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Inside this issue Review of the New Agent Appointment Agreement (AAA)
OKLAHOMA
VOICE
with Feb. Agent's Opinion Poll Results
March 2009 Issue
Published by UFAA Chapter 15 Eastern Oklahoma. Chapter 15 meets the
first Wednesday of each month.
Next Chapter 15 Meeting: Wednesday March 4 11:30 AM Green Onion Restaurant 4532 E 51st Tulsa.
Mission Statement
The United Farmers Agents Association is a professional association committed to helping our members through education, communication, support and information and to establish a true partnership with Farmers Group, Inc.
The Oklahoma Voice reader polls take no more than a few seconds to complete. You are informed immediately how your vote compares to other responding readers. It is important to vote in the polls as we all can gain the "Pulse of the Agents."
At chapter 15, your opinion is most important to us. It gives our editorial staff guidance as to what's hot and what's not to target future subjects and articles of interest to you. In this and future issues, we will place one or two questions at the conclusion of selected articles to gain your opinion on that subject. Please, help us to help you by taking a few seconds to respond to the poll and support us that we can publish results of the "Pulse of the Agents" in the Oklahoma Voice your only source of "Agents Helping Agents"
Your poll votes remain anonymous. We only obtain the numbers of answers converted to percentages, not the source of those numbers. Readers can only vote in a poll once. The percentages shown when a reader votes, is the tally at that moment. We'll publish final poll results in a future issue. Look for this image > < designating a poll where you may vote.
Final Opinion Poll Results from February Issue:
1. My opinion of the Oklahoma Voice is...
It's informative, positive, about right length. I read 50%+89%
It's negative, too long, not informative. I read less than 50%0%
Just average, I scan and read a few articles.11%
I rarely read it0% This poll is closed
I delete it upon receipt0%
2. After reading the New Agent Contract, I believe it is...
Great0%
Good0% The February issue poll is closed
No opinion0% The March AAA Poll is below.
Questionable 17% AAA fails by 83% after first reading by agents in Feb.
Unacceptable83%
3. Would you use a UFAA Chapter credit union to join or to access Fig Federal CU?
Yes, I need a credit union9%
Perhaps, if local to my area18%
Yes, to access my Fig Federal account9% This poll is closed
Unlikely, as I have another CU or Bank36% The credit union is a dead issue
No27%
4. Why has Farmers initially not allowed the Affinity Discount
to Okla. retirees?
Misinterpretation of the laws 17%
Error/Oversight8%
Management Bonus on GWP42% This poll is closed
Age discrimination0% 75% feel reason is divided between mgmt.
Fraud33%bonus on Gross Written Premium and Fraud
Complaint already filed with the Dept of Ins. Fraud Squad for Investigation.
UFAA Sponsored E&O is a Go!
Review the 3 examples of Farmers E&O Class 1 Claim Denials
The up front costs of the billing costs of $40 is necessary as their is no folio access with the E&O carrier. The E&O education and documentation services is necessary to eliminate the policy deductible and creates a charge the first year only. After that, your E&O costs should be reduced $100 while gaining the needed broader coverage at even a more competitive price for small to medium size agencies. Larger agencies with considerable outside business has been a few dollars higher monthly but, it's worth it to get trustworthy E&O coverage.
For agents who have not applied for UFAA Sponsored E&O Coverage,it's not to late-
You may change over your E&O policy effective on the first day of any month during 2009. Start about 30 days in advance to obtain your quote and complete the process to avoid missing Farmers Folio cut-off dates creating a double charge with both carriers. Begin today to be ready for your coverage transfer to become effective on April 1st. You may complete a trial application and receive a competitive E&O quote for your agency. You do not have to be a UFAA member to receive a quote. If you accept the quote and request coverage, the UFAA limited membership dues ($10/mo.) will be included in your monthly E&O payment. No other UFAA membership benefits apply other than access to the UFAA sponsored Group E&O coverage and UFAA will not consider you as an active UFAA member.
To complete a trial application and receive a quote go to this link.
You will see the reader poll tally immediately. Final Poll results in future issue.
UFAA's analysis of the new Agent Appointment
Agreement (AAA) compared to the current AAA
As many of you know, Farmers Group Inc., the management company, is releasing a new Agent Appointment Agreement in the near future. It appears the new contract will be for new agents only. The new AAA may effectively end the benefit of the existing family rights provision, because what spouse or parent would want their spouse, son or daughter to take over their agency and have to live under the new AAA. If you have not read the contract, it's available at this link.
In the new AAA, the word "Companies" refers to the Exchanges, MC and FNWL and, in Farmers Group Inc.'s view, any company they or the Exchanges acquire, such as Foremost and Bristol West. Also, read the new AAA and count the number of times the words "the companies sole discretion" appears. It is truly frightening. The following is a condensed summary of some of the most significant changes in the new Agent Appointment Agreement (AAA).
Section B, "Agent Duties"-
(B1) New agents will not be allowed to place business with other companies or brokers. New agents will truly be exclusive and captive agents, no different than State Farm and Allstate agents. Current agents do not have this limitation.
(B2) The location of a new agents office will be at the sole discretion of the companies. Current agents are free to put their office anywhere provided it does not interfere with another agent.
(B4) New agents will have to provide a fidelity bond. However, the amount of the bond isn't stated and if an outside bonding company is used, the value of the bond has to be within the parameters deemed acceptable by the companies' at their sole discretion. Current agents have the bond amount stated in their AAA.
(B5) New agents will have to meet performance standards (quotas), including, without limitation, any specific performance standards the companies' may require of agents in their sole discretion. Currently, agents do not have quotas or performance standards although the management company seems to ignore that in the AAA.
(B6) New agent's are required to conduct business in accordance with the policies of the companies' in effect at the time of the appointment and modified from time to time by the companies at their sole discretion. Current agents set their own goals, business hours, etc.
Section C; "Termination of Agreement"
(C1) The new AAA states either party may terminate on three months written notice, without cause. The current AAA is silent on whether or not if cause is needed.
(C3) The new AAA states the companies' may terminate immediately for six (6) sins, rather than the five (5) in the current AAA. The sixth deadly sin is "Conduct that is disparaging of or detrimental to the Companies, including, without limitation, conduct determined by the Companies to constitute a conflict of interest." [confilct addressed later]
The current AAA is silent on this issue. It would appear that this additional termination issue violates the constitution of the United States.It is called FREE Speech-
[A First Amendment Constitutional Right of every man, woman and child along with Life, liberty, and the pursuit of
happiness" is one of the most famous phrases in the United States Declaration
of Independence. These four aspects are listed among the "inalienable rights" of man.]
Section D, "Termination Review Board" (TRB)
The new AAA does not allow for a TRB if the agent is terminated with 90-day notice. The new AAA also states the TRB procedures those that are "in place at the time Agent requests the [TRB]." The current AAA allows for a TRB regardless of the reason and specifically outlines the procedures to be used. One lawyer has stated, "The TRB used to be a Sham. [WOW] Now, it is a joke."
Section G, "Contract Value"
The new AAA states, if the AAA is terminated for violation of any one of the six (6) sins contract value is forfeited. The current AAA only takes away Contract Value if the agent is charged with embezzlement. (Transferring policies to another company out of sheer agency survival or assumed abandonment of agency due to long term illness or injury recovery could cause a forfeiture of CV? That sounds more like corporate embezzlement.)
click pic for video
AAA Analysis Continued
Section H, "Agent Bonuses" and part of Section G in the current AAA. The new AAA requires 2,000 PIF to reach the maximum contract value. The current AAA requires only 1500 PIF. The new AAA says contract value will be paid upon notice of termination and the current AAA only says upon termination. Typically agents have waited weeks after their termination date to receive their first contract value payment.
The new AAA does not mention a Contract Value bonus. The current AAA does. The new AAA says that even though terms and conditions of each bonus program are published annually, "the terms and conditions are subject to change at any time and revisions may be communicated in bulletins and other publications."
Section I, "Post Termination Obligations" The new AAA still retains the one-year non-compete and the option for the company to take the agent's telephone numbers and office lease. The new AAA restricts the agent from soliciting any former policyholders in his agency. The current AAA restricts the agent from soliciting any policyholders in his district. Under most state laws, there must be consideration of a non-solicitation or non-complete clause. That raises the question, if an agent is terminated and is not paid contract value, is he/she bound by the non-solicitation or non-compete obligations?
Section J, "Return of Confidential Information" This section replaces and broadens Section I of the current AAA, by stating policyholder records, including expirations, contain trade secrets and confidential information. Further, any other information the companies may designate as trade secrets or confidential are the property of the companies and shall not be used or divulged in any way detrimental to the companies.
Section K, "Independent Contractor"
This section replaces and broadens Section J of the current AAA, by stating agency staff is also independent contractors. Of more importance, is the inclusion of the words "performance standards" that refer back to Section B. Unfortunately, the term performance standards is not defined, but is probably synonymous with goals.
The New AAA contains the same sentence that the current one does, that it can only be modified by the written consent of the agent and companies. However, it now includes language that if any part is found unenforceable, the remainder is still enforceable.
Finally, the new AAA requires the agent to acknowledge that the agreement was delivered to them and that they have read it and wish to do business with the companies on the terms set forth.
The AAA Jell-O Contract?
Section B: Farmers Agent Duties are peppered with "at the sole discretion of the Companies."Jell-O can be shaped, molded and blended into a variety of desserts, colors and flavors. Does the new AAA have similarities? Can an illusive AAA, similar to Jell-O, be nailed to the wall? or, better yet, be nailed down in a court of law?
Here's a recent example of a totally exclusive agent contract-
"State Farm Won't Free Captive Agents"
National Underwriter 02/09/09 "State Farm [SF] has rejected a pitch by Florida's chief financial officer, Alex Sink, to let their 824 captive agents with 4,479 agent staff members find coverage for customers with rival carriers, since they [SF] plan on leaving the state's property market." Get the full story on our homepage link at the bottom of this issue.
AAA Definitions
"Sole discretion" or "determined by the companies"- these statements are peppered throughout the contract making it open-ended, and can be defined or redefined without bounds or restraint by the companies and may render the contract incomplete and of questionable content and value at the signing of a "unilateral contract."
Unilateral Contract An agreement to pay in exchange for performance, if the potential performer chooses to act. A "unilateral" contract is distinguished from a "bilateral" contract, which is an exchange of one promise for another. Example of a unilateral contract: "I will pay you $1,000 if you bring my car from Cleveland to San Francisco." Bringing the car is acceptance.
Bilateral Contract An agreement in which the parties exchange promises for each to do something in the future. "Susette Seller promises to sell her house to Bobby Buyer and Buyer promises to pay Seller $100,000 for it." This is distinct from a "unilateral contract," in which there is a promise to pay if the other party chooses to do something.
Implied covenant of good faith and fair dealing- A general assumption of the law of contracts, that people will act in good faith and deal fairly without breaking their word, using shifty means to avoid obligations or denying what the other party obviously understood. A lawsuit (or one of the causes of action in a lawsuit) based on the breach of this covenant is often brought when the other party has been claiming technical excuses for breaching the contract or using the specific words of the contract to refuse to perform when the surrounding circumstances or apparent understanding of the parties were to the contrary. Example: an employer fires a long-time employee without cause and says it can fire at whim because the employment contract states the employment is "at will." However, the employee was encouraged to join the company on the basis of retirement plans and other conduct which led him/her to believe the job was permanent barring misconduct or financial downturn. Thus, there could be a breach of the implied covenant, since the surrounding circumstances implied that there would be career-long employment.
Discretion- The freedom or authority to make decisions and choices; power to judge or act. Left to one's discretion; regulated by one's own choice. adjective- that can change or be changed; likely or tending to change; variable; alterable; fickle.
Sole Discretion- We, in our sole discretion, may add, delete or change some or the entire Site at any time. At one's discretion- as one wishes.
Determined- having one's mind made up; decided; resolved; resolute; unwavering to set limits to; bound; define.
Disparaging- to lower in esteem; discredit to speak slightingly of; show disrespect for; belittle. Legal Definition- To make an untrue statement that harms the reputation of another's business or product.
Conflict of Interest-a conflict between one's obligation to the public good and one's self-interest, as in the case of a public officeholder who owns stock in a company seeking government contracts. The real or apparent conflict between one's personal interest in a matter and one's duty to another or to the public in general regarding the same matter. (definitions from law.com)
"Members of the agency force have a clear duty to place the interest of the Companies ahead of their individual interests in all business matters and thus avoid any conflict of interest or division of loyalty, or appearance thereof." How strange? A previous version also included the word "employees."
Conflict of Interest- you should know as redefined by Farmers 11/24/08 and now covers two pages in the Agent's Guide. Sorry, we cannot link to a secured site. So, on the main page of Dashboard select "ALL" from pull down menu in the top search box and type conflict of interest in the bottom search box. <SEARCH> <Select> Agency Operations Manual - Sect 3-10 that includes 8 items considered a conflict of interest by management.
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Conduct that is disparaging could just be complaining about high rates or eAgent problems. Harassment or threats of termination over such statements by a DM or the company may become a violation of the First Amendment.
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Unfortunately, those with the New contract may discover a future need to file the IRS Form SS-8 calling for the dreaded and exhaustive audit of financial and any and all internal correspondence, letters, email, and any other documents including the contract to be reviewed by a special IRS team to determine if the DM and/or companies have crossed the line in treating independent contractors in an employee/employer relationship while agent was paying self employment taxes.
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Other optional definitions below -depending on your point of view
Servitude- A right to use another's property without ownership. [Refers to Sec:"G." ] See easement, license, profit. A condition of enforced compulsory service.
Authoritarian- believing in, relating to, characterized by, or enforcing unquestioning obedience to authority, as that of a dictator, rather than individual freedom of judgment and action. (Definitions by law.com)
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Farmers Home Office recently mailed out a small strip-type calendar showing the common monthly business close dates for 2009 with instructions to peel and stick on your computer or laptop. At the bottom it states and very correctly, we might add, FARMERS:"Built by Agencies." Seems someone in H/O knows the benefits of a Farmers Agency, like the job/salary we generate for them.
(Definitions presented here are for informational purposes only and may have additional and or different legal definitions. This is not a legal review only a general comparative view of the current and proposed AAA. Nothing contained herein neither promotes or rejects the acceptance of the new AAA and for all purposes is of loosely generalized comparison.Jell-o is a trademark of Kraft Foods and used here only as a humurous item)
THE SPECIFIC SECURITY OBJECTIVES OF UFAA ARE:
1. A two-way negotiated contract. 2. For rendered services contractual compensation schedules encompassing full commission of all premiums. 3. Agent ownership of policies and expirations. 4. Termination for just stated-cause only. 5. Ending discrimination of agent or agent authority. 6. To foster cooperation for mutual benefit, between other agent associations.
Farmers lawsuit fights to keep documents under wraps
Dallas Morning News 1200AM CST on Sunday, February 15, 2009
By RYAN McNEILL / The Dallas Morning News
Texas Farmers Insurance Co. is suing the state to block the release of documents to The Dallas Morning News that could give insight into how it charges consumers for its homeowners policies. The lawsuit, filed Feb. 3 in Travis County, followed a decision by the state attorney general's office ordering the Texas Department of Insurance to release the documents. The insurance department was also ordered to release similar documents filed by Allstate Fire and Casualty Co., which did not sue to block the action.
The News requested rate filings and supporting documentation for the three major homeowners insurance companies in Texas - State Farm Lloyds Co., Allstate and Farmers. The insurance department released only parts of Allstate's and Farmers' filings that had not been marked "confidential" by the companies; it released all of State Farm's filings, none of which had been marked "confidential." At issue is how much insurance companies can use trade-secrets exemptions in Texas' open-records laws to keep information from the public.
The requested documents show mathematical formulas and other information the companies use as a model to determine what to charge customers. Farmers argued that release of the documents, provided to the insurance department as agency officials sought to determine whether insurance rates were proper, would cause irreparable financial harm by making "valuable trade secrets" available to competitors.
Consumer advocates worry that transparency is at stake. "What are they hiding here?" asked Alex Winslow, executive director of the consumer advocacy group Texas Watch. "What is it they don't want the public to know about how they're setting their rates?"
The Texas Department of Insurance initially refused to release any part of Allstate and Farmers filings that were marked "confidential" without a ruling from the Texas attorney general's office. Winslow said his consumer watchdog group has found that "insurance companies will stamp everything they file with the Department of Insurance as proprietary and confidential, even if it's explicit in the statute as being subject to open records."
Zurich Financial 4Q net
profit drops 87 Percent
Associated Press 2009-02-05 03:08 PM
Zurich Financial Services Group on Thursday reported an 87 percent fall in fourth-quarter net profits, blaming losses and writedowns on investments amid the global financial turmoil. Net profits attributable to shareholders dropped to $205 million from $1.53 billion in the year-earlier period. "Looking forward, we do not see significant improvements in the economic environment in the near term, but our strong balance sheet, operational capabilities and well-balanced portfolio of businesses position us well to continue executing on our strategy," said Zurich's chief executive James Schiro, pictured here. The Swiss insurer has been hit hard by the collapse of financial services firms Lehman Brothers, Washington Mutual and Sigma Finance Corp. Insurance companies are among the biggest investors on financial markets, and several of Zurich's competitors have suffered similar or worse losses as a result of the global crisis.
Zurich Financial hopes to avoid job cuts
ZURICH, Feb 1 (Reuters) - Zurich Financial Services AG (ZURN.VX) hopes to avoid job cuts as the insurance industry is still performing well, but premiums will have to rise, the Swiss insurer's head was quoted as saying on Sunday. When asked in an interview with newspaper Sonntag whether Zurich will cut jobs, Chief Executive James Schiro was quoted as saying: "I hope not. The insurance industry is still doing well. Life insurance is in demand, people are driving less and therefore there are fewer accidents." Premiums were likely to rise as business risks increase and as revenue from capital employed declines, Schiro was quoted as saying. "We have to be very careful with our capital. We need it to cover the claims of our customers," he said.
Zurich, Europe's fifth-largest insurer by market value, would go for an acquisition if a good opportunity were to arise, but the group would focus on expanding organically in growth markets such as Eastern Europe, Russia, China and Latin America as well as in Spain, where it was now one of the biggest players, Schiro was quoted as saying. He also said the group had no plans to go into the banking sector, preferring to focus on its core insurance business. Schiro was quoted as saying that he had no intention of becoming chairman after he steps down as CEO at the end of the year, adding that he would like to return to America.
Sacrificing Market Share for Performance
[Shiro bio] In 2003 Schiro continued his cost-cutting measures in earnest. He eliminated thousands of jobs, Zurich left the banking business, and Schiro engineered the sale of nine Zurich businesses. He sacrificed the renewal of $800 million in business that the company underwrote in 2003 because it was not profitable. "The culture driving the new Zurich is sacrificing market share for performance and return. We're better off giving up market share than losing capital," Schiro said (Reactions, September 1, 2003). In 2003 the Swiss insurance group generated $2.1 billion in profit, a remarkable turnaround from a record $3.4 billion loss in 2002 due to the write off of assets and strengthening of non-life insurance-related cash reserves. Still, the company laid off 4,500 people in 2003. More on James Schiro biography. Yahoo Answers.com Zurich Financial
Schiro video says recession will not begin to turn until mid-2010.
Please take the 10 sec. Sacrificing Market Share Agent Poll
(You will see poll tally at time you vote. Final results in next issue)
How to Reduce Email Spam @farmersagent.com
Dear Editor,
I emailed Agent Support Center advising I get a lot of spam emails in my farmersagent.com address. I requested the corporate address to report spam. Here is the lame answer I received. Okie Agent.
"We do not have a dedicated e-mail address setup for reporting spam. If you are receiving spam, please click Block Sender in the e-mail and the sender will be added to your blocked list. Regards, Agent Support Center 1-800-638-8737"
Okie Agent, I duplicated your request and received a similar canned reply. I sent it back with a five words bolded and enlarged in red that stated- 2nd Request Escalate it. Thx. Here is the next day reply- a real answer, I might add. Thanks Manuel del Villar ASC Specialist. And, thank you Okie Agent for bringing this to our attention.
"Please send all the SPAM email requests for review to abuse@usa.net."(Simply, forward the spam email to this address. If all agents would do this little trick our corporate spam would be nearly nil.)
Place this address in your email address book for future reference. USA.net, our agent email provider, can add the spam addresses to their email servers and block thousands of the same spam destined for many agents.
"Agents Helping Agents"
Storm Response | Move outs
Oder AbatementMeth LabPack Rat Property
Approved HelpPoint Vendor
918-698-7445
Call for Board up Service Tulsa Broken Arrow
918/664-7904 918/258-7578
License # 879 $15.99 Monthly
Bethel Collision Center (918) 258-3318
ATTENTION MEMBERS
Chapter 15 needs up to two more delegates to attend the 2009 UFAA Convention to be held June 9, 10 & 11 in Las Vegas. Delegates must have participated in our monthly chapter meetings over the last 12 months and will give a short convention report at the chapter meeting in July and to the Okla. Voice for distribution.
If you have an interest, contact Mike Gately by email or 918/481-3277 before the March Chapter meeting to be held on March 4th. Some convention delegate expenses are paidby chapter.
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Reminder: Field Bulletin 08-0816
12/20/08. You have to be careful when doing a rewrite. New risk score is ordered if you rewrite from Special or PPlus to NextGen. Compare logic will not apply. Higher score will apply to the new policy.
Edmond 405-330-0025 Tulsa 918-270-2888
For Residential & Commercial
Ads are now hot links to websites
Support Our
Advertisers
Learn more about our advertisers as you or your clients may need their services in the future.
Educate yourself so you can give your clients more detail about the services they offer.
You may click on any of our valued ads in this issue for direct access to their informative and educational website.
UFAA Chapter 15 and the Oklahoma Voice welcomes our newest advertiser located in Broken Arrow.
BETHEL COLLISION CENTER
822 N Elm Pl. 918/258-3318 Be sure to check out their website by clicking on their ad.
Farmers New Ad Partner:
The Richards Group Farmers new media advertiser has created an impressive video of Richards Group ad results and accomplishments. You'll find it worth your time to watch it.
Bill wrote in from Miami, FL, where he listens on WIOD 610 AM. He heard me talking about watching TV shows online a couple of weeks ago. He didn't write any of the site names down. And, he is unable to find them listed on my site. So, he would like me to repeat them.
I get questions like this all the time, Bill. I mention something on the show. Soon after, I get requests to repeat information. The thing is, I update my site after the show. I put links to tips and sites I mention on my Show Picks page. For some reason, people never seem to look there! I recommend that you bookmark the page for future reference.
Woodpecker with Headache?
Science is often seen as boring and humorless. But, every year one award celebrates the wacky side of science. This happens at Harvard University and answers questions you want to know. Like, why does spaghetti break in multi-pieces.
Can you imagine the sound inside a tree when a woodpecker is active? A UFAA member recently got a headache from such activity when a Woodpecker attempted to 'peck' his way into his home. So, why don't they get headaches the member wants to know? Here's the answer. Woodpeckers & headaches
Oklahoma Voice has reprint rights. Copyright 2008 WestStar TalkRadio Network. Reprinted with permission. No further republication or redistribution is permitted without the written consent of WestStar TalkRadio Network. Visit Kim Komando and sign up for her free e-mail newsletters at:www.komando.com
Breaking News: More Control over your Business?
Okla. State Director Gregor Scott announced at a recent district meeting that Farmers will use Kraft Lake Insurance Agency, a subsidiary of Foremost, where agents must write commercial business, not acceptable with Truck Exchange. Kraft Lake currently only writes habitational, restaurants and work comp. A website is under construction at www.kraftlake.com
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We are seeing writings on the bulletin board of rumors of either company personnel and/or DM will conduct agent office inspections and outside business witch hunts. Anyone in Oklahoma have additional info? If so, email and update the editor or write an article for publication. UFAA has posted an office invasion checklist on the main page of ufaa.com for members only. It requires member I.D. & password to access.
Oklahoma Storm Season Begins March 15 to June 15 Severe storms can occur any month Knowing the Warning Sounds
It begins every year about this time. In 2008, the HelpPoint Cat Teams were kept busy in the state starting with the Dec, 9, 2007 ice storm. That was followed in 2008 with hail storms in April, May with a June hail storm and straight 80 MPH winds lasting 15-20 minutes.
Who knows what will happen this year. Last years season was preceded with a severe ice storm similar to this year occurring from Eastern Okla. to Kentucky with trees and power lines down leaving millions without power. And, On Feb 10th this year, N.W. OKC and Edmond were struck by tornados, while Lone Grove was devastated with 8 killed similar to Picher, Oklahoma in 2008 that occurred on May 10th. You need to know the different warning siren sounds if Mother Nature gets mad and visits your area during late Winter through early Summer.
A 3 minute steady "Alert" tone warns of both tornadoes and chemical hazards. It is a single note sounded continuously for three minutes.
A 3 minute wavering "Attack" tone warns of military/nuclear attacks. It sounds similar to sirens on police, fire and ambulance vehicles.
A 3 minute "High/Low" tone - warns of impending flooding and sounds like that used by many European ambulances and police vehicles. All clear siren tones are no longer used. Consult radio or TV upon hearing these warnings.
Become familiar with the Outdoor Warning Sounds
You may hear the above tone descriptions by selecting the Alert, Attack and Hi.gh/Lowtoneoptions here.
============================================== In unrelated Breaking News, we ad this last minute note- just before going to email press- on our sorrow concerning the passing of Paul Harvey, a radio news commentator that spanned 70 years. Harvey grew up in Tulsa, Oklahoma and began his career in his early 20's and soon became a syndicated radio news all over the country. Paul Harvey was age 90 at his death Saturday, Feb. 28 and his wife, who he called Angel, preceded his death in May, 2008 at age 91. We will all miss his radio news broadcasts and memorable commentaries that were taken over by his son, Paul Harvey Jr, last year as Harvey's health began to fail. You're a legend, Paul. Good.... Day! -ed
SIGN OF THE TIMES: Three weeks ago at Times Square in Manhattan, both time and the National Debt clock just stopped. Katie Couric explains.
Your share of the National Debt is nearing $36k while the interest accumulates at $48 million per HOUR. The Debt Clock is read as trillions, billions, millions, thousands and hundreds. It's said, if time were reversed and you spent a million dollars a day, everyday, you would spend back to the days to see Jesus and still not spend close to all of today's National Debt. I wonder if there is a GWP Bonus Clock in Home Office? Sign of the times. -ed Check this out- If you thought the price meter on the gas pump added up quickly when gasoline was $3.69 a gallon, you should see the National Debt Clock in real time with today's totals.
Check out the UFAA Chapter 15
Home Web Page with lots of member benefit information including E&O updates and Industry articles.
We are seeing writings on the bulletin board of rumors of either company personnel and/or DM will conduct agent office inspections and outside business witch hunts. Anyone in Oklahoma have additional info? If so, email and update the 
both time and the National Debt clock just stopped. 
