Each summer, for nearly 40 years, California Casualty Partner Relations Field Marketing Managers from across the nation have gathered in one central location to celebrate their achievements from the previous year.
This year, to keep our employees safe and healthy, the ceremony was held virtually with over 70 participants- including California Casualty President and CEO, Joe Volponi.
21 awards were given in total for 2019 including, 1 Rookie of the Year Award, 4 Honors Club Awards, 15 Pinnacle Club Awards, and 1 Partner Relations Advocate Award. Below is a list of our 2019 recipients.
Rookie of the Year:
Honors Club:
Pinnacle Club 5th Place:
Pinnacle Club 4th Place:
Pinnacle Club 3rd Place:
Pinnacle Club 2nd Place:
Pinnacle Club Top Achievers:
Partner Relations Advocate Award:
Congratulations to our 2019 winners!
Thank you for all that you do for California Casualty and our customers, you are greatly appreciated.
While you’re finalizing your summertime plans for vacation, road trips, and or weekend getaways, thieves and burglars are just getting started on their busy season.
Read on to learn how to protect your home and car from break-ins this summer.
Home
Contrary to TV dramas, most burglaries take place during the day, between 10 am and 3 pm. They’re more frequent in the summer months than any other season, and the average dollar loss is around $2,000. The most commonly stolen items during a break-in include cash, jewelry, medications/drugs, guns, and electronics. Here are some ways to protect your home against intruders while you’re away.
Make It Look Like Someone’s Home – Set interior lights on timers. Keep up your lawn/landscaping care schedule. Put a hold on newspaper and mail delivery. Close blinds in rooms where expensive items, such as TVs and other large electronics, might be visible.
Don’t Share On Social Media – Resist putting your upcoming travel plans on social media. The same goes for voicemail, answering machines, and email autoreply. If you can’t help posting on social, keep the dates vague and make sure that your posts are only shared with (close) friends.
Be Lock Savvy – Remove any spare keys on your property (burglars know where to look). Do a thorough check to make sure the locks work on all windows and doors — and make sure you lock everything before leaving. Finally, lock the garage as well as your car inside it!
Tap Your Neighbors – Depending on how long you’ll be gone, consider asking a trusted neighbor or friend to check in on your home periodically. They can check for signs of attempted entry, landscaping issues, or other damage. Inside your home, they can adjust blinds and shift furniture a bit to convey human presence.
Install an Alarm System – It may be worth getting an alarm system. Be sure to put alarm signs in the front and back yard (the latter is where most intruders enter premises). Make sure to let your alarm company know when you’ll be out of town, and that they have an updated list of contacts and numbers.
Auto
It’s time to hit the road — for road trips, weekend trips and day hikes. Here are 5 simple ways to reduce the risk of a break-in while you’re away from your car.
Lock It – This goes without saying, but do make sure to lock all doors, including the trunk, and make sure all windows are rolled up. Sometimes key fobs misfire, so it’s best to do a manual check of your doors. If you’re traveling with kids, double-check their windows in case they rolled them down.
Hide Valuables – If possible, leave nothing of value in the car anywhere. Any visible items — even loose change or phone charging cords — increases the risk of a break-in. If that’s not possible, bring what you can with you in a purse or day pack, and/or stow them away in your car (in the glove box, under a seat, stashed in the trunk, etc.). Make your car look as tidy and sparse as possible before locking and leaving it.
Park Smart – Be aware of your chosen parking spot’s surroundings. Parking garages tend to be safest. On the street, avoid areas that have broken glass near the curb. Choose a spot near other parked cars, in a well-lit and busy area.
Consider an Anti-Theft Device – If your car didn’t come with one, you may want to install an audible alarm system, which emits a loud noise when someone attempts to enter. Other devices include steering wheel locks (an old standby that’s very affordable), wheel locks, brake locks and tire locks. There are also higher-tech solutions such as GPS-enabled tracking systems.
Take the Spare – Thieves know where to look for spare keys, so be sure to always take all keys with you.
Nothing ruins a summer adventure like a break-in. Taking some smart steps beforehand to protect your home and car will pay off with peace of mind and fond summer memories.
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.
No one knows what the upcoming school year will look like, thanks to coronavirus.What we do know, however, is that teachers and educational support professionals will need to be prepared for any scenario — schooling in person, hybrid classrooms, online learning, staggered scheduling, rotating teacher shifts, and more.
While there may not be much that you can control right now, you can do your best to prepare for the fall by reviewing what we already know about COVID-19 and applying that knowledge to your classroom plans.
If your school makes the decision to resume in-person classes, here are some guidelines issued by the CDC for schools (last updated May 19, 2020) and how you can prepare for them in the fall.
Social Distancing
The more time a student or staff member interacts with another, the higher the chance of contracting or passing on the virus. By now, we all know that that the term “social distancing” means staying at least 6 feet apart from one another, however, this may not be possible in your classroom. Before you get back into your classroom, take some time to consider ways that you can optimize your space by separating student desks, and workspaces the farthest that you can away from one another.
Respiratory Etiquette
It’s important for children to learn to sneeze and cough into their elbows, to help fight the spread of germs, including the virus that causes COVID-19. It is also important that hygiene supplies are placed close to each student, so that the potential virus spread is limited. Consider having multiple tissue stations placed around the room or have each child bring their own box that they can keep at their desk.
Face Masks
More and more cities are requiring face masks, and that may be the case for classrooms in the fall, especially for staff and older students. If masks become mandatory at your school you can either require students to bring their own, or make it fun and announce a mask theme for your entire class. You and students could even make your own and create a story around them. Remember this whole situation is just as hard on students as it is on adults; small actions like this have the potential to make their day a little brighter.
Health & Safety Messaging
The CDC recommends placing signs in highly visible areas, like entrances and restrooms, and your school may also require you to place them in your classroom. Pinterest has all kinds of hygiene posters that are free to print out and hang up! They also have hygiene lessons that teachers can easily incorporate into their lesson plans, to help remind younger students about the safety and importance of not spreading the virus.
Hand Hygiene
Students should wash their hands often for at least 20 seconds — especially if they have interacted with one another. When you sit down to lesson plan, keep in mind allowing time for more frequent and longer breaks to the restroom for handwashing. You should also have sanitizer (at least 60% ethanol or 70% isopropanol) in multiple places in the room, readily available for all students, and/or ask students to bring their own.
Adequate Supplies
Along with having the correct sanitary supplies, you should also be prepared for the possibility that students will not be able to share school supplies with other students. Any crayons, markers, pencils, scissors, folders, books, etc. that are shared might have to be available to each student at their own desks. Take this into consideration when you are preparing supply lists for parents and when you are buying supplies for your classroom.
Cleaning & Disinfecting
If you are starting in-person classes in the fall, your school has also probably already started a cleaning and disinfecting regimen that will continue throughout the year. This may or may not require you to clean your own classroom; however, you should be prepared to do so. You will need to disinfect high-touch areas throughout the day like doorknobs, desks, hall-passes, and chairs. Try and disinfect as often as you can — between classes and at the end of the day — or create a schedule where the last ten minutes of class each student disinfects their own area.
Screening & Testing
As testing methods and standards continue to evolve, your school may adopt a screening and testing policy. Policies may include a protocol for temperature checks, guidelines for symptom screenings, and plans for rapid response to staff or students who exhibit signs of illness. Whatever protocol your school decides on, clear communications will be key to its success. Be prepared to stay informed on the plan, take steps outlined for educators, and communicate with parents as needed.
We may not know what this school year will look like, but we do know that our amazing teachers will do whatever they can to make it as enjoyable and “normal” as they can for our students.
Remember, if you can get through last spring, you can get through anything. Bring on back-to-school!
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.
Summer means free time and warm weather, but when you’re a teacher school to-dos and tasks can easily sneak back into your mind.
The summer months are a much needed time to rest and recharge – and you should do just that! But if you want to start preparing for next school year (and the unknowns that come with it), there are small steps you can take for a much easier back to school season.
Check out these three important tips on how you can relax and feel prepared for the upcoming school year:
1. Start to prep for August now!
This tip may sound daunting, but I promise it’s not. Each year I make myself a folder or bag of materials just for back to school – trust me, it will be a gift to yourself once August rolls around.
My “back to school bag” has items like the papers that I’ve sent home at open house, beginning of the year forms, and my first week of school activities.
When August rolls around and you can finally get back into your classroom, you can focus on getting it set up properly, labeling items with a new class list, and a million other things. When you pull out your bag of items you can quickly make copies and have a reminder of what you have sent home in the past; it is a huge time saver!
2. Keep an open mind about online learning.
Fall 2020 is full of unknowns and it will likely look and feel a lot different than past school years. Over the summer months, remember to be patient with your district and state and focus on what you can control, like getting more familiar with online learning.
One way you can learn and grow your comfort level with online learning is to join a Facebook group that relates to the Learning Management System (Google Classroom™, Canvas, etc.) your school uses, or a group that matches your grade level. Facebook groups are a great space to share resources and ask questions with other educators. It’s a good idea to join a few and find the one that best fits your needs; not all Facebook groups are created equal. NEA has a group all about navigating the changes in education. (If you are an early career educator in Ohio, be sure to check out the ONE Connects group.)
3. Rest and relax!
Easier said than done, I know. Summer goes by so quickly. Be sure you make the most of it and try not to stress out about the fall. When I am feeling overcome with thoughts and to-dos, I make a list. I write down all the things on my mind – the things I am worried about for next school year, the lessons I want to teach, the things I want to do this summer, etc. Once my thoughts are collected, I have an easier time relaxing. Just remember, all of these things are important, but don’t let them take up the summer!
After you write down your stressors and are feeling good, take some time for yourself and unwind. There are thousands of ways you can relax, but some of my favorites are evening walks with friends, bonfires, reading by the pool, and traveling! Be sure to leave a comment with your favorite way to relax over the summer!
Be sure to make the most of your summer by following these tips, so you are prepared for the best back to school!
Casey Boehm is a first-grade teacher in northwest Ohio. Casey is passionate about using technology in the classroom and sharing ideas for organization. Find her on social media @OrganizeandEducate
We have amazing employees at California Casualty. The Employee Spotlight is a new series aiming to highlight those talented individuals that make up our successful company culture and community. From human resource recruiters and learning and development trainers to claims adjusters, marketers, customer support specialists, partner relations, sales representatives, and beyond; each week, we’ll highlight a new team member, so you can get to know us better and see how our employees make us who we are as a company.
This edition of the Employee Spotlight will feature our Senior Personal Insurance Consultant, Emmett Hughes.
Emmett has been with us for six and a half years and is based in our Kansas office.
Let’s get to learn Emmett!
What made you want to work as an Insurance Consultant at California Casualty?
I was exhausted from working in the HVAC industry, so I thought I would try my hand in the insurance business here at CalCas.
What is your favorite part about your job?
I have awesome co-workers and management!
I also like that I get to do the majority of my work remotely from home with my family.
I get to work with some very creative and helpful people. The work environment is extremely welcoming- even if I’m having a bad day my job still rocks!
What have you learned in your position at California Casualty?
I have learned the true reality of the sacrifices that public safety employees and educators/support staff make for their communities. Most of the time it’s a thankless job, but I get the opportunity to express our gratitude.
What are your favorite activities to do outside of the office?
Going on family bike rides and walks with our two dogs.
Spending quality time with my 5 and 9-year-old children.
Exploring interesting things to do in our local community.
Anything else you would like the audience to know about you?
I once met the Nature Boy, Rick Flair, in Tulsa, OK and got his autograph! WOOOOO! (only real fans know)
I’m extremely interested in anthropology and am fascinated by the idea of human origins.
I enjoy watching UFC.
I’m Midwest, born and raised, but I cannot stand to listen to Country music. I ’m a fan of ’80s, ’90s, and 2000’s Rock and Alternative.
I would love to visit Stonehenge, The Pyramids, and Machu Picchu
If you want to learn more about Emmett or are interested in a career at California Casualty, connect with him on LinkedIn! Or visit our careers page at https://www.calcas.com/careers
