THE PINECONE

Monthly newsletter for area insurance professionals To inform members and associates of industry news, educational opportunities And association activities of the

RALEIGH ASSOCIATION OF INSURANCE PROFESSIONALS

Officers
President Katy Willett, CIC, CISR kwillett@bagwellandbagwellins.com President Elect & Membership Janet Davis, CISR, CPIW, AAI jdavis@triangleinsurancegroup.com Vice-President & Programs Jeanne Hess, CISR, CPIW, DAE, AAI, AIS jhess@iianc.com Secretary Shirley Hudson, ARM, AAI, CISR, CPIW, DAE shudson@iianc.com Treasurer Barb Hutchinson bhutchinson@bmico.com Parliamentarian Wanda Manning, CPCU, CPIW, CIC, DAE w.manning@sau-inc.com Committee Chairmen: Bylaws & Immediate Past President Beth Blackwell, AAI, CPIW bethbwell@nc.rr.com Employment Jeanne Hess, CISR, CPIW, DAE, AAI, AIS jhess@iianc.com Public Relations Co-Chairs Jeanne Hess, CISR, CPIW, DAE, AAI, AIS jhess@iianc.com Pat Norton, API, CPSR, CPIW pat.norton@us.qbe.com Education Pam Grimes, CPIW, CIC, CISR, DAE Pagdreamer18@aol.com Safety Debbie Pass-Soles, CPIW, CISR, CIC Debbie.Soles@mmicnc.com Legislative Shirley Hudson, ARM, AAI, CISR, CPIW, DAE shudson@iianc.com

Pinecone Editor
Jeanne Hess, CISR, CPIW, DAE, AAI, AIS

Inside this Newsletter

1. November Meeting11/8/11 Restorations after a loss

863-6524 - jhess@iianc.com

November 2011
The November Meeting of the Raleigh Association of Insurance Professionals will meet on November 8, 2011 at the IIANC Office, 101 Weston Oaks Court, Cary, NC at 6:00 pm with social beginning at 5:30 pm WITH REFRESHMENTS!. Our guest speaker is Betty Ann Crump from Puroclean with a great presentation on Restorations after a Loss. We also will have a short business meeting and make holiday wreaths. BRING YOUR GLUE GUN if you have one! I hope everyone will come, enjoy the fellowship of our group and bring a guest or two!

2. December Meeting12/13/11
Christmas Party 3. PEANUTS!! Bring your orders to the meeting!

November 2011 Happy Thanksgiving!

Thanks for making NAIW dba IAIP YOUR Association of Choice
Represented by Diversified Professionals

NEW WEBSITE: www.raip.org

NCAIW LINK: www.ncaiw.org NEW IAIP link: http://www.internationalinsuranceprofessio nals.org/ SCHOLARSHIPS: www.inssfa.org

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ PEANUTS FOR PAWS!! RAIP Fundraiser also supports DEAR, Down East Animal Rescue! Contact any member or Jeanne Hess if you would like to place an order by 11/8/11 to be delivered before Thanksgiving. We will place in early December to be delivered before Christmas. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Operation Edith Supplies

Still have some available. Please contact Jeanne to have them ready to pick up!

PRESIDENTS MESSAGE:

Fall is here! Hope to see many of you at the NCAIW Conference November 3rd thru 5th in Greensboro. I should have a State Meeting report at our next meeting. Look forward to seeing all of you Tuesday November 8th. Bring a friend. Katy Willett, CIC, AAI, CISR, CPIW RAIP President, 2011-2012

Upcoming triangle events. There are tons of events coming up in the triangle area. As social events, I was hoping to gauge interest in getting a group together to participate in some of the local activities (and possibly invite Durham if they are interested?). I included the cost of tickets, but some of these offer large group discounts if we have 10 or more. Hurricanes Hockey (upper level seats run $35 to $61 a ticket) Rembrandt Exhibition at the museum of art (Oct 30 to Jan 22, $18 adults/ $15 seniors) Nutcracker Ballet (Dec 3 24, tickets run $32.25 to $110) A Christmas Carol (Dec 8 -14 ; tickets run $35 to $90) Charlie Goodnight (various comedians prices change) A trip to the Smithfield outlets for Christmas shopping? Shoot Jeanne or Katy an email if you would be interested in participating in any of these events as a group! Thanks.

EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITIES: 1 Insurance Professional looking. Experienced in customer service, marketing and inside sales,
management and training. Experienced with all sizes of commercial accounts, however special in small business. Experienced in most in house rating systems. Have worked on Applied, AMS Afw, 360 and Sagitta. Can wear many hats at the same time. (added Sept. 2010) 2 Capstone Search Group Commercial Lines Account Manager Charlotte - $45K - $55K Our client is looking for someone with a strong marketing and client service background. Exposure to commercial construction is a plus. Employee Benefits Account Manager Charlotte - $50K - $60K Our client here is looking for someone with experience working in the 100 1,000 life arena and significant exposure to self funded accounts. Commercial Lines Account Manager Raleigh - $45K - $55K Our client here is seeking someone with a strong middle market commercial lines background working with accounts ranging in size from $15K - $30K in revenue with exposure to a variety of industries. (added June 2011)

3 Marketing Director for a small Workers Compensation Insurance Company in Raleigh. (Added May 2011) 4 - Finmark Insurance Agency in Raleigh is looking for Commercial Producers. Please send

resume to Rick Stallings at rstallings@finmark.com 5. Commercial Lines Account Manager... Eastern Wake and Western Johnston county, Applied experience a must. Excellent benefits. (added Nov. 2011)
Please contact Jeanne Hess jhess@iianc.com or 863-6524, if you would like more information.

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Raleigh Association of Insurance Professionals October 11, 2011

The meeting was called to order, at 6:04 PM, by Vice President, Jeanne Hess in the absence of the President, Katy Willett. Members present were VP, Jeanne Hess, Beth Blackwell, Wanda Manning, Pam Grimes, Debbie Soles and guest, Tammy Ramsdell. Vice President Hess introduced and welcomed Kathy Ellis, Fire Education Specialist with the Town of Cary Fire Department. Ms. Ellis majored in English at NCSU but, then began a career as a fire fighter in Kinston, NC. She transferred to the Cary, NC Fire Department where she eventually gravitated to the prevention end of fire fighting. The leading cause of home fires in Cary is cooking and the second leading cause is lightning. The best way to be safe is 1) have an interconnected smoke alarm and 2) have a fire plan - EDITH and two ways out of every room. Ms. Ellis informed the members that single family dwellings have the greatest amount of property loss. Multi-family dwelling fires involve the largest amount of property because of the numbers of units but have the smallest amount of loss due to having to have sprinkler systems. Ms. Ellis' program was very informative and timely due to October being fire prevention month. Vice President Hess advised there were no minutes from the September meeting due to it being our annual picnic. Treasurers Report - There was no report. Programs November - possibly Legislative, service project of wreathes or baskets December - Christmas dinner at 18 Seaboard - discussed gift exchange and/or basket for shut in February - Joint meeting with Durham - will discuss dates since it falls on 2/14/12 Safety - Vice President Jeanne Hess has Operation Edith materials. Education - Pam Grimes sent an email about classes prior to the meeting. Customer Service is 6 hours, Ethics is 2 hours, and Conflict Resolution is 2 hours. There are new qualifications from National about who can teach classes. We will check into filing for classes and also see how much interest we have. Legislative - No report Public Relations - Reminded everyone to bring children's books to State Convention, November 4, 2011. If not attending, you can get them to Jeanne Hess. Fundraiser

Minutes

Down East Peanuts as suggested by Pam Grimes. Vice President Hess said they are reasonably priced and we will be supporting PAWS for a Cause. The members voted to adopt this fundraising project for this year. There being no further business (new or old) the meeting was adjourned at 7:00 PM. Respectfully submitted for Shirley McLamb-Hudson, in her absence, Beth Blackwell

Legislative Update - Healthcare Legislation and The U.S. Supreme Court?

Jill Walker Denton, TAHU Law and Legislative Chair

Here are the current facts that have been established: 1. The majority of the 50 states claim that PPACA is unconstitutional, the Obama administration claims that it is not. 2. Both sides have now asked the U.S. Supreme Court to decide the question on appeal from a 3-judge panel of the 11th Circuit Court. In August, the panel (made up of two Clinton appointees and one George H. W. Bush appointee) ruled that PPACA's individual mandate its requirement that essentially every American buy governmentapproved health insurance under penalty of law is unconstitutional but that the rest of the legislation should be allowed to stand. 3. The 26 states that filed suit in the case have appealed, arguing that the individual mandate is so central to the legislation as a whole that to void the mandate, while retaining the rest, is to leave something in place that's unworkable and which Congress almost certainly never would have passed. 4. The Obama administration also has appealed, arguing that the powers vested in Congress by the Constitution authorize its passage of all aspects of the 2,700-page legislation. What The Supreme Court could Rule: 1. The Court could decide not to strike down any part of the legislation, ruling that Congress was authorized to pass the individual mandate under its power "to regulate Commerce...among the States." The Court's role is to void legislation if it violates the manifest tenor of the Constitution. If the Court does indeed rule in this manner, it will stretch the commerce clause to establish, for the first time, that Congress can force Americans to buy a particular commercial good and can dictate what form of that good they must buy. This would be true for all goods such as food, as well. 2. The Court could decide not to strike down any part of the legislation, ruling that the individual mandate is not really a mandate but rather is a new tax on those who do not have insurance. Congress is authorized to institute under its power "to lay and collect taxes to provide for the general Welfare." President Obama insisted on national television that the individual mandate is not a tax increase. And, PPACA's text does not refer to the mandate as a tax. As the 11t`' Circuit Court panel put it, "The individual mandate... was not enacted pursuant to Congress's tax power" and therefore cannot be sustained on those grounds. 3. The Court could affirm the lower court's ruling, by holding that the individual mandate is unconstitutional and allowing the rest of the legislation to stand. The Obama Administration has argued that without the individual mandate, the legislation would become "cost prohibitive." Because of the legislation's requirement that insurers cover those with preexisting conditions at the same premiums that healthier people pay, the White House says that "the only way to

keep people from playing the system and raising costs on everyone else is to ensure that everyone takes responsibility for their own health insurance" The way the legislation achieves this is through the individual mandate. This bill overcame a filibuster with no votes to spare in the Senate, and passed by only 7 votes in the House. It most likely would not have passed either chamber with the individual mandate removed and everything else left in place.

4.

The Court could declare the individual mandate unconstitutional and also void the law's "guaranteed issue" and "community rating" provisions. These provisions, together, would require insurers to cover all applicants without charging higher premiums for those with preexisting conditions, while upholding the rest of the legislation. This is how U.S. District Court judge Christopher Conner ruled. In the drafting of the legislation, these mandates were closely linked. Without the individual mandate, the requirement that insurers cover everyone with expensive preexisting conditions without charging them higher premiums would simply lead to people waiting until they are already ill or injured before signing up for "insurance" to pay for their care.

5.

The Court could strike down the individual mandate and the rest of the legislation along with it. U.S. District Court judge Roger Vinson ruled in this manner, arguing that since the individual mandate is "the keystone of the entire health reform effort," upon its removal the entire act must be invalidated. Vinson wrote, "This Act has been analogized to a finely crafted watch, and that seems to fit. It has approximately 450 separate pieces, but one essential piece (the individual mandate) is defective and must be removed. It cannot function as originally designed. There are simply too many moving parts in the Act and too many provisions dependent directly and indirectly on the individual mandate and other health insurance provisions which... were the chief engines that drove the entire legislative effort for me to try and dissect out the proper from the improper, and the able-to-stand-alone from the unable-to-stand-alone. Such a quasi-legislative undertaking would be particularly inappropriate in light of the fact that any statute that might conceivably be left over after this analysis is complete would plainly not serve Congress' main purpose and primary objective in passing the Act." 6. The Court could decide that the states lack legal standing to bring the suit at this time, thereby postponing challenges to Obamacare's constitutionality until after the election and likely until after its full implementation (in January of 2014) if it's not repealed first. Which way will the Court rule?

The justices have the final say on whether PPACA will be treated as being constitutional or not. All but one of the six possible decisions by the Supreme Court, number 5, striking down the legislation in full, would still require a political resolution. So the likely fate of PPACA will be determined not by a decision of the Court, but by the success or failure of the repeal movement which will be decided - most likely by the presidential election.
(Reprinted with permission from the Triangle Association of Health Underwriters Newsletter 10-28-11)

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Hello! One of the objectives to reach the goal of communicating with members of Region II is to connect on the IAIP website. Be sure to log into the website at InternationalInsuranceProfessionals.org and search my name. Click on it and request I connect with you. We can communicate through the website to increase the frequency and reduce the chance of our messages being lost. It's easy! I will help you connect with others in our region when you view my connections and request they connect with you. Be sure to set your notification so you receive an email when someone contacts you. Otherwise, check in (login) every so often. I look forward to hearing from you soon! Thank you, Amy Craig Region II RVP
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

SHRED EVENT!
Local sponsors are donating their time and resources to sponsor a free shred-a-thon in your area. Shred-a-thons are a perfect way to destroy old tax records, checks, employment records or credit applications. You do NOT need to remove staples and paper clips from the documents. It usually takes about 10 minutes to drop off your documents and get them shredded. Please pass along this information to co-workers, neighbors and friends. This service is for individuals with personal documents to help prevent identity theft. Thank you.

RALEIGH (Wake County) AMERICA RECYCLES DAY Saturday, November 12 9am-12pm North Hills Shopping Center (east side of Six Forks) Corner of Dartmouth and St. Albans Drive Sponsors: City of Raleigh, Pro-shred, Keep NC Beautiful, Harris Teeter, Synergy, Wake County Environment Resources *Limit three boxes **additional recycling available CARY (Wake County) AMERICA RECYCLES DAY Saturday, November 19 9- 12pm Town of Cary- Residents only 400 James Jackson Blvd, Cary Sponsors: Shred It, Town of Cary *3 box max **additional recycling available
This information brought to you on behalf of North Carolina Attorney General Roy Cooper. All shredding events are free but donations may be accepted at some events. Always check with the local sponsors for event changes or additional details. The NC Department of Justice does not endorse any business or charity.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Sad News:
I wanted to share some information. Some of you will remember Mary Forrester, who served as parliamentarian for NCAIW for number of years, her husband, NC Senator Jim Forrester has died. I thought each of the local associations might want to send a card to Mary letting her know we are thinking of her and her family at this time. Her address when she was parliamentarian was: PO Box 459, Stanley, NC 28164-0459 Regards, Anita Williams NCAIW Council Director

EDUCATION OPPORTUNITIES PAM GRIMES, CPIW, CIC, CISR, DAE, Education Chair

8 Hour LTC Partnership Certification/CE $54.95

December 14, 8:00-5:00pm

Raleigh - Holiday Inn Crabtree

November 16, 8:00-5:00pm

Concord Wingate at Wyndham Concord

NC became a Patnership state in March. LTC Partnership policies are rolling out this year. To sell a Partnership approved LTC insurance plan, you must have the required 8 hours of Partnership Continuing Education.

The course is open to anyone who wants to learn more about the Partnership law and LTCi The 8 hrs of Partnership CE will also be credited toward the 24 hours of CE required bi-annually in NC for your L&H licenses. This course also earns you 8 CFP Credits if needed! This course is ClearCert approved and requires no test in class!

4 Hour Annuity Suitability $49.95

November 4 and December 6, 1:00-5:00pm

Raleigh - Atrium Bldg on Blue Ridge

This course provides a complete overview of current annuity regulations and recent law changes. Emphasis will be placed on the overriding need for the ethical treatment of seniors and the agents' duty to follow responsible sales practices with customer and product suitability as the ir main focus. Provides 4 hours of continuing education.

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Certified Instructor: Michael Paulk

Provider #S16551
*** RSVP to

www.adbanker.com/nc or 919.662.3828

Watch out for slick magazine sales pitch North Carolina consumers are reporting that magazine sellers are knocking on doors, using a slick sales pitch to claim theyre raising money for worthy causes. These sellers may claim to live in the neighborhood, but theyre usually part of traveling groups of young people lured into the job by false promises of big paychecks. These door-to-door sellers are known to claim that their proceeds will go to a local charity or a school fundraiser. A salesman operating in one Triad neighborhood recently told some neighbors that he was raising money to help troops in Afghanistan, while he told others that sales would benefit a local sports team. In reality, the money collected goes to a for-profit company. Before you buy a magazine from someone selling door-to-door, think about the following: Only buy magazines door-to-door from someone you know and trust. Beware of sellers who claim to live in the neighborhood if you dont recognize them. Ask questions before you pay any money. If the seller claims that money will go to a school, hospital, or other worthy group, ask the seller to show you a letter of endorsement from that organization. Better yet, check directly with that organization. If you decide to buy anyway, get a receipt that includes refund and contact information, the total cost of each subscription, and the date youll receive the magazine. Remember your three-day right to cancel. In North Carolina, you have three days to cancel certain purchases such as door-to-door sales even after you sign a contract and pay. If you spot a scam, report it to the Attorney Generals Consumer Protection Division by calling 1-8775-NO-SCAM or filing a complaint online at www.ncdoj.gov.
This message brought to you on behalf of North Carolina Attorney General Roy Cooper.

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At-Home Exercises That Really Work

Want to get fit, but the gym is a drag? It's easy to exercise at home with these simple moves. Get started now. Also See: Fitness Choices for New Moms Post-Swim Dry Skin Fix Good Sleep Curbs Heart Attack Risk

Health News & Features

Yoga, Stretching Give Lasting Back Pain Relief Almost nothing compares to the misery of back pain. A new study offers hope for lasting relief. Why yoga and stretching beat other treatments. Also See: Understanding Low Back Pain Relieve Pain With Gels, Lotions, and Creams The Lowdown on Fitness Machines With fall comes shorter daylight hours to exercise outdoors. Exercise machines may become your new, seasonal BFF. Which ones work. Also See: Lost Your Mojo? 5 Steps to Get Motivated to Move Exercising With Diabetes: What You Should Know

In This Issue: Wanna Lose? Wake Up and Do This Top 20 Sources of Calories for Americans The Family That Cooks Together, Stays Thin Together

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The Ugly Truth About Belly Fat

When it comes to your expanding midsection, not all foods are created equal. Take the quiz to see which foods go straight to your gut. Also See: Icky Side Effects of Going to the Gym Quiz: Master Your Metabolism New Mom? How to Get IT Back

Health News & Features

Wanna Lose? Wake Up and Do This Set the clock earlier and don't hit snooze -you just might stick to your exercise plan. Also See: Are You Eating Too Much Salt? Acid Reflux: Mars vs. Venus Top 20 Sources of Calories for Americans Love cake, bread, soda, and a host of other tasty, fatty foods? So does the rest of the country. Where our calories come from. Also See: 10 Ways to Save Money on Low-Fat Foods Healthy Cooking 101: Yes, You Can! More From WebMD: Help Your Daughter Feel Better About Her Body

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If Your Feet Could Speak ...

... do you wonder what they'd say about your health? Plenty! Take a look at this visual guide. Also See: Dupuytren's Contracture: Heard About It? All About Knee Injuries Birthing at Home: A Wise Idea?

Health News Headlines

Does Fertility Treatment Raise Breast Cancer Risk? Men, Women May Experience Acid Reflux Differently New SIDS Guidelines Say Breastfeeding Lowers Risk Vaccine Reduces Malaria Infections in Children Is High Blood Pressure Linked to Birth Defects?

In the Spotlight

Top 2 Dangers of High Cholesterol Early Signs of Alzheimer's Disease This Surgery Helps the Whole Family Pumpkins and Squash: Submit Your Recipes

From The WebMD Network

What Are the Biological Causes of Breast Cancer? Quiz: How Much Do You Know About Breast Cancer?

Thanks Debbie Pass-Soles for sharing!

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