In a move keeping with Bickmore's commitment to strategically and measurably reduce clients' costs of risk, Chief Executive Officer Gregory L. Trout announced today that internationally recognized Risk Management Information Systems(RMIS) expert David Tweedy will join the firm.    

 

Continue Reading 

President's Letter
By Martin Brady, Executive Director, Schools Insurance Authority

My thanks to all who had a hand in planning another successful CAJPA Fall Conference. As a devotee to the concept of life-long learning, I also applaud those who made the effort to attend the conference and expand their sphere of knowledge and network with fellow pool members.  

Learning can occur on so many levels and in unpredictable ways, if we are only open to it.  As H. Jackson Brown, Jr. states in his book Live and Learn and Pass It On, "Regardless of how much we know, it is never enough.  But that's OK because every day, with every new experience, we are offered new opportunities for discovery and growth."

The following quotes from Brown's book also illustrate this important concept:

• "I've learned that if I don't try new things, I won't learn new things."  (age 38)
• "I've learned that life is like a scooter car; not much happens unless you do some peddling." (age 79)
• "I've learned that you can't hide a piece of broccoli in a glass of milk." (age 7)
• "I've learned that you shouldn't go through life with a catcher's mitt on both hands.  You need to be able to throw something back." (age 64)"
• "I've learned that life challenges us with the fact that everything can be done better." (age 57)
• "I've learned that goldfish don't like Jello." (age 5)

Let's all be on the lookout for learning opportunities, even in these difficult economic times.

Legislative Update
By Julianne Broyles, CAJPA Legislative Advocate, California Advocates

The final score card for 2012 legislative session: 2,127 bills, constitutional amendments and resolutions were introduced and considered by the members of the Legislature.  

Of these, Governor Edmund G. "Jerry" Brown signed 1,058 new bills into law between January 1, 2012 and September 30, 2012.  In contrast, the Governor vetoed 120 bills.  

To give an idea of how many bills are in introduced or acted upon in a two-year session, see the chart below:

Master Your Meetings: Robert's Rules in Real Life
By Ann G. Macfarlane, Professional Registered Parliamentarian, Jurassic Parliament

The president of an organization I know recently completed his year's term of office under a delusion. He had believed, apparently for the entire year, that he was not entitled to vote at board meetings. Yet the bylaws clearly listed the president as a voting member of the board of directors. How could this significant misunderstanding have arisen?

I fear the blame may in part have been mine. At an early orientation session with this president, I emphasized the role of the chair of the board of directors as a facilitator. It is a fundamental principle of Robert's Rules of Order and common parliamentary law that the presider-the person running the meeting-is the servant of the group. The presider's job is to help the group make up its mind. And the presider is not responsible for the decision that the group makes. Perhaps this president drew the unwarranted conclusion that he couldn't vote...

(Quick quiz: who is responsible for the decision that the group makes? I hope all CAJPA members know that it is the group that is responsible for its own decisions.)

 

Thanks to CAJPA's more than 850 attendees at the 2012 Fall Conference in South Lake Tahoe! Attendees experienced more than 70 superior speakers, learned new information, and networked with fellow members, exhibitors, and sponsors over the course of this packed three-day conference.

A special thank you goes to the members of our Professional Development Committee for a great educational program and the speakers to go along with it.  And, to the conference speakers and moderators who contributed such great information to each session, thank you for your valuable time. If you have not done so already, please check the CAJPA website for many presentations that are available  from these sessions.

CAJPA could not have held a conference of this size and quality without the support of its more than 80 exhibitors and numerous sponsors who contributed not just by funding, but also of their time and support to CAJPA. 

Look for information soon on the 2013 CAJPA Conference!

All attendees will be receiving an email with a link where you can download your conference "transcript" of the sessions attended. Please let the CAJPA office know if you need assistance in downloading this or if you find sessions missing from your transcript. This is a great way, not only to receive credits, but to keep as your personal record of sessions you have attended.