Meemic Insurance and The Meemic Foundation: Benefits, Programs, and Initiatives, Lecture notes of Business and Society

Download Meemic Insurance and The Meemic Foundation: Benefits, Programs, and Initiatives and more Lecture notes Business and Society in PDF only on Docsity! Partnership to Protection INSIDE How Claims Can Affect PremiumsUpdates from The Meemic Foundation Tips & news from Meemic and The Foundation, serving the educational community over 65 years | Fall 2017 Dear Member, Ah, there’s nothing like the soothing smells of fall: freshly sharpened pencils, that pristine box of crayons, a new book, an unopened can of play dough, campus commons, a clean classroom. Wait, what? From kindergarten through college, fall is an exciting time as new students enter classrooms and educators get down to business. And no scent of apple cider and doughnuts, or pumpkin spice, can sway them (well, maybe a little). It’s also an exciting time for Meemic agents as we head back into schools to present grants from The Meemic Foundation, welcome new Members to the Meemic family and say hello to old friends. We have lots of news to share, too. Inside this issue of “Bulletin Board,” you’ll find a gallery of winners from our Meemic Masterpieces contest and an update on The Meemic Foundation’s anti-bullying initiative – the Together Movement. You’ll read about the introduction of our mobile app for smartphones and paperless initiative, both designed to make interacting with Meemic easier and more convenient. So, from our team to you, best wishes for a great school year! And, as always, thank you so much for being a Meemic Member. Best, Robert and Anne Engels Engels Insurance Agency 8169 East Boon Road Cadillac, MI 49601 231-775-2675 110 East Ludington Avenue Ludington, MI 49431 231-843-7997 For office hours visit our website EngelsAgency.com Your Meemic Agent We talked with Luke about his teaching experience. What is the biggest change in your classroom from when you first started teaching? Early in my career, I thought that good teaching was only about knowing my content and using the best instructional strategies to deliver that content. Over time, I discovered students perform at their highest levels only when they are inspired and motivated for success. What is the most important thing your students have taught you? I continue to be inspired by the authentic appreciation my students have for diversity. Overall, my students have taught me to always be open- minded and listen to what people are saying, and to try and understand the viewpoints of others. Do you have any words of advice for teachers (rookies or veterans)? Get to know each of your students individually. Know what success looks like for them, and find ways to inspire and motivate them towards those goals. For the full conversation, and to follow Luke’s experience over the course of the year, visit Meemic.com/Blog. After two rounds of The Meemic Foundation’s Meemic Masterpieces art contest, the walls at Meemic headquarters in Auburn Hills, MI, are now brightened with drawings, paintings and more from student artists across Michigan, Wisconsin and Illinois. Here are just a few of the winners. Masterpieces Fill Walls and Hearts with Art Luke Wilcox is Michigan’s Teacher of the Year for 2017-18, an award Meemic is proud to partner with the Michigan Department of Education to sponsor. He’s the mathematics department chairperson at East Kentwood High School in Kentwood Public Schools, where he’s spent his entire 16-year career. Meemic Fall 2017 Lexa, Armstrong Middle School, Flint Light, Charlotte Mason Community School, Detroit Orion, North Elementary, Newport Mai Li, Saginaw Arts and Sciences Academy Know What Success Looks Like’ ’ For many Americans, a vehicle is like a second home. When it is involved in an accident or breaks down, the next step towards getting it back on the road is to call a towing company. Although the majority of towing companies are reputable and honest, some may try to scam consumers. From inflated rates to fictitious fees, there are several ways that dishonest companies take advantage of unassuming consumers. Steering With this type of scam, a towing firm shows up quickly after an accident without being contacted. They find out about crashes through police scans. The at-fault driver may be in on the scam, as well, and he or she will try to convince the victim to have the vehicle taken to a body shop that the towing company recommends. Steering is an illegal activity in most states. Fee Inflation Some towing companies may inflate their fees beyond a person’s auto policy limit or beyond a warranty reimbursement limit. Always call a few towing firms to compare rates before choosing one. Be suspicious of firms that ask for information about policy limits. Patrol Towing With this scam, a towing company has one or more spotters who look for parking violators. The spotters notify the company, and the company quickly tows the offending vehicle to an impound lot. The impound company and the towing company may both try to charge inflated rates. Gate Fees and Labor Fees Labor fees and gate fees are both scams. These are charged to release a vehicle to an owner. Another possible fraudulent fee is a release fee. It is illegal in most states to charge a gate fee, a labor fee or a release fee. It is important for consumers to know their rights. There are state laws in place to protect people if a vehicle is towed while the owner is away. Operators must leave a sign at the scene with the towing company’s name, phone number, address, who requested the tow and the reason for towing. Also, towing firms must take a photo of a car that is parked illegally. Ask for proof of this from a towing company if a vehicle was towed while shopping or while conducting a similar errand. In most states, the towing operator must release the vehicle even if the person cannot or will not pay the fee. However, the operator may take the case to civil court if he or she has a legitimate claim. AAA membership, which includes roadside assistance, can help you avoid some of these problems. Ask your agent about signing up. 4 Towing Scams to Watch for Meemic Fall 2017 1685 North Opdyke Road, Auburn Hills, Michigan 48326 DISCLAIMER: This newsletter is intended solely to provide brief descriptions of coverage and is not intended to alter any coverage afforded in the policy. Only your policy and its endorsements, plus applicable deductibles, determine exact coverages and payment of losses. All coverages and discounts described are subject to change, availability, qualifications and certain restrictions. Other terms, limitations and exclusions may apply. Photography: Chris Combe CC2.0. Meemic Fall 2017 Here at Meemic, we take customer service seriously, and we’re always looking for ways to improve the experience and benefit our Members. If you add your email address to your account in our online Account Center, you’ll receive weather and safety alerts, along with notifications for the latest videos in our “Meemic Academy” series. Plus, we have a few things to look forward to this year: Improved online payments, including real-time updates to your account. A Meemic app for your smart devices that will allow you to view your bill, make a payment, file a claim and more from your phone or tablet. New options to receive billing statements and policy documents electronically to reduce waste. Going paperless may also make you eligible for a discount on your insurance next year. Look for these changes and more in the coming months, and if you have any comments or suggestions, please email us at Communications@ Meemic.com. Improving the Member Experience Did You Know? When you renew your Meemic homeowners policy, you can add protection to cover losses caused by identity theft.