SPECIALTY LINES
Since we started our insurance programs over 27 years ago we have been fortunate in having outstanding participation by CCAP members on the programs' governing bodies. In this issue of IM we are listing the officers of each of the insurance programs, and last month we reviewed the entire membership of each board.

Our governing boards are very active, and really see a lot of information about how the programs are being operated, and how services are provided to the members. We encourage the board members to attend national conferences where they can learn what other pool boards are doing, which allows them to evaluate our operations and also to become better board members.

The CCAP UC Trust is in its 28th year of service to counties, PCoRP its 21st, PComp its 16th year. Our newest programs, PELICAN, PRO and BEST Flex, are progressing well and before we know it will enter those awkward teen years! This kind of longevity does not just happen. It is a tribute to the leadership of the governing boards and their involvement in the details of the programs. Our deepest thanks to them for their past, current and service yet to come.

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

                                                            John Sallade

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PCOMP MEMBER DINNER AT CCAP SPRING CONFERENCE
By John Sallade, Managing Director, CCAP Insurance Programs

Invitations have been emailed to all PComp Members and Local Insurance Producers for the Annual PComp Delegates' Dinner Meeting. The meeting will be Sunday evening March 30th at the Harrisburg Hilton (the first day of the CCAP Spring Conference). The dinner will begin at 6:00 PM and end at 8:00 PM. Spouses and guests are welcome, and there is no cost to attend. We do need you to preregister so we can make accurate arrangements for dinner.

This is the annual meeting of the members of PComp, CCAP's workers' compensation insurance pool. If you are a newly elected official, this is a great way to learn more about PComp and how your workers' compensation insurance is handled!

A short business meeting will follow the dinner. PComp officers and staff will present an update on the program, and annual awards will be announced. An agenda for the meeting was included in the email notice to the members.

To register for the dinner, please use the form sent with the email, or just email the names and titles of those attending to Lauren Kenes (lkenes@pacounties.org) at CCAP.

Please note the Delegates' Dinner Meeting is open to all representatives of PComp members and their local insurance producers, not just PComp Delegates. We hope to see you Sunday, March 30th. If you have any questions about the dinner meeting, please call John Sallade (800-895-9039) or send him an email at jsallade@pacounties.org.

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2008 INSURANCE BOARD OFFICERS
By John Sallade, Managing Director, CCAP Insurance Programs

Several of the CCAP insurance program boards have met and elected officers and committee members for 2008. We are appreciative the following individuals are willing to serve in these important leadership roles:


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

Chair: June Sorg, Elk County Commissioner
Vice Chair: Dale Shelley, Juniata County Commissioner
Secretary/Treasurer: Erick Coolidge, Tioga County Commissioner


COMCARE Board
Managed care issues for human services.

Chair: Donna Gority, Blair County Commissioner
Vice Chair: Vacant
Secretary/Treasurer: Rick Kastner, Executive Director, Lancaster County Drug and Alcohol Commission


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

President: Donna Gority, Blair County Commissioner
Vice President: Scott Suhring, CEO, Capital Area Behavioral Health Collaborative
Secretary: Christie Ward, Captive Programs Manager, CCAP
Treasurer: John Sallade, Managing Director, Insurance Programs, CCAP


PComp Board
Workers’ compensation insurance.

Chair: Bill Soberick, Columbia County Commissioner
Vice Chair: Donna Hartle, Clarion County Commissioner
Secretary/Treasurer: Denise Jones, Venango County Chief Clerk

Investment Committee Representatives: Donna Hartle and Bill Soberick
Finance Committee: Donna Hartle, Chair; Dee Robinson, Joe Giles


PCoRP Board
Property, liability, auto, crime insurance.

Chair: Frank Staudenmeier, Schuylkill County Commissioner
Vice Chair: Gail Kipp, Columbia County Chief Clerk
Secretary/Treasurer: Bill Gaylord, Wyoming County Chief Clerk

Investment Committee Representatives: Jamie Wolgemuth and Lisa Moreno
Underwriting & Claims Committee: Frank Staudenmeier, Gail Kipp, Erick Coolidge, Bruce Mitchell, Dave Harman, Karen Cohen, Marsha Elmer, John Yaninek, Colleen Shaner
Finance and Audit Committee: Jamie Wolgemuth, Chair; Rob Cyphert, Norm Wimer, John Sallade, Janice Shirk


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

President: Mike Wilt, Executive Director, PACAH
Vice President: Joe Giles, Erie County Council Member
Secretary/Treasurer: John Sallade, Managing Director, Insurance Programs, CCAP

Executive and Finance Subcommittee: Joe Giles, Chair; Mike Wilt, Ron King
Claims and Loss Prevention Subcommittee: Keith Wentz, Chair; Marvin Granda,
Molly Hess
Underwriting and Member Services Subcommittee: Mike Wilt, Chair; Diane Cleary, James Aurand
Investment Committee Representatives: Keith Wentz and Joe Giles


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

Chair: Carol Wilson, Indiana County Warden
Vice Chair: Dave Kovach, Columbia County Commissioner
Secretary/Treasurer: Donna Oblerlander, Clarion County Commissioner


CCAP UC Trust
Unemployment compensation insurance.

Chair: Joe Giles, Erie County Council Member
Vice Chair: Jim Marker, Somerset County Commissioner
Secretary/Treasurer: Chuck Dominick, Westmoreland County HR Director

Joint Investment Committee Representatives: Joe Giles and James Marker

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THIRD ANNUAL NACo/NATIONWIDE SCHOLARSHIP
High School Seniors Can Win a $2,500 Scholarship for College
By Julia Jackson, Employee Benefits Programs Manager

This spring, two forward-thinking high school seniors will each earn $2,500 for college from the NACo/Nationwide Scholarship. Winning applicants will have researched the amount of money they will need at retirement and described how secure their financial future is for retirement.

This is the third year in a row that Nationwide and the National Association of Counties have teamed up to encourage high-school seniors to think about retirement.

Why spur students who haven't even started full-time work to think about retirement?
Three reasons - by applying for the scholarship the students:

• Must consider the financial impact of their decisions about college and their career.
• Begin to recognize the value of time - the power that enables compounding to deliver significant returns on investment long-term, even if there are intervening short-term declines in the investment market.
• Can get ideas for how they can prepare for a financially successful future rather than just "letting it happen."

To be eligible, applicants must be high school seniors or graduates (age 20 and under) who are legal U.S. residents and whose parent or grandparent actively contributes to the NACo 457 Deferred Compensation Plan.

The winning applicants must enroll in a full-time undergraduate course of study no later than the fall term of the 2008-2009 school year at an accredited two- or four-year college to receive the scholarship.

Application and entry must be postmarked no later than March 31, 2008 and sent to:
ATTN: Louie Watson
Nationwide Retirement Solutions
5900 Parkwood Place, PW-1-16
Dublin, OH 43016

The NACo/Nationwide Scholarship is just one of the services arising out of the 28-year partnership the company has enjoyed with the National Association of Counties. As provider of the NACo deferred compensation program, Nationwide regularly reports to the NACo Deferred Compensation Advisory Committee on industry trends, updates statistics on the program and provides ongoing education on retirement issues.

For more information about the scholarship:
All of the information about eligibility, judging criteria and notification process are on NACo's web site, www.naco.org/retirementscholarship.

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FREE COUNTY vs COUNTY "BIGGEST LOSER" CONTEST
Sponsored by the CCAP BEST Flex Program
By Julia Jackson, Employee Benefits Programs Manager

The CCAP BEST Flex Program is pleased to announce it will be sponsoring a "Biggest Loser" Contest between participating Pennsylvania counties. This contest will be the first of many wellness-related BEST Flex initiatives.

The goal of this contest is for your employees to increase their health status by getting fit and as a result increase their productivity at work! We hope the added element of competition between the counties will fuel employees' desire to do their best and safely lose the most weight.

BEST Flex will set up a website with weight loss and exercise tips for your employees to access. We will also create the program rules and requirements after an initial conference call with interested counties. Lastly, we will provide communication materials to be facilitated at each county regarding the contest, and coordinate any distribution of prizes at its completion.

STAY TUNED for more information in the coming months. The contest will take place in late spring, just in time for those beach vacations!

Contact Julia Jackson at (800) 895-9039 or jjackson@pacounties.org.

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PELICAN INSURANCE PROGRAM 2008 RENEWAL UPDATE AND
NOTICE OF PELICAN FIFTH ANNUAL SUBSCRIBER'S MEETING
By Stephen A. McDermott, CPCU, Captive Programs Director

This year there are two pieces of good news regarding PELICAN's nursing home liability insurance program. First, PELICAN's rates for 2008-2009 are increasing less than three percent over the rate used in 2007-2008! We are pleased that our excellent claims experience has allowed us to keep our rate increase low. Second, MCare has announced a decrease in the MCARE Assessment percentage for 2008 from 23% to 20%. Information on MCARE is available on MCARE's website at www.mcare.state.pa.us.

Also, PELICAN Insurance will hold its fifth annual Subscriber's Meeting, Wednesday, April 23, 2008, at the Eden Resort in Lancaster, PA. The meeting is open to PELICAN Insurance subscribers and their producers, and will take place during the PACAH Spring Conference. The meeting will begin with a buffet luncheon followed by a short business meeting. On the meeting agenda this year is the election to fill three positions on the PELICAN Subscriber's Advisory Committee (SAC) whose terms expire in 2008. The SAC is the Board of Directors responsible for the operation of PELICAN Insurance program. There is no charge to attend this meeting, but pre-registration is requested for planning purposes. Please look for the meeting notice mailing in March.

The PELICAN liability insurance program provides primary nursing home professional liability and general liability insurance on a claims-made basis. PELICAN Insurance is a Vermont domiciled Reciprocal Risk Retention Group (RRG) formed under federal law and is owned by the participating nursing facilities.

Administration, claims and loss control services are provided by CCAP. Producer and consulting services are provided by Willis POOLING and Willis Management (Vermont) Ltd. The individual facilities must choose their own insurance producer.

PELICAN membership is open to current PACAH Full Voting and Associate member non-profit nursing homes. This program is not open to for-profit facilities. PELICAN Insurance is a CCAP insurance program sponsored by PACAH which began writing business effective March 1, 2003. The PELICAN Insurance program runs from March 1 to March 1.

As of renewal, March 1, 2008, PELICAN has 31 members. Total PELICAN premium as of March 1, 2008 is approximately $3.6M (excluding MCare; $4.1M including the MCare Assessment).

If you would like any additional information regarding the PELICAN Insurance program, or the PELICAN Annual Subscriber's Meeting, please contact Steve McDermott, Captive Programs Director, CCAP Insurance Programs, telephone 800-895-9039, email smcdermott@pacounties.org.

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THERE'S STILL TIME TO REGISTER!
2008 BENEFITS NETWORKING SYMPOSIUMS - MARCH 17, 18, 19 & 20
By Julia Jackson, Employee Benefits Programs Manager

There is still time register for the 2008 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

All county commissioners, chief clerks and human resources personnel are welcome to attend. The Symposiums will run from 10:00 AM to 2:00 PM and will cover a variety of benefits related topics to include: Health Insurance Best Practices, Managing Your County's Benefits, Budgeting for Benefits (County Administration Track), and Effectively Communicating Benefits with Employees (HR Track). 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. Pre-registration is required. Please contact Julia Jackson or Lauren Kenes at (800) 895-9039.

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COUNTY ADMINISTRATION CONFERENCE - MAY 28 & 29, 2008
By Linda Rosito, Insurance Training Director

Join us for the Annual County Administration Conference May 28 & 29 at the Penn Stater in State College. This event is for all county personnel interested in county finances and budgets, personnel and human resource issues, and overall county administration. There will be general sessions for everyone on Day One along with a reception perfect for networking with your peers. On Day Two there will be a multitude of breakout sessions covering a broad range of topics. Both days will also offer extended breakout sessions.

PCoRP and UC Trust members may attend at a discounted rate; current Academy and Advanced Certification Program participants can attend for free; and vendors may attend as a sponsor of the event! (Overnight expenses are not included with registration).

Visit the CCAP website at www.pacounties.org or see your current copy of the Glimpse for additional details and registration information. More information and a detailed agenda will also be forthcoming in your county mail.

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MARCH WELCOMES THE BEGINNING OF THE WORKSHOP SEASON
By Linda Rosito, Insurance Training Director

By now most of you should have received your copy of the Glimpse, which was mailed in early February, outlining the training opportunities this Spring. We hope you like the new look to it. If you have not received a copy, you can still review all workshop information on our website at www.pacounties.org and click on the Glimpse eye in the bottom right corner of the home page. If you wish to receive the Glimpse in the future, please forward me your contact information.

As in the past the Academy for Excellence in County Government is a co-sponsor to several of our workshops this season. Please look for the asterisk (*) for those workshops. Credit information is listed on each of the workshop pages. These workshop opportunities give the Academy participants additional chances to earn their credits needed to graduate.

I look forward to seeing you this spring!

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UPCOMING ACADEMY FOR EXCELLENCE EVENTS
By Mandi Glantz, Director of Member & Vendor Relations

CCAP and the Academy for Excellence in County Government are hosting a three-day workshop series with programs on Innovative Approaches to County Government with Technology, Legal Issues and Risk Management. On Wednesday, April 16, join us for the "Innovative Approaches with Technology" session with the CCAP technology staff as well as solicitor from Pepper Hamilton LLP and several Chief Information Officers from across the Commonwealth. The course will run from 9:00 AM until 3:30 PM with lunch included. Topics include VoIP, technology policies, distance education, county web sites and video conferencing among others.

The "Legal Issues" session on April 17 will highlight critical employment issues for public officials, civil rights litigation, general liability and politics in the courthouse. Presenters include Equity Partner Marie Milie Jones, Senior Associate Michael Lettrich and Non-equity Partner Mary Lou Maierhofer, all representatives of Meyer, Darragh, Buckler, Bebenek & Eck, P.L.L.C.. The course will run from 9:00 AM to 3:30 PM with lunch included.

On April 18, a "Risk Management" session will be presented by John Sallade, CRM, Managing Director of the CCAP Insurance Programs. The workshop will run from 9:00 am to Noon and will cover topics such as safety and bonding, workers' compensation, accident reporting, governmental immunity and more. Lunch is not included for this workshop.

All workshops will be held at the Ramada Inn and Conference Center in State College.

If you are an Academy or Academy Advanced Certification participant, attendance at one or both sessions is free of charge. Academy Program participants will earn required course credit for the program for all three courses. The Legal Issues and Risk Management courses will also fulfill required credit for Advanced Certification Program participants. The workshops are open to all county commissioners, chief clerks, administrators, solicitors and their counterparts in home rule counties. Associate members and other CCAP vendors are also invited to attend these workshops. Registered Academy and Academy Advanced Certification participants may attend at no cost. The cost for Non-Academy Participants (CCAP Members) vary. Other fees may apply to Academy graduates, Associate members and other vendors. The workshop fee INCLUDES breaks and session materials for each day and lunch on April 16 and 17.

Seating is limited - for registration information, please visit the CCAP website at www.pacounties.org and click on "Education and Conferences" and then on "Academy for Excellence" in the menu bar and/or contact Mandi Glantz, Director of Member & Vendor Relations, by phone 717-526-1010, or email mglantz@pacounties.org.

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SAVING YOUR BACK
By Greg Cunningham, Loss Control Specialist

Take it from someone who knows, back pain hurts! The back is the body part most affected by disabling work injuries in the United States. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, over a million workers suffer back injuries annually and they account for one of every five workplace injuries. Please read on to learn more about saving your back.

It doesn't have to be heavy to hurt you:

Most people think that the majority of back injuries occur when someone tries to lift something that's too heavy. While this is the source for many injuries it's also true that improper form while lifting is as much to blame for these injuries and definitely to blame for those injuries where weight isn't a factor. The amount of force placed on your back under certain conditions can be surprising. Anytime you bend or lean over to pick something up without bending your knees, you put tremendous pressure on your lower back. Think of your back as a lever. With the fulcrum in the center of the lever, it only takes ten pounds of pressure to lift a ten pound object. However, if you shift the fulcrum to one side; it takes much more force to lift the same object. Your waist acts like the fulcrum in a lever system, and it is not centered. In fact, it operates on a 10:1 ratio; therefore lifting a ten pound object actually puts 100 pounds of pressure on your lower back. When you add in the 105 pounds of the average human upper torso, you see that lifting a ten pound object actually puts 1,150 pounds of pressure on your lower back! Given these figures, it is easy to see how repetitive, improper lifting and bending can quickly cause back problems. Even leaning forward while sitting at a desk or table and excessive driving can eventually lead to back-related problems.
Observe the following rules when lifting anything:

• Determine if you need help--consider the distance of the lift and the object's weight.
• Push heavy loads instead of pulling them.
• Look over the pick-up and delivery area for tripping hazards, slippery spots, small doors, sharp corners, blind spots, etc.
• Inspect the object for sharp corners, wet surfaces, etc.
• Place feet correctly--one foot close to the side of the object to provide stability--and one directly behind the object to provide lift.
• Keep the object as close to your body as possible.
• Get a correct grip or hold on the object by using a full grip--not just your fingers.
• Keep your back straight--this does not mean vertical--just aligned from head to pelvis.
• Avoid twisting, bending and reaching while handling heavy objects.
• Do the actual lifting with your legs only.
• Just as important as lifting correctly is the act of lowering the load correctly. You should lower objects in the same manner as you lifted them.

After following the tips mentioned above you'll notice that lifting correctly is the easiest way to lift the load, with the least strain and awkwardness. Lifting the wrong way, over time, will cause pain and injury. Remember, it only takes a short time to injure the back and a very long time to heal it.

Back pain/injury prevention for the computer workstation:

With more and more employees working at least part of their day at computer or other seated workstations, we need to examine how to protect our backs while seated. Contrary to popular belief, all back injuries don't necessarily occur from a single incidence--for instance, bending over and picking up a heavy object. Rather, some back injuries are the result of repetitive motions, bad postures, and seated pressures over the course of months or even years. If you sit at a computer or other machine during the day, follow these tips to reduce your back injury potential:

• Take frequent breaks during your shift; stand up, walk around and stretch.
• Make use of every adjustment at your workstation such as on chairs and worktables.
• If possible adopt a 'u-shaped' workstation design to avoid reaching and stretching. Adjust your workstation to fit your body and your work.
• Adjust seat height to keep your thighs parallel to the floor or sloping slightly forward and place a lumbar support in the natural curve of your lower back.
• Avoid awkward or unnatural positions.

Exercise for general health and a healthier back:

Not only will frequent exercise improve your general health but your back's health as well. Keeping your weight in check and maintaining flexibility are probably the most important things you can do physically to minimize your risk of a back injury. Also, having strong abdominal muscles is essential in supporting and strengthening your back and reducing the risk of injury.

Follow these links for more information on protecting your back:

For more information on this topic, contact Greg Cunningham, CCAP Loss Control Specialist, by email or phone 800-895-9039, ext 3369.

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STAFF NOTES

Congratulations to Greg Cunningham, CCAP Loss Control Specialist, who has achieved the ARM designation! The Associate in Risk Management designation is offered by the American Institute for CPCU and the Insurance Institute of America. (CPCU is Chartered Property Casualty Underwriters.) The designation consists of successful completion of three courses: risk assessment, risk control and risk financing.

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CONTACT INFORMATION

CCAP Insurance Programs
2789 Old Post Road, Harrisburg, PA 17110
Phone 800-895-9039 - FAX 717-526-1020
Claims Fax 888-692-2368
Click here to go the Insurance Section of the CCAP Website.

email:jsallade@pacounties.org

Insurance Matters is published monthly by CCAP Insurance Programs for the use of members
of CCAP's UC Trust, PCoRP, PComp, PIMCC, COMCARE, COMCARE PRO, BEST Flex,
PELICAN and other insurance programs, and insurance producers of these members.

Advice contained in this publication is not legal advice and members are encouraged
to seek the opinion of their solicitor.

Click here to send feedback, add a subscription, change your address or discontinue a subscription.

The information provided in this publication is not intended to take the place of professional advice. Readers are encouraged to consult with competent legal, financial, or other appropriate professionals. Statements of facts and opinions expressed in this publication, by authors other than Association staff and officers, are the sole responsibility of the authors and do not necessarily represent an opinion or philosophy of the officers, members and staff of the County Commissioners Association of Pennsylvania (CCAP). No endorsement of advertised products or services is implied by CCAP unless those products or services are expressly endorsed, or are owned or managed by the Association programs, or our affiliates. This publication may not be reproduced, modified, distributed, or displayed in part or in whole, by any means, without advance written permission of CCAP. Please direct your requests to John Sallade, Managing Director, CCAP Insurance Programs, jsallade@pacounties.org.

Note: As part of its copyright agreement the CCAP grants the author the right to place the final version of his/her manuscript on the author's homepage, subject to CCAP's standards, or in a public digital repository, provided there is a link to the CCAP website.

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