The following directors were elected for three year terms: Craig W. Concklin, Hinsdale, Illinois; and Daniel V. Connell and A. Richard Kriegsman, both of Pekin, Illinois.

Subscribers elected Craig W. Concklin, Hinsdale, Illinois; and A. Richard Kriegsman, Pekin, Illinois, to the Advisory Committee.
Pekin Insurance officers elected included: Gordon M. Walker, Chairman of the Board and Chief Executive Officer; Steven R. Anderson, Vice Chairman of the Board; Scott A. Martin, President; Daniel V. Connell, Senior Vice President, Chief Financial Officer, and Secretary; Todd A. Clark, Senior Vice President and Chief Operating Officer; Brian K. Lee, Senior Vice President; Stephen H. Nunan, Senior Vice President – Underwriting; Peggy S. Collins, Vice President – Group and Claim Services; Curtis A. Eeten, Vice President – Claims; Gregory L. Feller, Vice President – Sales; Joel M. Jackson, Vice President – Marketing; Rodney L. McKimson, Vice President – Information Technology; Edward A. Mulvey, Vice President – Personal Lines Underwriting and Assistant Secretary; Joseph C. Ricigliano, Vice President – Commercial Lines Underwriting and Assistant Secretary; Diane K. Steiner, Vice President – Life Underwriting and Assistant Secretary; Michael A. Zabinski, Vice President – Controller; G. Christine McGann, Assistant Treasurer; Michele E. Ginther, Assistant Treasurer; Aaron Z. Potacki, Assistant Secretary; and Michael L. Norton, Assistant Secretary.

Pekin Insurance is a group name adopted to designate the combined operation of The Farmers Automobile Insurance Association, Pekin Insurance Company, PAC, Inc., and Pekin Life Insurance Company.

Pekin Insurance has been in business since 1921, and is one of the leading insurers in the State of Illinois, providing multiple lines of insurance. Pekin Insurance offers insurance coverage in Arizona, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Ohio, and Wisconsin through its growing agency force which now totals 1,210 independent agencies and 7,518 insurance producers in the six state area. The company is headquartered in Pekin, Illinois, with service offices at Champaign, Moline, Mount Vernon, Rockford, and Warrenville, Illinois; Indianapolis and Warsaw, Indiana; Des Moines, Iowa; Columbus, Ohio; and Appleton and Waukesha, Wisconsin.

An article that I read was about the new case law that now deals with other-than-biting issues. The new issue is “dog fright.” This includes incidents in which the behavior of the dog causes a reasonable person to take defensive action which results in that person’s injury.

These types of “dog fright” cases are ones in which the dog displays aggressive action. An example is if your dog is at your fence or on a leash and appears aggressive toward another dog or anyone who is walking in the general area. Another example is if a person is riding a bike and the dog causes the rider to make a sudden movement that results in an injury to the bike rider.

As pet owners, we need to look into the statutes of our states to see what the wording is. Some states use the word “bite,” and other states use the word “injury.”

We know our dogs, and we know that they would not hurt anyone. But how our dogs are perceived by someone else is the issue. There are people who have a great fear of large dogs or specific breeds like German shepherds or Doberman pinschers, and then there are people who are afraid of little yappy, bouncy dogs.

If you would like to read more about this issue, go to http://dogbitelaw.com/liability-for-non-bite-injuries/liability-for-non-bite-injuries.html.

Barbara Adams
Senior Personal Lines Claim Representative

In her younger puppy years, she loved spending time outside with us in the yard. I would tell her to run like the wind, and off she went with a glance back to make sure that I was still there watching her. She loved sleeping in bed with us at night. Snuggling in between us, she would let out a huge sigh right before she went to sleep. Moments like these will always stay with us. She truly left her pawprints on our hearts.

She sat beside my husband nearly all day seemingly protecting him from any problems he might face. If I was feeling down or sick, she always seemed to know, and I could sense her caring in her eyes and the tilt of her head. She never required much from us; a bowl of food, a bowl of water, and someplace warm to sleep was what made her satisfied. But, she gave us all her love and was a best friend that never challenged anything that we did.

One of her absolute favorite activities to do was ride in the car with my husband. All he had to say was “car” and she came bounding off her bed ready for an adventure in the car. She seemed to know when she wasn’t allowed to go on an outing and would go back to her bed and pout. We are certain that there are open car windows in doggie Heaven so she can hang her head out and feel the coolness and thrill of the wind on her head!

Our veterinary clinic took a mold of her pawprint after she was gone, and it hangs on a hook in our kitchen. It’s a reminder of the treasured pet that we once had. The clinic also sent us a
sympathy card, and everyone in the clinic signed it. The vet wrote that we had been such good parents to Sadie. Those two gestures meant so much to us, and we appreciated the caring that they showed to us at our time of loss.

It has not been easy writing this blog. The sadness of letting go will remain with us forever. We lost a treasured companion, but it does help to recall the special times that we did share with her. She nuzzled our souls and we will never forget Sadie!

Fran Stroemer, FLMI, ACS
Creative Director

I was reviewing web sites for help in understanding what to look for in a reputable contractor and came across the following which might be of help. Good luck with your project!

1. Get a referral from someone you know. People love updating their homes so you should have no trouble coming up with a list of contractors to call.

2. Hire a contractor who specializes in the type of work you need done. Someone you hire to install wood flooring or to build a deck should be a carpentry contractor, while someone you hire to install recessed lighting in your kitchen should be an electrician. There are many different trade certifications, so be sure to check the title on your contractor’s certification to make sure he or she is a specialist.

3. Check licenses and insurance with your city’s Contractors Licensing Board. Ask the tradesman for copies of the following documents: Contractor’s Certification, Worker’s Compensation status and Liability Insurance certificate. A reputable contractor will have no problem providing copies of these documents.
- Get at least three references for your contractor and call them. The contractor will likely give you references who had positive experiences, so be sure to ask them specific questions about workmanship that are important to you. You might be concerned about whether the contractor cleaned up his work area and kept to his time line or whether the final invoice matched the estimate.

4. Check with the Better Business Bureau to find out if complaints have ever been filed or are outstanding against the contractor.

5. Request a written estimate. Any contractor who does not provide you with a written estimate should be crossed off your list immediately. Get at least three estimates and then compare prices with what is included. Remember the lowest bidder is not always the best.

6. Sign a written contract. The contract should clearly spell out all the steps the contractor will take from beginning to end of your job, what supplies are included, the payment schedule and the time line for the project.

Things you will need:

• Referrals

• Copies of Contractor’s Certification, Worker’s Compensation status, and Liability Insurance certificate

• References

• Written estimate

• Contract

Tips & Warnings

• Hire a contractor who shows up on time for the estimate and seems professional and knowledgeable.

• Check with the building department about whether a permit is required for the work to be done. If a permit is required, the liability is on the owner of the property to procure the permit or authorize the contractor to pull the permit.

• Make sure you hire someone with a large crew if time frame is important.

• Deposit 30 to 50 percent of the total price to initiate your contract. It will cover the contractor’s large expenses like construction materials, flooring, fixtures and crew to start your project.

• Check your local phone book government pages to find the County Licensing Board. They can educate you about licenses, permits and trades, as well as answer any questions you may have about your project or a contractor licensed in your county.

• Don’t hire unlicensed contractors to do the job. If you do, you will have no recourse should you be unhappy with the job or should you have code or permit violations cited by your county.

Mike Sloter, CPCU
Director of Commercial Lines Underwriting

Jim Ruth, CPCU, AU
Director of Personal Lines Underwriting

One way to alleviate the stress is to give your cats several areas to call their own. This may mean setting up two or three feeding stations or putting litter boxes in a couple different rooms in your home. They won’t have to wait their turn and they can get away from more aggressive kitty. Also, make sure there are plenty of toys available so they might play to release some energy instead of picking on their housemates. If the situation is extremely stressful for one of your cats, there are products on the market that claim to help. One item is a device that plugs into an outlet and dispenses pheromones into the air at regular intervals. Pheromones are chemicals that control social behavior and are believed to be a stress-reliever for cats. We are trying one of these dispensers at home and I’ll report back on the results.

A happy cat-filled home is achievable with a little planning and a lot of TLC.

Anne Schneider
Project Management Office Manager

It doesn’t have to be that way, though. A key man life insurance policy can protect your business from the hazard of losing one of those valuable employees who contribute to your firm’s success. It can provide the financial means to stabilize your company and help it survive during the adjustment period after the loss of a key employee.

With key man life insurance, the business buys a life insurance policy on the life of the key employee in an amount necessary to adequately replace that individual in the event of death. The amount is generally based on a multiple of the employee’s salary or on an estimate of his or her contribution to the company’s bottom line. The business will own the policy, pay the premiums, and be the beneficiary in the event the key employee dies. The premium payments are not tax deductible, but the death benefit received is income tax-free. That money can be used for any purpose the business chooses, including covering expenses associated with finding capable replacements or covering short term revenue deficits.

Key man life insurance can be either term insurance or permanent insurance. Term, of course, has a lower initial cost, but the premiums will increase over time. Generally, there is no return payment unless the insured individual dies. Permanent insurance, on the other hand, has a higher initial cost, but builds cash equity that can be used by the business for expansion or can serve as a possible future retirement benefit for the key employee, if you choose. Over time, the net premium outlay for permanent insurance may be less than that of term insurance. Talk with your Pekin Insurance agent to determine which would be the best option for you.

Key man life insurance will provide you (and your bankers or shareholders) peace of mind through the knowledge that your business can continue operations without major disruption if a key employee dies unexpectedly. If your business would be dramatically impacted by the loss of one or more of your top people, you should purchase key man life insurance policies to protect your company.

Gary Tiffany, MSFS, CLU, ChFC, LUTCF
Advanced Sales Representative

For every life insurance application that a Pekin Insurance independent agent submitted during the contest, a USO phone card was donated to USO Operation Phone Home.

More than 1,300 USO phone cards were sent to our troops serving overseas. The company and its independent agencies take great pride in and sincerely thank the men and women who are making the sacrifice and commitment to fight for the freedom and safety of our country. We were happy to help members of our armed services have the opportunity to hear the voices of their loved ones during the holiday season.

In business since 1921, Pekin Insurance today offers multiple lines of insurance in Arizona, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Ohio, and Wisconsin and is represented by nearly 1,500 independent agencies.

Pekin Insurance independent insurance agencies can assist you with your auto, home, business, life, and health insurance needs with service that goes Beyond the expected.®

Visit www.pekininsurance.com to find out more about a company that provides peace of mind and long-term security for its policyholders. Also, take the time to sign up for their informative eNewsletter.

I know that it may conflict with your busy schedule or lifestyle, but there are many options to get your dog exercise. Obviously, you have the ability to walk your dog, but what happens when the weather turns nasty? Let’s face it; we do live in the Midwest.

I have found that something as simple as tossing a ball down your hallway for 5 to 10 minutes can run enough steam off your pets so that you can relax for a nice evening without them causing trouble. Also, when the snow falls, which it will, make sure you leave some outside toys inside because throwing that tennis ball out into the snow for even 5 minutes will create enough exercise for your pet to last the entire evening.

So, you have tried playing with your pets inside and outside for 5 to 10 minutes and they still have too much energy. The other option is taking your dogs to a boarding place, where you can pay a daily rate for your pets to play all day and pick them up when you get off work. Think of it as pet day care. There obviously is a cost to this, but it is another way to get your pet plenty of exercise.

Furthermore, look into your town’s parks and recreation facilities because most cities have a dog park or parks dedicated to pets.

Please take the time to give your pets plenty of exercise. Not only is it good for them, it is good for the owner, as well.

Eric Roberts
Claim Adjuster
Appleton, Wisconsin Service Office