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With the commissioner and council elections in 2007 we have understandably seen some turnover on the governing boards of our insurance programs. This is probably a good thing, as it allows some new people to participate in the oversight of these membership programs.

At CCAP we truly believe these programs belong to the members. There are several ways this belief is evidenced. Bylaws for the programs establish that the assets belong to the members. The program bylaws also set up a dual method of determining who serves on the boards. Every board has a set of elected members. These board members are nominated and elected (usually by mail) by the counties which participate in the program. No county can have more than one representative on the board.

Part of each board (usually about half) is appointed by CCAP's incoming president. This allows CCAP to ensure the programs remain tied to the association, and do not spin off and become independent of CCAP participation.

No matter whether elected or appointed, every member of the insurance boards have to be from a county which is a member of that program. The only exception to this is our two captive insurance companies (PELICAN and COMCARE PRO) which have to follow Vermont law, and have one Vermont resident on each board.

This year we welcome some new members to our insurance boards, and continue to enjoy the participation of our incumbent board members. We still have a few vacancies to be filled, and many boards are meeting in February and will elect officers then.

There are 56 elected and appointed county and county-related entity representatives participating on the eight CCAP insurance boards. This includes 16 commissioners or council members, four other elected officials (two controllers, one sheriff and one coroner), 10 chief clerks, one solicitor, seven human resource directors, three finance directors, one risk manager and 19 other appointed county staff members.

They all ensure that the programs do what counties want and need. They also give you, the member, an access point when you have questions or concerns about how the programs operate - an access you do not have with commercial insurance companies.

So thanks to all who serve - and note the vacancies listed on the boards below - if you are interested in serving, please contact me!

Make sure you call us when you need help with something,

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2008 INSURANCE BOARDS
Here are the boards and their 2008 members. Thanks to all for their willingness to serve!

BEST Flex Board of Directors
Employee benefits programs (health, dental, life insurance and more).

Appointed by CCAP (All terms expire 12-31-09)
June Sorg (Elk County Commissioner), Chair
Gail Kipp (Columbia County Chief Clerk)
Fred Cechman (C.M.S.U. MH/MR Finance Director)
Beth Ward (Chester County Benefits Administrator)
Teresa Jones (Bradford County HR Director)

Elected by members (All terms expire 12-31-08)
Kristy Bixler (York County Assistant Director of HR)
Erick Coolidge (Tioga County Commissioner), Secretary/Treasurer
Dale Shelley (Juniata County Commissioner, Vice Chair
Beth Schiepan (Berks County HR Director)
Connie Hazelton (Venango County HR Director)

COMCARE Board of Directors
Managed care issues for human services.

Appointed Members
CCAP Members:
Donna Gority (Blair County Commissioner), Chair (12/31/09)
Two Vacant Positions (12/31/08)

PACDAA Member:
Rick Kastner (Executive Director Lancaster County Drug and Alcohol Commission), (12/31/08), Secretary/Treasurer

MH/MR PAAP Member:
Phil Keating, (CMSU MH/MR Addministrator) (12/31/09)

Elected Members
County Commissioners:
Joe Giles (Erie County Council Member) (12/31/09)
One Position Vacant (12/31/09)

Individual with Managed Care Expertise:
Scott Suhring (CEO, Capital Area Behavioral Health Collaborative) (12/31/09)

At Large Members:
Richard Mroczka (Carbon, Monroe, Pike D&A Commission) (12/31/08)
Jonna DiStefano (Executive Director, Delaware County Human Services) (12/31/08)

COMCARE PRO Subscribers Advisory Committee
Subscribers Advisory Committee (board) for captive insurance program providing behavioral health stop loss insurance.

Donna Gority (Blair County Commissioner), President (2009)
Dave McAdoo (Executive Director, Southwest Behavioral Health Management, Inc.) (2009)
Rick Kastner (Executive Director Lancaster County Drug and Alcohol Commission) (2010)
Scott Suhring (CEO, Capital Area Behavioral Health Collaborative) (2009), Vice President
Jonna DiStefano (Executive Director, Delaware County Human Services) (2008)
John Sallade (Managing Director, Insurance Programs, CCAP), Treasurer (2010)
One Position Vacant (2008)
Jim Girardin (Willis Vermont, Vermont Member) (2008)

PComp Board of Directors
Workers' compensation insurance.

Appointed By CCAP (All terms expire 12/31/09)
Bill Soberick (Columbia County Commissioner), Chair
Denise Jones (Venango County Chief Clerk), Secretary/Treasurer
Peggy Aharrah (Elk County Chief Clerk)
Dale Shelley (Juniata County Commissioner)
Sue Vogler (Tioga County Commissioner)
Dan Vogler (Lawrence County Commissioner)
William Boyle (Mercer County Director of Administrative Services)

Elected By Members (All terms expire 12/31/08)
Joe Giles (Erie County Councilmember) (2, 2A, 3rd & 4th Classes)
Bob Gress (Monroe County Chief Clerk) (5th Class)
Teresa Jones (Bradford County Personnel Director) (6th Class)
Dee Robinson (Union County Chief Clerk) (7th and 8th Class)
Donna Hartle (Clarion County Commissioner) (At Large)
Vacant (At Large)

Appointed by the PComp Board
Pam Humbert (Bedford - Somerset MH/MR HR Director), County-Related Entities Representative
Bonnie Meckley (SEDA-COG HR Director) County-Related Entities Representative

PCoRP Board of Directors
Property, liability, auto, crime insurance.

Appointed By CCAP(All terms expire 12/31/09)
Rob Cyphert (Beaver County Fiscal Director)
Bill Gaylord (Wyoming County Chief Clerk), Secretary/Treasurer
Gail Kipp (Columbia County Chief Clerk), Vice Chairman
Frank Staudenmeier (Schuylkill County Commissioner), Chairman
Jamie Wolgemuth (Lebanon County Chief Clerk)
Erick Coolidge (Tioga County Commissioner)
Lisa Moreno (Adams County Commissioner)

Elected By Members (All terms expire 12/31/08)
Brian Beader (Mercer County Commissioner) (4th & 5th Class)
June Sorg (Elk County Commissioner) (6th Class)
Norm Wimer (Forest County Coroner) (7th & 8th Class)
Eloise Ahner (Carbon County Assistant Chief Clerk) (At Large)
Dee Robinson (Union County Chief Clerk) (At Large)
Vacant (At Large)

PELICAN Subscribers Advisory Committee
Subscribers Advisory Committee (board) for captive insurance program providing liability insurance for county owned and non-profit nursing homes.

Class A Members
Mike Wilt (Executive Director, PACAH), President (2008)
Diane Cleary (Vermont Director) (2010)
Marvin Granda (Fiscal Officer, Gracedale Nursing Home) (2009)
Molly Hess (Administrator, Philadelphia Nursing Home) (2009)
Keith Wentz (Risk Manager, York County) (2008)
Joe Giles (Council Member, Erie County) (2009), Vice President
Vacant (2008)
Ronald King (Administrator, Jefferson Manor Health Center) (2010)

Class B Members
Vacant (2010)

PIMCC Board of Directors
Public institution medical cost containment program (prisons and nursing homes).

Appointed Members (term ends 12/31/08)
Carol Wilson, Indiana County Warden, Chair
Vince Guarini, Lancaster County Warden
Larry Kopko, Warren County Sheriff
Ralph Youmans, Tioga County Warden
Harris Gubernick, Bucks County Director of Corrections

Elected Members (term ends 12/31/09) (Nominations and elections being held)
District 1 Representative - Donna Oberlander, Clarion County Commissioner, Secretary/Treasurer
District 2 Representative - Vacant
District 3 Representative - Dale Shelley, Juniata County Commissioner
District 4 Representative - David Kovach, Columbia County Commissioner, Vice Chairman
District 5 Representative - Vacant
District 6 Representative - Vacant
District 7 Representative - Eloise Ahner, Carbon County Assistant Chief Clerk

CCAP Unemployment Compensation Trustees
Unemployment compensation insurance.

Appointed By CCAP
John White (Adams County Special Legal Counsel) (12/31/09)
Chuck Dominick (Westmoreland County Human Resources Director) (12/31/08), Secretary/Treasurer
Robb Green (York County Controller) (12/31/08)
Carmen Thome (Bucks County HR Director) (12/31/09)
Derek Williams (Tioga County Chief Clerk) (12/31/08)

Elected By Members (nominations and elections being held)
Joseph Giles (Erie County Councilmember), 2A and 3rd Classes Representative
(12/31/09), Chairman
Chuck Witmer (Centre County Controller) 4th and 5th Classes Representative (12/31/09)
Gayle Kershner, (Bradford County Chief Clerk), 6th Class Representative, (12/31/08)
Betty Reibson (Sullivan County Commissioner), 7th and 8th Class Representative (12/31/09)
James Marker (Somerset County Commissioner), At Large Representative (12/31/08),
Vice Chairman

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PELICAN CLAIMS REPORTING ON-LINE NOW MANDATORY
By Dave Harman, Claims Supervisor

On February 1, 2008, the PELICAN Subscribers Advisory Committee voted to make on-line claims reporting via the STARS WEB system the mandatory way in which to report claims. In order to submit a claim on-line, you must have a User ID and Password. If you do not have one already, please contact me as soon as possible and I will be happy to assist you.

I am also pleased to announce that Teresa Isabella will begin to handle PELICAN claims. Teresa has been with CCAP for over six years in the claims department handling property and liability claims.

Finally, the Spring Training Classes can now be viewed on the CCAP Website. Please be sure to look at all the topics that are being offered! You will notice that there has been a KEYS workshop added in the Reading area to help accommodate our PELICAN members in the Southeast portion of the State. I look forward to seeing you at some workshops this year!!!

As always, if anyone has any questions about any aspect of the PELICAN program, please feel free to contact me.
Dave Harman, Claims Supervisor, at 800-895-9039, ext 3333.

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FRANKLIN COUNTY BECOMES 47th PCoRP MEMBER
By John Sallade, Managing Director, CCAP Insurance Programs

PCoRP may be 20 years old, but it is still growing! On January 1, 2008 Franklin County became the 42nd county and 47th member of PCoRP.

We asked county Risk Manager Loretta McClure what lead the county to decide to join PCoRP, and she noted "Through the County's three-year insurance market survey and RFP process, the Franklin County Board of Commissioners considered various options including traditional, large deductible, and the risk pool. PCoRP was chosen as a means to consolidate and solidify Franklin County's insurance portfolio, while benefiting from an overall premium savings. CCAP's assertive loss control and claims administration compliments the County's existing risk management program. We look forward to a mutually beneficial relationship with PCoRP."

The county's local insurance producer is Barbara Bietsch of Hartzok Insurance in Chambersburg.

We are pleased to welcome Franklin County to PCoRP!

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SAVE THE DATE: 2008 BENEFITS NETWORKING SYMPOSIUMS
Sponsored by the CCAP BEST Flex Program
By Julia Jackson, Employee Benefits Programs Manager

The CCAP BEST Flex Board of Directors cordially invites all county commissioners, chief clerks and human resources personnel to attend any one of its four (4) Benefits Networking Symposiums being held across the commonwealth on the following dates:

March 17 at the Eden Resort in Lancaster
March 18 at the Scranton Hilton
March 19 at the Nittany Lion Inn in State College
March 20 at the Hampton Inn in Grove City

The Symposiums will run from 9:30 AM to 3:00 PM and will cover a variety of benefits related topics to include: The Truth about the Real Costs of Health Insurance, Budgeting and Managing Benefits, Union Considerations, the Value of Group Purchasing, and Effectively Communicating Benefits with Employees. Additionally, attendees will have several opportunities to network with their colleagues in neighboring counties, share ideas, and learn from others' triumphs and trials in the benefits arena. To best facilitate the networking portion of the program, we encourage you to attend the Symposium closest to your county; however, you are welcome to attend at any location.

There is no cost to attend and lunch will be provided. Watch for registration and additional information coming soon! In the meantime, please contact Julia Jackson at (800) 895-9039 to learn more about BEST Flex or the upcoming Symposiums.

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THE CCAP UC TRUST RETURNS DIVIDENDS
By Julia Jackson, Employee Benefits Programs Manager

The CCAP Unemployment Compensation (UC) Trust is pleased to announce that a dividend will be paid to members in early February, 2008. A total of $791,000 was distributed to 35 of its 41 county and six county-related entity members who had a positive account balance with the Trust as of December 31, 2007. An account balance is determined by subtracting claims and administrative expenses from the contributions the member has made to the Trust and the interest earned since joining the Trust. Members with a zero or negative account balance did not receive a dividend.

One reason the Trust was able to provide this dividend to the members is the decision several years ago to purchase "relief from charges" coverage for all Trust members. The payment of the relatively new state solvency fee has turned out to be a great investment, as claims are reduced significantly. While we are encouraged that the Trust's financial position is very strong, we do want to point out that there is no guarantee dividends can be paid every year.

For additional information on the CCAP UC Trust, contact Julia Jackson at 800-895-9039.

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CRITICAL INCIDENT STRESS MANAGEMENT RESPONSE SERVICES
A new service for CCAP UC Trust members in 2008
By Julia Jackson, Employee Benefits Programs Manager

Mazzitti & Sullivan, the CCAP UC Trust's Employee Assistance Program (EAP) provider, has added services to respond to critical incidents that occur at the workplace and impact county staff. Critical Incident Stress Management (CISM) Response Services is a process that prevents or limits the development of post-traumatic stress in people exposed to critical incidents that occur at the workplace. Professionally conducted debriefings help people cope with, and recover from an incident's aftereffects. CISM enables participants to understand that they are not alone in their reactions to a distressing event, and provides them with an opportunity to discuss their thoughts and feelings in a controlled, safe environment.

Although many counties have a system in place for such an occurrence, the after-effects of a traumatic event at the workplace can last for days or weeks beyond the original event. CISM is designed to provide secondary crisis response services to a county's first responders and/or employees after a critical incident at the workplace has occurred. It is not designed to replace an existing crisis response services.

The Mazzitti & Sullivan EAP Program and CISM Response Services are available to all CCAP UC Trust members at no cost.

Details of the CISM Response Services program were sent to all UC Trust members in early January. For questions or additional information, please contact Julia Jackson at 800-895-9039.

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PCoRP BOARD SEEKING NOMINATIONS FOR OPEN SEAT
The PCoRP Board of Directors is seeking a representative to fill an At Large elected position on the PCoRP Board. The position was formerly held by a commissioner, and the Board's preference is for a commissioner to fill the position, but any representative of a PCoRP member is eligible for appointment. The following counties already have representatives on the Board and cannot have another representative: Adams, Beaver, Carbon, Columbia, Elk, Forest, Lebanon, Mercer, Schuylkill, Tioga, Union and Wyoming. The Board meets three times a year, and PCoRP will pay for expenses for meeting attendance and travel. Interested individuals should contact John Sallade at CCAP for a nomination form. The PCoRP Board will select the board member from those nominated by the members.

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PREPARING FOR 2008: FOUR IDEAS FOR SOUND FINANCIAL MANAGEMENT
By Brian Sanker, Consultant, PFM Asset Management LLC

The holidays have past and the New Year's celebration has wound down. Still, the first weeks of a new year are a natural time for us all to step back and take stock. That's why so many of us have made New Year's resolutions (which some of us have already broken!).

For counties and other local government entities, the early part of the year offers an excellent opportunity to review their approach to financial management. This need not be an incredibly time-consuming exercise.

In fact, by focusing on a handful of topics, municipal investors can bring greater efficiency to their money management and, potentially, boost the rate of return on their overall portfolio.

Here are four ideas to consider for sound financial management in 2008:

1. Before you look ahead, see where you stand
To start, get a firm grasp on your current situation. Take time to identify each of your investments and review the interest rates you currently earn. Then, explore your options. Are there ways that you may be able to improve your return? For example, perhaps you can shift some liquid funds into an investment that earns a higher interest rate.

Next, take a look at your county's relationships with various banks and investment institutions. Are you happy with your relationship? What fees are you paying, and what services are you receiving for those fees? If you're not satisfied with the answers, explore different options for your checking and money-market-type accounts. If you can trim fees and other expenses, you can put more of your money to work.

2. Make money management easier
For municipal investors, it's no longer the 1980s. Electronic transactions and the Web have transformed the way counties manage finances, and the benefits are clear: time savings, greater efficiency, improved recordkeeping, and more.

Start the year right by reviewing your use of electronic services and asking yourself: "Am I maximizing my use of time-saving services?" Consider adopting the following tools, among others:

• Web-based money management
• ACH payments and automated tax payments
• Procurement cards that streamline purchasing
• "Sweeps" programs that automatically sweep your money from one account to a higher-interest-earning account

3. Get a better handle on cash flow
A key part of any government's budgeting process involves cash flow. By carefully analyzing the fluctuations in the amount of cash available, you can optimize investment earnings, better manage costs, and more efficiently budget for the coming year.

There are a few basic steps in this process. First, get a clear picture of your history by reviewing the historical changes in your cash balances from month to month and calculating your average monthly balance. Next, look for any seasonal trends or other patterns in your spending. Then, calculate any nominal growth over time and factor that into your planning.

At this point, you'll have a pretty good idea how much cash you have on hand at any given time and when peaks in your cash balance tend to occur. Now, it's time to figure the amount of funds you'll need to meet ongoing expenses.

4. Consider fixed-term investments
Over the past several months, a volatile market has led to a so-called "flight to quality," when investors seek less risky investments, like U.S. Treasuries. That boosts demand for these instruments, which are the basis for many investments made by PLGIT members. The demand, in turn, drives prices higher, and on these types of investments, higher prices actually reduce yields.

So, how should that affect your investment approach for 2008?
Consider a disciplined program of locking in interest rates with fixed-term investments. For counties and other municipal investors, "disciplined" means matching the specific funds invested with specific anticipated needs, whenever possible. This will enable you to identify a particular investment term and to have a clear sense of which funds have been allocated for which specific purposes.

A final thought
As you consider these ideas, and perhaps others, for sound financial management, remember one thing: don't procrastinate. By stepping back to take in the wide-angle view of your finances, you may identify opportunities for greater efficiency and better rates of return that are well worth a bit of effort.

If you have specific questions or need guidance, contact your PLGIT marketing representative today or call PLGIT at 800.572.1472. For more information about PLGIT, visit www.PLGIT.com.

Brian Sanker is a consultant working in Harrisburg for PFM Asset Management LLC. He can be reached at sankerb@pfm.com.

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2008 SPRING WORKSHOP SEASON
By Linda Rosito, Insurance Training Director

The 2008 spring season will offer 20 training opportunities for you. Workshop topics are set and the Glimpse will be in the mail early February with all the workshop details. All workshop information will also be available on the CCAP website in early February. Please visit www.pacounties.org for more information and to register on-line.

So MARK YOUR CALENDARS (2008 spring dates) now and watch for your copy of Glimpse!!! Below is a list of some of the workshops and topics this spring.

• KEYS: The Secret to High Performance Employees
• KEYS: HR Law Boot Camp (Basic and Advanced classes will be offered)
• KEYS: Why is Everyone So Hard to Work with Except Me?
• UC Trust: Leadership: A Few Good Men and Women
• Maintenance Workshop: Best Practices for Preventive Maintenance on Older Structures
• Prison Risk Management Workshop: Legislative Update, Contracts and Third Party Vendors, Legal Update and MRSA Update.
• PComp Loss Control Workshop
• PCoRP Loss Control Workshop
• Defensive Driving Courses

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WINTER SLIPPERY SURFACES
How NOT to Get Tripped Up!
By Gary Nicholson, CHSP, Senior Loss Control Specialist

Weather-related slips and falls are especially common during winter months. Unless they're ice skating or skiing this winter, you don't want your employees slipping and sliding around the workplace. Weather-related slips, trips, and falls become a serious hazard as winter conditions often make for wet or icy outdoor surfaces. Even wet leaves or mud can create treacherous walking conditions. Inside buildings spills and leaks can always lead to slips and falls anytime during the year.

You want to do everything you can to prevent these accidents from occurring outside and inside buildings. Perhaps the best way to do it is by providing employee awareness training. Conducting brief safety talks in every department will get employees thinking about slipping hazards and taking precautions to prevent falls.

Here are some tips to include in employee safety talks:

Create a SLIP FREE ZONE ... inside and outside buildings.

Inside Buildings

• Remind employees to clean up spills, drips, and leaks immediately. Even a little coffee spill on the floor can cause an injury.
• Make sure maintenance personnel and other employees put up signs or barriers to warn people when floors are wet, slippery, or otherwise hazardous.
• Be sure that on wet days, somebody is assigned to put down mats near entryways to help keep floors dry.

• See that slippery spots are sanded or salted immediately.
• Encourage employees to wear sensible shoes with nonskid soles.
• Remind employees to wipe their feet when they come inside, and to walk slowly and take smaller steps on wet or slippery surfaces.

• Make sure employees know how, and to whom, to report any slipping hazards they can't clean up effectively inside.
• Make it easy for employees to report any slipping hazards they notice outside, on walkways, in parking lots, or anywhere else on member's property. Maintenance can then get to the scene quickly and remove the hazard before an employee or visitor slips and falls.
• As a matter of safety, emphasize that every employee fix or report any hazardous condition they find.

The bottom line is to STOP slips and falls.

Why It Matters...

• Falls are among the most common type of injury both on and off the job.
• Several hundred thousand American workers suffer injuries from falls on the job every year and a number of those are related to slipping accidents.
• Although slips and falls usually aren't fatal, they can cause broken bones and back injuries.
• Awareness by employees and emphasis on indoor and outdoor maintenance can prevent most slip-related accidents.

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HOUSEKEEPING ON THE JOB
By Bob Lauzonis, Loss Control Department

You have a pretty good idea how safe a job is just by looking at it before you start to work. A job that looks clean, with everything in its place, is a safe job. That's all we mean when we talk about job housekeeping. Good housekeeping calls for just two simple points, try to remember them:

1. Keep trash and loose objects picked up and dispose of them.
2. Pile all materials and park all tools and equipment in the places where they belong.

When you see something lying around where it could trip an individual or fall on them, put it in a safe place. Don't wait for someone else to do it. If it's something that he or she will be looking for, you can put it safely where they can see it.

You've seen jobs, and probably worked on some, where it wasn't safe to put your foot down without first looking twice to be sure you weren't going to twist an ankle or run a nail through your shoe. A job like that is poorly run, badly managed and is probably losing money as well as causing accidents.

Jobs can vary; some jobs have walkways, aisles, stairs, and ladders by which you get from one place to another. It's particularly important that these lines of travel be kept safe and clear of loose objects. Workers often carry loads on these routes. They can't always pick their steps or look around to be sure that nothing is going to trip them or fall on them. Remember and make sure you can see over the load, and watch where you're going. DO NOT walk backwards and hold conversation to a minimum; CONCENTRATE on reaching your destination with your load intact. Look for obstacles in your path - a pencil sharpener or a file extending beyond the edge of a desk; an open drawer, a misplaced briefcase or trash can.

Some workplaces have more window area than others. Make sure you don't try to walk through a window or glass door. Partly opened doors should be approached with caution. The person coming through may not be aware of your presence. Watch for overhead hazards. Never store heavy materials on top of file cabinets. Movable objects, like flower pots, vases and boxes, should not be placed on window sills or ledges. A wet or greasy walkway may cause a bad accident. If you see a treacherous spot, make it your business to do some sweeping, mopping or scraping. We all know the value of good lighting while housekeeping. Poor lighting and accidents go together. When you find a light out, report it and get a replacement.

Remember these quick tips:

• Clean up after yourself, which sets a good example for others.
• Always look out for items that are out of place.
• Use mats to eliminate slip hazards.
• Use a damp cloth to keep work areas dust free.
• Maintain clear aisles, stairs, walkways and doorways.
• Mark doors, passageways and stairways that could be mistaken for exits.
• Use extension cords properly and ensure they do not present tripping hazards.
• Highlight any drop in the floor level with yellow and black lines.

Good housekeeping is as important in preventing injuries as wearing protective personal equipment (PPE) or following correct work procedures. What are some of the most common housekeeping problems at your workplace/workstation? How do you encourage employees to solve these problems?

Remember, let safety be a sponge - soak it up!

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