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Editor’s Note
Dear Readers,
Inside this issue, there are a number of great articles about leadership best practices, building positive self-esteem and productivity! We hope you enjoy this issue.
As always, I hope you enjoy this issue and continue to follow us on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, Google +, and LinkedIn.
Thanks again for your continual support!
Sincerely,
Kuanita E. Murphy, PhD Publisher/Editor-in-Chief
Know a youth volunteer? Awards deadline is Nov. 6
It’s easy to assume that young people are too buried in their phones to pay attention to the state of their communities. But statistics show that many, many young Americans are taking notice of the needs around them - and taking the initiative to do something.
Take Brandon Warren, for example. When his friend and football teammate was killed, the Indianapolis teenager started a nonprofit to take a stand against youth violence, and planned a peace walk that drew hundreds of participants. Or Hailey Richman, a New York youngster whose experiences with her grandmother inspired her to create a support group for other kids whose loved ones have Alzheimer’s disease.
When last measured by the Bureau of Labor Statistics, more than a quarter of U.S. teens from ages 16 to 19 had volunteered in some capacity. And in a study of 1,200 U.S. teenagers conducted by Prudential Financial’s Spirit of Community Initiative, 67 percent reported that they’d volunteered in the past; just over a quarter said they volunteered on a regular basis.
That’s great news for the youth and their communities, since volunteering can benefit the givers as much as the receivers. The teen volunteers surveyed by Prudential rated themselves an average of 15 points higher than non-volunteers across a variety of traits including independence, confidence and optimism. They also reported that their service projects helped them actively develop leadership and social skills.
To encourage and honor young volunteers in grades 5 through 12, Prudential is sponsoring its 23rd annual Spirit of Community Awards, a recognition already bestowed to some 125,000 middle and high school students across the country. Applications are due by Nov. 6 for the award, which showcases students who have given their time and talents to complete meaningful community service within the past 12 months. Co-sponsor is the National Association of Secondary School Principals.
“After more than two decades of honoring young
volunteers, we know students are a powerful force for good,” notes Prudential CEO John Strangfeld. “We shine a spotlight on their service in hopes others will be inspired to follow their example.”
The Spirit of Community Awards is the largest youth recognition program in the U.S. based solely on community service. Here’s how it works:
* Youth volunteers can participate by completing the online application by Tuesday, Nov. 6, then having the application certified by either their principal or the leader of a participating volunteer program (local chapters of the American Red Cross, YMCA, 4-H, Girl Scouts or Points of Light’s HandsOn Network). From those applications, certifiers have until Nov. 16 to select local honorees to be presented for state-level judging.
* On Feb. 5, 2019, the top middle school and high school volunteers from each state and the District of Columbia will be named state honorees; those 102 winners will receive $1,000, engraved silver medallions and all-expense-paid, four-day trips to Washington, D.C. (with their parents or guardians) to take place May 4-7.
* During special events in D.C., 10 of the 102 state honorees will be selected as America’s top youth volunteers. Each winner will receive $5,000, a gold medallion and a crystal trophy for their nominating school or organization, in addition to a $5,000 grant from The Prudential Foundation to a nonprofit charitable organization of their choice. “Distinguished finalists” will receive bronze medallions, and runners-up will receive certificates and President’s Volunteer Service Awards (if their volunteer hours qualify).
Do you know young people with impressive records of volunteerism? Encourage them to get the recognition they deserve by applying for the Spirit of Community Awards by the deadline.—
Making it count: Five Tips for Choosing a Health Plan
This fall millions will head to the polls to cast their vote in the mid-term elections, but they have another important choice to make as well: their health care coverage for 2019.
People will have the opportunity to select or switch their health insurance plans for 2019 during open or annual enrollment.
But unlike Election Day, the dates to keep in mind aren’t the same for everyone and vary depending on your situation:
* For the more than 175 million Americans with employer-provided coverage, many companies set aside a two-week period between September and December when employees can select health benefits for the following year.
* For the more than 60 million people enrolled in Medicare, Medicare Annual Enrollment runs from Oct. 15 to Dec. 7 each year.
* Health insurance marketplace or individual state exchange open enrollment runs from Nov. 1 to Dec. 15.
For most people, changes made during this time will take effect Jan. 1, 2019.
Choosing health benefits can feel stressful, but it doesn’t have to be. Rebecca Madsen, chief consumer officer of UnitedHealthcare, shares five tips to help make the process easier and ensure you are choosing the right option for you:
Review your options. Take the time to explore your options and understand the benefits and costs of each plan so you can find the coverage that works best for you. Beyond the monthly premium, you also should understand what out-of-pocket costs, including the deductible, copays and coinsurance, you may be responsible for. Also, consider any changes to your health over the last year or if you have any major health events planned for 2019 - such as having a baby or surgery - to determine if your current coverage still fits your needs.
Prevent financial surprises. Before you select a plan, check if your doctor is in your health plan’s care provider network. Visiting doctors that are in-network is one way to help keep your costs lower. If you select a plan that would make your visit to a doctor or hospital outside the network, make sure you un-
derstand the costs.
Also, see if your medications are covered by the plan. Even if you don’t expect to change plans, it’s important to make sure your drugs will still be covered in 2019. People with Medicare should remember that Original Medicare doesn’t cover prescription drugs, so if you are looking for help covering the costs of your medications, choose either a Part D plan or a Medicare Advantage plan with prescription coverage.
Look for ways to save. Ask about incentive-based wellness programs that reward you for living a healthier lifestyle. Some health plans offer incentives for their members to participate in activities that may help improve their health, such as completing a health assessment, visiting a gym, lowering their cholesterol, participating in a wellness-coaching or tobacco-cessation program, or even just walking.
Also, check to see if your plan includes 24/7 telehealth services. Telehealth services can be especially convenient for consultations on minor health issues. Often, telehealth is available to members of employer-sponsored, individual and Medicare Advantage plans.
Don’t forget about additional benefits and features. Open or annual enrollment is the ideal time to select benefit plans that can help protect you and your family from head to toe, so consider adding vision, dental and financial protection plans such as life, accident or critical illness coverage. For people on Medicare, many are surprised to find that Original Medicare doesn’t cover most dental, vision and hearing services. But many Medicare Advantage plans do and often include perks like gym memberships or discounts on hearing aids.
Learn the lingo. Do you have a full understanding of health care terms, such as premium, deductible, coinsurance and out-of-pocket maximum? If not, there are resources online, including UnitedHealth Group’s Just Plain Clear Glossary (in English, Spanish and Portuguese) to help you learn and understand health care terms.
For help navigating open enrollment, visit UHCOpenEnrollment.com for more tips, articles and videos about health insurance and health care topics.—
50 FIFTY UNDER 2018 GAME CHANGER
You don't get into something to test the waters, you go into things to make waves.—
BE A GAME CHANGER
Rural Leader Magazine is pleased to present the 2018 Class of Fifty under Fifty Honorees. The Rural Leader 50 under 50 Honor was developed with the purpose to recognize exclusively leaders who live and work in small communities.
Now in its second year, once again, we received a number of nominations of worthy individuals from across the country. Each nominee was either self-nominated or nominated by an organization or group. To qualify, nominees must be at least 40 and
Leslie Abrams
44
Hometown Madison, WI Profession
U. S. District Judge of the United States District Court for the Middle District of Georgia and former Assistant United States Attorney Stacey Abrams
Age 45 Hometown Madison, WI Profession Former Georgia House Minority Leader. Author/ Selena Montgomery Serial Entrepreneur. Tax Attorney. Running for Governor of GA
not older than 50 as of October 2018 AND reside in the United States.
This year's honorees are indeed game changers in their respective genres. We are elated to showcase such a diversified collection of individuals in Small Town America. Their collective contributions and achievements is a testament to the astounding level of talent in small communities. Congratulations to the 2018 Class of Rural Leader 50 under 50 Game Changers for a job well done!—
43
Donaldsonville, GA
48
Georgetown, GA
Law Superior Court Judge Pataula District (GA)
50 under 50 GAME CHANGER
Latisha Austin
Essie Berry
Tommy Bonner
STATS Age 40
Hometown Cuthbert, GA
Profession Criminal Justice GA State Patrol
Willa Bost
STATS Age 44
Hometown Lumpkin, GA/ Thomasville, NC
Profession Actress/ Entrepreneur/ Teacher
Russell S. Chapman "Rusty"
STATS
Age 43
Hometown Cuthbert, GA
Profession Coroner/ Criminal Justice
Trina Culver
STATS Age 49
Hometown Cuthbert, GA
Profession Registered Nurse
Sheryl C. Brown STATS Age 43
Hometown Ft. Gaines, GA
Profession Business Managemnet
Wiillie Bunts STATS Age 47
Hometown Albany, GA
Profession Ministry
Pastor, Greater Mt. Calvary Baptist Church
Kizzy Danser STATS Age 41
Hometown Coleman, GA
Profession U. S. Military/ Commander/ Lt. Col.
Victoria Darrisaw STATS Age 49
Hometown Macon, GA
Profession
Superior Court judge for the Dougherty Judicial Circuit (GA)
Marjett Cabatit
STATS
Age 43
Hometown Albany, GA
Profession
Technology
Management Lee Co. Schools (GA)
Tim Donalson
STATS Age 48
Hometown
Jakin, GA/ Dothan, AL
Profession Elder/Pastor at Destiny Church Dothan
Edna Dudley STATS Age 43
Hometown
Bluffton, GA
Profession
U. S. Military
Rev. Dr. Timothy French STATS Age 47
Hometown Smithville, GA
Profession
Ministry/Senior Pastor and CEO at Beulah Baptist Church, Macon, GA/Civil Rights Activist
ArKimmie Hart STATS
Age 43
Hometown
Cuthbert, GA
Profession Ministry and Primary Education
Wanda Heath STATS Age 44 Hometown Albany, GA
Profession Entrepreneur
Sheryl M. Green STATS Age 45
Hometown Bainbridge, GA
Profession
U. S. Military/ Human Resource Sergeant Fort Gordon, GA
Tywon Heath STATS Age 45
Hometown Albany, GA
Profession Ministry Pastor/Greater
Friendship Baptist Church, Oakfield, GA
Law Enforcement/ Chief, Cuthbert Police Dept. (GA)
Dr. Emmett Griswold STATS Age 45 Hometown Milledgeville, GA
Profession
Higher Education Vice President
Academic Affairs Albany Technical College (GA)
Christopher Holt STATS Age 44
Hometown Quincy, FL
Profession Entreprenuer/ Owner of Holt Trucking/ Disc Jockey "DJ Trucker"
Rev. David Hamm STATS
Age 42
Hometown Edison, GA
Profession Pastor, Piney Grove Baptist Church (GA) & Perry Grove Baptist Church (GA)/ Councilman, City of Cuthbert GA
Eric Howard STATS Age 44
Hometown Cuthbert, GA/ Valdosta, GA
Profession
Coucilman/City of Valdosta (GA)/ District 4
Nicole W. Howell STATS
Age 42
Hometown Marshville, GA
Profession Ministry/NonProfit Mangement/ Director Macon County Family Connection
Leigh May STATS
Age 46
Hometown Albany, GA
Profession Law/Judge of the United States District Court for the Northern District of Georgia
Brittany Jones STATS Age 45
Hometown Camilla, GA
Profession Higher Education Wallace Community College (AL)
Fredrick Means
40 Hometown Blakely, GA
Criminal Justice/ Department of Juvenile Justice
Regina King
44 Hometown Edison, GA
Elizabeth Knighton
43
Athens, GA
Co. Schools (GA) Walter Knighton
Age 47 Hometown Shellman, GA
Sumter Co. Schools (GA)
Heather Melton
46
Hometown Cuthbert, GA
Randolph Co. Schools (GA) Christina Pollard
47
Shellman, GA
Terri Raven STATS
Age 44
Hometown Albany, GA
Profession Entrepreneur/ Ministry
Lori Simpson STATS Age 49 Hometown Rensselaer, Indiana/Valdosta, GA
Profession 4th Grade Teacher Westside Elementary School (GA)
Ra'Mel Thomas STATS
Age 42
Hometown
Cuthbert, GA
Profession Business Management/Local Government School Board
Member Elect/ District 1 (2019)
April H. Smith STATS Age 45
Hometown Buena Vista, GA
Profession
Entrepreneur/ CEO/Event Planner
Dr. Sonya Smith STATS
Age 48
Hometown Hiram, GA
Profession
Entrepreneur/ Ministry
Eddie Stapleton STATS
Age 44
Hometown Blakely, GA
Profession Ministry, Pastor at Glorious Ministry Church (GA)
Rev. James Turner STATS Age 42
Hometown Abbeville, AL
Profession Ministry
Lonnie Vaughn STATS Age 44
Hometown Cuthbert, GA
Profession Ministry
Tyrone Walton STATS Age 48
Hometown Cuthbert, GA
Profession U.S. Military
LaVar Warden STATS
Age 49
Hometown Ohio City, OH
Profession Poet/Motivational Speaker/Ministry
50
Jennifer Weinbaum STATS
Age 49
Hometown Seymour, IN
Profession Founder Universal Abundance, Inc.
David Wilkerson STATS Age 49
Hometown Austell, GA
Profession GA State Representative
Deidre Williams STATS Age 42
Hometown Fortson, GA
Profession Founder/Owner The Protocol Academy of GA, LLC
There are several myths and misconceptions that exist when it comes to insurance. For example, true or false? It costs more to insure red cars.
The answer is false. Car color has no impact on insurance premiums; however, factors like your driving history, annual mileage driven, the cost of your vehicle and other things will affect how much you’ll pay for insurance.
Insurance is one of the most useful investments you can make to help safeguard your belongings and financial assets, but it’s important to know what you’re purchasing. Here are four things you should know about auto, homeowners or renters insurance policies to ensure adequate protection in the event of an unforeseen or unexpected loss.
1. Myth: Auto insurance covers all vehicle-related issues
Most states require drivers to carry auto liability insurance. This coverage provides financial protection if you’re found to be legally responsible for causing injury to another person or their property. It doesn’t cover damage to your vehicle, however, or items stolen from your vehicle, or damage from a storm or vandalism.
Collision insurance covers you while your vehicle is in motion and you crash into another vehicle or with a fixed object, like a pothole, guardrail or light post. This coverage is typically required by a lender
when you finance a vehicle.
Comprehensive insurance is coverage that protects your vehicle when it is damaged while not in motion. Examples of this could include vandalism, theft or an act of Mother Nature like a hailstorm or fire.
“When financing a vehicle, the lender may require you to carry this coverage until it is paid off. If your vehicle is older, however, and it has been completely paid off then comprehensive insurance may not be the right coverage because a vehicle’s value decreases with age. Consider whether the savings of not having comprehensive insurance are enough to offset the risk of potentially having a large repair or replacement bill,” says Kevin Quinn, Vice President of Auto Claims at Mercury Insurance.
2. Misconception: Homeowners insurance protects against damage from all natural disasters
Homeowners insurance covers losses or damages to your house and personal belongings in the event of a fire, sudden flooding caused by a broken pipe, theft and even objects falling from the sky like airplane debris. It also provides liability coverage if visitors suffer injuries on your property, and it can extend to events off the premises as well like if personal property is stolen from your vehicle.
“Generally speaking, homeowners insurance is designed to help you rebuild your home and replace personal property if it is damaged or stolen,” says
Christopher O’Rourke, Vice President of Property Claims at Mercury Insurance. “However, you may need to purchase a separate flood insurance policy to protect your home from floods, because these events are usually not covered by a homeowners policy.” Homeowners should contact the National Flood Insurance Program to inquire about coverage for floods, rising tides or storm surges.
3. Myth: Renters insurance is unnecessary. Renters insurance is very affordable; however, only 41 percent of renters purchase it. And without renters insurance, you’ll have to pay out of pocket if your personal belongings are damaged in a fire or are stolen.
“Unfortunately, your landlord’s insurance policy will not cover any of your personal belongings and it won’t provide liability protection if a lawsuit is brought against you because a visitor slips, falls and injures themselves inside your rental unit,” says O’Rourke. “Renters may not be responsible for repairing the home they live in, but there’s always a chance their possessions and valuables will need to be replaced if they are damaged or stolen, so purchasing a renters insurance policy is a smart way to provide financial security.”
4. Misconception: Your auto insurance policy provides coverage whenever you are driving your vehicle A personal auto insurance policy protects drivers in
case they’re involved in a collision. However, there are certain situations where more coverage is needed.
With the advent of the gig-economy, many people are turning to ride-hailing jobs, where they can be their own boss and set their own hours,” says Quinn. “Without the proper insurance, however, they’re putting themselves and others at risk if they get into a collision, because your personal auto policy doesn’t cover you when you use your vehicle for commercial purposes. This includes driving for Uber or Lyft, or even pizza delivery.
“Mercury provides ride-hailing insurance, but if it isn’t currently available in your area or you’re using your vehicle to make money in another capacity like delivering pizzas, you’ll want to purchase a commercial auto policy.”
Insurance is a sound investment, but can be complicated, so it’s always a good idea to speak to an insurance agent. These highly trained professionals can provide expert advice and guidance to help ensure you are adequately protected.—
