President's Message

Welcome 2005. It only seems like yesterday I was meeting with a task force set up by my employer to combat all the bad things that were going to happen when the new millennium arrived. Five years later and we are still waiting.  As I write my first President's Message and reflect on my time with the RIMS LA Chapter, I am so glad I took my membership to the next level by getting involved in the Chapter. Like so many, my first year was spent reading the newsletter and attending a monthly meeting when it fit my schedule. I met a few colleagues at the luncheon meetings, however, I felt there was something missing. In year two of my membership, it came time to approve the expense of membership with the Chapter.  I thought to myself "this is a lot of money for lunch once a month" and decided to get involved. Since that time my membership has paid off time and time again.

One of the highlights of serving on the board has been the interaction of my fellow board members. As always, in every organization there are those select few who raise their hands and get involved. Our RIMS Board is made up of volunteers. These are Risk Management professionals who take time away from busy schedules and family to insure the risk management profession continues to improve and prosper.

This year we added a new board member, John Lambert. John has a very high energy level and we are looking forward to his involvement on the board. In addition to John, we have several returning board members. As we go through the year, I will make it a point to recognize each one for what they bring to our Board.

Last, I want to recognize two board members who have had a significant impact on our Board and who have decided not to return.  William "Bill " Witt has decided not to return to the board after five years of service. Bill was the one person who I remember greeted me when I first started attending meetings. I was shocked at, I think it was my second or third meeting, Bill handing me my name badge without asking me my name. I thought "wow, this man remembers who I am". Bill's involvement in the LA Board will be missed. Thank you Bill for all you have done for the LA Chapter. You will be missed.

The second loss to the Board comes from Madeline Ramirez. Maddie, as she is known to the Board, will also be greatly missed. She has taken on a new position with the City of LA, accepting the position of Risk Manager for DWP. This has meant increased responsibility for Maddie and she has stepped down. The Department of Water and Power's gain is our loss and we hope if things lighten up, you will be back.

In closing, Happy New Year to all and I look forward to working with all of you in 2005. And remember, if you would like to volunteer please let any Board Member know. It really is a great feeling.

Dennis Healy
President

L.A. RIMS President                                                                

Chapter Clips

A special thank you from the Midnight Mission

Dear L.A. Chapter RIMS:

Thank you for your generous holiday gift of $2,000 to support the vitally important programs and services we provide at The Midnight Mission for homeless individuals and families in the Los Angeles area. This season, and always, your gift allows us to continue to make available the necessities of life: food, shelter, clothing, personal hygiene needs, and medical care as well as a counseling, education, training and job-placement. Your commitment helps us build bridges to self-sufficiency with empathy and respect.  Because of your kind holiday gift, everything becomes possible. Please save the date of February 27, 2005, to help us celebrate the Grand Opening of the new Midnight Mission located at 6^th and San Pedro Streets. We greatly look forward to celebrating this milestone with you!

Again, on behalf of those we serve, thank you for helping us make a difference in the lives of so many at The Midnight Mission.  From our family to yours, we wish you joy and good cheer during the holiday season and peace in the New Year.

Happy Holidays and Best Wishes,

Larry Adamson

President & CAO

P.S. For more information, please visit our website at www.midnightmission.org.
 

January Luncheon Speaker - Steve Wilder

"When Disaster Strikes"

How comfortable are you that your company is prepared for natural disasters?  The storms of 2004 will long be remembered for their strength and number.  Join us in January for one Risk Manager’s story of his personal experiences with the storms of 2004.

Steve Wilder, V.P., Risk Management for the Walt Disney Company and a former L.A. Chapter President and National President of RIMS will, along with his property underwriter, Randy Hodge of FM Global, discuss hurricane preparedness and response in Florida during the worst hurricane season since storms have been recorded.  Call the RIMS office to register or you may register online at :  http://larims.org/nxtmeet.html

Holiday Party Winners

The L. A. RIMS Chapter would like to thank all of our sponsors for their donations.   All donations were raffled off at this year’s Holiday Party at the Jonathan Club.  Following, is a list of sponsors, their donations, and the winners.  To all, a very safe and happy holiday!

Lowe Enterprises - 2 night stay at the Estancia in La Jolla:  Mike Perry, Marsh

Disneyland tickets - Greg Allen, ACE

Mattel Barbie dolls - Jean Marie Steinman, AIG; Duke Navo; Paula Ferrini, LA Times

Fox DVD's - Armen Zatourian

2lb. gift certificates See's - Stella Rheinhardt, Sempra Energy; Jeanie LaCroix, American  Tecnologies

Pacific Theatre tickets - Richard Windebank, Aon; Betsey Berger, Peter Pritchard; Koletsky, Mancini, Feldman & Morrow

Times-coffee table books - Fred Pachon, Select Personnel Services

Chips/Dip/Tequila basket - Diane Wren, City of LA

Champagne basket - Kirsten Dial, Fox Entertainment

Popcorn basket - Stacy Stevens, Lowe Enterprises

Wine basket - Jeff Tenn, FM Global

Martini basket - Todd Marumoto, Mattel

Sipping basket - Brian Rheinhardt

Hot cocoa basket - Abbey Gallegos, AIG

Pasta basket - Myra Guffin, America International Group

Ice cream basket - Arlene Layne, ACE

Waffle basket - Tanya Karn, Fox Entertainment

Beer barrel - Sam McDermott, Wood Smith Henning & Berman

Cookie basket - Pat Flaagan, Westfield Corp.

Nordstrom's gift certificates - Rayna Kazanchi, Marsh; Angela Ritto; Maria Comparan, AIG; V'neil Ball, Northrop Grumman

PF Chang's gift certificate - Joyce Hans, Lockton; Fred Perez, McLarens Young

Cheesecake factory gift certificates - Doug Waters, American Tech.; Lina Olic, Northrop Grumman; Jim Mormile, AIG

Morton's Steakhouse gift certificates - Hattie Burrel; Ruth Chapman, Westfield Corp.

Personal DVD player - Ed Zaccaria

Karaoke machine - Martin Reiner, Samuelson, Gonzalez, Valenzuela, Brown

Starbuck's gift certificates - Corp. Robert Harden Jr., US Marines; Marshann Varley, Marsh

American Technologies basket - Bob Meliere, AIG

Laker tickets - Thomas Brown

Starbucks - Janette Moniz, Mattel; Susan Caldwell, Koletsky, Mancini, Feldman & Morrow

Holiday Party Sponsors

ACE, AIG, AON, Beecher + Carlson, Lockton, Marsh, Willis

Holiday Party Pictures

Health & Safety

CDC Awards $22 M in Health Protection Grants

CDC (Center for Disease Control) has awarded $21.7 million in grants for research to develop workplace health promotion and prevention programs.  The money will also fund two "Centers of Excellence" to explore economic solutions for developing and implementing health promotion and assessing its effectiveness.

Of the total 57 grants, 21 will be used to develop strategies to increase physical activity, improve diet and nutrition and reduce obesity, particularly in workplace settings.

Among the many projects that will be funded are:

• Cost-effective health promotion for older workers
• E-mail based diet and activity promotion at worksites
• Smoking Cessation intervention with building trade unions
• Promoting mental health in the workplace
• Optimizing the health of pre-diabetic healthcare workers

Visit http://www.cdc.gov/od/hpri to learn more about these and other grant projects

Chao Announces Help for Wounded Veterans

Labor Secretary Elaine Chao has announced a new program to provide individualized job training, counseling, and re-employment services to veterans wounded in the war on terrorism.  Known as REALifelines (for Recovery and Employment Assistance Lifelines), the effort is a collaboration among DOL, the Bethesda Naval Medical Center, and the Walter Reed Army Medical Center.

It will help train service members who cannot return to active duty for "rewarding new careers in the private sector."

Program professionals will work individually with wounded veterans treated at either of the hospitals to identify interests and talents and channel those into a new career path.  A follow-up system will help ensure that needed help is delivered as the service members make the challenging transition back to the private sector. 

As well, REALifelines will reach out to families that have suffered an active duty casualty and to family members who have temporarily left their jobs to assist loved ones during recovery.

To View the job opportunities in their entirety, please use this direct link to the LA RIMS website:  http://www.larims.org/exec.html

1)  Corporate Safety Manager
     Scottsdale, AZ

2)  Risk Engineer

3)  UT Safety and Health Advisor

Extended Terrorism Risk Act

The cost of a catastrophic terrorist attack, like 9/11, can devastate the insurance industry and the ripple effect can even drive up your comp rates.

That's why the RAND Institute, a think tank, wants the Terrorism Risk Insurance Act (TRIA) to be extended beyond its Dec. 31 deadline.

Private sector insurers paid more than half of the $38.1 billion in compensation to people and business impacted by 9/11.

TRIA was passed in 2002 to bolster the insurance industry in the event of another terrorist attack.  It established a federal guarantee to offset such future losses.

One example recently offered:  A nuclear release in Miami would cost at least $9 billion, just in costs.

HAPPY NEW YEAR!!!