 Brian Edgren President EHL Insurance |
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Welcome to edition #6 of our client newsletter. Whether we are talking to you about “risk” broadly; or insurance specifically; our real business is people. We would like to think that our world is becoming increasingly civil; and that respect for fellow human beings is on the rise. The sorry reality, however, is that there seems to be a willingness to trample on the rights of others if there is a dollar to be made. Those who are least able to fend for themselves are often left to do just that. It is our privilege to unveil a new business initiative to help an enormously underserved segment of our culture - families with a Special Needs family member. And, we are very proud to spotlight the efforts of a special couple and an organization, who are working to make a difference on both the global and local level in the fight against human trafficking. We hope their stories inspire you to likewise become part of the solution.
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 Dan & Becky Allender |
 By Jeff Ogard
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Dr. Dan B. Allender, and his wife, Rebecca Allender, have long been involved in efforts to help broken people and broken relationships heal. Dan has a PhD in Counseling Psychology (Michigan State University) and began a private practice in marriage and family counseling in the early 80s. While people came to him in search of answers in regard to symptoms in their marriages, a common root cause surfaced: many of these people had been abused sexually sometime during their childhood or adolescence. In order to treat these clients, research ensued that led to publishing “The Wounded Heart: Hope for Adult Victims of Childhood Sexual Abuse”. This book, workbook, and CD seminar are used as a continuing education resource for counselors and psychologists. When healing occurs, feelings of contempt and shame can be replaced with joy, thereby enabling healthy marriages and other relationships. In addition to private practice, Dan is a wonderful teacher. He taught in colleges and graduate schools in Indiana and Colorado prior to moving to Washington as the Founding President of Mars Hill Graduate School in Seattle. Dan travels extensively as a conference speaker, and has on occasion shared the podium with Becky at couple’s conferences. For more information on his books, please check out www.thepathlesschosen.com and www.mhgs.edu. Nine years ago their daughter Amanda; then a student at Bainbridge High School, made a trip with fellow students to Camp Siberia, in the countryside outside of Novosibrsk, Russia (see www.campsiberia.org). It was an eye-opening experience to the plight of orphans and street kids in Russia. She learned that not all children without parental care are orphans. Children can be separated because their parents have been detained by the authorities or the children themselves abducted. Some children are placed in alternative care because of disabilities or because their parents are too poor to care for them. Other children are in prolonged hospital care due to health status, or are being detained in educational or penal facilities due to judicial rulings. Upon her return, Amanda challenged her parents to become more informed and involved in the fight against modern day human trafficking. The facts are staggering; right here in the US, as well as abroad. Human trafficking is the practice of people being tricked, lured, coerced or otherwise removed from their home or country, and then forced to work for no or low payment. This “trade” or commerce of people has many features of slavery. The victims are used in prostitution, forced labor and other forms of involuntary servitude. The sale of babies and children for adoption or other purposes also falls under this definition. It is quite possible for a person to be “trafficked” without leaving their home town. The Allenders have travelled to Thailand, Philippines, and Ethiopia, where they helped train counselors in how to help victims of human trafficking. Locally, Becky volunteers her time reaching out to street kids; primarily prostitutes aged 13 to 25. By demonstrating acts of kindness, (for example, distributing hot tea or cocoa), she and her team earn the right to have meaningful conversations. A high point for Becky came when she gained the trust of one young woman, who eventually asked Becky to call her mother, and arrange to meet her at a nearby McDonalds. She was ready to go home, and leave the life to which she had been coerced. (See www.nhmin.org for more information in regard to reaching out to street kids in Seattle.) What can you do to make a difference? *Be informed. Here are links to other sources of information: Shared Hope International Stop Human Trafficking Children of the Night International Justice Mission National Coalition for the Protection of Children and Families *Be a wise consumer. While it feels good to save money on the goods we buy, very often the cost is born by exploited people. “Fair Trade” options are becoming more visible, and for more than coffee/groceries. *Be intolerant of pornography. It is often the starting point for feeding the hunger to act out violent behavior on the helpless. The proliferation of child pornography, involving the filmed rape of pre-teenagers, should never be protected under so called “rights of free speech”. *Donate resources of time and/or money to organizations effectively combating this blight on our culture. EHL Insurance is proud to serve the Allenders as risk advisors. We are inspired by their example of how to help the world become a better place than it otherwise would be. |
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 Laura Ahlstrom Personal Risk Advisor |
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Laura Ahlstrom, of our Poulsbo office, is the Special Needs Coordinator and a Personal Risk Advisor for EHL Insurance. She has been with our company since 2009. Laura has a dual Bachelor of Arts in Japanese and International Trade from Eastern Michigan University where she graduated Magna Cum-Laude. She is licensed in Property & Casualty and Life & Disability in the state of Washington and is working toward her CIC (Certified Insurance Counselor) designation. An active member of our community, Laura has organized a team to participate in the Seattle Autism walk. Laura lives in Kitsap County, has two boys, and is newly engaged. She enjoys spending quality time with her family, traveling, scrapbooking and photography. Laura is the coordinator of EHL’s new Special Needs Protection Plan™. Having a son with autism, she knows the effect this has on families and is working diligently to provide support and information to people with similar situations. |
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 Fair Trade Sports |
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Fair Trade Sports Social entrepreneurism? There are many ways to deal with human trafficking. Fair Trade Sports is beginning to make a difference economically. The incentive for exploiting children in sweat shops is dramatically diminished when parents are paid a fair wage in exchange for their work. Scott James started Fair Trade Sports in 2006. They manufacture sports balls for soccer, football, basketball (and more!) that are certified both green and fair trade. The balls are made in Pakistan using the labor of several hundred people who are paid and treated well. Once profitable, Fair Trade Sports will donate all profits to charity. In the meantime, they have donated $2000 per year to the Boys & Girls Club of American, and Room to Read. For more information, contact Scott or a member of his team at CustomerCare@fairtradesports.com. |
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According to The Hartford Investor, only 38% of parents have a plan in place to cover the cost of care for their dependent with Special Needs once they are no longer here to provide that care. In addition, families with a Special Needs member sometimes have Property or Liability exposures that have never been identified or properly treated. Our industry has generally underserved this portion of our population. We are passionate about delivering coordinated, tailored packages of protection to these families. As we take the time to understand each individual situation, and reach out to other trusted advisors working with the family, we can help simplify what can seem an overwhelming process. Want to learn more? Or, do you know someone who might benefit from this program? If so, please call or email Laura Ahlstrom at 800-929-1669 or laura@ehlinsurance.com. |
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| Recent events in Haiti and Chile have sparked a lot of interest in insurance for natural disasters. Most home policies do not provide coverage for Earthquake, Landslide or Flood. Where available, specific coverage for these three “perils” can be secured via a Natural Disaster Policy, that lies alongside your homeowners policy. For clients who want to insure their home against Earthquake but not Flood or Landslide, there are two ways this can be potentially accomplished. Some companies provide earthquake coverage as an “endorsement” or extension of the homeowners policy. If not, a separate earthquake policy is required. Regardless of how quake coverage is obtained, high deductibles are common, ranging from 5% to 25% of the insured value of the home. If the quake is not sufficiently severe to cause the house to come off the foundation, the deductible will likely not be pierced, meaning there would be no coverage for the partial damage. However, if the quake is so severe that the house does come off the foundation; we should expect devastation to be widespread throughout the region. Historically, such a sudden increase in demand causes the cost of material, labor and the time required to rebuild to all increase dramatically. This can leave homeowners with insufficient coverage to rebuild and too little coverage for additional living expenses while they are out of their home. EHL presently has five markets writing Earthquake insurance. Please consult a Personal Risk Advisor at 800-929-1669 for a review, and to determine which options may be available for your individual situation. |
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Your referrals are our company’s life blood. We work hard to earn each referral with great service every day. You have introduced your friends to us for over 70 years, and we are pleased to say thank you in a tangible way. Refer someone to EHL Insurance and you get a $5 gas card. (A referral is when we get a call for a quote from someone saying you referred them to us.) You will also be entered into our bi-monthly drawings for prizes. We draw for a $100 gift card from everyone who referred someone to us. Refer two people and receive $10 plus two entries into the drawing. We are pleased to announce this month’s winners. Todd Flynn’s name was drawn from all clients and other friends who referred someone to us. And, Fair Trade Sports is also receiving a $100 contribution from EHL on behalf of our clients for the great work they are doing in our communities. |
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