Picture Day!!

Today was picture day at DGK.  It is difficult to get 19 people in one picture.  Even though today was picture day and we tried to get everyon we are still missing Lauren Keyes.  We will take another photograph of the group for our brochure and make sure we are all present!

Our next picture were of the employees that are over twenty five (25) years of loyal service.

We have a new employee, Marc Miranda.  He will be a member of Commercial Lines Team B.



My favorite are our out takes. Here are just one or two. 







I Will Defend Your Right

I am watching every debate the presidential candidates have.  I watch the review and scoring the truth of their statements.  I watch Morning Joe and Good Morning America for the morning after reviews.  I am just this side of obsessed with the Presidential Election.

The process fascinates me.  The amount of spending on the campaigning flabbergasts me.  The untiring dedication that it takes to travel across the United States meeting people, discussing issues impress me.  The passion that each candidate has for our country and his plan to right the USA astounds me. 

While I may not agree with their behavior or their beliefs, I respect the energy and commitment each has.  Voltaire said it best (paraphrasing) I may not agree with what you say but I will defend your right to say it.  Of course, I am not running for election to the highest office in the United States nor am I standing toe to toe in a debate on television.  I can be more objective in my opinion since I have nothing at stake.

Therefore, I will watch the last debate and the subsequent reviews.  On November 6, 2012 I will step up to the voting machine and cast my vote.  May God bless the newly elected president (to be determined) and us all. 

Fuzz Wuzzy Was Indeed Fuzzy

Today, I saw an orange woolly bear while I was running through the streets of Factoryville. It had no black stripes at all.  Technically, scientists call the woolly bear's orange, brown.  There are two ways to determine the upcoming winter via the woolly bear or fuzzy wuzzy.  The darker the black stripe(s) the colder the winter and the more orange on the bug the milder the winter will be. 

Do Woolly Bears Predict Winter?

Now for the truth:  the older the woolly bear the wider the black stripe and the darker the entire caterpillar will be.  Some stripes are orange and some do indeed look brown due to that age of the caterpillar. The color and stripes of the woolly bear is not a predictive model it is an indicative model.  The previous winter dictates the color and size of the stripes along with age.  Even the woolly bear ages. 



An Older Woolly Bear



While I do not store an incredible amount of faith in the prediction of our winter season from the stripes of the woolly bear, I do like the tradition.  I am totally in love with Ground Hogs Day and the movie just about made that day perfect.  Gobblers Knob, PA has nothing on Banner Elk, NC.  On the third weekend in October, Banner Elk, NC has a Woolly Worm Festival with over 20,000 people in attendance.  Anyone interested in a woolly bear race?

A Predictor of Spring?

Whether you follow NOAH, woolly bears or the Farmer’s Almanac, winter is only a season away.  What is your prediction? 

I am learning all the time, the tombstone will be my diploma – Eartha Kitt

Every day is a new exploration.  I have enjoyed learning since kindergarten.  It changes me to learn something new and I like it. I am always changing my mind, the placement of my furniture, much to my husband’s amusement, my ambitions and lastly my goals.  I seek the education that enables me to explore.

This past week I attended two seminars: one was occupational and one was interpersonal.  Sparks, a group of mutual insurance companies that provides insurance educational on current matters, presented the occupational seminar.  I learned that many companies are purchasing Advertising Liability coverage for any adverse comments their employees may make on the company or their personal Facebook page.  Parents are adding Personal Injury coverage to their homeowner insurance policy for their children’s comments on Facebook.  I already have the coverage on my umbrella policy; do you have coverage for any insulting comments made on Facebook? 



The interpersonal seminar involved learning new communication skills.  The seminar was wonderful.  While I know the four styles of communication: relater, director, socialize and analyzer, I did not know the fears or weakness and the strengths of each style.  I also learned about our new group of workers coming into the labor force, the primaries, those children that only know life after 911.  How will employers react to this new group of employees?



There were many excellent tips about communication.  One of my favorite describes introverts and extroverts.  When introverts need to restore their energy and creative juices they need quite time.  Introverts are more likely to be runners that do not enter races, practice yoga alone and prefer quite restful vacations.  Extroverts are busy, busy ,busy people.  Extroverts are joiners, other people energizer them.  If introverts do not have down time, they will feel drained and tired.  Extroverts that do not have people around them will be unable to feel energized and will feel tired and un-energized.  This explains my husband and me: he is an introvert and I an extrovert. 

                vs          

I am off to another seminar this week for additional communication skills.  Each day is a chance to learn something new.  If I do not I may meet a new friend.  I agree with Eartha Kitt; I plan to learn my whole life long. 



If you would like to discuss insurance coverage for libelous comments made on Facebook, please give us a call.  If you would like additional information on communication seminars, please visit www.nationalseminarstraining.com.