16 minute read
AAC member discount update; how to survive the holidays
AAC member discount update; how to help your waistline survive the holidays
I’m so excited to have the opportunity to serve the outstanding county employees and volunteer firefighters all across this great state. I am working to add to the list of discounts that are available to you. Here’s a summary of what we have so far:
ADT: Receive a $100 VISA prepaid card and a free ADT Monitored Security System valued at $850 for no activation or equipment costs, and only $99 to completely install.
AT&T: •17 percent off voice, data, and tablet plans $35.00 per month and higher. • Free activation • Waived upgrade fees • $75 new service credit when getting a Smartphone and a $39.99 rate plan or higher. This offer is good until March 15, 2013. • $50 new service credit on a $9.99 family line when getting a Smartphone plan. This offer is good until March 15, 2013.
AutoZone: •10 percent courtesy discount through Do-It-Yourself (DIY). This is a change from the discount we originally publicized. However, the DIY price actually costs far less than the list cost (which our other plan was based on) and, with the additional 10 percent discount, will actually be a better savings. This new plan is also much more user friendly.
Bob’s Pest Services: Saline County area. Average termite control is $98 per year while average pest control is $60 per quarter.
Dell: •The Best Price Guarantee on consumer PCs from Dell •Exclusive member offers •An additional 10 percent on select electronics and accessories •Free shipping on select systems
DIRECT TV: Save $31 a month for one year, receive a $75 VISA prepaid card, and get a free Whole-Home Upgrade when ordering as a new customer. Call today and you also get: • Free standard installation • Free HD DVR and 3 HD Receiver upgrades on select packages • Free HD in every room on select packages • Free HBO plus Showtime plus Starz plus Cinemax for three months • Access to DIRECTV CINEMA and 400 newest movie releases
DISH Network Discounts: Call (888)-515-5921 or go to http:/ www.connectyourhome.com/edp/index.php?promo=80584 •New customers receive a $75 VISA prepaid card as well as; • 20 premium movie channels free for three months •Free Standard Installation •HD free for Life •$75 VISA prepaid card is available only to new customers. Go to the website above or call for complete details and restrictions.(These discounts are only for new customers.)
Hewlett Packard: The HP Employee Purchase Program (EPP) offers HP and Compaq consumer products at discounts typically up to 10 percent off starting prices. You can also take advantage of instant rebates, coupons and HP Home & Home Office sales promotions that combine with your EPP discount – for a typical savings of 20-30 percent off. NAPA Auto Parts: 10 percent discount at participating NAPA stores. University of Phoenix: 10 percent off the cost of tuition for any associate, bachelor’s, master’s, and doctoral degrees, certificates and individual courses. Verizon: Verizon is offering Arkansas County Employees unlimited talk and text as well as an 18 percent discount on all data plans.
Alltime Family Fitness in Clarksville, Arkansas: Johnson County employees may join for $25/month.
To use these discounts you’ll need to identify yourself as a county employee or volunteer firefighter with a name badge, a check stub, or the ID cards that were created at the AAC conference. Check our website for any code numbers that may be necessary. Please let me know if you have any problems accessing any of these discounts. If you have a particular business you’d like me to check with in an effort to obtain a discount, feel free to e-mail me. I still don’t have a contact person from all 75 counties, so if you haven’t received any e-mails with discount updates and/or coupons, then I need a contact person from your county that can pass e-mails along to all the employees in your county.
How to help your waistline survive the holidays . . .
It’s just about time for the wonderful holiday season, the time of year that part of me looks forward to and part of me dreads. This will be my second holiday season since being on The Biggest Loser and losing 88 pounds. I survived the 2011 holiday season and I’m still wearing the same size I did going in. So I thought I’d share some of my thoughts as I get mentally geared up for this season. Here are seven tips that have worked for me that I will be following this year:
1Have a plan. Don’t go to any party or event without some forethought. Consider things like: what kind of foods will
Savings times 2
Wallet & waistline
Becky Comet AAC Member Benefits Manager
RMF Trustees Approved a reduction in auto rates!
Other discounts can save your county more when you participate in all three RMF programs.
If you are already a RMF member, thank you for your business and enjoy our decreased auto rates.
If you’re not a RMF member, it is a great time to ask for a quote!
The AAC Risk Management Fund is managed by a Board of Trustees comprised of YOUR county colleagues.
As a fund member, YOU help develop the fund’s products that meet the needs of our unique and valued county resources and employees.
Most of Arkansas counties are reaping the
Dear RMF Members: It is that busy time of year again and everyone is working on budget. We are pleased to announce some exciting news for AACRMF MEMBERS. Due to the overwhelming loyalty of our current RMF members, the Risk Management Fund continues to experience successful and stable growth. In an effort to continue our history of rewarding our members for their loyalty, the RMF Trustees approved a reduction in auto rates effective with the January 1, 2013 renewal. The reduction in rates will result in an 8% average discount for participating members. This is not a one-time decrease, but a rate decrease that all RMF members will continue to enjoy. This rate decrease is in addition to the 10% discount RMF members receive when they participate in all three RMF programs (General Liability, Auto & Property) and in addition to the discount offered to members who have completed a defensive-driving course.We certainly appreciate your loyalty and participation in our programs and are here to assist you in any way we can. Sincerely, Debbie Norman Risk Management & Insurance Director AAC Risk Management Services The Association of Arkansas Counties Risk Management Fund was founded in 1986 and began operation in 1987. Since 1987 the AACRMF has prospered as a non-insurance risk management pool. In 1997 the Association of Arkansas Counties formed a Third Party Administrator (TPA), AAC Risk Management Services and brought the claims management in-house. The AAC is dedicated to risk management and loss control. It is the mission of both the AAC and the AACRMF to help counties. IF YOU ARE NOT A RMF MEMBER, DON’T START YOUR 2013 BUDGETING PROCESS BEFORE GIVING AACRMF A CALL!
benefits of ownership of the AAC Risk Management Fund.
Why not your County?
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AUTO PROTECTION: Auto Liability (Statutory Liability Limits) Auto Physical Damage (Comp & Collision) Medical Pay Coverage
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Debbie Norman Risk Management & Insurance Director 501.375.8247
Cathy Perry Admin. Assistant 501.375.8805 Barry Burkett Loss Control 501.375.8805
Cindy Calvert Claims Examiner 501.375.8805
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Winters reflects ... looks to future
and it became a thing where I loved it.”
Sheriff Bolin retired and Winters was elected Sheriff in 1990 and was sworn in on Jan. 1, 1991.
“My family and my wife have always been very supportive of me,” Winters said. “My wife and I as a team decided I would run for sheriff.”
During his tenure as sheriff, Winters was a member of the Arkansas Sheriffs’ Association, where he was an executive board member, legislative chairman, and president of the association from July of 2001 to July 2002. Winters was also one of the sheriff’s representatives on the Association of Arkansas Counties Board of Directors. He retired as sheriff in 2008.
Winters was hired as deputy director of the Arkansas Department of Emergency Management (ADEM) in April of 2009 and continued that position until he was appointed as director at the Arkansas Crime Information Center in 2012. He said he had grown accustomed to working with a wonderful group of people at the Pope County Sheriff’s Office, but found another great group at ADEM.
“I fell right into another group that obviously doesn’t do what they do for the money,” Winters said. “They do it because they love helping people. I can’t say enough about the folks there. They are a real asset to the state of Arkansas.”
Winters has been married to his wife Sheena for 36 years and they have a son, Jay Jr. of Little Rock, and a daughter, Amber, son in law, Ryan, and two granddaughters, Kyleigh, 6, and Maycie, 2, of Nanaimo, British Columbia, Canada.
What’s going on at ACIC?
Winters was appointed to the director of the Arkansas Crime Information Center (ACIC) on Jan. 31, 2012. The center is an assisting agency and it was created in 1971 to mainly provide law enforcement with information on driver’s licenses and vehicle license plates.
He remembered August 1975 as the first time he used an ACIC computer.
“I see where it was then and I see where we are now,” Winters said. “It’s just amazing.”
He again reiterated the fine group of people he found at the ACIC.
“These people work hard and strive for excellence,“ Winters said. “Because of that, we are now to the point … where we are now.”
ACIC assists criminal justice officers with an array of information. The ACIC website, www.acic.org, also hosts the state’s sex offender registry.
By the end of the year, Winters said driver’s license and vehicle information will be accessible on iPhones and is already available on Androids for criminal justice officers in the field. This mobile delivery model will make real-time information another asset to the Arkansas law enforcement community.
ACIC is also responsible for maintaining the Victim Notification System in the state of Arkansas.
Winters said his concentration right now is getting out to various meetings making sure law enforcement and other officials know what ACIC does.
“We can get more information than they think we can get,” Winters said. “And so we can be very beneficial in investigations and have been instrumental in some investigations.”
“Mobile applications are an important thing right now,” Winters said, “I think by the end of year that we will have that up and running.”
Winters also alluded to several ongoing projects where ACIC is working with other entities to improve the databasing capabilities of the state.
“We’re all about officer safety and citizen safety,” Winters said. “So the more we know about a person the better chance there will be a positive result from that encounter or traffic stop or call.”
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We offer county and municipal discounts!
Savings Times 2
Continued From Previous Page 52 <<< be served; how can I fit that into my new healthy food plan; what kind of beverages will be served (You’d be surprised at how many calories can be in one glass. I’ve never been one that’s willing to use up my entire calorie budget on something I plan to drink. I’d much rather eat my calories.)
2If you’re attending a potluck, take something that fits into your plan. Make that your “go to” dish. At least you’ll know there’s something you feel good about eating.
3Don’t go to an event when you’re starving. If the event you’re attending has foods that you really want to eat, great. But, have a healthy snack before you go to take off the hunger edge. If you’re starving going in, you’ll probably overeat.
4If you’re dying to taste something, go ahead. Just don’t fill your plate with it. Take a spoonful that’s enough for a couple of bites. You’ll feel the satisfaction of the taste as well as the satisfaction of being in control of the food.
5Don’t beat yourself up if you get off your plan a bit. It takes 3,500 calories to make a pound. If you stay fairly close to your plan, you’re probably not going to overeat by 3,500 calories. The weight gain you may see on the scale the next day is probably just water weight. Get back on track, drink plenty of water to flush your system, and the scale will look better in a few days.
6Don’t let your celebration go on for days. Let yourself have a little indulgence on Thanksgiving, Christmas, and New Year’s (or whatever days you plan for yourself). But don’t make it one continuous celebration (I think a better word is binge) from Thanksgiving until New Year’s.
7Stay Active. Don’t give up your exercise routine just because the holidays are here. Remember, there’s nothing better than a walk around the neighborhood after a holiday meal. Take the whole family. What a great way to spend time together.
Have a blessed holiday season!
Comments? Suggestions? Questions? e-mail bcomet@arcounties.org.
AAC Law Clerk Lindsey Bailey
My favorite meal: Pulled pork BBQ sandwich with slaw and all the fixin’s
When I’m not working I’m: Studying, cooking, rooting for the Hogs, or catching a show downtown at one of my favorite local musicians or bands. SUPPORT LIVE LOCAL MUSIC!
The accomplishment of which I am most proud: Being able to have a well-balanced life between school, work, and doing things that I love. Letting law school take away the things I enjoy in life was never an option for me. Not everyone can find that balance.
I hardest thing I have ever done: After being born and raised in Pocahontas, Ark., and graduating from ASU in Jonesboro, moving by myself to the “big city” of Little Rock on my own, on a very modest retail-worker’s salary, knowing only a few casual acquaintances, and having no real idea what I wanted to do once I got here.
At the top of my bucket list is to: Travel the world – EVERYWHERE! I love and appreciate all different cultures, but I have not had much opportunity to travel outside of the U.S. yet. I want to go to Africa, the Middle East, Eastern Asia, Europe, Australia, EVERYWHERE! It would be nice if I could retire around age 50 to do that.
You might be surprised to learn that: My secret ambition is to run for a state office someday.
My pet peeve is: People who won’t listen to a viewpoint that is different from theirs. Motto or favorite quote: “If it’s worth doing, then it’s worth doing well.” Lindsey Bailey
How long have you been at AAC and can you describe some of your successful AAC projects?
I just started at AAC in summer 2012. I have helped county judges and sheriffs familiarize themselves with Arkansas law regarding forfeited assets, sales of county property, and how to dispose of worthless property. My article was published and a county compliance handbook should soon follow. I am working with the AACRMF and Workers’ Comp to help them realize and pursue their legal remedies when someone employed by the counties is involved in an accident and the responsible party is resisting payment. Also, I am assisting in ongoing litigation and proposed legislation regarding various issues for the counties that will help county officials maximize their potential to advance the counties’ interests.
What have you learned about the legal field and/or county government while interning at AAC?
First, I have become acquainted with the inner-workings of county government, how it is structured, and how it operates. I was not familiar at all with how county government worked. At AAC, I have learned that county employees are among the most loyal and hard-working government officials in the state, and that they all genuinely want to do what is best for their constituents. As our motto goes, “It may be hard work, but we do good things.”
Has your experience altered your future goals or help solidify them or a combination of the two?
My clerkship at AAC is my first as a law student, so of course it has helped mold my future goals, both regarding what I want and do not want to do. I was genuinely taken aback by all of the attorneys and staff at AAC and how they do so much work that will help the people. There is so much motivation here that has absolutely nothing to do with money, and that was refreshing. I am still not sure what exact field I want to practice in (I still have two years of law school left), but I do know that I want a career where I can go home every night knowing that I am working for the betterment of my clients, my community, my state and the law. Clerking at AAC has helped me realize that this kind of rewarding career is possible, even as a lawyer!
AAC Law Clerk Brandy McAllister
My favorite meal: Burger and fries.
When I’m not working I’m: Lots of studying and spending time with my husband and son.
The accomplishment of which I am most proud: My marriage.
The hardest thing I have ever done: Made it through my first semester back at law school after the birth of my son.
At the top of my bucket list is to: Have chickens and two goats (Sigmund and Fred).
You might be surprised to learn that: Mosquitos are attracted to people who just ate bananas.
My pet peeve is: Willful ignorance.
Motto or favorite quote:
“It is not the critic who counts; not the man who points out how the strong man stumbles, or where the doer of deeds could have done them better. The credit belongs to the man who is actually in the arena, whose face is marred by dust and sweat and blood; who strives valiantly; who errs, who comes short again and again, because there is no effort without error and shortcoming…”
“The Man in the Arena” April 23, 1910, Teddy Roosevelt
How long have you been at AAC and can you describe some of your successful AAC projects?
Since August 2011. County Codification.
What have you learned about the legal field and/or county government while interning at AAC?
I have learned so much I don’t know where to begin… Much about the structure and workings of county government, the relationship between counties and the state, the legislative process, not to park next to Mark, and through the codification process I have learned an enormous amount of individual county law.
Has your experience altered your future
Brandy McAllister goals or help solidify them or a combination of the two? Helped solidify them. Working here has energized my confidence in our legislative system and in the democratic process. Change does not have to be an abstract concept; and while the democratic process doesn’t guarantee a win every time, at the end of the day you know that if you work for it, it is possible.
