Locals Nevadans should be in for a great huntings season. Most deer hunting units are now open and the season is under way. The antler growth this year seems amazing. Here are a few pictures of some deer that were taken during the archery season. http://www.monstermuleys.info/dcforum/DCForumID6/18629.html

http://www.monstermuleys.com/photos/PhotosID24/25.html

Thank God for Close Calls

The story:
Just another family camping trip. For me this is all relatively new, if I'm going to be honest I was a born and raised city girl who married into a family of outdoor fanatics. I try to be a good sport and go with the flow. So far I'm converting over rather well, at least in my opinion.

All was going great until my husband barges in on me while taking an afternoon camping cat-nap. He's acting frantic so I wake up rather quickly. I find out that 1. He's rolled the ATV, 2. My mother-in-law may have broken her leg, and 3. The ATV is at the bottom of an inaccessible mountain surrounded by thick aspens and bushes. Fun. To top off the situation, we almost roll the truck down the mountain while returning to the scene trying to rescue my mother-in-law. It was a day for drama.

After a night spent at the emergency room and another day spent (by the men) winching the ATV up the mountain, I was able to sit back and evaluate the situation. It's times like these I'm thankful that we all are in the insurance business. As insurance agents, protecting against and preparing for the worst and is our job. Granted, this scenario was in no way "the worst" - mother-in-law was diagnosed with a pretty bad bruise but no broken limbs, the ATV survived with a couple scrapes and dents but nothing major. Thank God for close calls though, they make you re-evaluate your situation and plan accordingly in the future.

The fact is, accidents happen to even the most experienced and careful of all people. Sometimes they are in your control but a lot of times they are not. The best advice I can give you is to evaluate your insurance coverage often. Have you looked over your insurance for you, your family, or your business lately? We'd be happy to help you with a free consultation and evaluation of your current coverages at no obligation to you. Just give us a holler! http://www.menathinsurance.com/

Risk Management Basics - Hunting Guides

There are some basic precautions you can take to reduce your risk while out in the field with clients. Sometimes putting these items into practice can even reduce your insurance premium.

The tough part about being in the outdoor industry is that you are paid based on the "thrill" you provide your clients. Therefore, it's critical to create the ideal balance of giving your clients what they want and maintaining a safe environment. Here are some basic safety principals you can put into force. For a personalized risk assessment please give our office a call at 800-756-6507.

1. Require that ALL participants sign and complete a liability waiver which discloses risks involved. All minors must have parents present and signed for. In addition, prescreen guests prior to participating: how much prior experience do they have? What medical/health conditions and fitness ability do they have? Are they under the influence of alcohol?


2. Require that all riders/drivers of vehicles or horses wear proper safety gear including helmets and appropriate attire. Require lifejackets be worn on boat trips.


3. Bring proper safety equipment on trips such as: communication device, first aid kit, rope, flares, snake bite kit, GPS system, etc.


4. Stay up to date on, and follow all state safety regulations for your industry.


5. All guides should have completed proper safety training including first aid and CPR. Additional training is always a plus.


6. All guides should be licensed and certified for outfitting. Check new guide's references before hiring, if sub-guide request proof of insurance.


7. Implement a written safety/emergency plan and distribute to all staff members - this should address evacuation procedures, overnight accomodations, lost parties, injuries, etc.


8. Keep a low guest to guide ratio and avoid allowing too many hunters to go out at once.


9. Do not provide or allow alcohol during trip!


10. If hunting stands are used, they should be checked by guide before every use. Safety harnesses should be required while in use.


11. Always file an itinerary with someone - forest serivce or home office - so people know where you are at at all times.

Insurance Review

1. Review your general liability insurance. What are your limits? Do your limits meet state requirements?


2. Are you properly insured to cover specific exposures? (ATVs, snowmobiles, lodging, horses, hunting, fishing, pack trips, etc.)


3. Are you using your personal auto? What are your auto limits? If you only have limits that meet state requirements it's likely that your limits are drastically too low for your exposure.


4. Do guests come into your home? You will also need to review your homeowner's policy.


5. Do you use ATVs, boats, or other vehicles for personal use? Your business policy will not cover personal use, you may want to look into additional coverage.

For a personalized insurance review simply fax your current policies to 775-831-6235 "Attn: Jacob" and we will gladly assist you in reviewing your current policies and examining possible gaps in coverage.

Preventing Identity Theft

Who Wants to Be You? Identity Theft a Common Risk for Consumers

Nine million. That’s how many Americans have their identities stolen each year, estimates the Federal Trade Commission.

From January 2005 until October 2007, a staggering 215 million personal records were breached, reported the Privacy Rights Clearinghouse. The FTC noted that, in half of the criminal incidents in 2005, thieves obtained goods or services worth $500 or less. In 10 percent of cases, thieves stole at least $6,000.

ID theft has only been a crime since 1998, when Congress passed the Identity Theft and Assumption Deterrence Act, but it’s escalated as a problem. Not only do criminals use identity theft to steal assets, they also commit crimes in the name and character of the victim.

The FTC urges a “deter-detect-defend” approach to battle ID theft, which costs consumers and businesses plenty of money and time. Deterring means safeguarding personal data to make it harder to steal and misuse. Detecting means monitoring and becoming aware of irregularities that indicate data has been stolen. Defending means reporting the crime and then taking steps to regain data security, recover stolen assets and fix misused information.

Identity theft criminals commonly use six methods to steal consumer and business information:

1. “Dumpster diving” for papers with personal information
2. “Skimming”—stealing credit/debit card numbers when a card is processed
3. “Phishing”—pretending to be a financial institution or company and sending spam e-mail messages to get people to reveal personal information
4. Changing an address by completing a change of address form to divert bills to a criminal’s location
5. Stealing wallets, mail, checks, employer personnel records and other paperwork—through breaking-and-entering physically or electronically or bribing employees who have access to information

“Pretexting”—using false pretenses or tricks of social engineering to obtain personal information from consumers, financial institutions, telephone companies and other sources.

Identity theft robs a victim of time that must be urgently spent to alert police, credit bureaus, financial institutions, medical providers and others. A victim has to prove an identity loss or financial loss; close accounts; write letters to government entities; and even work with a legal advocate to recover and rebuild a stolen identity.

Likewise, the costs for legal fees can quickly add up and overwhelm a stressed victim. The loss of work time also can be costly, at the very time when financial resources are under attack by a criminal.

Personal and business insurance can play a key role in the “defend” stage of the identity theft battle. Insurers offer services to help consumers and businesses report identity theft and recover from it. Sometimes these services are included as part of a homeowners insurance package or even a business insurance package; the cost may be included or additional.

An identity recovery package may include reimbursement of legal fees related to identity theft, as well as costs of credit reports and postage, phone, shipping fees, lost wages and child/elder care for those forced to spend time away from family to resolve the situation. The ID package also might include a limited benefit for mental health counseling for crime victims.

The first step in checking on whether you’re covered for identity theft? Give us a call today and we'll help answer your questions.

source: TrustedChoice.com, July 2009

News Article: Geno Fund receives donation from Menath Insurance

North Lake Tahoe Bonanza
by Jean Eick
Bonanza Community Editor

View complete article

At the Rotary Club of Incline-Tahoe's Thursday morning meeting July 16, Geno Menchetti was presented with a $1,000 donation to be added to the Geno Fund.

The donation was made by Mike and Lisa Menath of the Mike Menath Insurance Company. Menchetti said the presentation was a total surprise.

Geno Menchetti started the Geno Fund as president of the Rotary Club of Incline Village in 1983. It started with approximately $3,500 and was used as an anonymous fund to help local residents in immediate need of funds.

Then in 1990 when the Rotary Club of Tahoe-Incline started, the fund was split in half so that both Rotary Clubs in Incline could have a Geno Fund.

“We have given out $125,000 since it started,” Menchetti said in an interview with the Bonanza in January.

The $1,000 donation last week was an award the Mike Menath Insurance Company received at the Nevada Independent Agents Conference at Edgelake Club in June. FirstComp Insurance presented this award to the Menath Agency.

“It was awarded to us by FirstComp for the work our agency has done for clients in Nevada,” Menath said. “We donated this to Geno's Fund because it is a one time anonymous gift to people in our community.”

Prevent lawsuits before they happen

When it comes to incidents happening while guiding, sometimes prevention is just out of your control. However, you do have some control over how much that situation may affect you overall. Here are some tips to follow to protect yourself when an incident occurs:

1. Have all guests sign a legal waiver before they are allowed to participate.
2. Act promptly and appropriately. Take necessary action to comfort and care for injured parties as well as reassure others who may have witnessed the incident. How you make guests feel may be a factor in their decision to take legal action or not. Call for help if needed or if injuries may require medical attention.
3. Be cautious with your words. Don't jump to admit fault or wrongdoing verbally or in writing. Try to keep your opinions or feelings about the incident to yourself. It's ok to show concern by saying but be careful not to admit or accept blame.
4. Don't make guarantees or judgments outside of your control. Although you may be trying to comfort the injured party, these seemingly small assurances may come back to haunt you should they take legal action against you.
5. Document the incident. Take photographs and get statements from witnesses as soon as possible following the incident. Photograph injuries, equipment, and the site where incident occurred.
6. Contact your legal representative and insurance company.

For more tips & information call us at 800-756-6507.

What is an Independent Insurance Agency?

Many people think it doesn't really matter where they buy their insurance. However, this misconception could be costing them money, service and protection. Buying insurance isn't like buying bread or milk. Insurance is an important safety net for your family, your home, your car and your business.

As an independent insurance agent we work with a number of companies, not just one like many of the popular insurance agencies. We research these firms to find you the best combination of price, coverage and service. As your independent insurance agency we:

• Are licensed professionals with strong customer and community ties.
• Give you excellent service and competitive prices because we can access the insurance coverage from a variety of companies.
• Are able to meet all your insurance and service needs because we are not limited to one company.
• Are there to assist you when you have a claim.
• Are your consultants, working with you as you determine your needs.

Visit these sites for more information:
Independent Insurance Agents and Brokers of America
Trusted Choice

ATV Safety Tips

ATV Safety Tips

ATV numbers have increased rapidly in rural America, and so have ATV–related injuries and deaths. The Consumer Products Safety Commission reports that there are up to 90,000 ATV-related injuries per year and more than 150 deaths. Through adequate training, proper use and common sense, ATVs can be used safely and effectively. The following safety precautions can lessen your chance of being involved in an ATV accident:

Avoid using three-wheeled versions of ATV vehicles.
In 1988, Congress passed a bill banning sale of these vehicles due to a poor safety record. Many of these vehicles are still being used, and they're just as dangerous. Take an ATV approved training course. Many retailers give discounts for successful completion. Ask the dealer for information on the next available course. Always read and follow the owner's manual you receive upon purchasing your ATV. Make an extra effort to pay attention to all warnings within the manual.

Don’t ride with passengers on your ATV.
Transporting passengers on ATVs is not recommended by manufacturers. Carrying passengers can drastically limit control of an ATV, possibly causing a serious accident. If you must carry a passenger or transport game on an ATV, special care should be taken with handling and speed. Wear proper safety equipment while operating an ATV. This equipment includes but is not limited to gloves, boots, long sleeves, long pants, eye
protection and an approved helmet.

Control Speed.
Excessive speed is the principal causal factor in ATV accidents. Always operate your ATV at a safe speed. Slow down when approaching obstacles, culverts, rail road crossings, and road and trail intersections. Transport firearms unloaded. They should be carried in a secure case or rack mounted to the ATV. The method of securing firearms should not interfere with the safe operation of the vehicle. An additional benefit of this will be the protection of the firearms from damage while being transported. Be alert for low hanging branches and gates constructed of cables. Cables should not be used whenever possible but in cases in which they are the only practical alternative they should be strung through white PVC pipe and flagged. Seek the landowner’s permission to operate ATVs on the land. Avoid chasing or scaring livestock, and never ride around locked gates. Never chase or harass wildlife or infringe on the rights of other outdoorsmen while riding your ATV.

Protect the environment.
Ride only on designated trails. ATVs can scar the terrain, cause severe erosion and destroy wildlife habitat. If you follow these suggestions, the next time you return to the same area you may not find a locked gate or posted signs. Enjoy your ATV, but do so in a safe and responsible manner. Set a good example for others to follow. The manner in which you operate your ATV goes hand in hand with its safe operation. When boarding your ATV, remember you have a responsibility to the landowner, wildlife, other people and the environment.

Should an incident occur, notify your insurance company within 48-hours. Call us at 800-756-6507.

Tips from Philadelphia Insurance Co. Safety Manual. For a copy of the complete Safety Manual please email kristin@menath.com