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April Fools’ Day

March 29, 2023

A jesters hat with a speech bubble above it saying "April Fool's Day"

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 18th 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.

Filed Under: Uncategorized

Paying For College and the Benefits of Scholarships

March 29, 2023

A person filling out a Scholarship Application.

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.

Filed Under: Uncategorized

MCC’s Southern California Festival and Sale

March 6, 2023

By Lorie Lewis Ham

Funnel Cake with Whipped Cream

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!

A kids auction, with a banner saying: "Children helping children around the world"

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

A row of hung up quilts.

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.

A girl and her grandmother, tipping over a jar of coins.

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

Filed Under: Uncategorized

Will 2023 See a Superbloom?

March 6, 2023

By Lorie Lewis Ham

A Valley with rolling hills, that are covered with flowers.

California has been suffering from a very long drought. According to CalMatters, it has been the driest period in the West in the past 1,200 years. However, 2023 has seen record precipitation and disastrous flooding throughout much of California. Recently, we even saw snow where you never expect to see snow. AccuWeather states that the official rain gauge in downtown Los Angeles was filled with 2.29 inches of rain on Friday, February 24, making it the wettest February day since February 12, 2003, when 2.45 inches fell. California also experienced a significant soaking in the fall of 2022.

While this much needed, but also at times dangerous, rain and snow might not bring an end to the drought, it does bring with it the possibility of witnessing one of nature’s most spectacular displays of color and life—a superbloom. According to Secret Los Angeles, millions of wildflowers will be covering the west coast from Death Valley to Big Sur and beyond, creating a beautiful display of color that can be seen from miles away. The San Diego Explorer describes it as a time “when the landscape is covered with a rainbow explosion of colorful flowers.”

What is a superbloom? According to Wikipedia, a superbloom is a rare desert botanical phenomenon in California in which an unusually high proportion of wildflowers whose seeds have lain dormant in desert soil germinate and blossom at roughly the same time. The phenomenon is associated with an unusually wet rainy season. Wikipedia also states that superblooms typically occur in California only once every ten years or so. The right factors needed for a superbloom to happen, according to The San Diego Explorer, include a delicate balance of sunshine, wind, temperature, and rainfall that has occurred during fall and winter.

So, when can you see a superbloom? According to Secret Los Angeles, it is nearly impossible to know the exact dates. Peak season generally occurs around the beginning of spring and can last through June. The San Diego Explorer recommends keeping an eye on local news channels for current updates on the local California Wildflower bloom.

Where are the best places to see a superbloom? House Beautiful has a list of the top ten places to see one. Most of the locations they list are national and state parks such as Anza-Borrego Desert State Park, Joshua Tree, and Mount Diablo. Other possible locations include Point Dume and Death Valley.

If you are lucky enough to experience a superbloom this year, be sure to take plenty of photos! And if you do, we would love to have you share some of them with us on the Mennonite Insurance Facebook page.

Filed Under: Uncategorized

National Love Your Pet Day

February 1, 2023

By Lorie Ham

According to National Calendar Day.com February 20 is National Love Your Pet Day! This day focuses on giving extra attention to our pets and encourages people to pamper them and focus on the special place that pets hold in our hearts. An article on The Zebra states that a 2019-2020 study by the American Pet Products Association said that about 85 million American families (or 67%) own some kind of pet.

Not only can owning a pet be fun, but it can also be good for your health. The CDC states that

it can increase opportunities to exercise, get outside, and socialize. Regular walking or playing with pets can decrease blood pressure, cholesterol levels, and triglyceride levels. Pets can also help manage loneliness and depression.

Pets come in all different shapes and sizes to fit the needs of your lifestyle and your preferences. Dogs, cats, bunnies, ferrets, pet rats, fish, hamsters, snakes, guinea pigs, and more. Some people even have pet pigs!

In honor of National Love Your Pet Day, the staff at Mennonite Insurance would like to share a bit about their pets with you!

Michelle L. Heinrichs has a very chubby cat named Tigger. “He was found by our son when he was just a baby and is about seven now. His favorite family member is my husband Steve and if he knows Steve’s in the house, and awake, he often ignores everyone else. He is quite a stress reliever for all of us as he brings silliness when he plays with my son and husband, and he likes to cuddle with all of us. It instantly reduces your blood pressure to have a chubby cat flopped on you and purring while making muffins.”

Tigger, the cat, laying on a rug, looking around for a belly rub

While Michelle doesn’t recall her first pet, she does remember that they always had a cat growing up and have always loved cats. “It is probably a good thing that I have allergies and my husband cuts me off at just the one cat. I can imagine that I would want to have as many as I could find.”

Stephanie Heier wasn’t allowed to have dogs as a child and an unfortunate incident with a neighbor’s dog as a teenager caused her to develop a fear of dogs. But in 2012, a yellow Lab named Sophia changed all of that! Stephanie’s niece was living with her and wanted a dog. She gave in and let her get Sophia. “She became my walking partner and even though she was a bit wild, she grew on me so much that I even allowed her to come inside the house at times, something I thought I would never allow. She was also my dad’s buddy and helped my niece cope with her anxiety. Sophia was only with us for five years, however, the love she gave us was extremely appreciated and is still remembered today.”

Now Stephanie has two dogs of her own! Pixie is a six-month-old Cavapoo puppy, and Brutus is a 10-year-old Havanese. “We love it when they come snuggle up to us when we get home and they are SO excited to see us. And we love to watch them play together.”

While Dalia Jimenez doesn’t currently have a dog of her own, she is “grandma” to her son’s two Frenchie’s named Royve and Ruby. Unfortunately, she had a scary experience pet-sitting them in December. “They left me a new dog food that had Bison in it and Ruby was allergic to the Bison. She got all these welts all over so I had to find a vet that was open on a Saturday. They gave her a shot and some meds. She recovered just fine, but I told Ruby don’t get sick on my watch again. They love grandma. I make them scrambled eggs and mix them in their dog food. I love them like they were mine. They are a part of the family and very spoiled.”

Jerry Linscheid doesn’t currently have a pet but recalls some of the fun times they had with a Chihuahua that was a part of their family for nearly 20 years while their kids were growing up. “A couple of times we had an opossum in our backyard, and our dog would corner it and raise such a racket that we had to come out and investigate. The opossum was bigger than he was. He also kept the neighborhood cats away. I built a six-foot tower for him to climb so he could see over the fence. Pets are great teachers for children. Children tend to be very self-focused. A pet makes them realize that they need to consider their pet’s needs as well as their own.”

If you are looking to get a pet, adoption is a great way to go. According to the ASPCA 6.3 million companion animals enter animal shelters every year! Yolanda Hernández adopted a terrier mix puppy from the SPCA in 2018. “We named him Milo. We think he is a mix between a Yorkshire Terrier and Poodle. Milo took my love for a dog to a different level. We walk together, snuggle, and go to Home Depot. I take him on rides and anywhere dogs are allowed to go.”

Milo, the pooble, playing on grass.

We would love to hear some stories about your pets and how you will be spoiling them on National Love Your Pet Day. Feel free to share on our Facebook page.

Filed Under: Uncategorized

Coverage Changes As You Age

February 1, 2023

Life cycle of man from infant to pensioner. Cartoon male character as baby, boy, pupil, grandfather. Human growth and generation concept - Image by pch.vector on Freepik

By Lorie Ham

We all know that as we age a lot of things change, but have you ever thought about how your insurance needs might change as well? According to AAA, when you reach the later years of your life you should consider giving your insurance agent a call. If you retire, you may qualify for a discount on your homeowner’s or renter’s insurance, and if you drive less than before you may be able to have your auto insurance premium reduced. Sometimes your auto insurance rates increase as you get older, but you may be eligible for a discount if you complete a DMV-approved course for mature drivers.

Dalia Jimenez with Mennonite Insurance states that the number of miles people drive can decrease when people retire and no longer commute. “That lowered exposure can result in lower premiums on their auto policy.” Also, if you reach a point where you can’t drive safely, you may choose to sell your vehicle or give it away and no longer need auto insurance.

Your home insurance needs may change as well. As people age and kids move away, the need for a large house goes down. Perhaps you will even decide to sell your house and rent instead. “That means the large homeowner policy can now become a smaller renter’s policy, just covering contents,” shares Jerry Linscheid, Chief Executive Officer of Mennonite Insurance. “At the same time, the client has spent their entire working life building assets and they actually have more to lose in a lawsuit than they did when they were younger. So, getting a larger liability policy (umbrella) makes sense. The larger liability policy protects all your assets that might be at risk if you were ever named in a lawsuit.”

But you are not the only one who is growing older.  Your children are as well.  When your children begin the transition from being your dependents to being independent adults, insurance issues can arise. When your children start to become independent, especially when they no longer come home every day, you should ask your insurance agent if there is a need for additional coverage and a way to provide that coverage.

“Both auto and home insurance policies place an importance on who is a ‘resident’ of the household,” continues Jerry. Residents are generally covered by your policy, while non-residents are generally not.  “Residence is often not defined in the policy, because there are many factors that can affect the determination. Essentially, residence is a subjective intention to live at or return to a certain place as shown by objective actions.”

Factors that courts look at to determine residency are:

  • How often does the person stay at or return to the residence? Are those regular times, such as college breaks and during the summer?
  • Does the person have their belongings and a permanent room at the residence?
  • Is the residence listed on important documents, like driver’s license? Voter registration? College enrollment?
  • Does the person receive mail at the residence?

When a child has taken enough steps to no longer be a resident of your household, coverage under your insurance policies may be diminished or go away completely.

Here are a couple of examples of how coverage can be impacted:

Your son or daughter moves out and is no longer a resident of your household, but they keep and drive your car listed on your auto policy. While they are driving your car (with your permission) they are covered as an insured for liability under your policy. However, when they drive someone else’s car, they are no longer covered on your policy.

If your child is still considered a resident of your household but lives away from home (for college, etc.) their contents coverage is limited to 10% of your contents coverage on your homeowner’s insurance. If they are no longer a resident of your household, there is no coverage for property or liability under your homeowner’s insurance.

Bottom line, as you age not only does your body change, but your insurance should change as well to meet your changing needs. Mennonite Insurance is happy to chat with you and find out just what your current needs are. You can contact us at 559-638-2327 and find us online at mennoniteinsurance.com and our Facebook page.

Filed Under: Uncategorized

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