Farmers' Mutual Insurance Company (Lindsay)

Broker Circular # 12 – 04: 2012 June & July Seminar Schedule

Lance Hunter — Fri, 04 May 2012 13:53:20 +0000

FROM: Jackie Murison, CIP Product Specialist, Business Development

Date: May 4, 2012

REGARDING: 2012 Farmers’ Mutual Seminar Schedule

__________________________________________________________________________

Farmers’ Mutual is pleased to announce an expansion to our summer line up of underwriting seminars to include both farm and commercial.

Writing Farm Insurance – Wednesday, June 20, 2012

Intended for producers and CSR’s with limited or no farm knowledge; learn the unique aspects of various farm operations, underwriting requirements and farm insurance coverage. An extensive resource guide is provided.

Commercial Lines Orientation & Non Profit Directors’ & Officers’ – Wednesday July 18, 2012

The commercial lines orientation is intended for producers and CSR’s with limited commercial knowledge; this seminar focuses on commercial packages, underwriting guidelines and coverage unique to each package. An overview of commercial automobile is conducted. The Non Profit Directors’ & Officers’ is a brief seminar discussing basic responsibilities and how claims arise for Directors’ & Officers’.

Seminar agendas and registration forms may be accessed via our website, under Training Development. www.farmerslindsay.com

Broker Circular # 12 – 03: H.R Seminar

Lance Hunter — Fri, 20 Apr 2012 14:49:21 +0000

FROM: Julie Yandt, CHRP, RPT, Senior HR Generalist

Date: May 9, 2012

REGARDING: Training & Development Fundamentals for Small Business Seminar

UPDATE: A FEW SEAT STILL AVAILABLE – Registration closes Tuesday May 15th.
________________________________________________________________________

Farmers’ Mutual is pleased to offer a new H.R. seminar to broker principals designed to better understand the importance of training in the workplace and how you can apply fundamental concepts to further the skills of your teams and your overall communication strategies.

A certified Personality Dimensions trainer will guide you through communication styles and highlight the differences between the 4 colours using a variety of exercises that provide self discovery and reflection. Using the techniques of personality dimensions and team building we will show how to complement your training strategy accordingly. With these 3 areas combined the true value of training for team success will become enforced!

Topics include:

Training & Development Fundamentals
• In depth view of importance and key concepts
• Strategic elements to build into your training philosophy

Personality Dimensions Training Exercise with Elizabeth Gavin
• Background theory and exploration of colours
• Self-assessment tool

LUNCH

Personality Dimensions Training Exercise with Elizabeth Gavin
• Interpersonal relationship of colours
• Group exercise

Building & Leveraging Effective Teams
• Understanding group dynamics
• Team building exercise

QUESTIONS & ANSWERS PERIOD

If you have any questions please contact Julie Yandt by phone: 705.324.2146 ext. 2110 or by e-mail at jyandt@farmerslindsay.com

Please click the registatrion link to sign up: 2012 05 23 TD Fundamentals for Small Business

Claims Update

Lance Hunter — Wed, 28 Mar 2012 18:55:05 +0000

The Farmers’ Claims Department have had a busy start to the year of promoting and hiring new claims members that will help us continue to increase our direct face to face interactions between the Farmers’ claims team and our insured’s. In January, Jodi Lloyd, joined Farmers’ as a Field Claims Specialist for property losses. Jodi has her CIP designation and comes to Farmers’ with over 20 years of all lines adjusting experience. Jodi resides in Orillia and will be handling claims in the surrounding communities.

Effective on April 2nd, 2012, Karen Beaney is being promoted to the position of Field Claims Specialist handling Accident Benefits and Bodily Injury claims. Karen has just obtained her CIP designation, has extensive AB experience and originally started with Farmers’ as a Claims Specialist in October 2010. Karen’s replacement, Alicia Hughes has also been hired and will be starting with Farmers’ on April 16th. Alicia will be an excellent addition to the Farmers Claims Team with 17 years of claims and insurance experience in a variety of claims roles including specialization in the handling of Accident Benefits.

We have also promoted Andrea Ball one of our Claims Support staff to a Technical Support position and hired Sarah Saunders on a part time basis to assist the Claims Support Team. In addition we are actively recruiting for an Assistant Claims Manager to replace Pat Sage who is retiring on May 4th . We will certainly be sad to see Pat leaving after 28 years with Farmers’ Mutual, however, wish her all the best in her well deserved retirement.

Human Resources Update

Lance Hunter — Wed, 28 Mar 2012 18:48:11 +0000

Into our 3rd year of HR seminars with our Broker Principles and we have yet to run out of things to talk about! Sure the legislative training can be less than enthusiastic, but this is always off set by engaging topics such as performance! Now that is a real conversation starter. This year continues to provide topics that remain in the forefront of our discussions; including job evaluations, training and development, and performance management.

Think for a minute about how you motivate your employees? How you recognize and reward them? How you challenge them? There is no right or wrong answer here, only better and best. Your answers depend on the culture you are fostering with your team, and whatever culture that is the biggest key to success is consistency! Investing, engaging, and supporting your team needs to happen every day in every way you can!

Join us this year for informative sessions that include valuable participant discussions. Please forward any session feedback or topic suggestions to Julie Yandt- jyandt@farmerslindsay.com. We look forward to seeing you there.

Treat people the way they are and they will stay that way.
Treat people the way you see they can become and they will become that way.
Johann Wolfgang von Goethe

Liz & Julie
FMIC Human Resources

Changes to the 28A and our website forms

Lance Hunter — Wed, 28 Mar 2012 18:37:31 +0000

You will find two new fill-able OPCF 28A endorsements on our automobile forms website page. We have provided two forms to provide you with greater flexibility, depending upon the particular circumstances of the policy you are managing.

The 28A “Listed Vehicles” provides you with the option of listing the specific vehicles to which the excluded driver is applicable. The 28A “Any and All Vehicles” applies to all vehicles currently on the policy and will apply to any new vehicles added or substituted on the policy. Please note a fully completed and signed 28A is required at each renewal.
If you are unsure which OPCF 28A is applicable to the particular circumstance you are managing, please call your automobile underwriter who will be happy to assist you.

Farm applications
You will find the farm applications displayed in a new user friendly manner on our property forms website page. We accept both the 10-03 CSIO farm application and the new 09-09 CSIO farm applications, which are made up of individual components. The display of the applications is now under a new “Farm Applications” heading, and in a format providing easier access to the applications, along with text captions as guidance on which application is applicable to which component.

Broker Circular # 12 – 02: 2012 Seminar Schedule

Lance Hunter — Wed, 14 Mar 2012 19:59:05 +0000

FROM: Jackie Murison, CIP Product Specialist, Business Development

FROM: Julie Yandt, CHRP, RPT, Senior HR Generalist

Date: March 14, 2012

REGARDING: 2012 Farmers’ Mutual Seminar Schedule

__________________________________________________________________________

In a continuing effort to maintain excellent relationships with our broker partners, we are pleased to offer a number of RIBO Accredited Seminars in 2012.

Business Development – Product & Underwriting Seminars:
Registration is now open for the following:
April 25, 2012
Basic Introduction to Commercial Insurance (full day)

May 16, 2012
Farm Orientation (1/2 day)

May 30, 2012
Personal Lines Orientation (1/2 day – morning)
May 30, 2012
Renewable Energy – Solar PV (2 hours – afternoon)

Coming soon:
June 2012: Writing Farm Insurance (full day)
September 2012: Commercial Lines Orientation (1/2 day)
September 2012: Non Profit Directors & Officers Liability (1 hour)
November 2012: Basic Introduction to Farm Insurance (full day)

Human Resources – Management Seminars:
May 2012: Training and Development (1/2 day)
September 2012: Performance Management and Coaching (full day)

Please visit our website www.farmerslindsay.com and click the ‘Training and Development’ tab for further details.
New seminars are under development; monitor our website for announcements.

2011 Financial Statement & Notice of Annual and Special General Meeting

Lance Hunter — Fri, 02 Mar 2012 18:43:33 +0000

Please click on the link to read the agenda for the 116th Annual and Special General Meeting: Notice of Annual and Special General Meeting 2012

Please click on the link to read our Financial Statement for the year ended December 31, 2011: Farmers’ Mutual FS

Broker Circular # 12 – 01: OPCF 27 – Response to Potential Gap

Lance Hunter — Wed, 08 Feb 2012 14:00:20 +0000

FROM: Enrico Mastrangeli, HBA, FCIP, CRM, Underwriting Manager

FROM: Ron Bouwmeister, FCIP, ACS, Vice President of Claims

REGARDING: OPCF 27 – Response to the Potential Gap

__________________________________________________________________________

A recent article in the Canadian Insurance: Top Broker magazine identified a potential gap in coverage with the OPCF 27 endorsement, specific to situations where the rental vehicle is stolen. Section 3.2.5 of the OPCF 27 endorsement states “the automobile must be used with the owner’s or lessee’s consent.” As such, in the circumstance where damage was caused through the theft of a rental automobile, coverage does not technically apply as consent was not provided by the owner or lessee. While this gap may be filled through the benefits afforded through some credit cards, not all policyholders may have such benefits on the credit card they choose to use. The interpretation likely counters the expectation of our policyholders and places our broker partners in a potential Errors & Omissions situation.

The Insurance Bureau of Canada has received inquiries in response to the article and will be issuing a clarification bulletin when they have completed their investigation. Until such time, Farmers’ Mutual will maintain the position to cover the gap of insurance in the described situations. Where the insured’s rental vehicle sustains damage due to a theft and coverage is not available through the benefits of their credit card, the insured’s automobile policy through Farmers’ Mutual will respond where the OPCF 27 was purchased.

We will provide further communication at which time the Insurance Bureau of Canada issues a clarification bulletin. Should you have any further questions, please contact Enrico Mastrangeli, Ron Bouwmeister or your automobile underwriter.

Link to the article: The Stolen Rental Car

Broker Circular # 12 – 36: H.R. Management Seminar

Lance Hunter — Wed, 25 Jan 2012 14:11:08 +0000

FROM: Julie Yandt, CHRP, RPT, Senior HR Generalist

REGARDING: H.R Management Seminar

__________________________________________________________________________

Farmers’ Mutual is please to offer a new H.R. seminar to broker principals designed to further develop their people management skills within their offices. This course is designed to start building a foundation for many areas within the employee life cycle, as a job description should be the most sought after employee tool when making changes in your business or planning for the future. Participants will learn what should be included in a job description, how to properly write a job description, and review how the job descriptions can be used in your decision making process. Different evaluation systems will be discussed in detail. Key legislation pertaining to Pay Equity will be reviewed to keep employers up to date.

This course involves a combination of lecture and participatory activities with active involvement required due to the condensed format we are providing.

Please click on the link for the agenda: Agenda

If you you or a staff member are interested in attending please click the link for the registaration form: 2012 02 HR Demystifying Job Evaluations for Small Businesses Registration Form

Broker Circular # 12 – 35: Account’s Reminder

Lance Hunter — Fri, 20 Jan 2012 14:31:01 +0000

FROM: Ben Suter, CGA, Controller

REGARDING: Account’s Reminder

__________________________________________________________________________

The New Year is under way and I wanted to send out this reminder asking that the following information accompany requests sent in to our accounting department:

Monthly Payments

- Please make sure your request includes a void cheque and a fully completed signed authorization form.

Visa/Mastercard Payments

- Please make sure your request includes a fully completed signed authorization form.

NSF Payments

- The payment needs to be received before the date noted in our NSF letter and the payment must be in the form of cash, money or certified cheque.

Tax Exemptions

- If the insured is tax exempt please attached the form with the authorization form.

Please forward any questions on these quick reminders to Melissa Grills:
Phone: 800-461-0310 ext. 2605
E-mail: mgrills@farmerslindsay.com