Every so often, if you are lucky, you get a moment when you see the results of your work and the impact you make. Most of my time is spent on management and structural issues related to our insurance programs. When visiting members I sometimes see the results of a claim - usually repairs to a building. Once I met with the widow and father-in-law of a deceased county employee to explain the workers' compensation benefits PComp would be providing, a day I will never forget.

In June I had a great experience when attending the CCAP Board of Directors meeting in Tioga County. The June meeting of the board traditionally is held in the county of the CCAP President, and Tioga County Commissioner Mark Hamilton hosted the meeting in Mansfield. The afternoon before the board meeting we toured some Tioga County sites, including the Highland Chocolates factory and store.

Tioga County created Highland Chocolates in 1994. It is a not-for-profit enterprise which provides employment for developmentally-disabled individuals living in Tioga County. I can recall the day when the county's insurance producer contacted me and said the county now owned a chocolate operation. I believe my response was "they own what!?!?" And that was followed by "they are selling a product!?!?" I was not concerned about the idea, just had never seen a county do something like this.

We were able to provide the proper insurance coverage for the county for this unique operation, and the matter became another problem we were able to solve for one of our members. Until I got to visit Highland Chocolates last month, I cannot adequately describe how pleased I was to see this small but very nice operation, and witness several employees and how much they loved working there. Of course the chocolate samples were wonderful too! I was pleased CCAP's PCoRP program was able to provide insurance protection for this unique program.

I highly recommend when you find yourself in that part of the state, visit Highland Chocolates on Route 6 outside of Wellsboro.

Make sure you call us when you need help with something,

                             John Sallade

RISKMASTER Update: Part III

By Dave Harman, Claims Manager

Good news: To date, we have had two successful transfers of our data from the old STARS software to the new RiskMaster software. Now the real fun begins. We have been spending the last few weeks, and will be continuing in the next few, double checking the information to make sure it has transferred correctly and the information is in the correct place in RiskMaster. However, it appears that we are going to be moving back our "go-live" date by one week. The new anticipated "go-live" date is now August 1.

In addition to checking to make sure that all the data from the transfers is correct, we have been hard at work with developing the new on-line claims reporting site, refining our reports for our Members and many other behind-the-scenes activities to have the system ready to go. We are also gearing up for our webinar trainings on how to report claims to us with the new system. All claim coodinators for PCoRP, PComp and PELICAN will be getting an e-mail from CCAP by July 8 to register for one of the webinars. If you report claims to us and do not receive an e-mail from CCAP by then, please contact Jenn James at jjames@pacounties.org to be registered for one of the trainings.

There has been a slight change in the dates of the trainings as well. The new dates of the trainings are July 21, 22 and 25. All training webinars will begin at 10:00 a.m.

If you are a claims coordinator or report claims to us for our Members and can't make any of these dates, we strongly encourage you to find someone who can attend the training for you and instruct you at a later date on how the new process will work. Regardless, we will still send you a step by step instruction booklet that we are preparing. If you would need additional help after that, you can feel free to contact me.

With the pushback of our "go-live" date, STARSWeb  will now be shut down starting at noon on Friday, July 22. All new claims need to be submitted by fax (888) 692-2368 until August 1 when the RiskMaster system is up and running.

Next month I will hopefully be reporting to you on a successful transition to RiskMaster and letting you know what is in store next.

By John Sallade, Managing Director

85th Annual Pennsylvania Governor's Occupational Safety and Health Conference

October 3-4, 2011, Hershey Lodge & Convention Center, Hershey

This year's agenda includes a keynote address on October 3 by Scott O'Grady, "An American Hero". He will share the six day, life-and-death ordeal that made headlines, inspired millions and taught us about preparation, teamwork and leadership. Audiences will learn how to adapt, change, and succeed even under the most daunting and trying circumstances. Brandon Fisher will present a general session on the Center Rock Drilling Company's role in the Chilean Mine rescue. This presentation will include photos and information from the rescue site as well as information relating to development of the rescue equipment at the manufacturing facility.

On October 4, Dr. John Howard, MD, MHP, JD, LLM, Director, National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH), will speak on how the American workforce is aging and other attributes of the American workforce as we look toward 2050.

Other topical safety workshops will be offered during this two-day conference and continuing education credits are available.

For more information and to register, visit: www.pasafetyconference.com or call -(888) 723-3422.

The year was 1981. It was undoubtedly a memorable year - IBM introduced MS-DOS to the world, the first Pac-Man video games rolled into arcades, the space shuttle Columbia flew the first shuttle mission and Sandra Day O'Connor was nominated to be the first woman on the Supreme Court.

Another memorable first happened that year. In May of 1981, a handful of Pennsylvania's local governments banded together to create Pennsylvania Local Government Investment Trust (PLGIT). As we celebrate PLGIT's 30th anniversary in 2011, we want to remind our members of the grassroots efforts within local governments to create PLGIT, the Trust's growth over time and our plans for the future.

A REVOLUTIONARY APPROACH

PLGIT has become so well established, many of our members may not recognize how visionary the Trust was in 1981. Back then, Pennsylvania's local governments and schools had few options for investing and managing available cash. Municipalities were forced to contend with inflexible investment products, high fees for cash management products and sometimes different service levels based on the size of the investment balance they could maintain.

In response, a handful of pioneering local governments came together, determined to find a better way to invest. Changing regulations enabled them to create the Pennsylvania Local Government Investment Trust.

In fact, PLGIT was one of the first local government investment pools of its kind in the entire United States. PLGIT led the way by showing how local governments could take control of their finances, pooling funds from multiple municipalities and investing them to meet the specific requirements and needs of members.

Unlike other institutions, PLGIT is owned and operated by its members. Every local government or school that invests in a PLGIT pooled fund owns a piece of the Trust. But it goes much further than that: PLGIT members sit on the board, set the investment objectives and make decisions about new products and services.

David Sallack is a managing director with PFM Asset Management LLC, which is investment advisor and administrator to the Pennsylvania Local Government Investment Trust (PLGIT). He works in PFM's Harrisburg office and can be reached at sallackd@pfm.com.

This information does not represent an offer to sell or a solicitation of an offer to buy or sell any fund or other security. Investors should consider the investment objectives, risks, charges and expenses before investing in any of the Trust's portfolios. This and other information about the Trust's portfolios is available in each portfolio's current Information Statement, which should be read carefully before investing. Copies of these Information Statements may be obtained by calling (800) 572-1472 or are available on the Trust's website at www.plgit.com. While the PLGIT and PLGIT/ARM portfolios seek to maintain a stable net asset value of $1.00 per share and the PLGIT/TERM portfolio seeks to achieve a net asset value of $1.00 per share at its stated maturity, it is possible to lose money investing in the Trust. An investment in the Trust is not insured or guaranteed by the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation or any other government agency. Shares of the Trust's portfolios are distributed by PFM Fund Distributors, Inc., member Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA) (www.finra.org).PFM Fund Distributors, Inc. is a wholly owned subsidiary of PFM Asset Management LLC. Member SIPC.

A description of the PLGIT CD Purchase Program is contained in the PLGIT Information Statement. The Information Statement contains important information and should be read carefully before investing. Participants may purchase Certificates of Deposit through the PLGIT CD Purchase Program only by executing an investment advisory agreement with the Program's Investment Adviser, PFM Asset Management LLC.

The Pennsylvania Powercard Program (the "Program") offers a Procurement Card (a "P-Card"), issued by Harris Bank, N.A., and marketed by PFM Financial Services LLC. PLGIT is a Program sponsor and the Program is marketed to PLGIT Participants. PLGIT receives no compensation for its sponsorship and the Trust is indemnified against any liabilities or costs relating to the Program.

SMPLGIT, PLGIT-Class Shares, PLGIT/PLUS-Class Shares, PLGIT/I-Class Shares, PLGIT/TERM, PLGIT-CD, PLGIT/ARM, PLGIT/SAM, and PLGIT-CAPare service marks of the Pennsylvania Local Government Investment Trust.

By Bob Lauzonis, Loss Control Specialist

DEAR DRIVER:

One of the most significant exposures you must recognize in the summer is the bicycle rider. Bike riders come in two basic styles: Children and Adults -- each presenting their own unique hazards to the driving public.

Children bike riders (under 15) typically don't recognize the hazard they present or the danger they face. Since they are relatively uninformed with regards to safety issues, many of their actions are unsafe. Adults have learned to "expect the unexpected" but children often have not. Children often are unsteady on their bikes and "wobble" and abruptly "swerve" -- perhaps into your path or enter roads from driveways without looking carefully or with little understanding about an approaching vehicle's speed. On residential streets, they will often cross from one side to the other without looking or ride two and three abreast. When coming up behind children on bikes, let them know of your presence by tapping your horn 100' from them. Give them lots of room - so any wrong move on their part does not create a problem for you. Go past them with both hands on the steering wheel, a finger over the horn and your foot over the brake. In this manner, you will be totally prepared to react, if necessary.

Adult bicycle riders present different hazards. Since nearly all are car drivers, they are fully aware of the safety issues -- but tend to take chances. In residential areas, they often fail to stop for STOP signs and sometimes ride up on the right side of a line of cars stopped for a signal light. In rural areas, they may be going 30-35 mph on downgrades and swerve to miss a hole in the pavement or a patch of sand on the shoulder. Your defense is to provide as much space as possible between your vehicle and the bike rider. Normally, a horn tap is not necessary due to the adult rider's awareness of surrounding traffic. Due to their faster speeds and because they don't have strong brakes, you need to be careful when making turns in front of them so you don't cut them off.

Remember, bicycles are inherently unstable and their riders are unprotected. You need to "look out" for their safety.  

By Bob Lauzonis, Loss Control Specialist

SAFETY TIDBITS

• More than 25,000 individuals sprain an ankle each day in the United States.
• Commercial fishing vessels have the highest death rates of any water activity, claiming at least 70 lives a day.
• The number of licensed drivers aged 70 years or older increases each year by nearly 17 percent.

 SAFETY SLOGANS

• Keep your eyes moving when you're cruising!
• Focus on the TASK and don't hesitate to ASK.
• Understanding the safe and proper procedure will tip the scales in your favor.
• Be safe. Tune in to your surroundings.
• Where a safety attitude is lacking, the odds against you are stacking.
• Avoid distress. Clean up your mess.
• To prevent needing a tow, do the pre-trip before you go.
• When you share your suggestions, no matter how small, you could bring great benefit, to one and all.
• If you're not working safely you may not be working at all.
• Training, guidance and friendly advice are a much better bet than rolling the dice.

 ONE MINUTE SAFETY MEETINGS

• Report burned out lights.
• Report slip, trip and fall hazards.
• Bend at your knees, save your back.
• Don't drink and drive or ride with drivers who are drinking.
• Inspections are not completed until they are properly documented. In the event of an accident, a fire or other emergency, part of the defense of a county building action is the documentation of preventative maintenance and inspections related to the safety of equipment. If you document it, you can prove you did it.
• Buckle up when coming and going to and from work. Be safe while in the auto. Most automobile accidents happen within 25 miles of our homes.

 NATIONAL SAFETY, AWARENESS AND WELLNESS OBSERVANCES FOR JULY

• National Fireworks Safety
• Eye Injury Prevention
• UV Safety
• Clean Beaches
• National Therapeutic Recreation

CCAP Insurance Programs
PO Box 60769, Harrisburg, PA 17106-0769
Phone (800) 895-9039 - FAX (717) 526-1020
Claims Fax (888) 692-2368
Click here to go the Insurance Section of the CCAP Website.

email: jsallade@pacounties.org

Insurance Matters is published monthly by CCAP Insurance Programs for the use of members of CCAP's UC Trust, PCoRP, PComp, PIMCC, COMCARE, COMCARE PRO, BEST Flex, PELICAN and other insurance programs, and insurance producers of these members.

Advice contained in this publication is not legal advice and members are encouraged to seek the opinion of their solicitor.

The information provided in this publication is not intended to take the place of professional advice. Readers are encouraged to consult with competent legal, financial, or other appropriate professionals. Statements of facts and opinions expressed in this publication, by authors other than Association staff and officers, are the sole responsibility of the authors and do not necessarily represent an opinion or philosophy of the officers, members and staff of the County Commissioners Association of Pennsylvania (CCAP). No endorsement of advertised products or services is implied by CCAP unless those products or services are expressly endorsed, or are owned or managed by the Association programs, or our affiliates. This publication may not be reproduced, modified, distributed, or displayed in part or in whole, by any means, without advance written permission of CCAP. Please direct your requests to John Sallade, Managing Director, CCAP Insurance Programs, jsallade@pacounties.org.

Note: As part of its copyright agreement the CCAP grants the author the right to place the final version of his/her manuscript on the author's homepage, subject to CCAP's standards, or in a public digital repository, provided there is a link to the CCAP website.

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