Mentorship- it’s been a buzzword in the past but you don’t hear about it too much these days. Whether it is a friend, colleague, coarse leader or business partner, mentors play a vital role to the success of those being mentored. I might add that given our current economy as a whole, it would play a role in creating a stronger workforce in the future. We are staffed tighter and have more responsibilities and less time but the pay-offs are immense.
Mentors play a key role in helping their “students” master difficult issues and encourage them to persevere when things get tough. They provide a presence of support, advice, and reinforcement. They are someone that has greater knowledge and wisdom, who shares their experiences in a way that helps another person progress further along a path or goal then they could ever do alone. Everyone gains when there is this healthy exchange of information. Society benefits greatly as “students” become better than their mentors and continue to “pay-back” by mentoring others.
Mentors do not have all the answers but the teaching process of active listening and working together to solve a problem is a very valuable lesson for any “student” to learn. It can be the difference between success and failure. It is our responsibility. Let’s work together to help each other reach our full potential and become professional at our work, life and activities.
Who was your mentor? Who are you mentoring? At the end of the day- when you pay it forward- who will that be in honor of?
Be a mentor- the rewards are great!
Can insurance professionals actually host a party?
Last weekend we hosted a cast party for 250 students and their families at the local roller skating rink. While my husband gets nearly all the credit since he organized the details, secured the venue, created and managed the Evite, I played hostess and pulled kitchen duty for the event which while frenzied, was fun!
With my background in Human Resources, medical insurance, liability insurance, and a husband who is a Risk Manager, it's no wonder many alternate between calling us either “The Fosters” or “The Fun Suckers” depending on the day.
Like so many things in life it’s all about balance. I so often think of the main character Tevye from Fiddler on the Roof where he goes back and forth in his mind about the pros and cons of a decision or event. He essentially talks himself into something “on one hand” and then a moment later talks himself out of something “on the other hand.”
As the roller skating cast party approached and unfolded, it was easy to make a list of all of the “risk” associated with the event. Were the children just coming to skate and have fun or were they actually facing real liability exposures such as:
Slip and falls
Food borne illness
Cross contamination food exposures
Allergy issues
Food handling permit issues
Communicable disease exposure with skate rental
Boundary invasion & potential inappropriate conduct between adults and children
Adequate liability coverage provided by the venue
Fire safety occupancy limit compliance
Parental supervision vs. child drop offs
Is special event coverage needed to indemnify the sponsoring organization?
Should I go on? By now you’re likely yelling “no, please stop!” To a degree I very much agree with you. Like many, I wish we could go back to the days of my youth when I don’t recall anyone discussing these issues, in fact we didn’t even wear seat belts!
Insurance may be a necessary evil in the minds of some consumers, but we should likely admit that we live in a litigious society where unless personal responsibility reigns supreme, it is critical to protect ourselves using some of the vehicles offered by insurance products. Our innocent skating party does hold some inherent risks, magnified by the fact that the event was for minor children. However, I am no way saying you should be the party pooper. Before any event, particularly one sponsored by your company, business, or entity, it’s best to consult your insurance agent or broker for some pointers and to ensure that you are adequately insured.
As a mother and event coordinator, while I thought about the “exposures” listed above as I watched and supervised the children, it was comforting to know that the insurance component had been considered and the risks had been evaluated. The “exposures” we most remember are those captured on film and the fun memories that the kids will recount for weeks and months to come.
I am pleased to report that not one child was injured, nor have we heard a single complaint regarding food borne illness or an inappropriate conduct claim. The only reports I’ve received are that the kids and parents enjoyed the items on this much more positive bulleted list.
Friendships strengthened and new ones formed
Community support of a non-profit local theatre group
Parent to parent teamwork
Huge smiles on little chocolate stained faces
Music and sing-a-longs
Lots of roller skating!
Again, it’s about balance. Approach your special event with a healthy dose of logical thinking but certainly let yourself have some fun!
