The recent passing of Heather Schafer, National Volunteer Fire Council CEO, has left a huge wake of emotions for those individuals and organizations that she touched and worked with within the fire service. California Casualty would like to recognize Heather’s life contributions to the fire service along with sending our thoughts and prayers to her family and those affiliated with the NVFC during this very sad moment in time.
Heather was committed to her leadership role and progression of training, education, benefits, and safety for all those who chose to serve as a volunteer firefighter or EMS provider in their communities. Her visionary leadership was seen by the NVFC board of 90+ members through building an organization that reflects and supports the needs of over 750,000 volunteer firefighters and EMS providers across the US. The NVFC Programs offered under Heather’s leadership illustrate caring, compassion, and support of those giving selflessly in the fire and emergency services.
In 2007, Heather submitted a grant for the National Junior Firefighter Program for the California Casualty Group Grant Contributions Committee to consider. Her grant proposal showed the need to inspire young people in our communities to get involved with the fire service and become future leaders. The Jr. Firefighter Program was a natural fit for the educational grants that California Casually provides across our group affinity partners. Her actions set the course for Heather to be asked to serve on the California Casualty Group Advisory Board in 2011.
Heather has served on the CCG Advisory Board for almost exactly 10 years and served the last 3 years as the Chair of the CARES Grant Contributions Committee. She’s been an influential figure in helping other organizations obtain desperately needed education grants. Jon Hamm, California Casualty Advisory Board member recently said:
“I have had the great pleasure of working with Heather on the Cal Casualty Advisory Board and the CARES Committee. Heather was made to serve on the CARES Committee because she is wired for kind acts. I have said that if our board had categories Heather would hands-down win the category of nicest board member. And to have that attitude made anyone who came in contact with her feel genuinely welcomed and cared for. The world could use more Heathers!”
California Casualty would like to express its gratitude and appreciation to Heather’s family and the NVFC for the 10 years of dedicated service to the California Casualty Group Advisory Board.
“Heather was a dear friend, mentor, and collaborator to so many people. It’s been my privilege to learn and watch her steadfast guidance of the NVFC. She was a true group partner bringing many new benefits and services to the families of firefighters and EMTs. She was the facilitator of bringing California Casualty’s Auto and Home program to life for NVFC members. Her life will be remembered by so many in so many different ways. A forever heartfelt thank you to Heather for sharing her life with us.”– Roxanne Dean, Vice President Account Relations
This article is furnished by California Casualty, providing auto and home insurance to educators, law enforcement officers, firefighters, and nurses. Get a quote at 1.866.704.8614 or www.calcas.com.
The real estate market is usually deemed “hot” when inventory is low and competition is high. Hot markets often mean quick turnover, crowded open houses, bidding wars, and sales that close above asking (and sometimes all in cash). To the surprise of many, we’ve been in a hot market nationwide throughout the pandemic, and there are few signs it’s cooling down.
If you’re planning to buy (or sell!) soon, you’ll want to position yourself well by doing some extra prep work and research than you would in a neutral market. That way, you’ll be able to make smart decisions fast and strike when you see the right opportunity. Follow these pointers to come out ahead.
For buyers and sellers
Get a good agent – An experienced agent who knows your local market will be worth their weight in gold. If you’re a buyer, they should know about listings before they come on the market and know how to make your offer stand out. Ask for referrals from your network and social circles.
Be patient – Especially for buyers, patience is a virtue in a hot market, when you can make many offers before your winning one is accepted. Try not to get discouraged – rather, stay focused on your goal! And if you’re a seller, patience will help you find the right buyer.
Know what’s going on in your local market – Your agent will know what market trends and events mean for your goals and priorities, but it’s smart to follow the market movements yourself too.
Don’t get emotional – Letting emotions influence the buying or selling process can lead to bad or regretful decisions. Practice mindfulness or other techniques to stay grounded in those stressful moments of the journey. It’s good to have some thresholds and decisions made ahead of time so you have some “guardrails” at the ready.
Have your paperwork ready – Whatever papers and documents you’ll need for the process, get as many of them ready as possible beforehand. That way, you won’t lose precious time when the clock is ticking.
Be ready to move quickly – Speed is the name of the game in hot markets. Things can change overnight, and the perfect opportunity might present itself out of nowhere. When the conditions meet your pre-determined criteria, move quickly.
Keep your insurance until you close – Don’t make changes to your insurance or cancel it prematurely – no matter how sure a deal seems.
If you’re a buyer
Be very clear on your budget. The absolute first step is to know how much home you can afford. Knowing your range is good too but be sure you know where your ceiling is – and stick to it once you start putting in offers.
Know your must-haves and where you can be flexible. Have a clear understanding ahead of time what attributes your new home must have and what things can be changed, renovated, or aren’t all that important in the grand scheme of things.
Window shop – Get a handle on the local market by touring homes that would be in your price range and meet your requirements. This way, you’ll gain a sixth sense and sharp instincts for when you start making offers.
Get financing and a pre-approval letter. Make sure your financing is lined up and you have a pre-approval letter. You’ll want to go with a lender that delivers on their promises and has a track record of closing loans quickly.
Leverage your agent. Your agent has ways to make you stand out from the rest of the bidders. For instance, they can find out what the seller wants by calling the listing agent or gleaning information from the multiple listings service (MLS), which has more information than public listings.
Read our guide. If you haven’t already, check out our top tips for your home-buying journey (good for any market, including hot markets!)
If you’re a seller
Prep your property. Sellers in a hot market will have more luck selling their home “as is,” but it can pay off to make any needed fixes before listing. This will help you attract more interest and multiple offers (which usually means a better sale price in the end).
Consider staging. Staging is probably one of the best ways to position your property to sell quickly and at a good price. It puts your home in its best possible light and gives potential buyers a great first impression and good feeling in the space. It will also differentiate your property from others.
Get the “pre-work” done. Go over what you might need with your agent ahead of time. They might suggest getting an inspection done before listing, lining up a title company, and other due diligence items.
Manage your expectations. A hot market doesn’t guarantee that you’ll get multiple offers over asking. Each sale is the product of lots of different variables, which is why it’s worth taking extra steps to give your property every advantage.
With the right tools, knowledge, and strategies, you can do well in a hot market. Above all, remember to get a good agent, have patience and get the prep work done before hitting “GO.” Good luck!
This article is furnished by California Casualty, providing auto and home insurance to educators, law enforcement officers, firefighters, and nurses. Get a quote at 1.866.704.8614 or www.calcas.com.
The new blooms and foliage that herald the beginning of spring also bring one of its worst offenders: fleas and ticks. A headache for pet owners every year, keeping these pests in check requires a three-pronged approach focusing on your pet(s), your house, and the natural space around your home. Use the strategies below to prevent misery for your pets and an infestation inside your home.
Protecting your pet takes a little research, communication with your vet, and a disciplined care and grooming routine.
Talk to your vet and go with the flea and tick control product they think is best for your pet. There are lots of options, including topical treatments, pills, shampoos, and collars. If you live someplace with lots of sunny and/or humid days, also ask about sun + bug repellant products.
For dog or cat? Double-check with your vet – or if buying off the shelf, read the label – to make sure the product is meant for the pet you’re buying it for. Some products are made only for canines or felines and others can be used on either (but require different dosages).
Do a daily flea/tick check, especially during the height of the season or if your pet’s been in or around grasses, shrubs, and bushes.
Groom them regularly and use a flea comb. Check for flea feces and dried blood, which tells you there’s a problem.
If you have more than one dog, treat them all at the same time so they’re on the same schedule – and your life’s made a little easier!
Protect Your Home
To avoid the nightmare scenario of flea shampooing your carpets or fumigating your home, prevent the bugs from getting comfy in your house (or getting in in the first place).
Regularly wash all animal beds and soft toys on hot water and heat dry.
Vacuum at least weekly to get rid of or prevent eggs, larvae, and adults. Be sure to hit sofas and carpets as well as crevices at the walls and baseboards. If you’re seeing an uptick (pun intended!) in pest sightings, vacuum daily instead of weekly – then empty the vacuum outside.
Keep pets indoors more often, especially when ticks and fleas are really bad. Going in and out multiple times a day increases the chances they’ll bring bugs home. Walking on a leash and away from grasses is fine to get them exercise without exposing them too much.
Trim trees and high shrubs that might provide a pathway for rodents and other critters to crawl into your attic. Wherever there are critters, there are fleas and ticks. Spring trimming keeps this to a minimum.
Seal off any openings to the garage, basement, attic, sheds, or under decks where pests might nest and attract bugs.
Protect Your Yard
A few smart actions in your front and back yards can significantly limit the bugs that get on your pets or make it into your home.
Keep your lawn mowed and grass/weeds as short as possible.
Rake up and compost leaves near your home so as to reduce leaf litter that bugs breed in. If you have acreage, try to leave the litter beyond a safe perimeter so that migrating or local birds have access to food (i.e. – the bugs that make home in the leaf litter).
Maintain a perimeter of gravel or woodchips 3 feet from the house.
Stack firewood in a dry area so that rodents – and hitchhiking fleas and ticks – are kept in check.
Remove any old furniture, debris, or other trash that provides nesting spots for bugs.
Try tick control tubes. These hold permethrin-treated cotton, and the idea is that mice steal the cotton to make nests – which then kill the fleas.
Consider a spray as last resort for your yard. However, do your research as many sprays will kill pollinators and all add chemicals to your yard. Go for something natural if possible and use it in conjunction with prevention measures.
The three-pronged approach above should keep your pets pest-free and your home healthy and safe. A little extra attention to prevention measures goes a long way toward a relaxing, beautiful springtime.
This article is furnished by California Casualty, providing auto and home insurance to educators, law enforcement officers, firefighters, and nurses. Get a quote at 1.866.704.8614 or www.calcas.com.
We know you love your students but right about now you and the rest of our teachers deserve a break from the stress and the daily grind. And that circled-in-red spring break on your calendar is getting deliciously close (or here)!
We invite you to make this break truly count — What are the things you keep wanting to get done but haven’t had time for? Or maybe you’re feeling the need to toss the to-do list, focusing instead on really relaxing and replenishing yourself before you start the next term. Whatever you decide on, make sure it’s not work-related! (and is socially-distanced and safe, of course).
You may have some plans or activities in mind, but if not, check out our tips below and see if they spark some ideas!
1. Move it, move it! Getting your body moving is a surefire way to work out the stress, get to that state of “good tired” and return to a healthy balance. And what a great way to enjoy the spring weather. Whether it’s hiking, biking, running, rock climbing, or walking, you can’t go wrong – pick one or more and get moving.
2. Read for pleasure. If you suffer from Tsundoku, now’s the time — crack open those books that have been staring at you from the shelf or nightstand. Dedicate some time at night, in the morning or on lazy afternoons and give yourself the gift of getting lost in a great book (pssst, no work reading!).
3. Catch up on your binge-watching. Perhaps instead of books, you have movies or shows you haven’t had time for. Go ahead and indulge, sans guilt.
4. Retail therapy. It doesn’t need to be extravagant but treating yourself to a shopping spree can be a lovely re-energizing pick-me-up. If nothing else, it’s fun to window shop. Anything you’ve been needing or had your eye on?
5. Quality time with your family. Balancing family life and work life is always tough – but has been extra challenging for the last year. If you’ve been missing time with your family or kids, take this opportunity to do some fun, leisurely things you usually don’t have time for. Movie nights, crafts, making forts, date nights, sports, time outdoors – the list is endless.
6. Start a new habit. We all know habits take time and repetition to stick. If there’s a habit you’ve been wanting to start (Meditation? Getting to bed earlier? Giving yourself a digital detox?) spring break is a perfect time to do it.
7. Do a day-trip adventure. Perhaps the prospect of a full day of solo time sets your heart aflutter. Maybe there’s a little town nearby that’s perfect for aimless wandering, or you’re close to a beach where you can walk the shore and watch the sunset. Check your map for destinations that are one to two hours away – you’ll probably be surprised at all the choices!
8. Hit the mat. Is there a yoga place (outdoors!) you’ve been wanting to try? Now’s the time to do it. There really is nothing like getting some yoga time in to de-stress, limber up, build strength, and center yourself.
9. Grab a guilt-free coffee – and stay as long as you want. If you’re a café aficionado, spring break is a great time to frequent your favorite outdoor coffee spot – in fact, make it a daily ritual if you like! Enjoy some unstructured time to commune with your favorite hot (or iced) beverage, and maybe a good book … or journal, or sketchbook, etc.
10. Picnic in the park. Spring sunshine was made for leisurely picnics in the park. Gather up some goodies from home (or nearby take-out places), throw them in a basket, and go! Don’t forget a blanket, hat, and sunscreen – and family if they want to join 😉
11. Try new dishes. After too many quick and easy lunches at your desk, take this opportunity to rediscover the joy of food. This might mean trying take-out from new-to-you restaurants – which is a win-win and supports local businesses. Or, if you enjoy cooking, look into tackling some new and exciting recipes at home.
Keen readers will notice that none of these ideas has anything to do with work, ha! Make sure your spring break is all about you – there will be plenty of time for work when it starts up again. Want more relaxation tips? – check ‘em out here. And remember, if your spring break plans include leaving town or venturing out in public, bring extra masks and sanitizer just to be extra safe.
Educators and ESPs, make this Spring Break staycation one to remember – we’re giving away a $10,000 Staycation to one lucky education professional! Click here to enter.
This article is furnished by California Casualty, providing auto and home insurance to educators, law enforcement officers, firefighters, and nurses. Get a quote at 1.866.704.8614 or www.calcas.com.
To many police officers, a degree of hostility from suspects and others is par for the course while on the job. However, recently the degree of animosity toward police has grown and collectively many officers are now facing a rising tide of threats. Some are even going as far as targeting off-duty officers in their personal lives.
These threats are not just physical. Due to the availability of personal information being used online and the increase in web traffic due to the pandemic, many cybercriminals and scammers are also targeting police officers online. Unfortunately, there may not be a way for officers to make these threats disappear, but there are many steps you can take to reduce danger for yourself and the people you love. Here are seven ways you can protect yourself and your family from physical, psychological, and financial threats – in person and online.
1. Secure your premises. It should go without saying, but personal safety at home starts with securing your property and your possessions. The best way to make sure you and your family stay safe from threats at home is to invest in a monitored home security system. A security system will give you 24/7 access to who is entering (or trying to enter) your home. To further protect your belongings from uninvited guests, you should avoid giving out your home address, properly secure your home – doors, windows, locks, etc. – and invest in scheduled personal property coverage.
2. Keep a low profile at home and online. Avoid any kind of threat to your home or family by maintaining a low profile.
At home: Steer clear of displaying overt symbols at your home that could indicate a police officer lives there. Avoid driving marked cars home, or leaving them parked in your driveway, change into civilian clothes when off duty, and enlist trustworthy neighbors to be on the lookout for suspicious cars or pedestrians.
Online: Do not put your department name or badge number anywhere online. Be cautious of posting any photos of yourself in your uniform on any personal profiles, and never give out any personal information to anyone on the web.
3. Communicate with your family. As much as you may try to shield your spouse and children from fear and worry, it’s important to make and share a safety plan with them. Sit down together and discuss what to do (or not do) if they feel unsafe or if they encounter a threat online.
You can also take other measures to ensure your family’s safety, like location tracking and phone monitoring apps.
4. Use social media wisely. The internet has made it easy for hostile individuals to find personal information about police officers and their families, a process known as doxxing. The data they dig up can be used to harass officers and their family members online and in person.
The best way to deal with doxxing is to be smart about what you share on social media. Avoid posting in uniform, never share personal information, and tell your family to be cautious about what they are sharing as well.
Should harassment occur through any social media platform, take immediate action and report it to these outlets, as well as to your own commanders.
Identity theft happens when your personal identifiable information (PII) becomes compromised. Identify theft can happen to anyone at any age and can completely ruin your credit. ID theft scams and fraudulent unemployment claim scams are on the rise amidst the pandemic. To avoid identity theft here’s what you can do:
Never share Social Security numbers, PINs, and other numeric data linked to your identity and logins.
Do not put credit card numbers in emails.
Avoid opening emails from people you don’t know, and never click on links or attachments unless you be can be sure that they are legitimate
Use complex and unique passwords for each of your online accounts that include a mix of letters, numbers, and typographic symbols in upper and lower case.
Do not use birthdays, anniversaries, or pet names.
Stay away from online quizzes asking for facts about your personal life events and preferences.
California Casualty offers all policyholders access to free ID theft resolution services from CyberScout. In the event you or a family member has their identity stolen and used for fraudulent transactions, the service can help limit damage, gather evidence against fraudsters, and help restore damaged credit.
6. Protect Your Finances. While monitoring your credit for any changes or signs of identity theft, you should also be keeping a close eye on all of your financial accounts for suspicious activity. You should check balances on all of your accounts as often as possible for any changes. And if your provider offers suspicious activity alerts, sign up! But be aware – some telephone scammers pose as credit card companies that will call you to try and get your account information. Never give anyone your personal information or credit card number over the phone, even if they claim they are with your provider. Instead, hang up and check for yourself.
7. Plan for your future. Having an insurance policy in place from a trusted provider can help mitigate the devastating financial challenges families can face after an auto accident, burglary, natural disaster, or more. California Casualty has been protecting police officers across the nation since 1969 and offers discounted rates and exclusive benefits including off-duty firearm coverage and the Fallen Hero benefit.
It is an unfortunate reality that the people sworn to protect society are facing these threats themselves, but police officers are no strangers to danger. As always, stay safe and be prepared.
Looking to protect your gear?
To help police officers secure their gear and their peace of mind, California Casualty is sponsoring the Safe and Secure Giveaway. This year, three first responders will win a brand-new Liberty Safe filled with 5.11 gear. Enter here for your chance to win.
Heather was committed to her leadership role and progression of training, education, benefits, and safety for all those who chose to serve as a volunteer firefighter or EMS provider in their communities. Her visionary leadership was seen by the NVFC board of 90+ members through building an organization that reflects and supports the needs of over 750,000 volunteer firefighters and EMS providers across the US. The NVFC Programs offered under Heather’s leadership illustrate caring, compassion, and support of those giving selflessly in the fire and emergency services.
