The weather is warming up and it’s time to ride. Whether you’re an “Easy Rider” or a café cruiser, don’t let a dead battery or clogged fuel line keep you from your adventures.
We know your life is hectic, so here’s a quick reminder of some things to inspect before you start your motorcycle’s engine:
Battery – check the terminals, clean dust and corrosion, tighten cables and give it a charge
Oil – start with fresh oil and filter
Fuel – drain old fuel and start with a fresh tank if you didn’t winterize your bike
Fluids – check that brake and hydraulic fluids are still good, replace any that looks dirty, and refill reservoirs
Brakes – look for cracks or leaks in lines, inspect the pads and test for any scraping or squealing noise
Inspect the drive belt tension and look for cracks or tears, or if you have a chain look for damaged links and worn or broken teeth
Tires – replace worn tires and check for pressure leaks
It’s also a good time to make sure your headlight, brake lights and turn signals are all working properly. And if you bought a new bike or haven’t ridden all winter, safety experts recommend that you take a test ride to see how everything is working and have an opportunity to regain the feel of the road.
California Casualty can join you on the ride with quality motorcycle insurance at competitive rates. We cover most motorcycles, and if you ride something we don’t insure, we can find you motorcycle insurance through one of our partner providers.
TAKEAWAY: Make sure you have the protection you need before you hit the road. Call a California Casualty advisor today at 1.800.800.9410 or visit www.calcas.com/motorcycle-insurance.
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If you are looking for information or want to share a cool picture, California Casualty is there for you. We are striving to be more than just your insurance company – we want to be a valuable resource, too. Our online community offers interesting articles, captivating photos, tweets and links that reflect what you are thinking and doing.
Head to the California Casualty blog (https://mycalcas.com/) for in-depth content and articles that pertain to your profession, information on how to get the most out of your insurance, and tips on how to protect your automobile and home. Some recent articles include “Five Ways to Get Excited About Being a Nurse Again,” “How to Make the Most of Your Summer Break Without Breaking the Bank,” and “Four Ways to Save with a Teen Driver.” Check back often to get a feel for what your peers and guest bloggers are writing and the ways that California Casualty supports you and your family.
Follow us on twitter (https://twitter.com/CalCasInsurance) to see and share tips for the classroom, find captivating information and heroic acts of first responders, and read what’s on the minds of nurses and other healthcare professionals. You’ll also catch glimpses of how California Casualty honors and supports the men and women we serve.
If you need a laugh, fabulous gift ideas or that perfect meme, take a peek at our Pinterest page (https://www.pinterest.com/CalCasInsurance). Re-pin something you’d like to share with others, or feel free to add a comment.
Instagram is another place to find fun pictures, a motivational quote or get updates on one of our giving programs for your occupation. It’s easy to do at https://www.instagram.com/CalCasInsurance.
Our Facebook page is a collection of the many ways California Casualty embraces the professions you represent. Take a look, like a post, and share with others at https://www.facebook.com/CaliforniaCasualty.
If you like videos, tune into our YouTube channel (https://www.youtube.com/user/CalCasInsurance). You’ll see what California Casualty is all about, what makes us different, and watch heartwarming stories of those we serve. You can even learn a little more about the various insurance products we provide.
To manage your policies, make changes or find insurance for your expensive toys (boats, snowmobiles or motorcycles), visit the California Casualty corporate website (https://www.CalCas.com/). Logging in and creating an account gives you access to your policies at your convenience – anywhere, anytime. It’s a great place to send family members and colleagues who are looking for auto and home/renters insurance designed for their specific needs. There is also a careers page if you or someone you know wants to work for a company that protects American heroes.
Just like you, we are part of an online community looking for best practices, great stories and captivating photos. Take advantage of what others have contributed, and offer your opinion, pictures and stories through whichever online platform you prefer. We are there to help you exchange ideas with others who share your interests.
TAKEAWAY: Visit https://mycalcas.com to begin your informational tour with California Casualty. You’ll find interesting articles and links to the many other online platforms where you can connect and engage with others.
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California Casualty supports the many groups we work with in a variety of ways.
Recently, Partner Relations team members Brian Goodman and Tami Phillips paid a special visit to the Sonoma County Deputy Sheriff’s Association. They presented a token of our appreciation for the group’s heroic efforts during the disastrous fires that struck in October 2017. The deputies not only put their lives on the line for others, but also opened their facility to help coordinate firefighting and support efforts. SCDSA President Mike Vail accepted the plaque for all of the members of the association. A similar presentation was made at the Marin County Deputy Sheriff’s Association.
Another program California Casualty is proud to sponsor is the National Volunteer Fire Council’s Junior Firefighter of the Year and Junior Firefighter Program of the Year awards.
Please join us in congratulating the winners: Jared Hagen, of the Northwest Fire Explorer Post 1854 in Ohio, is the 2018 Junior Firefighter of the Year, and the 2018 Junior Firefighter Program of the Year is being given to North Carolina’s Gaston Volunteer Fire Department Junior Firefighter Program. They will be formally honored April 20.
In addition, California Casualty has given athletics grants to public schools since 2011. This year, student-athletes at 79 public middle schools and high schools in 32 states will enjoy a more level playing field thanks to the 2018 California Casualty Thomas R. Brown Athletics Grant Program.
Pictured L to R: California Casualty’s Scott McKenna presenting a Thomas R. Brown Athletics Grant to Somersworth Middle School softball coach Kaley Waterman, Principal Dana Hilliard with NEA New Hampshire representative Jeff Kantorowski.
Grants totaling just over $83,000 are going to help sports programs impacted by diminishing resources and budget cuts. Some examples include:
Purchasing a tackling and blocking sled to improve safety for the Crosby High School (Connecticut) football team
Outfitting the Somersworth Middle School (New Hampshire) softball team with new uniforms
Providing soccer and track and field equipment for the Santan Junior High School (Arizona) ADAPTS sports program for autistic students
Supplying balls and basic equipment for the Matt Garcia Career and College Academy (California) volleyball and basketball teams
More than $660,000 has been awarded to some 600 schools across the nation since the program began.
TAKEAWAY:
Learn more about the many ways California Casualty gives back to the individuals and groups that we serve by visiting www.calcas.com/newsroom.
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If you’re piling into your car or truck for Memorial Day fun, here are important tips to keep it from becoming a “Griswold Family” vacation:
Plan ahead – research the route and possible hazards and know the rules of the road in the new places you’re traveling to
Have your vehicle serviced – make sure it’s road-worthy by having fluids, tires, battery and other essentials checked and replaced
Prepare a safety kit – extra water, jumper cables, fire extinguisher, reflective triangles and sealant for flat tires can be trip savers in an emergency
Get plenty of rest – drowsy driving is dangerous. The effects of driving for 18 hours straight can equate to a blood alcohol level of .05; 24 hours straight is equivalent to a blood alcohol level of .10. Switch drivers or take a short nap if you feel tired
Always wear seat belts – safety groups estimate seat belts save 14,000 lives a year, yet as many as 10 to 20 percent of drivers don’t buckle in themselves or their passengers
Observe “move over” laws – every state now has a move over law requiring you to slow down and move over when you see an official vehicle with it’s warning lights on, to protect highway workers, first responders and law enforcement officers
Never leave children or pets in a vehicle – the heat inside a vehicle can reach dangerous levels in less than half an hour, even on 70-degree days
If you’re having a get-together instead of a getaway, remember these important safety tips:
Understand safe grilling – read grill instructions, check hoses, keep grills away from structures and never leave them unattended to avoid a disastrous fire
Check your deck – inspect and repair cracked boards, loose planks and rails, rusty hardware or rotted supports to prevent dangerous collapsing
Know pool safety – keep uninvited guests and small children out with full fencing, teach everyone in your family how to swim, never leave children alone near a pool, know CPR and consider removing slides and diving boards
Ensure you have enough liability protection – protect your assets with high liability limits or an umbrella policy in case someone sues if they get hurt at your home. Umbrella policies help pay for legal defense, medical costs and loss of wages
Whether you are home or away, some auto repairs may be more complicated. That’s why it’s important to have a reliable backup. Whether the battery let you down, your spare tire went flat or you locked the keys in the car, for as little as a couple dollars a month California Casualty’s towing and roadside assistance pays for:
Dead battery start
Flat tire repair
Lockouts
Fuel, oil or coolant delivery
California Casualty’s towing service also covers getting your vehicle to the nearest shop, even if you get stranded off-road in deep mud.
TAKEAWAY:
Contact our Customer Service department to add Express Road Assistance or to purchase extra liability insurance at 1.800.800.9410 option 3, or email service@calcas.com.
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Their little paws and happy faces have graced California Casualty for close to 15 years. They are the service dogs who temporarily call California Casualty home before heading off to become service animals for those with various disabilities.
Three of our employees are puppy trainers for Canine Companions for Independence, a nonprofit that provides service dogs for adults with physical disabilities, hearing issues, physical, cognitive and development disabilities, or for therapy in a visitation, education or healthcare setting.
If you have a pet-friend at home or work, you know how much joy and fun they bring. That’s how it is at California Casualty.
Each dog spends the first year-and-a-half of their life with a trainer getting socialized, learning commands and dealing with distractions. California Casualty, with a large number of employees with varying schedules and personalities, is the perfect place for their education, and the company encourages it.
While there have been as many as four pups roaming our hallways, there is currently only one – Darien, being raised and trained by Mary, one of our claims representatives. Darien is a year-old golden lab. He’s the 18th puppy that Mary has taken in.
She and her husband share a love of animals and a desire to give back to the community. Canine Companions was the perfect way to fit volunteering into their busy schedules.
The training has left a permanent bond between Mary and the pups. Mary keeps in touch with every dog, and each one remembers her when she visits, even a decade later.
Many people at work can’t wait to play with and puppy-sit Darien. One of those is Jasmine, who is convinced that spending time with Darien helps her as much as it helps him. “Darien makes me happy and makes my day go better,” she said.
Mary said that Darien is so popular that she often has to search to find where he has gone at various times of the day. “I know that many of my co-workers think Darien is a therapy dog for them, reducing stress and bringing joy to their day. They often come to my desk to give him pets when they are having a challenging day, saying how much it helps.”
Karen, the manager of our Learning and Development department, is another volunteer for Canine Companions. While raising puppies to go to others takes an emotional toll, she said it’s worth it knowing the joy and independence they give to those with physical disabilities.
We love the dogs that are fostered within our company walls, and we look forward to the pitter-patter of little paws and the boundless love when new ones arrive.
TAKEAWAY:
Learn more about Canine Companions and their dedication to helping others at www.CCI.org.
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We realize how dedicated you are to making your communities better places. That’s why California Casualty created giving initiatives to say thanks to the members of the affinity groups with whom we work.
Recently, Tucson fire captain Max S. was the recipient of a $5,000 Work Hard/ Play Hard “Choose Your Tools” award from California Casualty. The contest recognized the dangerous work first responders do. Max loved the prize because it’s a gift that will last him a lifetime. “I appreciate California Casualty for understanding how hard firefighters work,” he said.
And New Jersey RN Kellie W., a policyholder herself, started the New Year with a $1,000 Nurses Night Out award from California Casualty. Kellie, a school nurse and a member of the New Jersey Education Association, said, “I was so surprised and honored to receive this prize from California Casualty.”
The Nurses Night Out award was created to thank nurses and nurse practitioners for all they do to keep their communities healthy. The winners can use the $1,000 in any way they wish: hosting a party, a relaxing day at the spa, or taking a much-needed vacation.
Nurse Kellie plans on using the funds for a summer tour of the national parks with her family, but will also treat teachers and staff at the school to a breakfast in the near future.
“California Casualty protects American heroes and we want to show our support to the men and women who take care of America,” emphasized Mike McCormick, California Casualty Sr. Vice President.
TAKEAWAY:
Learn more about the many ways California Casualty gives back to the individuals and groups that we serve by visiting www.calcas.com/newsroom.
Read all the articles from this edition of the Calcas Connection Newsletter:
Head to the California Casualty blog (
Recently, Partner Relations team members Brian Goodman and Tami Phillips paid a special visit to the Sonoma County Deputy Sheriff’s Association. They presented a token of our appreciation for the group’s heroic efforts during the disastrous fires that struck in October 2017. The deputies not only put their lives on the line for others, but also opened their facility to help coordinate firefighting and support efforts. SCDSA President Mike Vail accepted the plaque for all of the members of the association. A similar presentation was made at the Marin County Deputy Sheriff’s Association.
Another program California Casualty is proud to sponsor is the 
Pictured L to R: California Casualty’s Scott McKenna presenting a Thomas R. Brown Athletics Grant to Somersworth Middle School softball coach Kaley Waterman, Principal Dana Hilliard with NEA New Hampshire representative Jeff Kantorowski.
If you’re piling into your car or truck for Memorial Day fun, here are important tips to keep it from becoming a “Griswold Family” vacation:
Their little paws and happy faces have graced California Casualty for close to 15 years. They are the service dogs who temporarily call California Casualty home before heading off to become service animals for those with various disabilities.
She and her husband share a love of animals and a desire to give back to the community. Canine Companions was the perfect way to fit volunteering into their busy schedules.
We realize how dedicated you are to making your communities better places. That’s why California Casualty created giving initiatives to say thanks to the members of the affinity groups with whom we work.
And New Jersey RN Kellie W., a policyholder herself, started the New Year with a $1,000 Nurses Night Out award from California Casualty. Kellie, a school nurse and a member of the New Jersey Education Association, said, “I was so surprised and honored to receive this prize from California Casualty.”