January 2005                                                                         Past Issues
MassOne Included in IIABA’s Best Practices Study
MassOne Insurance has been selected to be part of an elite group of independent insurance agencies around the United States participating in the Independent Insurance Agents & Brokers of America (IIABA) "Best Practices" Study Group.

More than 900 independent agencies throughout the U.S. were nominated to take part in the annual study, but only 195 agencies qualified for the honor. To be chosen, agencies had to be the top-performing agencies in their revenue category. The agency was nominated by either an IIABA affiliated state association or an insurance company and qualified based on its outstanding customer services, growth, stability and financial management.

The Best Practices Study was initiated by IIABA in 1993 as the foundation for efforts to improve agency performance. The annual survey and study of leading independent insurance agencies documents the business practices of these "best" agencies and urges others to adopt similar practices.

Founded in 1896, IIABA, is the nation’s oldest and largest national association of independent insurance agents and brokers, representing a network of more than 300,000 agents, brokers and their employees nationally. Its members are businesses that offer customers a choice of policies from a variety of insurance companies. Independent agents and brokers offer all lines of insurance-property, casualty, life and health-as well as employee benefit plans and retirement products.

The MassOne Insurance Agency was founded in 1948 and can offer insurance and products in personal insurance, commercial property & casualty, employer sponsored insurance products/employee benefits, and financial services.

 
What's New at MassOne?
Darlene Tebaldi has been promoted to Account Executive. Formerly the Commercial Department Manager, Darlene will now be responsible for the marketing and placing of new accounts as well as account management and underwriting. Darlene joined MassOne in 2002. She has 23 years of agency experience with the last 14 years dedicated to Commercial Insurance. She is a licensed broker and holds a Certified Insurance Counselor designation (CIC) and she is in the process of obtaining her Chartered Property and Casualty Underwriter designation (CPCU). Darlene currently sits on the Peerless Insurance Claim Advisory Council. She is the past president and treasurer of the Insurance Group of Hampshire County, an organization that supports insurance education and local fundraising. Darlene lives in Easthampton with her family.

Christine Kubacki has been promoted to Commercial Lines Manager along with her continued role as Personal Lines Manager. Chris, who joined MassOne in 1998, has over 30 years experience in Insurance and Management. She is a licensed broker, serving as Vice President of the Hampshire/Franklin Insurance Agents Association, previously on their Board of Directors. She is also an annual volunteer for the Greenfield YMCA Sustaining Youth Program. Chris lives in Goshen with her husband John.

Nancy Underwood has been promoted to Marketing Department Manager along with her continued role as Accounting and Computer Department Manager. She will be responsible for the development of the agency website, marketing and advertising program. Nancy joined MassOne in 1986, and has 24 years of accounting and computer experience.

Becca Howard has accepted the position of Commercial Lines, Customer Service Representative. Becca has worked in several departments within the agency, most recently in accounting and computer systems. She will celebrate her sixth anniversary in January. She lives in Readsboro, VT with her 2-year old son Gavin and husband Lance.

Tammy Lanoie has accepted the position of Accounting and Marketing Representative. Tammy has been with MassOne for four years and will continue in her capacity of part-time receptionist.
Going Away This Winter? Don't Come Home to This!
You can prevent frozen pipes.
Frozen pipes aren't just an inconvenience. An average of a quarter-million families have their homes ruined and their lives disrupted each winter…all because of water pipes that freeze and burst.

A 1/8 inch crack in a pipe can spill up to 250 gallons of water a day, wrecking floors, furniture and keepsakes. Both plastic (PVC) and copper pipes may burst.

By taking a few precautions, you can save yourself money and aggravation frozen pipes cause.

Here are a few simple steps to protect your home:

Insulate pipes in your home's crawl spaces and attic. These exposed pipes are most susceptible to freezing. Remember: The more insulation you use, the better protected your pipes will be.

Heat tape or thermostatically- controlled heat cables can be used to wrap pipes. Be sure to use products approved by an independent testing organization, such as Underwriters Laboratories Inc., and only for the use intended (exterior or interior). Closely follow all manufacturers' installation and operation instructions.

Seal leaks that allow cold air inside, near where pipes are located. Look for air leaks around electrical wiring, dryer vents and pipes. Use caulk or insulation to keep the cold out and the heat in. With severe cold, a tiny opening can let in enough cold air to cause a pipe to freeze.

Disconnect garden hoses and, if practical, use an indoor valve to shut off and drain water from pipes leading to outside faucets. This reduces the chance of freezing in the short span of pipe just inside the house.

A trickle of hot and cold water might be all it takes to keep your pipes from freezing. Let warm water drip overnight, preferably from a faucet on an outside wall.

Open cabinet doors to allow heat to get to uninsulated pipes under sinks and appliances near exterior walls.

Set the thermostat in your house no lower than 55 degrees (12 degrees Celsius).

Ask a friend or neighbor to check your house daily to make sure it's warm enough to prevent freezing, or…

Shut off and drain the water system. Be aware that if you have a fire protection sprinkler system in your house, it will be deactivated when you shut off the water.

Don't take chances If you turn on your faucets and nothing comes out, leave the faucets turned on and call a plumber. If you detect that your water pipes have frozen and burst, turn off the water at the main shut-off valve in the house; leave the water faucets turned on. (Make sure everyone in your family knows where the water shut-off valve is and how to open and close it.)

Never try to thaw a pipe with a torch or other open flame. Water damage is preferable to burning down your house. You may be able to thaw a frozen pipe with the warm air from a hair dryer. Start by warming the pipe as close to the faucet as possible, working toward the coldest section of pipe.