take a moment to think about the insurance risks involved in such an amazing event?

The Independent (www.independent.co.uk) decided to look at just that and tries to answer the following questions:
What sports would make most insurance brokers wince?
What part of the opening ceremony has insurance providers squirming in their chairs?
Which athlete would cost most to insure?

Check out the article here.

What is the biggest event you ever insured?  What were the biggest risks associated with this event?

For concerts, sporting events, flea markets, car shows and more contact your Jimcor underwriter for the best markets at the best prices.

Are you LinkedIn?

Gone are the Rolodex’s with the business cards, names and phone numbers.  Now we have LinkedIn.  But unlike a business card, once we connect with someone on LinkedIn we virtually have their resume at our fingertips.  We know who their friends are, and we know where they used to work.

LinkedIn has become The Business Networking Tool.

But once you make a profile, what next?  Easy… get engaged.

·         Connect with people

·         Join groups

·         Ask and answer questions

·         Make sure to keep your profile updated with searchable key words

Here is a great article by www.marketingprofs.com (Shelly Kramer) on using LinkedIn Announcements.

Jimcor employee's are on LinkedIn - find us, connect with us, and tell us what you would like to see on this blog!

Let us know where you are on the Social Media Highway, what tools you are using and successes you have seen!  Maybe you will see them mentioned here in this blog J

Coryn Thalmann - Finding Time to Pay It Forward

Why do we volunteer?  How do we choose among the so many important causes?  Does it add to our lives or take time away from other things?  We asked Coryn Thalmann, CEO, COO of Jimcor Agencies, to answer a few questions for us on her personal thoughts about volunteering - thanks Coryn for taking the time to talk to us!

Q: What groups do you / have you volunteered for?
C Thalmann: Special Olympics, YIP's, UFO, Board of Directors for NAPSLO Education Foundation to name a few

Q: How do you find the time to volunteer with family and work commitments?

C Thalmann: First, I prioritize all the aspects of my life when making a decision to begin something.  Then, I work with my husband to schedule everything we need to do and continually communicate about changes.  Finally, I try to be 100% present wherever I am.  If I am home playing with my kids, I try and focus on them.  When I am at an event, I focus on those I am meeting.

Q: Do your children know you volunteer?  How do they feel about it?

C Thalmann: They know I am away at times, but don’t really understand what volunteering entails.  They are getting to an age where I will be able to take them to certain events so they can see versus hear about what I am doing.

Q: What is the best experience you have had from volunteering?  

C Thalmann: Seeing a smile on a person’s face!

Q: What would you say if someone said they didn’t have the time to volunteer for a cause?  

C Thalmann: Do what you can.  Every little bit helps so try and find ½ hour to help.

Q: In closing – is there anything else you would want to say?  Any cause close to your heart you would want to talk about?  

C Thalmann: The world is based on people helping other people.  I have been fortunate in my life and feel that paying it forward is a must for me.

So, in closing think about how you "pay it forward"!  What cause is important to you?  Do you volunteer your time?  Let us know :)

Know you want to volunteer but not sure where to start?  Try Volunteer Match! http://www.volunteermatch.org/

Did you know yesterday was Mandela Day? 

http://www.mandeladay.com/
An annual celebration of Nelson Mandela’s life (started in 2009) and a global call to action for people to recognize their individual power to" make an imprint" and change the world around them -- by giving 67 minutes of volunteer service. Celebrated on July 18 

Wearing a Life Jacket is Still the Most Important Step Boaters Can Take to Ensure Their Safety on the Water

It is boating Season!
Beautiful weather and fun with family and friends.  But please - be careful!

Boating fatalities jumped 12.8 percent in 2011 and are now at the highest level since 1998, according to the U.S. Coast Guard's just released report 2011 Recreational Boating Statistics.

Last year, 533 of the 758 boating fatalities resulted from drowning, with 84 percent of the drowning victims not reported as wearing a life jacket. The Coast Guard is urging recreational boaters to make sure everyone on board wears their life jacket at all times on the water.

This information is taken directly from the US Coast Guard website.  For more information go to http://www.uscgboating.org/