UIA Bed and Breakfast Bloghttp://www.uiabnb.com/blog/View UIA Bed and Breakfast's Website Blogen-uspostmaster@www.uiabnb.comInsurance Website Builder - www.insurancewebsitebuilder.comurn:uuid:59f8219f-3ae0-4f36-8ffb-d0f721eae7ddurn:uuid:81c1d03f-86be-403a-be79-e5e5d0502579Welcome 2012<img src='https://www.insurancewebsitebuilder.com/img/~www.uiabnb.com/2012.png' align='left' />Happy New Year everyone! The PAII conference is scheduled for later this month, and I hope to see many of you there!&nbsp; Safety is &ldquo;key&rdquo; for an innkeeper. You work hard attract guests, and I can tell you as a frequent B&amp;B patron...Mon, 02 Jan 2012 12:48:59 -0600<span style="font-size: 13px;"><img alt="" style="margin: 1px 14px 4px 12px; width: 231px; float: right; height: 146px;" src="https://www.insurancewebsitebuilder.com/img/~www.uiabnb.com/2012.png" /><span style="font-size: 16px;">Happy New Year everyone! <br /> <br /> </span>The PAII conference is scheduled for later this month, and I hope to see many of you there!&nbsp; <br /> <br /> Safety is &ldquo;key&rdquo; for an innkeeper. You work hard attract guests, and I can tell you as a frequent B&amp;B patron, it gives me a warm feeling in my heart when I see extra steps taken to ensure my safety. <br /> <br /> I was talking with an innkeeper who had just built a beautiful 3 story inn. We were going over the insurance application, and talking about extra steps that had been taken to ensure guest safety. Hard wired smoke detectors, a central station alarm system, key codes on the entry doors, break away windows (as required by the fire marshal) on the 3rd floor. <br /> <br /> During the course of our conversation, I asked the innkeeper &ldquo;Ok &ndash; in the event of a fire, after the windows are broken out, what then?&rdquo; This question was met with dead silence. The construction of the inn did not provide a balcony or roof to drop on to. I then joked &ldquo;Do they just jump?&rdquo; Actually this was no joking matter. I&rsquo;m sure you have seen the news, the pictures that tear at your heart, while captions list lives lost in a fire. <br /> <br /> I recently visited a Bed and Breakfast where concern for my safety was apparent from the moment I walked in the door. The rooms were beautifully decorated and the common areas comfortable, yet elegant. Small hard-wired smoke detectors were in each guest room, as well as the common areas. Exit routes posted in each guest room, and emergency lighting tucked into the corner of the staircase. This particular property is two stories in height, but there are fire escape ladders mounted inside a cabinet under each window. The cabinet door is pained the same shade as the wall, so it is does not detract form the d&eacute;cor of the room. <br /> <br /> If I were traveling through the area, this is the B&amp;B I would want to stay in. I will refer my friends and family to this B&amp;B, because I love the fact that guest safety is a visible concern. <br /> <br /> As 2012 begins, I would encourage you to evaluate the effectiveness of safety precautions and/or procedures you have implemented at your B&amp;B or Inn. Maybe you need to give serious consideration to safety ladders, emergency lighting, electronic locks, an extra night guard (light) in the parking area. Do you have an emergency plan? How will you respond in the event of a crisis? <br /> <br /> I will be happy to provide resources on safety, crisis management, employee handbooks, ect. Please call to discuss your Bed and Breakfast Insurance or Country Inn Insurance needs (765) -381-4904. <br /> <br /> Wishing you a prosperous New Year! <br /> <br /> Karmen Ward - Ailes <br /> </span>urn:uuid:14d49dff-82ea-47a5-814f-429706f727a4Giving Thanks 2011<img src='https://www.insurancewebsitebuilder.com/img/~www.uiabnb.com/Turkey.png' align='left' />It&rsquo;s Thanksgiving - what do you have to be thankful for?&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Like many, I find myself fast-forwarding in my mind to the Christmas season.&nbsp; The rush, the snow, the jolly feeling, the excitement Christmas brings.&nbsp; I&rsquo...Fri, 18 Nov 2011 12:01:03 -0600<p><span style="font-size: 13px;">It&rsquo;s Thanksgiving - what do you have to be thankful for?&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;</span></p> <p><span style="font-size: 13px;"></span></p> <p><span style="font-size: 13px;"><img alt="" style="width: 125px; float: right; height: 162px;" src="https://www.insurancewebsitebuilder.com/img/~www.uiabnb.com/Turkey.png" />Like many, I find myself fast-forwarding in my mind to the Christmas season.&nbsp; The rush, the snow, the jolly feeling, the excitement Christmas brings.&nbsp; I&rsquo;m going to commit to stay-in-the-season this year.&nbsp; I&rsquo;m going to use the 4 days of the Thanksgiving holiday, to focus on things I am thankful for.</span></p> <p><span style="font-size: 13px;"></span></p> <p><span style="font-size: 13px;">I am thankful for my family, friends, my home, Church, my health and the health of my family.&nbsp; I&rsquo;m thankful for my job, my customers, and everyday things &ndash; like having my car start when I turn the key.&nbsp; There are so many more things I could list, but you get the idea.&nbsp; Join me this year and stay-in-the-season for the 4 days we have set aside to BE thankful.</span></p> <p><span style="font-size: 13px;"></span></p> <p><span style="font-size: 13px;">What would we do without Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade?&nbsp; According to marching.com; &ldquo;3.5 million people view the parade live along the parade rout, and more than 50 million viewers tune in to the television broadcast.&rdquo;&nbsp; I will be one of those 50 million.&nbsp;&nbsp; Some day &ndash; I might like to be one of the 3.5!</span></p> <p><span style="font-size: 13px;"></span></p> <p><span style="font-size: 13px;">What ever your plans, enjoy the weekend &ndash; and be thankful.&nbsp; You might also want to take some time to think about life-safety in your bed and breakfast or country inn.</span></p> <p><span style="font-size: 13px;"></span></p> <p><span style="font-size: 13px;">If you haven&rsquo;t done so &ndash; check the batteries in your smoke detectors.&nbsp; </span></p> <p><span style="font-size: 13px;"></span></p> <p><span style="font-size: 13px;">I&rsquo;m also a big fan of the flash-lights you plug into an outlet, and they turn on automatically when the power goes out.&nbsp; These are normally less than $10 and seem to be an economic way to add another layer of safety for your guests.</span></p> <p><span style="font-size: 13px;"></span></p> <p><span style="font-size: 13px;">If you have a 3 story Inn &ndash; most insurance companies are REQUIRING an alternate means of exit, other than the main stairway.&nbsp; I&rsquo;ve seen some very nice ladders recently that mount permanently between the wall joists, have a paintable door &ndash; so they can be painted to match the wall, and have a pretty high weight limit.&nbsp; If you&nbsp;would like&nbsp;more information on these ladders, I can direct you to a B&amp;B owner who has them.&nbsp; As a side note, 2 means of egress or exit are normally required for guest rooms above the ground floor, but ladders can become more of a necessity if you have 3 stories.</span></p> <p><span style="font-size: 13px;"></span></p> <p><span style="font-size: 13px;">Enjoy the Thanksgiving holiday; and give me a call if you would like a quote for your bed and breakfast or country inn.<br /> <br /> Karmen Ward - Ailes<br /> 765-381-4904</span></p>urn:uuid:245f4f93-4b60-4fa4-a024-8b89803f11c8Fire Prevention Week<img src='https://www.insurancewebsitebuilder.com/img/~www.uiabnb.com/smoke_09.gif' align='left' />October 9-15 is Fire Prevention Week &nbsp;According to NFPA.org; &nbsp;-&nbsp;One home strucure fire was reported every 87 seconds in 2009. - Cooking equipment is the leading cause of ...Fri, 14 Oct 2011 11:48:00 -0500<span style="font-size: 24px;">October 9-15 is Fire Prevention Week<br /> </span><br /> <table> <tbody> <tr> <td>&nbsp;According to NFPA.org; <p>&nbsp;-&nbsp;One home strucure fire was reported every 87 seconds in 2009.<br /> <br /> - Cooking equipment is the leading cause of home structure fires and associated injuries, and was tied for the third leading cause of home fire deaths.<img alt="" width="126" height="152" style="width: 114px; float: right; height: 156px;" src="https://www.insurancewebsitebuilder.com/img/~www.uiabnb.com/smoke_09.gif" /></p> <p>-&nbsp;Heating equipment was the second leading cause of all reported home fires and home fire deaths.</p> <p>- 41% of home electrical fires involved electrical distribution or lighting equipment.</p> <p>-&nbsp;&nbsp;On the average, there are 35 home candle fires reported per day.</p> </td> <td>&nbsp;</td> <td>&nbsp;</td> </tr> <tr> <td>&nbsp;<a href="http://www.nfpa.org/itemDetail.asp?categoryID=1203&amp;itemID=28255&amp;URL=Safety%20Information/Fire%20Prevention%20Week/Fast%20facts%20about%20fire" target="_blank">Click here to go to NFPA.org for an expanded list.</a><br /> </td> <td>&nbsp;</td> <td>&nbsp;</td> </tr> <tr> <td> <p><strong>&ldquo;Reproduced from NFPA's Fire Prevention Week website,</strong>&nbsp;<a href="http://www.firepreventionweek.org/"><strong>www.firepreventionweek.org</strong></a><strong>. &copy;2011 NFPA."</strong></p> </td> <td>&nbsp;</td> <td>&nbsp;</td> </tr> </tbody> </table>urn:uuid:fc847501-316f-433a-904f-90b8c55c5fc6Homeowners Insurance VS Commercial Insurance<img src='https://www.insurancewebsitebuilder.com/img/~www.uiabnb.com/Chair%20and%20Candles.png' align='left' />&nbsp;You've got insurance, but are you covered? I review many bed and breakfast&nbsp;insurance policies for innkeepers around the United States.&nbsp; As you can imagine, sometimes I find the insurance coverage is adequat...Thu, 26 May 2011 10:01:11 -0500<p style="margin: 0in 0in 4.8pt;"><span style="font-size: 13px;"><span style="color: #632423; font-size: 16px;"><strong>&nbsp;You've got insurance, but are you covered?<br /> </strong></span> <table> <tbody> <tr> <td><span style="font-size: 13px;">I review many bed and breakfast&nbsp;insurance policies for innkeepers around the United States.&nbsp; As you can imagine, sometimes I find the insurance coverage is adequate and competitively priced.&nbsp; In those circumstances, I might recommend that you stay with your current bed and breakfast &nbsp;insurance provider, but increase a specific limit of insurance or add a specific coverage.&nbsp;&nbsp; Most often, I find the insurance program less than adequate, and written by an agent who does not specialize in providing insurance solutions for Bed and Breakfast properties.&nbsp; I have seen several instances of insurance gaps unknowingly and unintentionally left by agents unfamiliar with the unique insurance needs of a Bed and Breakfast owner.&nbsp;</span></td> </tr> </tbody> </table> </span><span style="font-size: 13px;"> <table> <tbody> <tr> <td><span style="font-size: 13px;">Many insurance agents feel it is appropriate to write a homeowners policy, and include an &ldquo;incidental business&rdquo; endorsement.&nbsp; On rare occasions, this approach might be acceptable.&nbsp; In most cases, I find innkeepers trusting their largest asset and&nbsp; income base, to a one page endorsement that in essence simply removes the &ldquo;business pursuits&rdquo; exclusion from their homeowners policy.&nbsp;&nbsp;<br /> <br /> Innkeepers should ask themselves this question:&nbsp; &ldquo;Is the primary function of my structure a home...or a business?&rdquo;&nbsp; Be brutally honest - if you have 3 guest rooms and are generating income from the structure&hellip; is the business exposure really <b><i>incidental</i></b> and secondary?</span></td> <td>&nbsp;<img alt="" width="159" height="198" src="https://www.insurancewebsitebuilder.com/img/~www.uiabnb.com/Chair%20and%20Candles.png" /></td> </tr> </tbody> </table> </span><span style="font-size: 13px;"> <table> <tbody> <tr> <td><span style="font-size: 13px;">Many &ldquo;incidental business pursuits&rdquo; endorsements do not pick up coverage for &ldquo;Loss of Business Income&rdquo;.&nbsp; If you have a wedding party scheduled for June 15th and a tornado damages your building on June 2nd, forcing you to cancel all reservations, you may not have coverage to pay for the loss of income you will suffer.<br /> <br /> If your guest sprains an ankle and breaks a wrist falling down the stairs, wouldn&rsquo;t you like to have the medical bills covered?&nbsp; &ldquo;Medical Payments&rdquo; is a goodwill payment, which provides coverage for medical expenses if someone is injured on your premises or by your products.&nbsp;&nbsp; Some endorsed homeowners policies EXCLUDE medical payments.</span> <div></div> <div></div> <div></div> <div></div> </p> <p style="margin: 0in 0in 4.8pt;"><span style="font-size: 13px;">In most cases, Bed&nbsp;&amp; Breakfast properties should be covered by a commercial insurance policy.&nbsp; We offer solutions that are competitively priced, and address both the business exposure and the personal liability exposure.&nbsp; </span></p> <p style="margin: 0in 0in 4.8pt;"><b><span style="font-size: 13px;">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; <br /> Call today for a free policy review.</span></b></p> <p style="margin: 0in 0in 4.8pt;"><span style="font-size: 13px;">&nbsp;</span></p> <p style="margin: 0in 0in 4.8pt;"><span style="font-size: 13px;">1-800-899-0000</span></p> <p style="margin: 0in 0in 4.8pt;"><span style="font-size: 13px;">Karmen Ward&mdash;Ailes<br /> <a href="mailto:karmen.ailes@unitedagy.com">karmen.ailes@unitedagy.com</a><br /> <a href="http://www.uiabnb.com">www.uiabnb.com</a></span></p> <p></td> </tr> </tbody> </table> <br /> </span></p>urn:uuid:f53f7ea2-f31f-419a-b4b9-4cdc9180aa5dApril Showers<img src='http://www.uiabnb.com/img/~www.uiabnb.com/flood2.jpg' align='left' />&ldquo;April showers bring May flowers&rdquo;&hellip; oh yes&nbsp; &hellip;AND FLOODS!&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &nbsp; Because we have developed new areas, re-routed streams and rivers, added lakes and ...Wed, 06 Apr 2011 11:48:35 -0500<p><span style="font-size: 16px;">&ldquo;April showers bring May flowers&rdquo;&hellip; oh yes&nbsp; &hellip;AND FLOODS!&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; <br /> <br /> </span><span style="font-size: 16px;"> <table> <tbody> <tr> <td>&nbsp;<img alt="" width="389" height="273" style="width: 266px; height: 189px;" src="/img/~www.uiabnb.com/flood2.jpg" /></td> <td><br /> Because we have developed new areas, re-routed streams and rivers, added lakes and ponds, made islands where there used to be marsh&hellip;we have disturbed the intended flow of water.&nbsp; Natural erosion also plays a part in the changing flood zones.<span style="font-size: 16px;"><br /> <br /> </span></td> </tr> </tbody> </table> </span><span style="font-size: 16px;">People say &nbsp;&ldquo;I&rsquo;m not in a flood zone, I don&rsquo;t need flood insurance.&rdquo; &nbsp;Or the famous &ldquo;If it floods here, the whole town will be under water.&rdquo;&nbsp; Guess what&hellip; many towns HAVE been under water recently.&nbsp; According to FEMA 30% of all flood claims are filed by people living in moderate to low-risk areas.&nbsp; Flooding is the nations most common natural disaster.&nbsp;FEMA is currently in the multi-year process of remapping over 20,000 communities.&nbsp;&nbsp; The remapping may result in new flood insurance requirements for your bed and breakfast property.&nbsp; </span></p> <p><span style="font-size: 16px;"></span></p> <p><span style="font-size: 16px;">In some instances &ldquo;Elevation Certificates&rdquo; will be required.&nbsp;&nbsp; The elevation certificate is issued by an engineer (surveyor) and shows the elevation of your lowest floor in relation to the determined base flood elevation.</span></p> <p><span style="font-size: 16px;"></span></p> <p><span style="font-size: 16px;">Recently, while securing bed and breakfast insurance for a closing, an elevation certificate had to be supplied.&nbsp; As it turns out, the elevation certificate was incorrectly issued.&nbsp;&nbsp; When the flood quote was generated using the incorrect data (as provided by the elevation certificate), the flood premium was in excess of $10,000.&nbsp; After further investigation, I found an inconsistency in the elevation and building description.&nbsp; I contacted the surveyor and requested a correction.&nbsp; After the correction made, the flood premium was 1/5<sup>th</sup> of the initial projected cost.&nbsp; This is just one example of how working with an experienced insurance agent can save you money.</span></p> <p><span style="font-size: 16px;"></span></p> <p><span style="font-size: 16px;">Call today for a bed and breakfast insurance quote &ndash; be sure to request a flood quote as well.&nbsp;&nbsp; </span></p> <p><span style="font-size: 16px;"></span></p> <p><span style="font-size: 16px;">For more information on flood insurance, including premium costs, levels of coverage and FEMA remapping information visit </span><a href="http://www.floodsmart.gov/"><span style="font-size: 16px;">www.floodsmart.gov</span></a><span style="font-size: 16px;"> or call United Insurance Agencies &ndash; Karmen Ward &ndash; Ailes 765-381-4904.&nbsp;&nbsp; Visit us at </span><a href="http://www.uiabnb.com/"><span style="font-size: 16px;">www.uiabnb.com</span></a></p>urn:uuid:74f39cc7-99d1-4107-a5e8-9d1f3712760aHeavy Snow, Destructive Ice, Tornadoes and Bitter Cold<img src='http://www.uiabnb.com/img/~www.uiabnb.com/thumbnailCAQM1DDZ.jpg' align='left' /> The caption on &ldquo;The Weather Channel&rdquo; states &ldquo;heavy snow, destructive ice, tornadoes and bitter cold&rdquo;.&nbsp;&nbsp; I&rsquo;ve heard of weather conditions in the past couple of years, that I&rsquo;ve n...Tue, 01 Feb 2011 09:50:25 -0600<table> <tbody> <tr> <td colspan="2"><span style="font-size: 13px;">The caption on &ldquo;</span><a href="http://www.weather.com/outlook/weather-news/news/articles/midwest-northeast-snow-radar-updates_2011-01-30" target="_blank"><span style="color: #800080; font-size: 13px;">The Weather Channel</span></a><span style="font-size: 16px;"><span style="font-size: 13px;">&rdquo; states &ldquo;heavy snow, destructive ice, tornadoes and bitter cold&rdquo;.&nbsp;&nbsp; I&rsquo;ve heard of weather conditions in the past couple of years, that I&rsquo;ve never heard of before&hellip;. &ldquo;<b><i>thunder snow</i></b>&rdquo;&hellip; something previously only seen in scary movies!!&nbsp; <br /> <br /> Weather patterns are changing &ndash; the cause of which could be the subject for a whole new blog &ndash; &nbsp;we have cold weather and freezing temperatures in areas where previously these conditions were unheard of.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Recently in South Carolina at the PAII Conference, the roads and bridges were closed &ndash; and school cancelled due to freezing rain.&nbsp;&nbsp; FREEZING RAIN&hellip;.at the beach??</span>&nbsp;&nbsp;</span></td> </tr> <tr> <td><span style="font-size: 13px;">Sudden storms are sweeping across our country with increasing fury.&nbsp; Therefore, we have to work hard to make sure our assets are protected.&nbsp; Is your building adequately insured?&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; <i>Do you understand the difference between market value and replacement cost?&nbsp;&nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp;</i>Market Value is the selling price, and can vary according to economic conditions.&nbsp;&nbsp; Replacement Cost is just that&hellip;the cost it would take to replace the item in &ldquo;like, kind, and quality&rdquo;.&nbsp;&nbsp; Especially in these economic conditions&hellip;the two values can be vastly different.<br /> </span></td> <td><img alt="" width="160" height="139" src="/img/~www.uiabnb.com/thumbnailCAQM1DDZ.jpg" /></td> </tr> <tr> <td colspan="2"> <p><span style="font-size: 16px;"></span></p> <p><span style="font-size: 13px;">To quickly determine whether your bed and breakfast or&nbsp;Inn is&nbsp;&rdquo;insured to value&rdquo;, figure out what it would cost to rebuild in your area according to the architecture style of your inn.&nbsp;&nbsp; For example; if your B&amp;B&nbsp;would cost about $150 per square foot to rebuild, and your square footage is approximately 2,500 (without a basement) &ndash; the approximate replacement cost value for insurance should be somewhere around $375,000.&nbsp;&nbsp; This is a rough formula &ndash; but it will give you some idea of whether your bed and breakfast is insured to an adequate value.<span style="font-size: 16px;"> </span><br /> <br /> The last thing you would ever want to happen is to have a loss at your bed &amp; breakfast, and not have enough insurance coverage to rebuild.&nbsp;&nbsp; Many people say &ldquo;I would not rebuild&rdquo;&hellip; which might be an option if you have a TOTAL loss&hellip;.but what if you only have a PARTIAL loss?&nbsp; What if only 1/3 of your building is destroyed?&nbsp;&nbsp; If you do not get enough money (in the event of a claim) to repair the damage completely &ndash; you may be left with a partially standing&nbsp;bed and breakfast,&nbsp; not enough money to repair the damages, a mortgage payment that still has to be made&hellip; and a noticeable lack of guests.</span></p> <p><span style="font-size: 13px;"></span></p> <p><span style="font-size: 13px;">Be safe as the storms pass, make sure your &ldquo;crisis management kit&rdquo; is close by, and keep your&nbsp;insurance agent&rsquo;s phone number handy.&nbsp;&nbsp; United Insurance Agency offers 24 hour claims reporting and service.&nbsp; You can speak&nbsp;with one&nbsp;of our staff to report your claim 24 hours a day &ndash; 7 days a week.</span></p> <p><span style="font-size: 13px;"></span></p> <p><span style="font-size: 13px;">Thanks to automation, I am usually available via e-mail and cell phone to my customers 24/7 as well.&nbsp;&nbsp; Please give me a call to discuss your B&amp;B insurance needs today.&nbsp; </span></p> <p><span style="font-size: 13px;"></span></p> <p><span style="font-size: 13px;">Karmen Ward &ndash; Ailes<br /> 1-800-899-0000<br /> </span></p> <p><a href="http://www.uiabnb.com/"><span style="font-size: 13px;">www.uiabnb.com</span></a><span style="font-size: 16px;"> </span></p> </td> </tr> </tbody> </table>urn:uuid:012f5b9f-67e9-416d-83ad-69f1e314fb9aNew Year’s Resolution <img src='https://www.insurancewebsitebuilder.com/img/~www.uiabnb.com/Winter%20Web%20Pic.jpg' align='left' /> &nbsp;I can&rsquo;t believe Christmas has been here and gone.&nbsp; I don&rsquo;t know about your city, but where I live we had such a beautiful surprise Christmas Eve.&nbsp; As we left the Candle Light Service &ndash; the ...Tue, 28 Dec 2010 14:17:08 -0600<table> <tbody> <tr> <td colspan="2">&nbsp;<span style="font-size: 13px;">I can&rsquo;t believe Christmas has been here and gone.&nbsp; I don&rsquo;t know about your city, but where I live we had such a beautiful surprise Christmas Eve.&nbsp; As we left the Candle Light Service &ndash; the snow was just beautiful.&nbsp;&nbsp; The flakes were huge and it seemed as if you had just stepped into a snow-globe.&nbsp; It made you want to put on your snow boots and take a walk in the park among the Christmas lights&hellip; and stick out your tongue to catch a snowflake or two!!</span>&nbsp; <br /> </td> </tr> <tr> <td> <p style="text-align: center;"><img alt="" style="margin: 0px 0px 0px 4px; width: 157px; height: 214px; vertical-align: middle;" src="https://www.insurancewebsitebuilder.com/img/~www.uiabnb.com/Winter%20Web%20Pic.jpg" /></p> </td> <td> <p><span style="font-size: 13px;">I love the Christmas season, and always hate to see it go&hellip;.but it will be back in a few short months!&nbsp;&nbsp; Now&hellip; on to the New Year and those dreaded New Year&rsquo;s resolutions!&nbsp; Wikipedia.org says; &ldquo;A New Year's resolution is a commitment that an individual makes to a project or the reforming of a habit, often a lifestyle change that is generally interpreted as advantageous. The name comes from the fact that these commitments normally go into effect on New Year's Day.&rdquo;&nbsp; In my opinion, among the most popular will be &ldquo;loose weight&rdquo;, &ldquo;begin an exercise program&rdquo; and &nbsp;&ldquo;eat right&rdquo;.&nbsp; There may even be a &ldquo;get to bed earlier&rdquo; thrown in for good measure or &ldquo;cut some excess spending out of the budget&rdquo;.</span></p> </td> </tr> <tr> <td colspan="2"><span style="font-size: 13px;"><br /> While I can not help with many of these, I am happy to offer my assistance in &ldquo;cutting excess spending&rdquo;.&nbsp; Call for a free insurance quote today 1-800-899-0000 extension 4904.&nbsp; You may complete&nbsp;the bed and breakfast insurance&nbsp;on-line application by </span><a href="https://hospitalitymax.com/hotelapp/default.aspx?producerid=102" target="_blank"><span style="font-size: 13px;">clicking here</span></a><span style="font-size: 13px;">&hellip;. or download the B&amp;B insurance application by clicking </span><a href="http://www.uiabnb.com/img/~www.uiabnb.com/b%20and%20b%20application.pdf" target="_blank"><span style="font-size: 13px;">&ldquo;download</span></a><span style="font-size: 13px;">&rdquo;.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;</span> <p><span style="font-size: 13px;"></span></p> <p><span style="font-size: 13px;">Good luck on the New Year&rsquo;s resolutions, and may you have a Blessed and Prosperous Year!!!&nbsp;&nbsp; I hope to see you all in Charleston at PAII in January!</span></p> <p><span style="font-size: 13px;"></span></p> <p><span style="font-size: 13px;">Karmen Ward &ndash; Ailes<br /> United Insurance Agency<br /> Bed and Breakfast Insurance<br /> </span></p> <p><a href="http://www.uiabnb.com/"><span style="font-size: 13px;">www.uiabnb.com</span></a><span style="font-size: 13px;"> </span></p> </td> </tr> </tbody> </table> <p>&nbsp;</p>urn:uuid:c951b9a3-3811-41a2-a8b6-19ff262a6da1Be Thankful<img src='https://www.insurancewebsitebuilder.com/img/~www.uiabnb.com/cornucopia01.gif' align='left' />Thanksgiving is, in my estimation, the beginning of the holiday season.&nbsp;&nbsp; Retailers may believe it starts in October&hellip;if things keep moving in this direction, soon &ldquo;Christmas in July&rdquo; could just extend through December.&nb...Fri, 19 Nov 2010 09:21:05 -0600<img alt="" width="136" height="97" style="width: 136px; float: right; height: 99px;" src="https://www.insurancewebsitebuilder.com/img/~www.uiabnb.com/cornucopia01.gif" />Thanksgiving is, in my estimation, the beginning of the holiday season.&nbsp;&nbsp; Retailers may believe it starts in October&hellip;if things keep moving in this direction, soon &ldquo;Christmas in July&rdquo; could just extend through December.&nbsp; &nbsp;I try to be thankful every day for the many blessings God gives.&nbsp; I&rsquo;m thankful for my family, for the roof over my head, the warm house I live in and the job that I love.&nbsp; Few people truly enjoy their job, and I am thankful for the one I have.&nbsp; <br /> <br /> I especially like Thanksgiving, because of the anticipation (the beginning of the journey Christmas).&nbsp; I love the decorating that starts on that day, it is now officially &ldquo;OK&rdquo; to put up the Christmas tree and string the outside lights.&nbsp; I enjoy the time spent with family and friends&hellip;taking time to talk and enjoy just being together.&nbsp; I&rsquo;m also a big fan of the Macey&rsquo;s Thanksgiving Day Parade.&nbsp; Did you know it was originally started in 1924 by Macy&rsquo;s employees and featured animals from Central Par Zoo.&nbsp; <a href="http://social.macys.com/parade2010/#/history" target="_blank">Click Here for Parade History</a>.&nbsp; If I could just &ldquo;beam&rdquo; myself to the parade and &ldquo;beam&rdquo; myself back (and not have to fight the crowd), I would love to attend&hellip;.but the best way to watch at home is on the couch with a blanket and cup of hot chocolate (with whipped cream). &nbsp;&nbsp;The extra &ldquo;icing on the cake&rdquo; is the possibly of seeing the first flakes of snow on Thanksgiving day (let&rsquo;s not tell my husband I said that).<br /> <br /> Thanksgiving may mean the beginning of a change in routine for your business.&nbsp;&nbsp; You probably start thinking of snow removal for the parking lot, and stocking up on &ldquo;de-icer&rdquo; and digging out that snow shovel.&nbsp;&nbsp; If you hire someone to remove the snow, remember to request a certificate of insurance from them.&nbsp; Try to keep the walkways free of ice and snow.&nbsp; We see &ldquo;slip-and-fall&rdquo; claims due to melting snow in entryways&hellip;so make sure you keep the water mopped up, and you might want to consider a caution sign. <br /> <br /> When decorating your business for the holidays, please pay attention to electrical cords&hellip;don&rsquo;t create a &ldquo;trip hazard&rdquo; by running an extension cord in or near a walkway.&nbsp; Don&rsquo;t use glass ornaments on a tree that is placed on a hard floor surface.&nbsp; Consider your clientele when decorating&hellip; if some of your guests might include children, keep their safety and inquisitiveness in mind.<br /> <br /> Take time to enjoy the season &ndash; this year is drawing to a close&hellip;take time to be Thankful.&nbsp;&nbsp;<br /> <br /> Karmenurn:uuid:20a6cbb7-a98b-46a8-a4c7-480f9424f5d7Hello 2010Good bye 2009 - Hello 2010 Although 2009 was a year of change (as they all are)...it was a strangely difficult year in many ways.  The economy has not been stellar, and jobs have not been plentiful...however, in the midst of all this - we can always ...Mon, 04 Jan 2010 13:49:06 -0600<span style="font-size: 13px;">Good bye 2009 - Hello 2010<br /> Although 2009 was a year of change (as they all are)...it was a strangely difficult year in many ways.  The economy has not been stellar, and jobs have not been plentiful...however, in the midst of all this - we can always find something good happening (if only we look for it).<br /> <br /> I have been been fortunate to make new friends in 2009 - I have been given the opportunity to share my crazy passion for insurance (of all things) with many new B&amp;B owners this year!  When I started in the insurance business in 19xx (ok...so it was 24 years ago), I initially declined the interview because to a 20 year old "insurance is boring..."  I basically agreed to an interview because my friend (who was placement coordinator and in charge of finding students jobs) would not let me get out of it.<br /> <br /> I was in for a big surprise.... I get to shop EVERY day (I have several companies that I submit business to) and find the best deals - what could be better?    I get to meet new people, and hear about their life experiences...I get to hear ghost stories (I am fascinated, but afraid at the same time)!!!  I really enjoy talking with my customers and helping them understand why they need certificates of insurance, or why they need commercial insurance rather than  a personal insurance policy.  In my 24 years, I have seen many really STRANGE claims...and met some very fascinating people.  In short, the insurance life is anything BUT boring.<br /> <br /> I am looking forward to 2010 - I'm sure there are new things in store for us all.   Enjoy each day - it truly is a new blessing, and a new adventure...and I am ready to get started!!!   I wish you all a Happy, Safe, and Prosperous NEW YEAR.</span> urn:uuid:0d489e5a-39d3-4422-a8d9-6d51cc8a9058Responding to a Crisis (Crisis Mgt. Part II)Preparation is the key to crisis management.&nbsp; Now that we have our "crisis management kit" assembled, we can move on to the next step... CRISIS RESPONSE First and foremost - Is this a life threatening situation?&nbsp;&nbsp; The personal safety ...Fri, 07 Aug 2009 12:56:14 -0500<p><span style="FONT-SIZE: 11pt">Preparation is the key to crisis management.&nbsp; Now that we have our "crisis management kit" assembled, we can move on to the next step...</span></p> <p><span style="FONT-SIZE: 11pt">CRISIS RESPONSE</span></p> <p><span style="FONT-SIZE: 11pt"></span></p> <p><span style="FONT-SIZE: 11pt">First and foremost - Is this a life threatening situation?&nbsp;&nbsp; The personal safety of your family, your guests, and yourself is the most important consideration.&nbsp; Call 911 or the appropriate emergency services, if necessary.&nbsp;&nbsp;Make sure everyone is in a safe place, and has received emergency treatment if needed.&nbsp; </span></p> <p><span style="FONT-SIZE: 11pt"></span></p> <p><span style="FONT-SIZE: 11pt">Now put that pad of paper and pencil (included in our kit) to use...document - document - document.&nbsp;&nbsp;In part one of the series we touched on documenting the; Who, What, When, Where, and How.&nbsp; Continue to document the facts as they happen.&nbsp; You might delegate someone as the official "record keeper" during the crisis.&nbsp; Include a time-line of events.</span></p> <p><span style="FONT-SIZE: 11pt"></span></p> <p><span style="FONT-SIZE: 11pt">When developing your crisis management plan - consider staff members who can act as "coordinators" and “record keepers” they should be diplomatic and cool thinking in a crisis situation. Coordinators will be responsible for directing press or media personnel to the designated spokesperson.&nbsp; The "coordinators" should be very familiar with your crisis management plan.&nbsp; Station your "coordinators" in specific areas (entrances and exits to the area) with appropriate instructions.&nbsp; If you don’t have a staff – think of a friend or family member that you might be able to call in to fill one of these positions.</span></p> <p><span style="FONT-SIZE: 11pt"></span></p> <p><span style="FONT-SIZE: 11pt">Account for everyone involved, and make a list of everyone present.&nbsp; Let them know that if they are leaving the premises, they should "check-out" with your designated "record-keeper".&nbsp;&nbsp; In the confusion it might be hard to remember who has gone where, if you don't have it written down.</span></p> <p><span style="FONT-SIZE: 11pt"></span></p> <p><span style="FONT-SIZE: 11pt">Preserve the scene – there might be some evidence that would be helpful in an investigation.&nbsp; Also, watch for unknown hazards such as gas leaks, downed power lines, etc.&nbsp; Some crisis situations can trigger earlier painful or traumatic memories for people – watch for these “silent suffers” and make sure they are properly cared for.</span></p> <p><span style="FONT-SIZE: 11pt"></span></p> <p><span style="FONT-SIZE: 11pt">While these things might seem like “common sense” a crisis situation can drive all logic out the window.&nbsp; A specific written crisis management plan can help to minimize damage to your property, and minimize stress to you in the event of a crisis.&nbsp;&nbsp; </span></p> <p><span style="FONT-SIZE: 11pt"></span></p> <p><span style="FONT-SIZE: 11pt">Consider planning for a possible evacuation site, a place of safety (away from your property) in the event of a crisis.&nbsp;&nbsp; Perhaps a church, school, or neighboring B&amp;B or nearby hotel?</span></p> <p><span style="FONT-SIZE: 11pt"></span></p> <p><span style="FONT-SIZE: 11pt">Stay tuned…next post “Crisis Headquarters”&nbsp; – September 2009.</span></p>urn:uuid:c76237bb-de75-4c2a-b7d6-09de55bd8be1What does the word "CRISIS" mean to you?When I think of the word “crisis” my heart rate increases, I feel the blood rush to my head, and then the headache starts.&nbsp; Now, when I hear the word “crisis” and know it means “minor bump”…I am ready to tackle it and conquer!!! How do you make ...Fri, 26 Jun 2009 13:17:50 -0500<p><font face=Arial size=2><span style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Arial">When I think of the word “crisis” my heart rate increases, I feel the blood rush to my head, and then the headache starts.&nbsp; Now, when I hear the word “crisis” and know it means “minor bump”…I am ready to tackle it and conquer!!!</span></font></p> <p><font face=Arial size=2><span style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Arial">How do you <font color=#000000>make<span style="COLOR: navy"> <font color=#000000>a</font></span> potentially</font> huge “crisis” go through the metamorphosis &nbsp;into a “minor bump”?&nbsp;&nbsp; I call it “THE PLAN”.&nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp;Do you go to the grocery without a list?&nbsp; If you do…it can become quite a chore.&nbsp;&nbsp; If you are prepared, you can usually get in-and-out and spend a fraction of what you would spend if you are going in unprepared.&nbsp; </span></font></p> <p><font face=Arial size=2><span style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Arial"></span></font></p> <p><font face=Arial size=2><span style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Arial">Here are a few suggestions to get you started…. We will take this in “baby steps”.&nbsp; </span></font></p> <p><font face=Arial size=2><span style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Arial"></span></font></p> <p><font face=Arial size=2><span style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Arial">A.&nbsp; Know and practice your evacuation plan.&nbsp; Post evacuation rout<span style="COLOR: navy"><font color=#000000>e</font></span>s in each room.</span></font> </p> <p><font face=Arial size=2><span style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Arial">B.&nbsp; </span></font><font face=Arial size=2><span style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Arial">Create a “crisis management kit” – this should be placed in a central location, so that in the event of a crisis – you can grab your kit and know that you have most of the tools needed to address immediate needs.&nbsp; Following are a few items to consider when compiling a crisis management kit; (add to this list as needed)</span></font> </p> <p><font face=Arial size=2><span style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Arial"><span>1.<font face="Times New Roman" size=1><span style="FONT: 7pt 'Times New Roman'">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; </span></font></span></font><font face=Arial size=2><span style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Arial">A self-charging or “shake” flashlight<br></span></font><font face=Arial size=2><span style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Arial"><span>2.<font face="Times New Roman" size=1><span style="FONT: 7pt 'Times New Roman'">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; </span></font></span></font><font face=Arial size=2><span style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Arial">Bottled Water<br></span></font><font face=Arial size=2><span style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Arial"><span>3.<font face="Times New Roman" size=1><span style="FONT: 7pt 'Times New Roman'">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; </span></font></span></font><font face=Arial size=2><span style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Arial">A list of emergency numbers, be sure to include your Insurance Agent’s phone number<br></span></font><font face=Arial size=2><span style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Arial"><span>4.<font face="Times New Roman" size=1><span style="FONT: 7pt 'Times New Roman'">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; </span></font></span></font><font face=Arial size=2><span style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Arial">Invest in a car charger for your cell phone<br></span></font><font face=Arial size=2><span style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Arial"><span>5.<font face="Times New Roman" size=1><span style="FONT: 7pt 'Times New Roman'">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; </span></font></span></font><font face=Arial size=2><span style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Arial">A first-aid kit<br></span></font><font face=Arial size=2><span style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Arial"><span>6.<font face="Times New Roman" size=1><span style="FONT: 7pt 'Times New Roman'">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; </span></font></span></font><font face=Arial size=2><span style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Arial">A couple of Glow-Sticks<br></span></font><font face=Arial size=2><span style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Arial"><span>7.<font face="Times New Roman" size=1><span style="FONT: 7pt 'Times New Roman'">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; </span></font></span></font><font face=Arial size=2><span style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Arial">An extra set of keys to your car<br></span></font><font face=Arial size=2><span style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Arial"><span>8.<font face="Times New Roman" size=1><span style="FONT: 7pt 'Times New Roman'">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; </span></font></span></font><font face=Arial size=2><span style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Arial">A pad of paper &nbsp;and a few pens or pencils<br></span></font><font face=Arial size=2><span style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Arial"><span>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;a.<font face="Times New Roman" size=1><span style="FONT: 7pt 'Times New Roman'">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; </span></font></span></font><font face=Arial size=2><span style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Arial">Create a time-line of events progressing through the end of the crisis.<br></span></font><font face=Arial size=2><span style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Arial"><span>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;b.<font face="Times New Roman" size=1><span style="FONT: 7pt 'Times New Roman'">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; </span></font></span></font><font face=Arial size=2><span style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Arial">Document the “Who, What, When, Where, and How”<br></span></font><font face=Arial size=2><span style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Arial"><span>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &nbsp;i.<font face="Times New Roman" size=1><span style="FONT: 7pt 'Times New Roman'">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; </span></font></span></font><font face=Arial size=2><span style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Arial">Who was in your charge at the time of the crisis? (list employees and guests)<br></span></font><font face=Arial size=2><span style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Arial"><span><font face="Times New Roman" size=1><span style="FONT: 7pt 'Times New Roman'">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;</span></font>ii.<font face="Times New Roman" size=1><span style="FONT: 7pt 'Times New Roman'">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; </span></font></span></font><font face=Arial size=2><span style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Arial">What happened?<br></span></font><font face=Arial size=2><span style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Arial"><span>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;iii.<font face="Times New Roman" size=1><span style="FONT: 7pt 'Times New Roman'">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; </span></font></span></font><font face=Arial size=2><span style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Arial">When did it happen?<br></span></font><font face=Arial size=2><span style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Arial"><span><font face="Times New Roman" size=1><span style="FONT: 7pt 'Times New Roman'">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;</span></font>iv.<font face="Times New Roman" size=1><span style="FONT: 7pt 'Times New Roman'">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; </span></font></span></font><font face=Arial size=2><span style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Arial">Where are those you are responsible for?&nbsp;&nbsp;<br>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Do you need to get them safely out of the area?<br></span></font><font face=Arial size=2><span style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Arial"><span><font face="Times New Roman" size=1><span style="FONT: 7pt 'Times New Roman'">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;</span></font>v.<font face="Times New Roman" size=1><span style="FONT: 7pt 'Times New Roman'">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; </span></font></span></font><font face=Arial size=2><span style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Arial">How can you minimize damage to your property?</span></font></p> <p><font face=Arial size=2><span style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Arial">I challenge you to use the next two weeks to;<br>1.&nbsp; Think about – and compile your crisis management kit.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;<br>2.&nbsp; Post and practice your evacuation routes.<br><br>The next step – Responding to a Crisis – will post in early July 2009.</span></font></p></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span>urn:uuid:6992b869-811a-41e0-8446-84207db5932bNew WebsiteWelcome to our new website.&nbsp;&nbsp; I am so happy to be able to edit content!!&nbsp;&nbsp; Many automation changes are happening at United Insurance Agencies.&nbsp;&nbsp; We now have a facebook presence.&nbsp; Click Here&nbsp;to become a fan!!Wed, 01 Apr 2009 15:23:52 -0500Welcome to our new website.&nbsp;&nbsp; I am so happy to be able to edit content!!&nbsp;&nbsp; Many automation changes are happening at United Insurance Agencies.&nbsp;&nbsp; We now have a facebook presence.&nbsp; <a href="http://www.facebook.com/home.php?#/pages/Muncie-IN/United-Insurance-Agencies/132937770392" target=_blank>Click Here</a>&nbsp;to become a fan!!