Teacher Appreciation Week: Platinum Elite Lends A Hand

In honor of back-to-school, here's a reprint of our past teacher appreciation blog.

Excerpt from a blog originally published on Why Platinum?

The Platinum Elite Team is devoted to our schools and the teachers who give their best for our children.  Here's a chance to acknowledge their efforts.

May 2nd through May 6th, 2011, is Teacher Appreciation Week.  For many schools, Tuesday, May 3rd is Teacher Appreciation Day.

If you appreciate the knowledge you have acquired over the years thanks to your teachers, Teacher Appreciation week which lasts from the 2nd till the 6th May 2011, is the week in which you can show your gratitude. Dedicated to the celebration of your favorite teachers worldwide, it is a week in which you can reward the teacher of your choice with a present. These come in different shapes and sizes, depending on the ideas of the students who offer gifts to their teachers.

Teacher appreciation week is the perfect time in the year to take a moment to show your appreciation to teachers for all the effort they put in each day to teach and for the education that we receive thanks to them.  Teacher appreciation week 2011 will include lots of fun events and activities and it is a great opportunity to increase interaction between teachers and students. Most schools have their own way of celebrating it, so find out more by asking your professors what will be organized!

Click HERE for some ideas or more information about Teacher Appreciation Day.

Here's what some of our Agents with the Platinum Elite do to show appreciation all year round.

Susanne Romo

Susanne & Ernie Romo - Chula Vista & Kearny Mesa (858) 751-0956

"I've adopted Casillas Elementary & Rancho del Rey Middle schools, providing them with supplies, lesson plans (educational DVD's) and hosting Free Child ID booths (M.I.L.K.) at their carnivals.  I have been a volunteer 'Big Sister' for 7 years. (a lot of help with homework!)  Every year I help provide digital IDs for approximately 1000 children in the Chula Vista area at the following events: Chula Vista Community Collaborative's 'Day of the Child' (Saturday, April 30th, 2011, 11-3), South Bay YMCA's 'Healthy Kids Day' & New Hope Community Church's 'KidsFest'.  I also sponsor a free website for teacherswww.educationappreciation.com (click for password), which provides free lesson plans, and for parents www.edhelpforparents.com (click for password), which provides homework help for kids based on subject and grade level."

Jasmine Guerrero

Jasmine Guerrero - Downtown San Diego (619) 501-6400

"Earlier this year I was asked to be a guest speaker at the 2nd Annual International Women's Week at San Diego City College, and recently have been asked to sit on an advisory panel for the years 2012 to 2013.  The panel is developing the course requirement for the San Diego High schools' ROP (Regional Occupational Program) Training.  Several professionals from different sectors of business take part making sure the program focuses on the right skills to make the students ready for the work force."  Jasmine is also a big believer in the benefit of the free educational DVD's and lesson plans Farmers provides grade schools and high schools.

Brent McKiernan

Brent McKiernan - Old Town San Diego (619) 501-6425

"I've given supplies and free educational DVD's such as 'Across the Waves' to a charter school named Feaster Elementary in Chula Vista.  Their budget for supplies, books, dvd's, etc is very limited so its nice to help out any way we can."  For info on more DVD's available for free to educators, click here.

Lorena De La Huerta

Lorena De La Huerta - Hemet (951) 766-8000

"I've adopted a school named Little Lake Elementary in Hemet. This week I donated $250 to get snacks as they are in testing week.  In May I'm going to bring Lunch from Rubios for the Teacher, and on May 12 we are going to have an open house and expecting to bring the Farmers trailer for a BBQ."

Amber Ramirez

Amber Ramirez - Ramona (760) 789-0010

Through her membership in Rotary, Amber recognizes 3 Ramona area Students of the Month each month and their teachers for setting a great example and meeting the goals they set.  See past blog.

Neomi Alcorn

Neomi Alcorn - La Mesa (619) 461-0497

"I’ve adopted Kumeyaay Elementary.  I’m on the Board of the PTA.  I’ve provided them with the 'Second to None' (a Women’s history educational DVD) and have also provided the other DVD’s because they include lesson plans.  I also volunteer at fundraising events, because I know the schools are really in a bind and need help raising money.  Schools are suffering major cutbacks and need to do more with less, so the least I can do is offer some assistance."  Neomi has also assisted the Toby Wells branch of the YMCA.

In addition, we just found out from Neomi...

"My husband is the 'Teacher of the Year' for San Diego Unified School District, so I’ll be at an awards ceremony on Tuesday evening and at the Padres game on Friday of next week."  

Earthquake Insurance: The Big Misconception

Excerpt from Why Platinum?

More than 85% of Californian homeowners and renters do not have earthquake insurance coverage. When the "Big One" hits, entire neighborhoods will be left damaged for long periods of time.

One reason people don't buy Earthquake Insurance is do to a "Great Misconception" that is reinforced by media and various financial writers who should know better.  When pointed out, corrections are usually put on the last page of the newspaper.

Have you ever heard this statement or thought this to yourself?

"The deductible is so high, why would I buy it?  I can't afford to pay that much!"

Not true.  The deductible does not have to be paid out-of- pocket before the policy begins paying.  It's just the amount of damage that must be exceeded before the policy begins paying.

Isn't 85% coverage better than the 0% most people have in place right now?

Let's start at the beginning.  A lot of the major insurers, including Farmers, use the CEA; the California Earthquake Authority since they were unsure about individually underwriting such a large potential loss on their own.  In example: $12.5 Billion in damages from the 1994 earthquake alone.  

"The California Earthquake Authority is a publicly managed, largely privately funded organization that provides catastrophic residential earthquake insurance and encourages Californians to reduce their risk of earthquake loss."

The CEA plan is a high deductible plan designed to get you back into your home safely.  It's not designed to cover extras like artwork and swimming pools.  By making it a high deductible plan, it's affordable enough to hopefully get more insureds under the plan.  

Example:  A homeowner buys a CEA policy with dwelling coverage of $350,000.  They choose the 10% deductible plan.

Farmers Educational Documentary on Women's History Featured at Film Festival

Second to None featured at international film festival

Farmers' latest educational film, Second to None: Inspiring Stories of Extraordinary Women, was chosen among hundreds of submissions to be one of only eight documentaries from around the world to be screened at the fourth annual Columbia Gorge International Film Festival on Aug. 14, in Vancouver, Wash.

Click to read our past blogs on these and related educational films made available to educators for free.

Holly Hunter Narrates Second to None.

Distributing to Teachers.

Across the Waves - The Asian / Pacific Community

Freedom's Song - African American Heritage

The festival is one of the most prestigious in the Northwest, featuring more than 300 films representing 40 different countries. 

Portland area Farmers agents attended the event, handing out free copies of the documentary and the accompanying lesson plan to local educators in attendance. Since the film's release in March, Second to None has been distributed to more than 20,000 schools throughout Farmers territory, reaching more than 600,000 students in less than six months. 

"In these hard economic times, it's especially challenging for schools to update their curriculum and educational programs," says Erin McCulloch, Lake Oswego, Ore. "I'm honored to represent an organization that prioritizes giving back to our communities and schools with these award-winning programs."

Visit www.GoFarmersEd.com to learn more.

Second to None is the seventh education program Farmers has sponsored and distributed free to educators through our agents. It's the fourth documentary produced by Farmers internal creative team, Randy Rice, national manager of education programs, and Dan Winter, director of audio visual communications.

Understanding Auto Insurance: Mom, The Chauffeur

“Mom, the shuttle bus driver.” Does that sound like you or someone you know? It may not be your “full-time job,” but if you have young children at home you probably take your turn at shuttling kids to and from after-school or weekend activities. You probably don’t even think about your auto insurance in this context but maybe you should — transporting kids (your own and others) comes with certain risks that could affect your insurance.

• Who’s responsible in an accident? — Drivers can be legally liable for passengers’ injuries — and most personal auto policies will extend coverage for injuries to passengers when you’re driving your own car.
• What’s typically covered? — Although most auto policies will cover your actions in a car that isn’t yours, many contain restrictions on the size and type of vehicle involved. So if you plan to rent or borrow a larger vehicle — such as a van to take the soccer team to an out-of-town match — call me so you can be sure you have the coverage you want.
• What if you’re driving someone else’s vehicle? — It may depend on the situation. Your personal auto insurance policies might not cover your legal liability if you cause an accident while you’re driving your employer’s or your neighbor’s vehicle (particularly if your neighbor’s car is available for your regular use). Teachers and coaches should use school district vehicles to transport students and players to and from events, rather than their personal vehicles. Finally, even if you are covered, if you have an accident in which several passengers are involved, medical and other costs could easily exceed the limits typical of most personal auto policies.

Disaster Preparedness When Space And Money Is Limited

I came across this article, and while some of it might seem extreme (with a little of humor thrown in), take a few points from the article and get better prepared for when that next emergency hits.  Don't let the lack of space in your apartment or condo keep you from getting ready.

Survive a Disaster -- in your Condo

by Donna Freedman, MSN Money

The great blizzard of 2011 closed highways, collapsed roofs and knocked out power to two-thirds of the country last February. Wonder how many people wound up fumbling for flashlight batteries and dining on dry cornflakes?

Object lesson: You need to be ready. If a natural disaster or even just a really big windstorm happened, how would you eat, drink and stay warm? And where would you go to the bathroom?

"It's just common sense to have something set aside for when you need it," says Bernie Carr, the author of "The Prepper's Pocket Guide: 101 Easy Things You Can Do to Ready Your Home for a Disaster."

Maybe the word "prepper" conjures up images of camo-clad guys waiting out Armageddon in rural bunkers, surrounded by ammunition and MREs. Certainly, some prepper sites toss around acronyms like BOBs ("bug-out bags") and TEOTWAWKI ("the end of the world as we know it"), and emphasize survival skills and marksmanship.

But not everyone who preps is hard-core or imagines the collapse of society -- or even lives in the country. About 60% of the visitors to Carr's website, The Apartment Prepper's Blog, live in cities or suburbs. Carr lives in Houston.

Robert Richardson, who blogs at Off-Grid Survival, says the majority of his readers are city or suburban residents, worried more about inflation than the doomsday predictions for December 2012.

"It doesn't have to be an end-of-the-world scenario. I'm talking to people who are prepping for things like job loss," says Richardson.

Preparedness isn't paranoid -- it's prudent. Just ask Uncle Sam: The Department of Homeland Security recommends having enough supplies to survive for at least three days after an emergency. And right now, while there isn't an emergency, is the time to get those supplies.

The list might seem daunting if you're living in a tight space on a tight budget. Chin up: You probably already have some of those items, and you can use frugal hacks to get the rest cheaply or maybe even for free. Here's how.

Easy does it

The American Red Cross has an even longer list of suggested emergency items. Because every family (and every disaster) is different, however, pick what works for you. You don't have to get it all at once.

Click here for the rest of the article.

The Red Cross sells ready made Emergency Kits of different sizes (and supplies) if you don't want to build your own.

Other Disaster related blogs I've written:

Maintain a defensible zone around your home 

Pet micro-chipping before disasters occur

Insurance Company Emergency Response Vehicles

Should I get Earthquake Insurance?

A look back at the Wildfires of 2007

Disaster Preparedness: Resources

* The content of this blog is for informative purposes only. It does not reflect official standing of any agent, agency, or company mentioned on the blog. Nor is this blog necessarilly an endorsement. Please consult with your insurance, tax, or legal specialist before making any decisions. This blog is purely meant to spark the thought process.

Bone Marrow Registry: As Easy As A Touch Of The Cheek

Sign up to save a life online today with the National Be The Match Program!

It’s never been easier to register to donate bone marrow—an act that could make the difference between life and death for cancer patients waiting for a transplant.

Be the Match is a national bone marrow registry where doctors go to find donor matches for patients awaiting bone marrow transplants. Farmers kicked-off a national campaign to promote the registry with our thousands of employees, agents and district managers by hosting a blood drive and on-site bone marrow registry on Wednesday, Aug. 3, at the Farmers Insurance Home Office. The event was facilitated by City of Hope, a leading cancer research hospital in Los Angeles.

See my previous blog about the City of Hope honoring Farmers Insurance.

In honor of CEO Bob Woudstra’s recognition by City of Hope’s National Insurance Industry Council as the 2011 Spirit of Life Award Honoree, Farmers is sponsoring registration for the Farmers team.  

You can sign up now to join the registry online by visiting www.bethematch.org, click “Join the Registry,” then “Join Now,” fill out the information and enter the promo code: Farmers4Hope.  A few days later, you’ll get a kit in the mail. Swipe the insides of your cheeks with the cotton swabs provided, stick the swabs back in the envelope, put it in the mail and you’re done!

Platinum Elite Assists Future San Diego Charger Girls Squad

San Diego Charger's Salute to the Military Opening
 Ceremony, 8/11/11.  Courtesy Sheryl Roush

With tonight being the first preseason San Diego Chargers game, it now feels official that the lock-out is now over. Here's a look back at our blog from during the days of uncertainty...

*************


Excerpt originally from Why Platinum?

While the NFL Owners and Players work on their next labor agreement, trying to avoid a lock-out, the Women of the NFL are already hard at work.

The Charger Girls, Ambassadors of the City of San Diego, serve all year round making about 300 public appearances a year, helping charities like Susan G. Komen (cancer) and Make-a-Wish raise money, visiting childrens' hospitals, and promoting the San Diego Chargers organization.  This includes recent promotional visits as far as China, Hong Kong, and Mexico City.  

It also means countless hours preparing, rehearsing, and developing their dancing and speaking skills.  Like the player, time spent on the field is a fraction of the real hard work they commit.  And their training camp opens first.


Early April every year, a new squad of twenty-eight is chosen.  With the league's future schedule unknown, the Charger Girls are already moving "full steam ahead", waiting to be called upon.

The Charger Girls' commitment to San Diego reaches beyond the playing field at Qualcomm Stadium. For instance, the Charger Girls have a tradition of pre-season visits to local military bases. The picture above was taken last year during an appearance for the U.S. Marines.  The soldiers always enjoy taking the visiting cheerleaders on a tour of their base.

2010 - 11 San Diego Charger Girls at QualComm Stadium

Click HERE to read a recent SignOnSanDiego article about what it takes to be a Charger Girl.  It covers a lot of the questions people have about the hours, the hard work, the pay, the physical requirements, the fans, and the thrill of performing before thousands.

What the public doesn't know is about the network of individuals who work behind the scenes to make sure the Charger Girls are ready gameday.  Dance instructors and coaches.  Hair, make-up, and wardrobe.  Fitness trainers and nutritionists.  Photographers.  Public relations and marketing.

Where does the Platinum Elite come in?  We'll get there.

One thing the Charger Girls have, that many cheerleader squads don't have, is a team of volunteer speech coaches who help the Charger Girls refine their public speaking skills.  Lifetime dancers and performers, many are new to the world of public relations.  Through practice they gain even more confidence to perform before thousands.  It is during this time with their coaches that the Charger Girls get what's for many of them their first time answering media questions in front of a live video camera.  They practice where its safe to rehearse, surrounded by their "team-family".   The speech team is led by internationally-known, professional speaker & trainer, Sheryl Roush, and her organization, Sparkle Presentations.

Kevin Tuckey with
 Visiting Charger Girls

As one of those volunteer speech coaches in my spare time, and a Farmers Insurance Agent with the Platinum Elite during the day, it seemed a natural to enlist the Charger Girls with some of our Farmers / March of Dimes fundraisers.  On two occasions the Charger Girls have helped us raise over $15,000.00 total to help in the fight against the effects of premature birth.  The picture to the right is from a recent Golf Expo we held at Riverwalk Golf Club on January, 8th, 2011. See previous blog.

This year Sheryl Roush, and Sparkle Presentations, was asked to meet with the 75 semi-finalists competing for the final 28 spots on the squad.  Step One of the audition process started with 452 hopefuls.  The 75 finalists whose dance skills qualified then moved on to work with Sheryl Roush to refine their public speaking and media skills before interviewing with San Diego Chargers Officials and advisors.  After that, those 75 compete by dancing one more time before becoming the Final 28. Quite a five days for everyone involved.

Click HERE for the results of who has made the Charger Girls squad for the 2011-2012 San Diego Chargers' Season.

So, how did the Platinum Elite apply to these try-outs?  Platinum Elite Founder, Donald Swanson, graciously volunteered his Platinum Training Conference Room to Sparkle Presentations for three days of interview and media practice for some of those 75 hopefuls before they enter the final stage to make the finished team.   Each applicant will represent herself the best she can in her interview.  This is a brand new step in the process this year thanks to the donation of Don's facility & Sheryl's valuable time.  Everyone involved is sure it will add to the overall confidence of every member of the Charger Girls' squad for years to come.

Sheryl and her other coaches will then meet again with the Final 28 to continue their work once the squad is chosen and training camp opens.


When the players return to the field, the Charger Girls will be ready to do their part.

~ Kevin Tuckey

2010 to 2011 San Diego Charger Girls

For a consultation, contact Kevin Tuckey, Platinum Elite Education Specialist & Agency Producer,  (619) 296-3276.
Ca. Lic. #: 0B72553.


The Platinum Elite Headquarters can be found in the Farmers Insurance Building at 1011 Camino del Rio South, suite 100, San Diego, Ca  92108.
The Platinum Elite Headquarters can be reached at (619) 296-FARMERS, or (619) 296-3276. 

The Platinum Elite use an investigative and educational process to ascertain your current risk exposure and deliver to you through our 'Value Insurance Proposal' (VIP) the correct levels of coverage at the right price without compromising vital coverages. You need to protect your family and the assets you have spent a lifetime acquiring.

Why Platinum!

* The content of this blog is for informative purposes only. It does not reflect official standing of any agent, agency, or company mentioned on the blog. Nor is this blog necessarilly an endorsement. Please consult with your insurance, tax, or legal specialist before making any decisions. This blog is purely meant to spark the thought process.

Ben Crane's Golf Themed Music Video Approaches 2.3 Million Views

In less than 2 months, the Ben Crane video made with some fellow golfers, together collectively known as the Golf Boys, is approaching 2.3 Million YouTube Views.

Best thing is, Farmers Insurance, the sponsor of the video, is donating money to a collection of charities based upon the number of views, so keep watching.

For more details, read our original blog...

Farmers Insurance Sponsors Ben Crane's Golf Parody Music Video for Charity


For some info on the story behind the video, including that red wet suit, read this article from the Kansas City Star: 'Golf Boys' video goes viral

Ben Crane recruited fellow Tour players and friends Rickie Fowler, Bubba Watson (winner of the 2011 Farmers Insurance Open and 2011 Zurich Classic of New Orleans) and Hunter Mahan to form this "boy band" and star in a music video that's "gone viral" to rave reviews on the internet. 

"The four PGA Tour stars have created the band Golf Boys and released their world premiere music video.  ...  Oh Oh Oh presented by Farmers Insurance premiered on the Golf Channel during their Live From the U.S. Open programming. It's also available on Ben Crane's YouTube channel, http://www.youtube.com/bencranegolf." 

Farmers Airship Wows Wisconsin Air Show as National Tour Continues

Zeppelin Impresses at Oshkosh Air Show
German-made airship set to give Chicagoans a lift next weekend

Jon Hilkevitch's Getting Around

August 1, 2011

OSHKOSH, Wis.

Click HERE to go to original Chicago Tribune article and video from within the zeppelin. 

— Captain Jim Dexter takes passengers up for a spectacular 360-degree view of the earth aboard an aircraft he dubs "the ultimate skybox."

It's the largest flying airship in the world, a Zeppelin NT4 (New Technology) named Eureka, painted with the livery of its current corporate sponsor, Farmers Insurance Group.

The German-made airship represents somewhat of a paradox, albeit enjoyable for its passengers. At 246 feet in length, the zeppelin is 15 feet longer than a standard Boeing 747 and its glass cockpit is equipped with some similar state-of-the-art avionics.

• Photos: Scenes from AirVenture 2011
• Photo: 
• Graphic: Inside a modern airship

Yet the top speed is 78 mph carrying a maximum of 12 passengers and two crew members, according to Airship Ventures Inc., a California company that owns and operates the vehicle.