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November 2012

The Mutual Effort Final 3

In This Issue
County Mutual Partners with Lexipol Group
$750,000 in Dividends Issued to Members
A.L.E.R.T. Law Enforcement Challenge Success
Act 10 Updates
Firearms Training Simulator for Members
County Mutual Care Line
2011 Performance Awards Announced
Legal Bulletin
Online Safety Training Available for Members
2012 County Mutual Scholarship Winners Announced


The winners of the 2012 Wisconsin County Mutual Insurance Corporation (County Mutual) scholarship program were announced at WCA's Annual Conference on September 24, 2012 in La Crosse.

Scholarship recipients were selected by an independent panel of current and former educators based on scores received in the following categories: future goals and career plans, grade point average, community development, the quality of their writing and a letter of recommendation.

Learn more about the County Mutual Scholarship program here, as well as the 2012 winners.

 

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Annual Representative Assembly Success


Over 100 people attended the 2012 Wisconsin County Mutual Annual Representative Assembly August 24th at the Holiday Inn and Convention Center in Stevens Point.  A new format this year touched upon the status of the company the past twelve months and presenters discussed claims, workers' compensation, the Budget Repair Bill Consortium and trends in the insurance industry.  Mark your calendars for next year's event, which will be held September 13, 2013 at the Holiday Inn Convention Center in Stevens Point.  

 

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20th Annual Corporation Counsel/Defense Counsel Forum Held in Dells

 

The County Mutual held its 20th Annual Corporation Counsel/Defense Counsel Forum September 21st at the Chula Vista Resort in Wisconsin Dells.

 

The event was co-sponsored by Whyte Hirschboeck Dudek S.C and Axley Brynelson,LLP.

 

See this year's Corporation Counsel/Defense Counsel Forum agenda and speakers here

 

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County Mutual Member Map 

Since the beginning, the County Mutual has thrived and its strength has come from the voices of our member-owners in over three-quarters of Wisconsin's counties.

A new map of member counties has been released. Is your county one of them? 

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Quick Links


County Mutual & Community Insurance Corporation...Who Are We?  

 

The Wisconsin County Mutual Insurance Corporation (County Mutual) is dedicated to serving Wisconsin's counties and local governments and the people they serve by providing long-term stability in insurance coverages, while proactively working to control costs. 

Community Insurance Corporation provides these same services to school districts, cities, towns and villages.

To learn more, contact John Dirkse or Karen Flynn via email or at 800.236.6885. Find us online at www.wisconsincountymutual.org.
To visit Community Insurance Corporation, click here.
 
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 FIND THE COUNTY MUTUAL AND COMMUNITY INSURANCE CORPORATION ON FACEBOOK AND TWITTER!

 

facebook Stay up-to-date on the happenings of the County Mutual by following us on Twitter and becoming a fan on Facebook

Click on the links here for Community Insurance Corporation's Twitter and Facebook.


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To receive The Mutual Effort, click here to subscribe and be sure to include your preferred email address, your name, county/municipality and job title.   

 

Feel free to forward onto any interested parties and we'll get them on the mailing list as well.  

 

For questions, contact Michelle Gormican Thompson.   

   

    

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County Mutual Partners with Lexipol Group to Provide Policy & Procedures Manuals for Member Law Enforcement Departments 

 The Wisconsin County Mutual Insurance Corporation (County Mutual) has announced a partnership with the Lexipol Group (Lexipol) to provide full funding for the development of law enforcement and corrections policy and procedures manuals for member counties.  The program also includes daily training bulletins provided by Lexipol.

"The County Mutual has always stood out because of our commitment to maintaining a close working partnership with member counties," said County Mutual President and Oconto County Board Chair Lee Rymer.  "By providing funding for the development of consistent policies, procedures and training, we are giving our member law enforcement and corrections staff the risk management tools they need to stay safe on the job, as well as maximize their resources."

Learn more here about the benefits of the County Mutual/Lexipol program.
County Mutual Issues $750,000 in Dividends to Members
 
The Wisconsin County Mutual Insurance Corporation has issued $750,00 in dividends to their 53 member counties for 2011. See the full list of counties and their dividends here.

"The County Mutual's dividend payments to our member counties demonstrates our close working relationship we work tirelessly to cultivate," said County Mutual President and Oconto County Board Chair Lee Rymer.  "This company continues to be successful because we have always worked with our member counties as our partners to manage risk through personalized risk management efforts."

Read more about the County Mutual dividends here
Inaugural A.L.E.R.T. Law Enforcement Challenge Huge Success
 
The week of October 1, 2012 marked the First Annual Advanced Law Enforcement Risk Training (A.L.E.R.T.) Law Enforcement Challenge.  The event was held October 2nd in Bayfield County and October 4th in Sauk County. 

All Wisconsin County Mutual Insurance Corporation (County Mutual) and Community Insurance Corporation member law enforcement departments were encouraged to compete and attend.  Aegis Corporation, the general administrator of both companies, coordinated and ran the event.

At the Tuesday, October 2nd event in Bayfield County, over 40 law enforcement officials, sheriffs, chief deputies and deputies attended. Member law enforcement department winners included Brian Deyo, Sawyer County, first place; Andy Runice, Bayfield County, second place; and Ryan Rossing, Oneida County, third place.

Close to 60 attendees were at the October 4th event in Sauk County and winners from member law enforcement departments included Eric Geise, Village of Mt. Pleasant, first place; Sean Mahin, Milwaukee County, second place; and Brian Kaye, Winnebago County, third place.

The day involved a timed skills challenge of simulated pursuit scenarios, running and a shooting range. Individual prizes were awarded to top finishers and cash prizes were awarded to the top three finishers' departments of $7,000, $5,000 and $3,000 respectively to use for safety equipment and risk management efforts. The day also featured a vendor fair showcasing the latest in law enforcement products. Read the full story here.

View a photo album of the A.L.E.R.T. Law Enforcement Challenge.

Act 10 Updates on Recent Court Decisions

Editor's Note: The County Mutual and Community Insurance Corporation has taken no formal position on Act 10.  However, as a service to our members and to keep them informed, we have included several updates on recent actions regarding Act 10. 

On October 22, 2012, Judge Colas issued a decision denying the State's motion to stay his September 14, 2012 decision striking down parts of Act 10.  In order to provide information to counties and answer questions, general counsel to the Wisconsin Counties Association Phillips Borowski, S.C. has put together a document on recent actions regarding Act 10.  Read the Phillips Borowski, S.C. Act 10 update here

For direct questions, please contact Andy Phillips or Dan Borowski of Phillips Borowski, S.C. at 262.241.7788.
Member Service: Cutting Edge Firearms Training Simulator for Law Enforcement 

Iowa County Board Chair David Bauer tries his hand at the MILO System at the WCA Annual Conference in La Crosse.
Demonstrating their strong commitment to the safety and education of law enforcement, the Wisconsin County Mutual Insurance Corporation has several state-of-the art firearms training simulators.  The systems, including two MILO Range PRO and one PRISim Portable Trainer Pro, provides realistic use-of-force training that develops the skills required for law enforcement in high-risk environments. It is available to use and is free for member counties, as well as Community Insurance Corporation member municipalities.

The interactive video system involves real people in real-life situations, such as traffic stops and active shooter scenarios. There is an extensive library in the system of professionally produced scenarios to enhance training goals.

Learn more here about these firearm training simulators and how you can schedule them for your law enforcement department.
County Mutual Care Line™ Features 24/7 Nurse Care Line  
 
The County Mutual is proud to offer our members the new County Mutual Care Line™ powered by Alaris�. The program features a 24/7 nurse care line that provides assistance to employees who have suffered a worker's compensation injury.

 

The program features:

  • 24/7 nurse care line
  • Reduces Worker's Compensation Costs
  • Reduces Experience Modification Factor (Mod)
  • Eliminates Unnecessary Emergency Room Visits
  • Provides Access to Area Providers  

Learn more about this new County Mutual member service here. 

 
2011 County Mutual Performance Awards Announced
 
The County Mutual has highlighted the close relationship between member counties and the company with its 2011 Performance Awards.

"The County Mutual works in unison with our member counties and these awards recognize the importance of our risk management efforts together," said County Mutual President and Oconto County Board Chair Lee Rymer.  "This year's award winners have demonstrated their commitment to safety and risk prevention and we congratulate them for their dedication to making safety a top priority."

The 2011 Performance Award winners were announced and presented by President Lee Rymer at the County Mutual's 2012 Annual Representative Assembly on August 24, 2012.

See the County Mutual Performance Award winners here.

Legal Bulletin-
Clarification on the Extent of the "Interactive Process" Under the Americans with Disabilities Act 

A recent case issued by the federal Seventh Circuit Court of Appeals (which governs employers in Wisconsin) underscores the importance of engaging in an interactive process with a disabled employee who has asked for a reasonable accommodation under the Americans With Disabilities Act (ADA).   
 
Train Where and When You Are Ready with County Mutual/CIC Online Safety Training Program 
 
A safe work environment doesn't just happen.  Rather, it is the result of dedicated efforts to ensure employees are empowered to act with safety always at the forefront of their minds.  One way to accomplish this is through training seminars and educational sessions.  To bring training directly to users where and when they are ready, the County Mutual also offers their innovative Online Safety Training Program.

The County Mutual Online Safety Training Program incorporates text slides, along with streaming video and audio, to guide users through the various safety training modules.  Users are then tested following viewing training and scores are available for supervisors to review.

There is a wide range of safety-related topics. You can view the full library of online safety training modules here. To begin, click visit http://www.wcm-web.com and enter in your pre-assigned user name and password. 
Wisconsin County Mutual Insurance Corporation

22 East Mifflin Street, Suite 900 � Madison, WI  53703 � 866.404.2700

 

www.wisconsincountymutual.org 

 

Community Insurance Corporation

22 East Mifflin Street, Suite 900 � Madison, WI  53703 � 866.404.2700

www.communityinsurancecorporation.com  


 

"The Mutual Effort" is provided as a service to the members of the Wisconsin County Mutual Insurance Corporation ("County Mutual")
and Community Insurance Corporation ("CIC") and other Internet users and is published by Aegis Corporation. It is derived from sources believed to be accurate and current as of the date of publication. However, the County Mutual makes no warranty and assumes no legal liability for the accuracy, currency or completeness of the information herein.  "The Mutual Effort Online" is provided for general information only, and is not intended as legal advice.  Any links to other sites within this publication are not endorsements of any products or services in such sites, and no information in such site has been endorsed or approved by County Mutual. Unauthorized republication of any copyrighted material from this site or sites to which we link, without the copyright owner's permission, is strictly prohibited.