Finger Lakes Fire & Casualty Company Steve Hall www.FLFCC.com

Steve Hall has been President and CEO of Finger Lakes Fire & Casualty (FLFCC) for the past twenty-five years, a position he ascended to after beginning his career there as an underwriter. Founded in 1876, the business continues to thrive, something Steve attributes to its unique feature of being policyholder-owned. This allows FLFCC to keep its rates stable, and to have a surplus fund to pay claims out of if a large-scale disaster, affecting many of its clients, was to occur.

How much insurance does a business really need and why is this important?

Taking out inadequate insurance to save money in the short-run is almost always a bad idea. My strongest recommendation would be to determine the level of risk to your business with professional assistance. The amount and types of insurance you’ll need will vary depending on the type of business you own. I’d suggest taking several steps in this order: First, meet with an agent and design the best policy for you and your business, then find the best cost deal. One way to control your costs is to take on some of the risk yourself by paying a higher deductable. It’s important to keep in mind when you’re making these decisions that, as a business owner, you need to get your business up and running as soon as possible after a disaster. You need to take on insurance that will protect you from a loss that you can’t afford to absorb yourself. If you’re underinsured, you won’t have the funds or resources to do this. Additionally, poor insurance will often result in us not being able to help you the way we want to when something goes wrong.

Taughannock Falls On Taughannock Creek, Trumansburg. Thirty-Three Feet Higher Than Niagara Falls.

IN THIS ISSUE:

CALENDAR

TACC’s MISSION

Cover Story: Panel Discussion - Members Speak!

New MembersMember Announcements

“The Trumansburg Area Chamber of Commerce is the voice of local

business. With over 100 active members, we are dedicated to making our community

a great place to live, work and visit. We are 100% member supported and solely

depend on the membership fees, time and energy of our membership to create

and promote local commerce. Just as you must provide value to your customers, the

Trumansburg Area Chamber of Commerce believes in providing value to our members. Whether you seek to build your business, strengthen your community, or influence

public policy, you can find opportunity and support through the Chamber.”

Visit www.TrumansburgChamber.com for Upcoming Chamber and

Community Events.

Continued on next page...

PANEL DISCUSSION-MEMBERS SPEAK!COPING WITH CRISES: HOW BUSINESS OWNERS

CAN PREPARE FOR THE UNEXPECTEDBy Sue Henninger, Finger Lakes Writer

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Steve Hall, Finger Lakes Fire & Casualty Company Photo by Jim Mason

www.TrumansburgChamber.com | Trumansburg Area Chamber of Commerce Newsletter | 2

Before you even meet with an agent, I’d also recommend that you do what we call a SWOT Assessment (strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, and threats). It takes time and it isn’t particularly fun but it’s a very worthwhile exercise. We’ve done this right here at FLFCC. To prepare for potential threats, we have generators, offsite data storage, cell phones, and laptops so we could continue to operate our office efficiently even if no one was physically in it. We take our job seriously and want to be able to stand by our promises to our clients. I’m sure most other business owners feel the same so they need to look at things like how they could be there for their customers and vendors if they suddenly lost power for a week.

If your business is uninsured or, equally as important, underinsured, you could lose everything. Some people are under the mistaken impression that they could just go out of business and that would be it. But, if a liability claim is made, you could lose your home, your assets, and even your future earnings.

Are insurance policies different for storefront owners, renters, and those in home-based businesses?

Yes and no. Renters don’t need building coverage but they should know if they’re responsible for certain coverages under the lease. For example, if their actions were to cause a fire would they be liable to pay for any resulting damages? Those who have home-based businesses must have a business insurance policy, just like they’d need in a storefront. Homeowners insurance doesn’t cover a business that’s running out of a home.

Do insurance needs change over time for businesses? Should policies be reviewed and updated?

Surely! At FLFCC we recommend annual reviews with your agent. Busy business owners often forget to tell their agent about any updates, improvements, or added assets to their business. Unfortunately, many people regard insurance like they do their income tax and want to avoid dealing with it until the last possible second! Your best bet is to make insurance review a regular part of your life. It shouldn’t take more than an hour, and, if a claim is necessary, knowing what you have and that it’s up-to-date will make the whole process much easier. Nothing is harder for agents than when a policy holder hasn’t

stayed current and they feel badly when they can’t do more for you. But, if you’re not covered adequately our hands are tied contractually; there’s nothing we can do for you.

We don’t just tell others to do this, we do it ourselves! At FLFCC we are a consumer just like everyone else and we’re insured by another company. I call our agent every year to ask for a review. That’s how much I believe in these principles.

What’s your best piece of advice to help business owners cope with the unexpected?

Sit down with a knowledgeable agent! A good agent will design a package policy to meet all your insurance needs. They’ll help you through the risk management process and assist you in finding ways to mitigate, transfer, and absorb the cost of any potential disasters or crises.

Finger Lakes Technologies Group Rob Sharkey www.FLTG.com

Like Steve, Rob Sharkey worked his way up in his industry. Starting as a technician for Bell Phone Company on the West Coast, he now has over thirty years of experience in the telecommunications industry. Rob currently serves as the Account Manager for Finger Lakes Technologies Group, a fourth-generation, family-owned business that specializes in offering a wide variety of internet and voice services to business owners.

What are some of the biggest risk factors business owners face?

Most businesses today are highly dependent on their technology devices which are used continuously every day to accomplish a variety of work-related tasks. Very little business

Continued on next page...

Rob Sharkey, Finger Lakes Technologies Group Photo by Jim Mason

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work is done on paper anymore and business people rely on their laptops, phones, and iPads to function well when they come in to work each day. When they aren’t working, it can be a real problem. For me, the main question always is, “How dependent are you on the data that’s stored in your computer and what would you do if it suddenly wasn’t available, either temporarily or permanently?” Sometimes business owners are unwilling to invest in backup protection because they don’t want to pay for something they might never need. To me, it’s both a worthwhile investment and a security blanket because you never know.

Are there things TACC members can do ahead of time to prepare for the unexpected?

I recommend that you take the time to talk to your telecommunications provider before the need arises. You insure your home and car in case of an unforeseen event, so why wouldn’t you want to protect yourself in the same way in case of data or equipment loss? Business owners should be very specific during this conversation, giving “real life” examples of what types of crises would have the most negative impact on their business’s operation. Then, find solutions together and put them in place so there’s no “lag time” should something unexpected occur. I do this myself! My iPad and iPhone are both backed up in the iCloud and my laptop has a portable hard drive. Take advantage of the latest developments in technology as well. Today there are features on many phones like “call forwarding” that provide access to a web portal that allows you to control what’s going on with your phone even if it’s not working. Another suggestion I have for business owners is to name a back-up person or representative who is allowed to have access to your technology or authorized to make decisions and represent the company on your behalf if you’re unavailable and a crisis hits. This will ensure that any problems get resolved quickly and efficiently. Hiring an Information Technology employee is another way to make sure you’re prepared for the unexpected. If you’re an employer who can’t afford to lose the time trying to address issues you’re unfamiliar with, this preventative move can save you time, money, and hours of frustration.

For those businesses and organizations that require off-site storage of electronic data or paper records, FLTG has a solution. Our company has been offering off-site storage in

the bunkers at the Seneca Army Depot in Romulus. It’s a great option because the bunkers are in a secured facility that’s equipped to support any data storage requirements your business may have. The bunkers are well-protected behind a triple strand fence and each bunker itself has four-foot thick concrete walls and locked steel doors so the risk of natural disasters is low there. Access to our clients’ electronic data is through Finger Lakes Optical Fiber network. Doing this is a lot less costly than storage in Ithaca would be and you can learn more at http://fltg.com/fltgPark.html.

What is your top piece of advice for business owners?

Come up with what I call a “mental emergency kit”. Right from the start, as part of your business plan, sit down and pretend that something has gone wrong with your devices (they break, are stolen, or there is a natural disaster). Think about how critically a technology crisis would impact you and your business and what time element you can afford to not have them working for. Then list the steps you would need to take to be back in business again, along with all the information you’d need immediate access to for you to begin dealing with the problem. I’d recommend writing down the phone number you’d need to call for help, along with any relevant account numbers and passwords. Make sure this information is stored in several places so that, no matter where you are, you can deal with the emergency.

Williams Insurance Agency Michelle Vogtman www.WilliamsInsAgency.com

Michelle Vogtman is CEO of Williams Insurance Agency, an agency which offers property, commercial, and auto insurance. With fifteen years of experience in all aspects of the insurance business, from answering phones to managing agents, Michelle and her partner, Jeff Williams, have seen just about everything that can happen to a business. Joking that she and Jeff “walk on the dark side”, she notes that in their line of work, they need to be

Michelle Vogtman Williams Insurance Agency Photo by Jim Mason

www.TrumansburgChamber.com | Trumansburg Area Chamber of Commerce Newsletter | 4

constantly looking at everything that can or might go wrong for their clients.

Are there any common mistakes business owners make when trying to prepare for unforeseen circumstances?

The biggest issue I see is that owners often don’t take what we call a “loss of receipts” into account. You need to consider what would happen if you’re unable to conduct business, even for a few hours. For example if the building your business is located in is inspected, found to have structural problems, and temporarily shut down, how would that impact your business? If you had to remain closed while architects, engineers, and construction workers fixed it, could you potentially lose your employees along with income and clients? We offer an insurance coverage for this type of situation called “loss of use/loss of income” which allows you to continue paying your workers and to keep your business solvent while the repairs are being done. It’s this type of attention to detail that an agent can help you with. Other things that are out of your control, but that can really impact your business, could include a water main break that causes flooding, a sidewalk or bridge repair that makes your business inaccessible, or damage inadvertently caused to your business by village or town construction equipment.

Something else I see a lot of is businesses that purchase a “boilerplate” type of insurance, not realizing that there are lots of ways to customize your policy. Sitting down with an agent and describing your business in detail allows them to make suggestions about adding things or about changes you might want to make to get more effective coverage. More than likely we’ve seen lots of businesses like yours so we may have suggestions or know about specific risks that you never even thought of.

Are there common questions or concerns that business owners have about protecting their business?

One question that many business owners have is about liability coverage. For employers, it can be difficult to understand that the worker’s compensation is only there to protect them should they be sued and that just turning in a claim doesn’t mean they’ll necessarily get paid. Claims get rejected all the time. To give you an example, if an owner was insured and aware of a problem but did nothing about it and an accident

occurred, they might not be eligible for compensation. Another issue that seems to get almost everyone riled up is worker’s compensation. We all need to have it but most people don’t really understand it or how it works; all they see is how expensive it is. In New York State, we have some of the strictest labor liability laws in the country. They tend to be very “employee-centric” and our payments are higher and more frequent than almost everywhere else. Above all, it’s important to remember that it’s in our best interest to keep you in business. Selling you something you don’t really need doesn’t help either of us!

Do you have any final advice to help TACC members make sure they’re ready to respond to the unexpected?

It’s better not to wait until you have a loss to understand what your policy provides for. There’s a saying, “It doesn’t matter until it does” that’s true for almost every situation. The more you know about your coverage, the smoother the process of dealing with disasters or problems can become. If something unexpected were to negatively impact your business, having adequate insurance (rather than the cheapest type you can buy) will speed up the process of dealing effectively with the emergency. Instead of having to fight for every dime, the situation will become much more painless.

In my experience, a claim is the area where misunderstandings are most likely to arise, particularly when a business owner needs to use their insurance and doesn’t have any idea what their coverage encompasses. I’d suggest that any time you make a major change in your business you meet with your agent to make sure you still have adequate coverage. Even if nothing changes, it’s still a good idea to meet annually with your agent to review your policy.

September is “National Preparedness Month” For additional tips on how to

prepare for the unexpected, visit www.ready.gov/about-us

www.TrumansburgChamber.com | Trumansburg Area Chamber of Commerce Newsletter | 5

The Clubhouse Grille Kristen Harrington 23 Halsey Street, Trumansburg 387-6380

Kristen has extensive experience in restaurant management, including fifteen years of working for the Hard Rock Café restaurants all over the country. She’s also an avid golfer who grew up in Trumansburg and always wanted to manage her own restaurant on a golf course. When the clubhouse at the Trumansburg Golf Course became available, it seemed to be the “perfect storm” for her! According to Kristen, the Clubhouse Grille has something for everyone, and sandwiches, salads, burgers, and vegetarian options, are served up daily by Kristen’s excellent wait staff. She also offers the ever-popular “Fish Fry Fridays”. Kristen made a point of joining TACC because her father (long-time TACC member Paul Harrington) was always a huge part of the community and she loves the village and surrounding area as much as he did. “That’s why I always help with events like the Relay for Life,” she explains. “I’m a people person and giving back to the community is very important to me.” She adds, “I’ll have even more time to become involved in the winter!” Since The Clubhouse Grille is a seasonal business and will close October 31st, Kristen is excited to be hosting the next TACC Business Luncheon (see Member Announcements for details).

Liz Simple Elizabeth Norton 1526 Taughannock Blvd, Ithaca 279-5126

Liz Norton is in the business of downsizing, something many of her clients desperately need help with as they plan a move to a smaller home or an assisted living situation. She can do as much, or as little, as people want her to, including packing, hiring a moving van for her clients, and finding places to sell or donate personal and larger items to. Compassion, understanding, and a great sense of organization are some of the qualities she brings to her business. Liz joined TACC because she found the Chamber to be “more her size” than some of the larger organizations she’s belonged to. She’s hoping to meet other new business owners as well as to become an active TACC member. One of her particular interests is in being a “visitor greeter” or a member of a “welcome wagon” for new community members or businesses because she feels that she’d really enjoy making newcomers feel at home when they relocate to the Trumansburg area.

Silver Queen Farm Gordon and Liz Gallup 5286 Stillwell Road, Trumansburg 387-6502

Silver Queen is a family-owned farm that offers U-pick and pre-picked fruits and vegetables for sale, along with participating in three local farmers markets each week. Making a living at farming can be challenging at times, so the Gallup’s have also been renting out their unique barn space, which holds up to 200 people, for events like wedding receptions, birthday parties, and anniversaries. Liz Gallup says that they frequently offer the barn to community organizations for their fundraisers as well, most recently hosting “Fiesta for the Future” to benefit migrant worker’s children. Silver Queen became a TACC member because the Gallup’s are invested in being part of helping other area businesses, as well as their own, continue to succeed. Liz feels that the farm can serve as a potential place for local businesses to hold get-togethers (TACC’s Annual November Dinner will be held there this year). She also hopes that the bimonthly dinners and brunches they host will draw some regional attention to the Trumansburg area, attracting more tourists to the village and surrounding towns. “We love our community and it’s important for us all to help each other out,” she asserts.

welcome!NEW MEMBERS

June 12th - Business After Hours at Americana Vineyard Photo by Through The Lens

www.TrumansburgChamber.com | Trumansburg Area Chamber of Commerce Newsletter | 6

Upcoming TACC Member Events

The next TACC Business Luncheon will be held at the Clubhouse Grille at the Trumansburg Golf Course on September 18th at noon. The cost $12.00 and there will be a brief presentation, given by Lindsay Hart, on TACC happenings, new benefits to the membership, and information on the new basic STAR exemption legislation for homeowners.

Namaste Montessori School will host a Business After Hours on Wednesday, October 9th from 5-8:00 p.m.at their Elementary Campus, 1852 Trumansburg Road, Jacksonville. For $10.00 members and guests can sample hot and cold hors d’oeuvres and beverages. There will also be a brief presentation, “What is Montessori?”, where members can learn more about Namaste’s programs and the building will be open for tours, with teachers and parents available to answer questions TACC members might have.

TACC’s Annual Banquet at Silver Queen Farm on Stilwell Rd, Trumansburg will be held on November 13th. Social time begins at 5:30 and the buffet dinner, catered by Falls Tavern Restaurant & Catering, will be at 6:00 p.m. The cost is $35.00/person and includes complimentary wine or a cash bar for beer. A quick reminder-nominations are currently being accepted for TACC person and business of the year. Forms can be downloaded from the TACC website at www.TrumansburgChamber.com/aboutus (under Resources) and are due by the end of October. The awards will be presented at TACC’s Annual Dinner.

Members can RSVP to Mary Spicer to attend any, or all, of these events at 387-5763 ext. 41220.

ESPN Ithaca/WPIE/Taughannock Media Announcements

Congratulations to Nick Karski and Eric Silverman, recipients of the NYS Broadcasters Association Awards. They were acknowledged both individually for Play-by-Play and as co-hosts of “Between the Lines”, which airs weekdays at 4:00 p.m. ESPN Ithaca is licensed to Trumansburg at 1160AM. High school play-by-play coverage, including football and soccer games, will resume in September so stay tuned!

Annual TCSD Foundation Scholarship Awarded

Graduating senior Taylor Frey was the 2013 recipient of this year’s TCSD Foundation Award, a $250.00 scholarship intended for reimbursement of expenses related to post-secondary educational pursuits (tuition, books, and other necessities). Taylor participated in the US Air Force Auxiliary, Civil Air Patrol, High School Drama club, TCSD School Improvement team, Model UN club, and was the founder of “Greater Together”, a new community service and community outreach group at Charles O. Dickerson High School. The TCSD Foundation wishes Taylor good luck as he begins his college career at Washington College and sends best wishes to all the graduates in the Trumansburg Class of 2013.

Finger Lakes Writer Expands Horizons

Sue Henninger recently took on several new jobs, including reviewing plays for the Hangar Theatre’s summer season for TACC member Tompkins Weekly newspaper, and serving as Copy Editor for Cornell Alumni Magazine’s Class Notes. Additionally she will be the feature article writer for the Finger Lakes and

Southern Tier regions for a new online magazine, New York States of Mind.

Keep the Brochure Rack Filled!

The TACC Member Brochure Rack at Taughannock Falls State Park will continue to be stocked by the Henninger’s until Columbus Day weekend. Marketing materials can be dropped off at Trumansburg Optical, 11 East Main Street.

Back to School Activities at Namaste

Namaste Montessori School is currently scheduling tours and accepting applications for fall 2013 enrollment. Call the school to schedule a tour today (272-0515) or email NamasteMontessoriSchool@yahoo.com. Upcoming workshops, open to the community, include:

The Story and Language of Numbers: The Montessori Math Curriculum October 16th from 6-7:30 p.m.

More Than Words Can Say: The Montessori Language Curriculum November 13th from 6-7:30 p.m.

TCFA Dance Class Schedule for 2013-2014

Dance classes for adults and children of all ages begin September 14! Classes will be offered in ballet, tap, Kinderdance, and Irish Step, just to name a few. Multiple class discounts are available for individuals and families and anyone who registers for three classes will get the forth class (of equal or lesser tuition cost) free. To enroll in a class or for more information, visit www.TburgConservatory.org, call (607) 387-5939, or e-mail skl_tcfa@gmail.com.

MEMBER ANNOUNCEMENTS

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News from Ulysses Philomathic Library

TACC members Gimme Coffee!, Vine Garden Designs, Life’s So Sweet Chocolates, Sundrees, and Good to Go all participated in the Ulysses Philomathic Library’s Summer Reading Program, by donating prizes to adult and teen readers. The theme of the program was “Groundbreaking Reads” and it was a “groundbreaking” approach to supporting both readers and local businesses. For each book read, adult and teen readers completed a review form and brought a stamp card to one of the sponsors. The library also hosted a well-attended community speaker series this summer. Many of the knowledgeable presenters are active TACC members!

Now that fall is here, it’s time to think about the Fall Book Sale which will run from October 4-8, with a presale for Association Members on October 3rd. There will also be a “Book-Themed Silent Auction” at the Fall Book Sale where UPL will offer baskets, filled with items and books that interrelate (such as cook books with kitchen items), for book sale patrons to bid on. Don’t forget to support the library by making a bid! Additionally, Ulysses Philomathic Library will be hosting the 32nd Annual Candlelight Dinner 2013 on Saturday, November 2nd at 6:00 p.m. at the Presbyterian Chapel in Trumansburg. Open to all Library Association Members, there will be musical entertainment and a guest artist, Rachel Lodder. The dinner is also a time to thank volunteers and vote in new trustees. The cost is a culinary concoction for the potluck. Sign-up will begin at the library in mid-October. For further information, contact 387-5623 or visit www.TrumansburgLibrary.org.

Ag Master Kiosk Arrives at Frontenac Point Vineyard-Estate Winery

The Doolittle’s invite TACC members to come test their knowledge about agriculture, watch the process of growing grapes to make wine, juice and jelly, or take a self-paced “Visit to a Dairy Farm” by using the New York Farm Bureau interactive Ag Master Kiosk, located in Frontenac’s tasting room. The Ag Master Kiosk can be used as an interactive “Ag Jeopardy” style game or as an informational presentation.

The contemporary template, developed by the New York Farm Bureau’s Promotion and Education Program,, can be found at various regional locations throughout the year. It’s free to use and a fun diversion for people of all ages! The Kiosk will be at Frontenac Point Vineyard-Estate Winery through the fall and the tasting room (on Rte 89) is open Fridays and Saturdays from 10 to 4:30 p.m. and Sundays from noon to 4:30 p.m. through the end of November. Visit www.FrontenacPoint.com for more information.

MEMBER ANNOUNCEMENTS (continued)

Above: August 28th - Business After Hours , Suzi Munoz from Americana Vineyards and Heidi Sherwood of host Spruce Row Campground. Photo by Through The Lens

Right: July 17th -Snug Planet Luncheon, Lindsay Hart is making presentation to group. Photo by Through The Lens