Bet Hannon

By Lorie Lewis Ham

You may have noticed that car insurance rates have been going up this year, and sadly there is more of that coming. According to a February 2023 article in the Los Angeles Times, California Insurance Commissioner Ricardo Lara has approved some big rate hikes for California drivers in the last six months, ending a long COVID break after insurance companies complained they were losing money. And sadly, more increases are on the way across the country. According to ValuePenguin, insurance rates are expected to go up 8.4% in the US in 2023, the largest rate increase in six years.

The LA Times article went on to state that according to a Bankrate analysis, premiums are rising nationwide as people drive more miles, drive less safely, and wreck increasingly expensive cars. Inflation is hitting all areas of life and many people are afraid of an impending recession. According to Bankrate.com, recessions can affect car insurance as well, so understanding how the economy impacts insurance may help you prepare if we do slip into an economic downturn. Inflation can be seen in the cost of repair parts, labor, and medical care, and when insurance companies have to pay out more, that is going to be passed on to the customer. There has also been an increased frequency and severity of crashes, accompanied by record levels of personal injury judgments and vehicle thefts.

As mentioned, the increasing cost of buying a car is definitely a factor in the cost of auto insurance. More people are looking into buying electric cars and generally they are more costly to insure. Bankrate.com states that electric vehicles are pricier to both buy and repair and insurance providers may charge their drivers more for coverage.

“Our company, Mennonite Aid Plan, doesn’t write auto insurance. But our agency, Mennonite Insurance Services, writes auto insurance for other companies,” shares Jerry Linscheid, CEO for Mennonite Aid Plan/Mennonite Insurance. “That means we have a lot of auto insurance customers who are impacted by changes in the auto insurance market.” 

We asked Jerry a few questions that we hope will help readers wrap their heads around why car insurance is going up, what they need to be aware of, and what, if anything, can be done about it.

Q: What are some of the ways that the changes are affecting your customers?

Jerry: Since people have been driving more after the 2020 lockdown, claims have gone up, meaning premiums have gone up. Also, companies are getting much more selective about whom they will insure in the first place. We are seeing companies require liability limits of at least $100,000 per person/$300,000 per accident. People with an at-fault accident will probably get non-renewed.

Q: Are you able to help them navigate these changes and get the best deal available?

Jerry: We can certainly help them navigate the new reality, but we can’t change it. We have multiple auto companies we can write with. Price is often the driving factor from a customer’s perspective, but we want to also look at the coverages. There are optional coverages, such as towing and rental car expense. That may or may not be important to the customer. Property coverage on the vehicle (comprehensive and collision) may be optional if there is no lender on the vehicle. The deductible on the property coverage also affects the premium. We can help the customer think through how much exposure they can handle on their own versus how much exposure should be insured.

Q: Can you answer their questions about the changes they are facing?

Jerry: We are trying to be proactive and let our customers know that this is a difficult time for auto insurance. It is not the case now that lots of companies want your business. Now is not the time to be driving while distracted or impaired. If you lose your insurance for reckless driving, it will be nearly impossible to get good insurance. You may have to settle for low coverage / high premium coverage for a while.

Q: Anything else you would like to share on the subject?

Jerry: Most economic situations are cyclical. We expect, in time, the factors that caused this situation will reverse and auto insurance will become easier to acquire. We don’t expect premiums to fall dramatically. Vehicles are becoming more expensive to repair. With all the electronic sensors in today’s vehicles, a small fender bender can create a major repair bill. The bodily injury portion of a claim has risen fast in recent years. When the cost of claims goes up, insurance companies are required to charge a premium that will pay for those claims. If you need help navigating the changes in auto insurance, you can reach out to Mennonite Insurance Services and they will be happy to help you in any way they can. You can contact them at 559-638-2327. In the meantime, do everything you can to keep your driving record in good shape.

By Lorie Ham

In October of 2022, Mennonite Insurance Services added new employee Teresa Quijano to the team! She is a customer service representative for the company. This month we are taking a moment to introduce her to everyone. Teresa has a heart for ministry and a love for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers even though she isn’t from there—read on to find out how that happened and more.

Question: How did you end up working there?

Teresa: Well here is a funny story; I literally live across the street from our office and years ago told them if they ever needed anyone part-time to keep me in mind. Fast forward to late October 2022 and Michelle was going to be having surgery on her hand and they needed someone to cover for her while she was in recovery. Plus, Stephanie is leaving the company and off to her next adventure! With that, a part-time position became available. It’s wonderful. I have the ability to work and be home when my kids are off school, that is very important to me.

Question: How long have you lived in Reedley, CA?

Teresa: I have lived here for 22 years.

Question: Where are you from originally?

Teresa: I was born and raised in Victorville, CA. My father was in the military and was originally stationed in Victorville. Both my parents have family in the Central Valley so we would come to visit when I was younger.

Question: What do you like best about what you do?

Teresa: What I like best is getting to know our clients.

Question: What has been the hardest?

Teresa: The hardest part has been that I had no knowledge of the ins and outs of insurance and I had to learn my position in a short amount of time. And even now I learn something new every day.

Question: What are some of the jobs you have had in the past?

Teresa: I was blessed to be a stay-at-home mom for 12 years. Once my youngest daughter was in school full time, I started substituting for Kings Canyon Unified School District and working with CYM (Community Youth Ministries). I was looking for a part-time job and the Director of Teen Mom told me about the position.

Question: Please tell us more about your work with CYM?

Teresa: I have worked with CYM for two years. I work with their Teen Mom program. They meet for group once a week—my role is transportation and childcare. Most of our moms do not have a driver’s license, car, or someone that can give them a ride to group, so I pick up the moms and babies and take them to and from group, and while they are meeting, we watch their children in childcare. I have seen how this program has made a big impact on the moms. Each year this program serves more than 20 young mothers who come to group for guidance, support, and stability.

Question: And your family?

Teresa: My husband Raymond and I have four children: Ariana 14, Ayden 12, Alyssa 10, and Aliyah 8.

Question: Do you have any pets?

Teresa: Yes, we have pets; two dogs Kaylee and Miso; two birds James and Gandalf; and one cat Kitty.

Question: Do you have any hobbies?

Teresa: With how active my kids are in sports and extracurricular activities I wouldn’t say I have any hobbies but something I love to do and inspire to do more of is travel and eat delicious food.

Question: I understand that you are big Tampa Bay Buccaneers fans, can you tell us about that?

Teresa: Yes, we are Tampa Bay Buccaneers fans. My husband became a fan in 1999 (so I married into becoming a fan LOL!) Raymond gets dressed up for every game and is involved with the West Coast Buccaholics (this group has multiple chapters in every state) and with the Skeleton crew in Florida. Because he gets dressed up, he has been on TV, in newspapers, and online.

Throughout the years, we have met some of the players and the COO of the Buccaneers. We take the kids with us to the games and Raymond likes to get front-row tickets which allows us to walk through the tunnels that the players come through. The kids love the experience of seeing a game in person. We have been to multiple stadiums in California, as well as Florida, and Arizona. Since our children are older now our goal is to go to a game in a new state every year, however, with life, it doesn’t always happen.

We hope you enjoyed getting to know Teresa. We would love to know more about you as well! Do you have a favorite sports team? Check out the Mennonite Insurance Facebook page and let us know what teams you route for and why!

By Lorie Lewis Ham

April Fools’ Day is upon us once again. Some people love it and spend days planning elaborate hoaxes to play on their friends and family, and some people loathe the day and prefer to hide until it passes—especially those who tend to be the brunt of hoaxes. But where did this odd day actually come from?

While the exact origins of April Fools’ Day aren’t known, according to the History Channel website some historians speculate that April Fools’ Day dates back to 1582 when France switched from the Julian calendar to the Gregorian calendar. In the Julian Calendar, the new year began with the spring equinox around April 1. People who failed to recognize the change and continued to celebrate the new year during the last week of March through April 1 instead of on January 1, became the butt of jokes and hoaxes and were called “April fools.” There is also speculation that it was tied to the vernal equinox, or first day of spring in the Northern Hemisphere, when Mother Nature fooled people with changing, unpredictable weather.

The History Channel website goes on to state that it spread throughout Britain in the 18^th century. In Scotland, it became a two-day event that started with “hunting the gowk,” which meant sending people on phony errands. It was followed by Tailie Day, which involved pranks where people would pin things on the backs of others such as fake tails and “kick me” signs.

According to an article on NPR, some historians have linked April Fools’ Day to the ancientRoman festival of Hilaria. At this festival, which took place at the end of March, people would come together to commemorate the resurrection of the god Attis. It was a celebration of renewal in which revelers would dress up in disguises and imitate others. Some also think that it might have been inspired by the medieval celebration of the Feast of Fools, where a mock bishop or pope was elected and church customs were parodied.

Over the last several decades, the media has become very involved in April Fools’ Day pranks as well, according to another article on NPR. Even Google gets involved. It was already so much a part of American journalism by 1903 that the Pittsburgh Post reported on March 29 of that year that “it was the habit of newspapers some years ago to observe the day by perpetrating some hoax upon their readers.” However, more recently the media has realized that they have to be careful how far they take it, or they may lose their credibility when reporting real stories.

So, are there any rules to the pranks played on April Fools’ Day? According to The U.S. Sun, while there are no “official” rules and it is celebrated differently in different countries, traditionally, April Fools’ jokes and pranks should only be pulled until midday on April 1. In England, when the clock strikes noon, you are meant to come clean about your pranks. Anyone playing a joke after noon is considered the official April fool. But of course, that doesn’t stop people from pranking throughout the day, at least here in the U.S. The Museum of Hoaxes has a list of rules for the day that include doing no harm and not doing anything illegal.

Cheapflights.com has a list of five April Fools’ Day traditions from around the world, one of which includes throwing flour on people! Musement.com has a list of 10 traditions from around the world that includes taping paper fish on people’s backs. The 1063 Buzz website has a list of some of the most common types of pranks people play, which include mind game pranks, prank phone calls, and food-related ones.

Why do some people enjoy playing pranks so much? Embolden Psychology says that humor and laughing are good for our well-being. It also states that jokes imply a sense of closeness or insider group feelings, and you tend to prank those you are close to or you feel can handle a joke. Several other websites said that pranking gave people a temporary and harmless sense of superiority over those they successfully prank. Whatever your feelings about April Fools’ Day it is a day some of us just hope to “survive” and others can’t wait for. How do you feel about April Fools’ Day? We would love it if you would share your feelings, and any fun jokes you may have pulled, or have had pulled on you, on our Facebook page.

By Lorie Lewis Ham

While it may be harder to get a good job without a degree, obtaining one continues to become more and more expensive. A January 2023 article on EducationData.org states that the average federal student loan debt is $37,574 per borrower, and for private loans the average is $54,921 per borrower. A total of 45.3 million borrowers have student loan debt; 92% of them have federal loan debt.

To help decrease that debt, many students apply for scholarships. Mennonite Aide Plan (MAP)/Mennonite Insurance Services offers one such scholarship. You can find more information on the website, and find comments from some of the students it has helped in a past article.

This month, several Mennonite Insurance employees and board members share some of their concerns and experiences from when their children and grandchildren attended college, and as some are preparing to go soon.

Staff member Michelle Heinrichs’ son Marcus is 20 and will be starting upper-division classes in the fall at Fresno State. He has taken this semester off to work full time and save up towards paying his tuition when he returns. “He feels strongly that he would like to avoid loans if possible, so we are working as a team with him to make this happen,” says Michelle.

Michelle herself also attended Fresno State but was unable to finish due to budget issues. While money was definitely relevant when Marcus was deciding where to attend, it wasn’t the only deciding factor. “Our biggest concern/priority when considering where he might attend was hoping he would have the most chance to really enjoy the college experience while STILL getting an education. Sometimes, kids study too much, work too hard, or party too much and any of those are not balanced lifestyles. We prayed he would attend a college that would allow him to learn and grow without losing sight of reality. We wanted Marcus to be in a safe, but exciting environment, with opportunities to grow in a community.”

Staff member Claudia Fletes currently has a daughter in college. It was important for Claudia that her daughter not have to worry about how she was going to pay for college. Claudia feels that scholarships are a huge financial help for students and parents and are an important part when calculating finances. “I [also] believe there is less financial aid available to students now.”

Teresa Quijano, who is also a Mennonite Insurance employee, has a daughter who will be applying for and attending college within the next four years. While one of Teresa’s biggest concerns regarding where her daughter goes to college is safety, thankfully money is not holding her back from the colleges she is exploring. “I want my daughter to apply for all scholarships that she qualifies for. Scholarships are very important. College is very expensive and financial aid is not a guarantee to all students. Where she decides to attend college will be up to her and we will help financially support her throughout her education.”

For board member LeAnne Quenzer, scholarships were a high priority when her children were applying for college, though the most important factors in their choices were high-quality academic and campus life exposure and experiences. Fortunately, the cost didn’t hold her children back. “We encouraged them to apply for many [scholarships]. Receiving scholarships made a very positive impact on attending their colleges of choice. The opportunities for scholarships are vital, and could make all of the difference for many in the ability to attend college or not.” 

Board member John Hochstetler’s daughter benefited from the MAP scholarship program. While attending a Christian college was a priority for their children, finances were also a factor in choosing what school to attend. “She received a scholarship for college after applying which was a real benefit to her financial needs at the time.”

John recalls that college was much more affordable when he attended. He was able to pay his school off in five years. He feels that the cost of attending college now is way overpriced, which makes it difficult to attend a private college.

Mennonite Insurance staff member, Jerry Linscheid says that when he went to college you could pay for a semester by working during the summer. “When my children went to college, it was not possible to pay for a whole semester from a summer’s earnings. So, scholarships were important, but not determinative, of where they attended.

“The ability to borrow money at low-interest rates made college affordable,” continues Jerry. “I think it is gradually getting harder to justify going into debt for a 4-year degree. Students need to work hard to put together a financial package from all available sources so that the debt burden at graduation is not overwhelming.” If you, your child, or grandchildren are looking into attending college and are searching for scholarships, the Mennonite Insurance Services will be accepting applications from April 1-July 1, 2023. Scholarships of $1,000 are awarded to up to five applicants each year. Applicants may apply multiple years; however, preference will be given to applicants who have not previously received the scholarship. To see if you qualify, and to learn more, you can find all the information on the website. Also, feel free to email Mennonite Insurance Services at [email protected] with any questions you may have.

By Lorie Lewis Ham

Back in October we did an article about the West Coast Mennonite Relief Sale happening in Fresno, California on April 14-15. But there is another similar event that takes place each year in Upland, California called the Southern California Festival and Sale. This event takes place on May 20 this year. We chatted with their Publicity Chair Corinne Edington recently to learn more. Corinne has been involved with the Sale since the beginning! Creating the publicity has been her primary role since 2011.

Q: When did the first Southern California Festival and Sale take place and how did it come about?
Corinne: This is our 26th year of the Sale that had its “birth” out of our denominational [Brethren in Christ] Board for Brotherhood Concerns.

Q: What is the purpose of the sale?
Corinne: The purpose of the Sale is primarily to raise financial support for the work of Mennonite Central Committee (MCC) while also sharing the good work being done through MCC in the name of Christ through peace-building, relief, and community development programs.

Q: For those who may not know what MCC is, can you share a bit of history about MCC’s work around the world:
Corinne: MCC is a global, nonprofit organization that strives to share God’s love and compassion for all through relief, development, and peace. In all our programs we are committed to relationships with our local partners and churches. As an Anabaptist organization, we strive to make peace a part of everything we do. When responding to disasters we work with local groups to distribute resources in ways that minimize conflict. In our development work we plan with community and church groups to make sure the projects meet their needs. And we advocate for policies that will lead to a more peaceful world.

In 2020, we celebrated the centennial of our ministry. As we enter a second century of service, we reaffirm our Christ-led commitment to compassionately serve and learn from vulnerable people around the world. We continue to answer God’s call and do this work through offices, MCC staff, volunteers, and partnerships in every continent in the world except Antarctica and Australia.

Q: What all takes place at the sale?
Corinne: Live Quilt Auction & Special Auctions
Silent Auction
Ethnic Food Court
Kids’ Activities
Live Kids’ Auction
Farmer’s Market
And more!

Q: What things do you auction off?
Corinne: Quilts, opportunities to bid on and fund special MCC projects, special antiques, donated destination vacations.

Q: What are some examples of the food that you will have there?
Corinne: A variety of ethnic foods as well as a Country Store selling a variety of baked and homemade sweets.

Q: What is different this year as opposed to past ones?
Corinne: Last year we hosted a concert for the first time (Girl Named Tom, winners of The Voice) and this year we hope to have another concert; however, those details have not been finalized as yet.

Q: Where does the Sale and Festival take place?
Corinne: Pacific Christian Center Campus
Arrow Highway & San Antonio Avenue
Upland, California 91786
For more info call (909) 981-1965

Q: Do you need to purchase tickets to attend?
Corinne: Entrance and parking are free.

Q: Please tell us about My Coins Count.
Corinne: Each year the Sale selects an MCC project to highlight for funding through My Coins Count. We encourage our constituency to save change all year to fund the project and have a special wishing well where we encourage children to pour collected coins–the noise it makes add to the festive nature of the Sale.

You can learn more about the Southern California Festival and Sale on their website and follow them on Facebook.