Bet Hannon

Mennonite Aid Plan (MAP) is seeking an experienced and dynamic Regional Sales Manager to be responsible for the growth of the company through sales and supervision of Employee Sales Agents. Mennonite Aid Plan, located in Reedley, California, is a faith based nonprofit Mutual Insurance Company. Mennonite Aid Plan and Mennonite Insurance Services (MAP/MIS) are two organizations under one umbrella, working to insure customers and provide them with financial services.

MAP originated in 1922 through a collaboration of Mennonite churches. In the mid-nineties, Mennonite Insurance Services was developed by MAP to extend the insurance offerings they could provide. The mission of both organizations is to financially support members of the Anabaptist and Mennonite faith communities within the region. MAP has full ownership of MIS, and the Regional Sales Manager will work alongside both organizations.

Reporting directly to the General Manager/GM, the Regional Sales Manager is responsible for direct sales and will be responsible for the development and supervision of a sales team made up of employed and independent sales agents. The Regional Sales Manager provides growth of the core policyholder base (Anabaptist homeowners) and rounds out those policies to meet the needs of MAP clients.

The ideal candidate will have prior experience in property/casualty sales, marketing, and underwriting, have a compelling vision and confidence in sales and marketing, have excellent communication and decision-making skills, and possess a foundation of understanding of the church.    

Core Competencies:

• Leadership – Support and promote MAP’s Vision, Values, and Mission. Grow the core policyholder base. Guide and manage Employee Sales Agents.
• Sales – Improve MAP processes. Grow agent network and appoint independent agents. Institute training programs for agents. Manage sales aspects of Reedley-based agents. Develop agency agreements and other documentation.
• Referrals – Recruit and support representatives in each MAP affiliated church. Develop guidelines and promotional material for representatives. Develop a system of communication with the representatives.
• Marketing – Improve and monitor online presence (web, social media, etc.). Participate in events of the denominations, conferences, or churches to promote Mennonite Insurance.

Additional Skills and Characteristics:

• Must have a thorough understanding of workflow and operational processes for Sales and Marketing.
• Possess the self-confidence to thrive in an organization with a compelling vision and strong values.
• Strong communication skills, with the ability to express ideas effectively in individual and group settings.
• Ability to work effectively with teams and individually. Show initiative, taking prompt, self-directed action to accomplish objectives.
• Ability to work from home and establish an in-home office environment.

Education/Professional Qualifications:

• A 4-year college degree or equivalent relative work experience.
• At least 5 years of property/casualty sales, marketing, and underwriting experience.
• Able to be licensed as an insurance agent in all states where MAP operates.
• Previous insurance experience with a multi-state insurance organization utilizing an agency distribution model.
• An active driver’s license and ability to travel at least 65% to 80% of the time throughout assigned territory.

Interested persons are invited to send letters of interest and resumes to MHS Consulting which is conducting this search. All inquiries will be held in confidence. 

Thank you in advance for your interest and consideration of this outstanding opportunity with Mennonite Aid Plan.

Contact Information:

MHS Consulting
[email protected]  Website: www.mhsonline.org/jobs

By Lorie Lewis Ham

As the weather begins to cool down just a bit, there is no better way to spend an evening than by reading a good book and sipping your favorite hot beverage. You could pick up a book off of one of the Best Seller lists, or perhaps discover a hidden gem by a lesser-known author. Here are 10 suggestions in various genres from my own favorite 2022 reads and those of a few of my author friends, all released in 2022 or late 2021.

If you are looking for a non-fiction book to read and you love animals, Judith Ayn, author of Murder at the No-Kill Animal Shelter, recommends Funny Farm by Laurie Zaleski. “It is a memoir about her rough family life that led her into animal rescue. She has a sanctuary in New Jersey. Great funny stories about very unusual animals.”

For a novel that reads more like a memoir with recipes, author Cynthia Sabelhaus, who recently had a short story published in the mystery anthology The Fish That Got Away, recommends Search: A Novel by Michelle Huneven. “It’s about a church search committee trying to select a new pastor. Nothing goes as expected. Committee members team up and take sides. Humanity with all its frailties.”

For those who enjoy YA novels, romance, and comedy, Jennifer J. Chow, author of Death By Bubble Tea, recommends The Christmas Clash by Suzanne Park (it comes out Oct. 4, she got an early copy). “Such a cute story! I relished the setting of the suburban mall, and the vivid descriptions brought back such good memories. Peter and Chloe complement each other well. I loved diving into their different personalities—and getting to virtually enjoy the cuisines of their family restaurants.”

For those who love food and history, Ellen Byron, whose mysteries are set in New Orleans, recommends The Big Book of King Cake by Matt Haines. King Cake is a delicious Mardi Gras tradition and the book tells the thousands-year-old story of the cake through lush photography of more than one hundred and fifty unique king cakes, as well as stories from the diverse and talented bakers who make them.

The School For Good Mothers by Jessamine Chan made it to the Best Seller list and is highly recommended by Lida Bushlopper, who writes short stories, non-fiction, and poetry. In this debut literary novel, one lapse in judgment lands a young mother in a government reform program where custody of her child hangs in the balance.

If you enjoy mysteries as I do, Lee Goldberg is an author you don’t want to miss. Having written for TV shows like Monk and having created the Hallmark mystery movie series Mystery 101, his books are witty, fast-paced, and always provide a good mystery. His latest book, Movieland, features Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department detective Eve Ronin.

A few other hidden gems that have come out this year that you may enjoy if you love mysteries include:

Historical mystery with a musical setting—Murder Backstage by Nupur Tustin.

Mystery with a supernatural twist—Tutus, Fries & Dead Guys by Jennifer Fischetto.

Cozy mystery with pets—Killers of a Feather: Urban Tails Pet Shop Mysteries by T. C. LoTempio.

A medieval caper mystery—Oswald the Thief by Jeri Westerson (I highly recommend all of Jeri’s books, most have either a fantasy or medieval twist to them).

I hope one or more of these books make it onto your fall reading list! If so, share with us your thoughts on our Facebook page, and we would also love to hear some 2022 book recommendations from you! Happy reading!

By Lorie Ham

One of the values of the board for Mennonite Aid Plan/Mennonite Insurance is that they pray before and during their meetings. They feel they have seen many answers to prayer through the years, including one dealing with their ability to write liability insurance—something that took them years of hard work and prayers before it was accomplished.

According to board member Jim Brandt, it was sometime in the mid-1950s when Mennonite Aid Plan members began asking for liability insurance. “However, under the California code, we were not allowed to offer liability. The need for liability insurance was a continuing issue for the next 65 years.” 

Throughout the ‘60s and ‘70s, the call for liability insurance continued to increase but their efforts were still without any long-term success. At one point, they found a good source for their liability policies in GuideOne Insurance Company, but in 2002 that company discontinued those. Next, they turned to Merced Mutual, a company similar to theirs but twice the size, who began covering Mennonite Aid’s liability needs in California. However, the need to provide a reasonably priced liability policy in Oregon and Washington remained.

“In May of 2016, we devised a solution to subsidize our homeowner policies in the Northwest so that the burden on our members was not as great,” continues Brandt. “We allowed a rebate of the excess cost of personal liability thereby absorbing the additional costs of our Pacific Northwest members.

“Because of the continuing issue with liability (especially in the Pacific Northwest) and the costs imposed upon us, we also hired a consultant in 2016 to evaluate options.”

At their board meeting in October of 2016, the board decided to move ahead with two of the five options presented by the consultant. One of those options they began to pursue was to seek legislation that would allow them to write liability. The other one was that of starting a new insurance company, owned by MAP, to write liability. However, the board felt that both options were filled with obstacles. A committee made up of Dennis Langhofer, Jerry Linscheid, Jim Brandt, and Jim Enns were assigned to investigate the two options.

On December 2, 2016, Jim Enns and Larry Miller met with Assembly member Jim Patterson of the twenty-third district. This was just the beginning of many meetings and much work as they pursued this option, which ended up being the best one. “We also bathed our plans in prayer,” states Brandt.

On September 1, 2017, a California law was signed giving them the authority to write liability insurance. “At one time the Department of Insurance told us that we would never get that,” shares Jerry Linscheid (who is also the Chief Executive Officer of Mennonite Aid Plan/Mennonite Insurance Services). “Our board prayed and the passage of the law seemed an answer to prayer.”

“From our first meeting with Assemblyman Jim Patterson and legislative committee hearings to the final adoption by the assembly and senate to the governor’s signature, God’s leading had to be and was evident,” shares Jim Enns, Vice Chair/CFO of Mennonite Aid Plan/Mennonite Insurance Services.

While finally being able to offer liability insurance to their customers was one of the most memorable examples of an answer to prayer, the board and staff feel there have been many times through the years where they have truly seen God’s hand at work.

One of those earlier occasions was at the untimely death of their manager, Ron Licata. “God’s leading was significant on two fronts,” shares Enns. “First, we had a board chair at the time with significant knowledge and education in business and economics as a professor at Fresno Pacific University, Dennis Langhofer. He had time available to step in on a part-time basis to lead us through the interim between managers. Secondly, I believe God had led us to hire Jerry Linscheid prior to Ron’s death, to provide for a smooth transition.”

Jerry Linscheid shares another memorable incidence of an answer to prayer. “In 2015 the Rough Fire started north of Hume Lake and on the north side of the Kings River. It traveled south, crossing the river, towards Hume Lake Christian Camp and the many private cabins there. The prayers from our board and staff were just a small proportion of the thousands of people praying that the area be spared. The fire came up to the camp and went around it. Many people believe that the area was divinely protected from that fire. We insured about a dozen cabins at Hume Lake and would have been severely strained had they all burned.”

To this day, the board continues to pray before and during their meetings as they strive to provide for the needs of their clients. If you have a story of answered prayer you would like to share with Mennonite Insurance they would love to have you share on their Facebook page, and you can learn more about their history on their website.

By Lorie Ham

Many of us have picked up new hobbies during the pandemic or had extra free time to spend on the hobbies we already had. Whether your hobby involves cycling, collectibles like sports cards or anime figures, or even collecting expensive board games, if something bad happens, is that hobby covered by your homeowners insurance? Will you be able to replace those precious items?

So, let’s say your hobby includes collecting something. “A gap in coverage on your homeowners policy can occur when you own a lot of items that have policy sublimits,” states Mennonite Insurance/Mennonite Aid Plan Chief Executive Officer Jerry Linscheid.

You might ask, what is a sublimit? According to the International Risk Management Institute website, a sublimit is a limitation in an insurance policy on the amount of coverage available to cover a specific type of loss. A sublimit is part of, rather than in addition to, the limit that would otherwise apply to the loss. In other words, it places a maximum on the amount available to pay that type of loss, rather than providing additional coverage for that type of loss.

“For example, most homeowners policies have coverage limits for cash, jewelry, trailers, firearms, etc.,” continues Linscheid. “These sublimits range from $200-$2,500 depending on the category and the policy. Most companies will allow you to buy extra coverage if you own items in those categories. The best thing to do is check with your insurance agent. If you have invested thousands of dollars in a hobby, you want to be comfortable that you could replace most of those items should they be destroyed or stolen.” 

Sublimits can also be raised as needed. “If you do ask to raise the limits on a category of property, expect your insurance company to ask for some details about what you own. They may want pictures or receipts for those items. For example, we recently had a customer ask to increase the limit on bicycles from the standard $2,500 to $7,500. The agent required photos of the bicycles to verify that the increase was warranted. The cost to increase coverage will vary by company and category of property.”

So, if you have acquired a new hobby or more personal property, or gotten really serious about biking, the best thing would be to contact your insurance agent to make sure you have the coverage you need for whatever hobby or collection you might have. Mennonite Insurance/Mennonite Aid Plan is happy to chat with you any time. Call us (559) 638-2327, email us [email protected], or visit our Facebook Page and we will be happy to help.

By Lorie Lewis Ham

With the heat this year in many areas being so brutal, you are probably trying to come up with ways to cool off, and many of those ways most likely involve water—whether it be a community swimming pool, a pool in your own backyard, playing in the sprinkler, going to a water park, or enjoying a lake, river, or ocean. If you are considering any of those escapes this summer remember to be safe! You don’t want summer fun to turn into summer tragedy.

There are many things to consider when it comes to being safe in the water. In 2019, I wrote an article on pool safety that included common sense tips such as never swimming alone, and putting a fence around the pool to keep small children and pets from falling in. You can find all of those tips here, and even more in another past article that talks about the dangers of stringing lights near a pool.

“I think pool safety is important,” states Mennonite Insurance’s Chief Executive Officer Jerry Linscheid. “Most of the people who die in pools are young children and the death probably was preventable. That is devastating to a family.”

But what about safety involving other types of water fun? The American Red Cross provides safety tips for all kinds. Their top things to keep in mind are:

1. Be sure you are water competent for natural environments before swimming – this is not your home pool! 
2. Always enter unknown or shallow water feet first.
3. Watch out for currents, waves, and underwater obstructions – they’re not just found in the ocean.

They also recommend that every member of the family learn how to swim and what to do in an emergency. Their tips for swimming safely at the beach include always swimming in an area that has a lifeguard. And in all of these places, they advise being aware of the weather and heeding any warnings.

Another form of water fun that has become popular in the last few years is splash parks/pads. According to Pediatrix, while you don’t have to worry about drowning accidents here, there are still some precautions that need to be taken which include asking the facility manager how often they test the water, and what methods are used to filter and decontaminate it. Other tips include using swim shoes to prevent slipping, stepping on sharp objects, or burning feet on hot pavement, enforcing a no-running rule, and wearing sunscreen (which is a good idea no matter what type of water fun you are enjoying).

If you are planning on some more grown-up fun in the water such as surfing, body boarding, or other water sports, this article at realbuzz.com has several safety tips. One important thing the article states is to have as much information and education about the sport as possible.

By Lorie Ham

Inflation is popping up everywhere we turn, but did you know that it could also affect your home insurance coverage? That is why it is important to do regular updates so you don’t find yourself in a bind should something happen.

According to a recent article in Insurance Journal a new American Property Casualty Insurance Association (APCIA)/Harris Poll survey of over 1,000 U.S. homeowners who have a homeowners insurance policy, shows that a majority of homeowners have not taken the steps to make sure that their coverage is keeping pace with inflation and increased building costs. Not only are a lot of people failing to keep up with inflation costs, but among insured homeowners who completed renovations or remodels during the pandemic, less than half (40%) updated their home insurance to account for those changes.

Another concern in many parts of the country is the increased risk of damage and loss from wildfires. An article on United Policy Holders states that as wildfires continue to grow in size and expense while ravaging or threatening residential areas, insurers and policy advocates are warning that roughly two-thirds of homes are underinsured. Depending on where you live, some other hazards such as floods are increasing as well. Are you in an area that is more likely to be affected by hurricanes, earthquakes, floods, or fires?

According to National Calendar Day.com, June 28 was National Insurance Awareness Day, a day when you are reminded to update your coverage. While that day has just passed, it’s not too late to take the time to make sure you have all of the coverage that you need. Some of the things they encourage you to include on your check-up checklist are:

• Evaluate your current possessions.
• How has your family changed? Has your family grown or have family members moved away? How many pets do you have?
• Do you plan to buy a new home?
• Are there big changes ahead that will influence the amount of insurance you will need?

“At Mennonite Aid Plan, we work at keeping the coverage adequate through regular updates,” shares Mennonite Aid Plan General Manager and CEO Jerry Linscheid. “Inflation affects every homeowner, so coverage should be looked at regularly.”

Contract Mennonite Aid Plan/Mennonite Insurance Services at 559-638-2327 with any questions about your homeowners insurance today. And while you are at it, be sure to check up on any other policies you might have as well!