IN THIS ISSUE: ▪ Solar Energy Safety & Savings ▪ Protect Yourself From Wildfires ▪ What You Need to Know About Student Insurance ▪ Staying Safe on Campus ▪ Natural Remedies For Bug Control ▪ How to Detect and Remove Deadly Radon Gas

DON'T BRUSH ASIDE THOSE WILDFIRE RISKSDuring hot, dry summer days, the risk of wildfires that threaten communities and individual homes reaches its peak. If you live in a vulnerable area, you can significantly cut the risk of becoming a victim by clearing all flammable brush and other vegetation within 50 to 100 feet around your home and by cutting off tree limbs that overhang your roof.Because sparks, glowing embers and smoke can be wind-borne, you need to ensure your neighbors are savvy about the risks too. Maybe you share common areas that you can clear together. In fact, it's a good idea for whole communities to organize a fire defense plan that includes other nearby property and an effective way of communicating and acting together if the worst happens – because you won't have time to think of it then.If you're unfortunate enough to be trapped by fire, call 911 and stay outdoors, ideally on a road or bare land. If you can't get outside, close doors and windows and stay away from outside walls. If you're in a car, close windows and get on the floor. The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) offers advice at 1-800-621-FEMA or http://tinyurl.com/info-on-wildfires.

Let The Sun Shine,For Safety's Sake!A revolution in lighting is tapping into the energy of the sun, with the promise of making our lives brighter and safer. Two big changes are making this possible – advances in technology through the use of low-energy, brilliantly-lit tiny bulbs called LEDs (Light Emitting Diodes) and more efficient solar "batteries" that collect power from sunlight. And it's not just our well being and wallets that benefit; the environment gets a safety boost too! Harnessing solar power cuts use of regular batteries and electricity generated from coal, gas and oil – all of which cause pollution. Sun-powered innovations that save money and the environment, while making life safer, include:• Flashing LED cycle lights that cost nothing to run and

can be seen from a greater distance.• Outdoor lights that illuminate paths and driveways that

are way brighter than their predecessors, reducing the risk of falls.

• Ultra-bright security lights, with motion detectors that improve home protection.

Even without the sun, battery- and mains-powered LEDs produce so much light, they're far more safety-effective in flashlights, home lighting and key chains, and devices like traffic signals and hands-free headgear used in places like crawl-spaces. More are on the way.The great thing is that most of these items are now easily available. You can buy them at hardware stores and online. Of course, they don't need wiring, they're maintenance free, and they're not expensive – the cycle lights start at around $15 and the security system with motion detectors around $35.However, it's important to note that not all solar systems are suitable for all areas. And when you buy lighting, you need to be sure that replacement bulbs are available. The Department of Energy offers useful guidance on solar energy at http://tinyurl.com/info-on-solar and about LEDs at http://tinyurl.com/info-on-LEDs

New

s an

d Ti

ps to

Mak

e Yo

ur L

ife E

asie

r, Sa

fer a

nd H

appi

er

A

ugus

t 2

010

Are you Client of the Month? See Page 3

Insurance Masters NW1

Circle ofSafetyYour Consumer Awareness Advisor

4115 N Mississippi Ave. Ste. C Portland 97217 www.IMNorthwest.com 503-419-6421

™

™

Ensuring Peace of Mind When College Beckons

This is an exciting but stressful period if someone in your family is heading off to college for the first time in a few weeks. Seems like there are 1001 things to think about and plan for. Make sure insurance is one of them – preferably at or near the top of your list. That's because there are more than 50,000 thefts and other property crimes on US campuses every year – and countless more routine and emergency medical incidents.

In some cases, existing homeowners, health and auto insurance policies provide the cover you need. In others you may need separate or additional cover, especially if the student will be away from home. Here are some of the issues to help you decide:

Property Insurance: It's amazing how the value of a student's personal belongings quickly add up, often to a five figure number. You should check whether your homeowners insurance covers this – but remember, even that may require expensive items such as computers or valuables to be separately listed in the policy. Otherwise, consider renter's insurance, which has the advantage of liability protection and may even include certain medical costs.

Health Insurance: Most family policies cover dependents who are full-time students to age 23 (or beyond in some states), but definitions of "full time" vary by insurer. Students who marry will likely lose this cover. Also, if your policy is through a Health Maintenance Organization (HMO) and the student is outside their area, although they'll probably be covered locally for emergencies, they may have to return home for routine medical visits. Separate student health insurance plans are available but benefits are usually limited compared with family policies. Premiums are affected by a range of considerations including deductibles and co-pays.

Auto Insurance: The key issue here is whether the student's existing auto insurance policy imposes any limitations on cover for extended out-of-state use – or the other way around: does the policy meet the minimum auto insurance requirements of the state in which it is being used. You also have to let the insurer know when the auto is going to be parked or garaged at a new location, especially, again, if it's out of state.

The important point is the need always to check the extent of your existing cover before the student leaves. Of course, we would be happy to work with you on this and provide further information and advice.

2

Making Student Safety A Key PriorityCollege is a new experience where first-timers encounter unfamiliar situations and hazards. Personal security is one issue. Students should avoid late-night solo outings, always let others know where they are, and protect valuables, including information that could lead to identity theft. This is especially important in shared accommoda-tion, where other might have access to these things.Healthwise, there are new risks to be managed – diet, exercise, vaccinations, fatigue, potential substance abuse and all sorts of psychological pressures that come with living in a different community and facing new challenges. The Centers for Disease Control (CDC) provides extensive coverage of these issues on its website at http://tinyurl.com/CDC-Students.

BUG PATROL!The Natural Way To Curb

Insects At HomeIt's that time of year when bugs and pests of one sort or another seem to be everywhere. And it's a normal reaction to reach for the spray can to blast them out of existence. But many commer-cial insect repellants use chemi-cals, which, although regarded as safe in small amounts, can produce side effects on humans.Your first strategy should be to keep them out, by using window and door screens for flying insects, and removing tempta-tion (ie, food!) from those who find another way in – like ants.Then, here are some natural products for your bug patrol:Ants: Cucumber slices, mint leaves, cinnamon repel them. Or bait with a mix of ½ gal water, 1tsp borax and a cup of sugar.Mosquitoes: Eucalyptus, soy-bean oil and garlic juice are natural repellants – but they might repel humans as well! Try planting marigolds – mosquitoes and other insects hate them.Flies: Scatter dried mint or basil leaves strategically around the house. Pleasant fragrance too!Fleas: Gently bathe pets with citrus infused water and add cider vinegar to pet foods. Outdoors, plant fleabane.Spiders: Place mock orange in closets and other corners. Hope we didn't make you itchy!

Thank You For Referrals Thank You! Thank You!

Thanks to all who graciously referred their family, friends and associates to our agency. We build our agency on your positive comments. We couldn’t do it without your help!

Rasha Pecoraro Darryn Foor Joel Priest Kristen Nekovar Jeff Hurder Stacy Barna Gary Boyer

Are You Our Client of the Month?

Our agency is nothing without your loyalty and faith in us. Even

if your name doesn’t appear below this month, please accept

my heartfelt thanks for your support. I truly appreciate it!For outstanding work telling

others about our agency, this month we honor:

Stacy Barnaas our Client of the Month!Stacy Barna will receive a Cupcake Jones Gift Card!

This month Insurance Masters NW is sponsoring a Trivia Contest and offering you a chance to win a $10 Visa Gift Card. Test your knowledge! Answer the question below and you could be this month’s winner. The entry that comes closest to the correct answer to the following question will be the winner. If more than one person has the exact answer, the winner will be the person whose entry reached our office first. Email your name and answer to corey@imnorthwest.com --. Good luck!

Precious stones and quartz were the natural forerunners of which 13th century invention?

Last month’s question was: A word that means “mountain peak” was used by a well-known group of singers. The public knew them by a less complimentary name. Who were they? Answer: The Summit or The Rat Pack, featuring, among others, Frank Sinatra, Dean Martin and Sammy Davis, Jr.

WIN! WIN! WIN!

Tell Others About Us and Win a PrizeWho will be our next Client of the Month? Could it be you?Referrals are the lifeblood of any business, and there’s no better source than you, our clients. Just mention Insurance Masters NW to a friend, relative, or colleague and have them give us a call at 503-419-6421. Don't forget to tell them to use your name, so we can enter you for our prize draw! Thank you in advance.

3

Win an Apple iPad!Keep Reading!

IT'S A FACT: They may be tiny, but hummingbirds have sharper hearing and longer distance vision than humans. But they have no sense of smell.

Insurance Masters NW

Circle of Safety™Your Consumer Awareness Advisor ™

4

How to Detect and Remove Deadly Radon Gas

You can't see it. You can't smell it. You can't taste it. But radon gas is pretty much everywhere. That's not a problem in the open air, but high concentrations in your home spell trouble. Radon is a radioactive gas that occurs naturally from the breakdown of uranium in soil and rocks. If your home happens to be sitting on top of such a concentration, it can seriously affect your health, especially if you also are a cigarette smoker. According to the US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), radon is the second-most leading cause of lung cancer. EPA says about 1 in every 15 homes has elevated amounts of the gas and that all homes below the third floor level should be tested for it. The good news is that it's easy to test for and it's relatively straightforward to fix – reducing levels by up to 99%. Test kits usually cost less than $20 and can be bought from many multiple retailers like Sears or Target, as well as online. Some states offer low-cost or free kits. Because radon levels may vary from day to day, the kits, which contain absorbent materials like charcoal, have to be left in place for several days and some-times up to 90 days, though they only take a few minutes to set up. Just follow the instructions that come with the kit. You can also by kits that run for longer and so give you a more accurate reading.

The kit will produce a figure in a measure that's abbreviated as pCi/L. If this figure is more than 4.0 (average is 1.3), you need to take action, which normally involves installation a vent pipe system and fan, which draws the gas away from below the building. You need a specialist radon contractor to do this or recommend other measures, like sealing foundation cracks.

Find more information including how to find local state help and a contractor at http://www.epa.gov/radon. And if you're in the process of buying a home, remember to ask the sellers if it's been radon tested.

“Corey Kaster is truly an insurance “master.” He is thorough, dependable, and puts the interests of his clients first. Corey always goes the extra mile, following up to make sure that claims are being processed in a timely fashion, looking for

savings, and making savvy recommendations. He is the kind of professional who always returns calls and emails promptly, a

rarity these days. He is also great fun to be around!” M. Santillo

�������������� �����

��� ������������������������

�������� �����!���"��#$%� ������

������

��

����� ������������������� �������������������������������� �������������������������������������������������������������� ���� ��������!��������������"#

$%&��'(# ���)*++�,-�.�� ���!���� ���/(0� ����������� ���,1-�������������������� ���������� �����������������

����������"��/(0� ��������������������2 ����3 �4���3��5

������

�1

����� ������!����������������� � �������� ���� ����������������� ������������������� ��

� ' 66�0%(/+�,1-���������7/*'$������� ��7%'�+5

2 ���3 �4�5

'��0������ �18�8���� ����������� ������� ������� ��������������������2 ����3 �4������������ ���0������ ����1889��� �����(������ �:8��18�8�

� 7+�2*/(0�3*';+��'((+*�������������2 ����3 �4���3�������� ���������� ���������������� �����7������55

'��� �����<���� ��(��=>����?��@��!���5A�3 �� ���*���

� �� ������������������������� ��������������������� ������� ���� �����%���������������� ������ ���

��@�������������������������������������������� �������� ����������������@� �����

� �������������������� ��� ���@ �������� ���@�����������������������������@��������� ��� ����@ ��@������ �

�� ���������$�������������������������������� ���������� �@ �4���� ����������� ����� ����������������������� ����� ������� ���@ �4�����$���������������������@ �������������� ������������������@ �4���

� *��� ���@ ��@��������������������@� ����������������� ����� ��� ����@� ��������������� ��������������

� ���� ������ ��@����������������������������� ������������������ ��������������

� 3 �4���������������������'��� �����<���� ��(������ ������

&'�()*+(,)-*���.���� ���� .���