 |
Web Manager: Bob Schultheis Webster County Extension Center Email comments to: schultheisr@missouri.edu Last revised: 11/05/09 |
Epsilon
Sigma Phi NewsletterPresident's
Message
by Gail Carlson, ESP President
As I write this letter, the tragedy that hit this nation on Sept. 11 is still fresh on my mind. I feel sad, worried and yes there is a tinge of anger there as well. My mind wanders, as I think of the individuals and families that were directly impacted. My hope is that you and your loved ones remained safe and unharmed.
There has been a ripple effect even for ESP, Linda Cook, ESP Executive Director, informed us on Sept. 15 of the decision to cancel the ESP Annual Meeting in Albany, New York. While the cancellation seems like a minor side note, I imagine that it will have an economic impact on the association. I suspect it was also an unnerving time for our colleagues across the county who had made plans to travel to the meeting. Georgia Stuart-Simmons was preparing to leave for the meeting in Albany when it was cancelled.
However, as many others have said, it's time to get on with our lives and if we fail to so do so the enemy has already won. With that in mind, as annual conference approaches its time to think of the Alpha Tau chapter's accomplishments during the past year. These accomplishments were the result of the hard work and commitment of a dedicated board, committee chairs and committee members. I want to thank board members Georgia Stuart-Simmons President-Elect, Roxanne Miller Secretary, Tom Henderson Treasurer, and Laura Ward our unofficial Assistant Treasurer, Bob Schultheis Annalist, and Karla Spencer Past President. Also many thanks to committee chairs Joan Hickman Professional Improvement, Brenda Procter Awards, Rex Ricketts
Membership, Pat Snodgrass Loan and Fellowship, Wilma Jean Lower Courtesy / Memorials, and Barbara Froke Retirement. Next time you see this individuals please make sure to thank them personally for their efforts on your behalf. This past year, as a result of their efforts, the Alpha Tau chapter has accomplished the following.
Thank you for allowing me to serve as your President this past year. I look forward to see all of you at annual conference. Just a reminder, the Alpha Tau Chapter annual meeting is scheduled for Monday October 29 from 10:30 to 11:30. This is a change in time from past years. Hopefully, this change will make it possible for more of our Life Members to attend. See you there.
Epsilon Sigma Phi Hosts Power Point Training via ITV
Thanks to the outstanding efforts of Professional Development Chair Joan Hickman, Epsilon Sigma Phi is hosting an interactive teleconference on October 2. Currently over 100 participants are registered for the conference, which airs from 10:00 a.m. to noon at nine sites across the state. The program, presented by Joe Lear at ETCS, will illustrate techniques and tools to use in creating Multimedia presentations for use in educational programming. The focus will be on using PowerPoint 2000 and will highlight using narration and other audio, animation and video to enhance presentations. Included will be potential resources for these tools. Participants will also be introduced to non-linear presentations.
The Alpha Tau Chapter annual
meeting is scheduled for Monday October 29 from 10:30 to 11:30. The meeting will
be held Monday morning prior to annual conference. This change was made in order
to make it possible for more of our Life Members to attend. Business will include election and installation of officers,
installation of new members, memorial for deceased members, and other items.
Please plan to arrive early for annual conference so you can be a part of
this important meeting.
Our chapter will be electing the offices of Treasurer and President-Elect at the annual meeting on October 29. The nominee for Treasurer is Tom Henderson, who is currently serving in that office. Ina Metzger has agreed to run for the office of President-Elect. Be sure to attend the annual meeting to cast your ballot.
Following dinner on Monday evening, October 29 at Annual Conference, the Alpha Tau Chapter of Epsilon Sigma Phi will host an ice cream social for all Extension staff. This tasty treat also provides an opportunity to promote Epsilon Sigma Phi membership to our fellow workers. Be sure to join us, and encourage your co-workers to attend. And while enjoying your ice cream, mention some of the benefits of Epsilon Sigma Phi membership.
Epsilon
Sigma Phi will once again participate in the joint association awards luncheon
at the conclusion of Annual Conference. The joint luncheon will be hosted this
year at the Reynolds Alumni on Tuesday October 30, 2001 starting at
12:00 p.m. Pre-registration is
$10.50 and walk-ins will be charged $15. We
have limited seating so get registered early!
ALL PRE-REGISTRATIONS MUST BE SUBMITTED BY OCT. 19TH! Registration forms will be available soon on the UMEA website http://outreach.missouri.edu/umea/.
Be looking for Epsilon Sigma
Phi’s membership table at Annual Conference.
It’s time for regular members to renew
their annual membership, and we plan to make it easy for you!
Just stop by the table at annual conference.
It should be manned on Monday morning prior to our annual meeting, as
well as during breaks throughout the conference.
Please also encourage co-workers to consider renewing
their membership if it has lapsed. And
we have new opportunities to recruit members from those who have worked for
Extension for three or more years. This
time limit was recently reduced from five years, so we should have several
potential new members to recruit!
Not sure how to promote Epsilon Sigma Phi membership? Check out the benefits of membership at http://outreach.missouri.edu/esp/benefits.html and the membership recruitment flier at http://outreach.missouri.edu/esp/archive/members/2001-05-18_PlainESPMemberFlyer.doc Thanks to Bob Schultheis for maintaining our web page and providing us with these resources.
Long
Term Care: Part 2
by Joyce Cavanagh
Long term care insurance is one option for covering all or some of the costs of long term care. As with most types of insurance, it can provide protection against catastrophic expenses. But should you consider buying long term care insurance? This column will attempt to shed some light on the issue as well as provide additional sources of information to answer other questions you may have.
People who have purchased long term care insurance give many reasons for buying this coverage including:
There are also reasons why people should not purchase long term care insurance.
Types of Policies
Long term care policies are available as individual or group policies. Many
employers, including the University of Missouri, are now offering employees the
option of purchasing long term care insurance as an employee benefit. It may be
possible to purchase coverage for the employee, his/her spouse and
parents/parents-in-law. Purchasing a coverage through a group policy is usually
less expensive than purchasing an individual policy. In most cases, it is
necessary to pass a health examination in order for coverage to be approved.
Choosing a Policy
Types of Services Covered. Most policies today offer coverage for a full
range of care services. These include care services provided at home, an adult
day center, an assisted living facility, and a nursing home. Coverage is often
included for respite care and hospice care. If you are considering a policy that
will pay for care in an assisted living facility or other 'alternative care
setting,' make sure such a facility exists in your community. Choosing a policy
with flexible benefits will give you better options should you need more care
than can be provided in your home.
Daily Maximum Benefit. Most long term care insurance policies are 'indemnity' policies where the policy pays a fixed dollar amount for each day you receive covered services. In order to purchase a policy with the appropriate maximum daily benefit, you will want to find out what the cost of services is where you live or will receive services. Call nursing homes and home health agencies and ask about their fees.
Duration of Benefits. Policies usually limit benefits to a maximum dollar amount or a maximum number of days. You can designate the length of time benefits will be paid from one year to a lifetime. The longer the length of time, the higher the premium will be. For most people, a policy covering 3 - 5 years will be more cost-effective.
Benefit Triggers. All policies contain provisions that determine if and when benefits are payable. The provisions companies use to determine benefits are referred to as benefit triggers. Typically benefits are payable when a person can't perform a certain number of Activities of Daily Living (ADLs) such as 2 out of 5 , or 2 out of 6. ADLs include bathing, eating, dressing, continence, transferring and using the toilet. Cognitive impairment from Alzheimer's disease should also trigger benefits. It is important to understand what the company will use to determine when benefits will be payable.
Inflation Protection. Inflation protection is essential to ensure that you have adequate coverage years from now. This protection increases the insurance benefit by the rate of inflation. In Missouri, companies must offer you inflation protection. Their offer and your response must be in writing. Under Missouri law, the insurance company can offer inflation protection using one of the following three methods:
Many consumers are reluctant to pay for policies that offer inflation protection because the premiums cost more. But, if you buy the policy when you are in your 50s or 60s, and inflation protection rider is the only way to be sure that the coverage will be adequate when you need it in 20 or 30 years.
Premiums
Premiums are based on a number of factors including:
Age. Cost of coverage depends on your age when you first purchase a policy. Premiums are lower for younger people. But, the younger you are when you buy the policy, the longer you will pay the premiums. The premiums you pay for your policy generally remain the same each year; they will not increase as you get older. If the premium were to increase, the company cannot increase only your policy; it must increase the premium for all policyholders in the same class as you.
Benefits. The higher the benefit level you select and the longer the benefit period, the higher the premium will be.
Waiting Period. A waiting period is the time it takes before your policy becomes effective. Some policies require that you pay for a specific number of days in a nursing home or a specific number of home health visits before benefits begin. Naturally, the longer the wait, the lower your premium.
Tax Status. The Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act of 1996 resulted in several tax changes affecting long term care insurance.
Policies issued after January 1, 1997, which provide tax incentives, are classified tax-qualified plans. Policies issued before 1997 were 'grandfathered' into the law and are considered tax-qualified. Premiums for tax-qualified plans are deductible to the extent you itemize and have medical expenses in excess of 7.5% of adjusted gross income. Benefits received are non-taxable.
Policies issued after January 1, 1997, which do not provide tax incentives, are classified as non tax-qualified plans. Premiums for these policies are not tax-deductible and it is not clear whether benefits received are taxable or not.
Consumer Tips
Compare policies. It is important to comparison shop. Premiums can vary widely from one company to another. Determine how long the company has been in the long term care business. Be alert to low premium quotes from companies new to this coverage. There is concern among consumer advocates that premiums may be low to attract new business and that premiums could rise in the future. They are recommending consumers deal with companies who have been in business for at least 10 years.
Ask for an Outline of Coverage. Missouri law requires that an agent leave this with you when he or she makes initial contact.
Understand the policy. Under no circumstance should you purchase a policy you do not understand. Ask the agent for clarification if you do not understand what is covered or the provisions of coverage.
Free Look Period. Missouri law requires that you have 30 days from the date of purchase to review a policy and decide whether to keep it. If within those 30 days you are not satisfied and terminate the policy, your entire premium must be refunded.
Keep the name, address, and phone number of the agent and company you dealt with when purchasing the policy.
NEVER PAY CASH! Pay by check and make it payable to the insurance company, not the agent.
If you would like more information on long term care insurance, refer to the following sources:
Missouri Department of Insurance, Long Term Care Insurance Consumer Guide. To order call 800-726-7390 or go to the consumer publications section at http://www.insurance.state.mo.us or http://www.naic.org or http://www.insure.com or http://www.medicare.gov
Prepared by Dr. Joyce Cavanagh, Assistant Professor and State Specialist, Consumer and Family Economics, September, 2001.
As concern for air travel continued after the disasters of September 11, the national Epsilon Sigma Phi board decided to cancel the annual conference, which had been scheduled for September 19 - 22 in Albany New York. The board is struggling to manage all of the details that this cancellation brings.
One such challenge is conducting the national business meeting. After deliberation the national board decided that the business of the National Council meeting will be handled electronically with the certified voting delegates from each chapter. The voting delegates of record on Friday, October 5th, 2001, will constitute the quorum for the National Council Meeting. On October 8th , 2001, items of business needing a vote from the National Council will be sent to the certified delegates with an expected vote returned by October 17th. The items of business include: 2000 National Council minutes approval; 2002 Budget approval; Bylaws revision; and Election of 2nd Vice President. Voting delegates for the Alpha Tau chapter will be Gail Carlson, President and Georgia Stuart-Simmons, President-Elect.
National ESP
Headquarters
The location
of our national office / contact is:
Linda
D. Cook, Executive Director
Epsilon Sigma Phi, Inc.
PO Box 357340
Gainesville, FL 32635-7340
Phone: 352-378-6665
Fax: 352-375-0722
E-mail: ldcook@mail.ifas.ufl.edu
|
Please remember to share pertinent information about your current and former colleagues with the Courtesy and Memorial committee. Information can be submitted to: Wilma Jean Lower |
Epsilon Sigma Phi
Alpha Tau Chapter
Board Members
2000-2001
| Officers | |
| Gail Carlson | President |
| Georgia Stuart-Simmons | President-Elect |
| Karla Deaver | Past President |
| Roxanne Miller | Secretary |
| Thomas A. Henderson | Treasurer |
| Robert Schultheis | Annalist |
| Committee Chairs | |
| Rex Ricketts | Membership |
| Brenda Procter | Awards |
| Joan Hickman | Professional Improvement |
| Pat Snodgrass | Loan and Fellowship |
| Wilma Jean Lower | Courtesy / Memorials |
| Barbara Froke | Retirement |
| Karla Spencer | Nominations |
For More
Information
For newsletter items or information, contact:
Georgia Stuart-Simmons
Johnson County Extension Center
135 W. Market
Warrensburg, MO 64093
Phone: 660-747-3193
Email: stuartsimmonsg@missouri.edu
|
Epsilon Sigma Phi
Annual Meeting |
| Home Page | Officers | Committees | Members | Benefits |
Loan &
Fellowship | Awards |
| Minutes | Newsletters | Photo
Gallery | Bylaws|
Handbook | Associations | Archives
|
|
Web Manager: Bob Schultheis Webster County Extension Center Email comments to: schultheisr@missouri.edu Last revised: 11/05/09 |