For the world of smart phones where there is an “app” for almost everything, the NAIC (National Association of Insurance Commissioners) has created an application to help consumers create a home inventory.  iPhones or Android phones can load the free software to photograph and capture images, descriptions, bar codes and serial numbers and store them for safekeeping.  The app organizes information room by room and even creates a back-up file for email sharing the spreadsheets.

As we know, a home inventory can be a lifesaver if disaster strikes and an insured has to complete an inventory of lost possessions.  You can download the free app by searching for “NAIC” in the “app store” of your phone or by visiting www.insureuonline.org.  The application is titled myHOME Scr.APP.book.

County Supervisors and visitors at the Marinette County Board meeting Tuesday, December 20 were treated to snacks of sausage, cheese and crackers, courtesy of Dairy Producers and the Dairy Marketing Board, and a delicious assortment of buttery Christmas cookies, courtesy of courthouse employees. 

Connie Seefeldt, Marinette County Supervisor representing District 15, Town of Grover, also serves as a director of the Wisconsin Milk Marketing Board.  She quickly briefed the board on the importance of the dairy industry to Wisconsin and to Marinette County.  She said each cow in Marinette County generates more than $21,000 a year for the local economy, and the dairy industry as a whole adds $26.5 billion annually to the Wisconsin economy.

Money for the dairy promotions comes entirely from dairy producers, with payment through the check off program based on milk production, and there are o tax dollars involved, Seefeldt said.

The Wisconsin Dairy Industry currently is involved with McCafe products and the Healthy Breakfasts program at McDonalds, and a partnership between Dairy Producers and the NFL promotes 60 minutes of healthy exercise a day for Wisconsin youngsters.

Again in 2011 national competition, Wisconsin cheese producers captured the greatest number of honors for making the finest cheeses.

Source:  Peshtigo Times 12/28/2011

Merry Christmas & Happy New Year!!  Family Insurance Center, Inc. will be closed on Monday, December 26th in observance of the Christmas Holiday and Monday, January 2nd in observance of the New Year Holiday.  We appreciate your business and wish you success in 2012!!

Welcome to September and Life Insurance Awareness Month (LIAM)!! According to LIMRA, www.limra.com, 30% of all US Households have no Life Insurance. Are you one of them? Give us a call for a FREE, NO OBLIGATION Life Needs Analysis and Review.

Family Insurance Center, Inc. will be closed Monday, September 5th in observation of Labor Day. Have a wonderful Labor Day Weekend! We will also be returning to normal business hours–8:30 AM to 5:00 PM Monday through Friday. We are always available outside posted hours by appointment. Please give us a call. Remember school starts today, so slow down and drive safe…

Summer Business Hours begin Memorial Day through Labor Day.  All of our offices will be open from 8:00 AM to 5:00 PM Monday through Thursday and 8:00 AM to 3:00 PM on Friday.  We wish you a safe and enjoyable summer!

Greenville Lions Club Concert Tickets available May 21st at Family Insurance Center, Inc.–Greenville Office–ZZ Top & Don Felder–former lead guitarist from the Eagles –Saturday, August 6th, gates open @ 5:00 PM. $30 in advance/$45 at the door–for more info see www.greenvillelions.org.

Please welcome Kelly Rozelle as a new Customer Service Representative (CSR) at our Greenville Branch.  She has spent 22 years at Guardian Insurance in Appleton. 

Kelly makes her home in Greenville with her husband Ned who is part owner of Rozelle Construction and Properties.  They have 2 daughters—Hannah is a Junior at UW—Milwaukee and Hope is a Sophomore at Xavier High School.  She enjoys creating and designing tote bags along with working with Grand Chute Citizens Police Academy.  She also enjoys attending Hope’s basketball and softball games.  As a family, they enjoy spending time at their cottage in Boulder Junction. 

Kelly is looking forward to working with you, so please stop by or call to introduce yourself.

Please welcome Michele Daniels as a new Customer Service Representative (CSR) at our Greenville Branch.  She has spent the past 6 years as a CSR at Valley Insurance in Appleton.  Prior to that she worked for AAL (Thrivent) for 16 years in the Securities Division where she held her Series 6 and 63 Securities Licenses. 

Michele makes her home in Greenville with her husband Steve who is a building engineer with the Appleton School District.  They have 2 daughters—Brianna is a sophomore at Hortonville High School and Kaylee is a 6^th Grader at Greenville Middle School.  She enjoys golfing and camping and they enjoy attending their daughter’s soccer games and dance routines. 

Michele is looking forward to working with you, so please stop by or call to introduce yourself.

New Law Will Require Carbon Monoxide Detectors in All Homes

On March 10, 2010, Governor Doyle signed into law Senate Bill 415, legislation that requires all homes to have carbon monoxide detectors beginning on February 1, 2011. Carbon monoxide is a dangerous, poisonous gas which cannot be detected by human senses. Dubbed the “silent killer,” carbon monoxide claims more than 2,000 lives each year and sends more than 40,000 people to the emergency room in the U.S. alone. At high concentrations, carbon monoxide can be fatal within minutes. Twenty three other states already have laws requiring carbon monoxide alarms in residential properties.

This new law will expand the current carbon monoxide detector requirements to all one- and two-family homes and parallels requirements for smoke alarms for ease of installation. Specifically, this new law will require carbon monoxide alarms to be installed in the basement of the dwelling and on each floor level except the attic or storage area of both newly constructed and existing homes. For new construction, the alarms must be hard-wired in order to be current with national model safety codes. For existing homes, the alarms can be battery operated and can be multipurpose (smoke and carbon monoxide). Dwellings with no attached garages, no fireplaces and no fuel-burning appliances are exempted from this requirement.

Similar to the smoke alarm law, the new carbon monoxide detector law does not have a fine or penalty associated with non-compliance. However, all home inspections will be required to check for carbon monoxide alarms.

Last session, the legislature passed and Governor Doyle signed into law a measure requiring carbon monoxide detectors in all new and existing multifamily units. Beginning April 1, 2010, all existing multifamily units are required to have carbon monoxide detectors. Plug-in alarms are acceptable to comply with this new law in existing multifamily units.