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Page 12 Grassroots November 2011
Workers Compensation
Safety group returns $6M to members
By Kevin Cook
kcook@nyfb.org
The Executive Committee of Safety
Group 486 recently declared a 35 percent
dividend for the 2010 policy term. This
means a return of over $6 million dollars
to over 2,600 members of the Safety
Group. It is also the 44th consecutive
year that a dividend has been declared.
In fact, Safety Group 486 has returned
over $131 million to our policyholders
since the inception of the group in 1967.
The dividend checks were mailed
on or about Oct. 13, 2011. If you were a
policyholder during the 2010 term and
did not receive a dividend check, please
contact the Member Services Department
and we can find out why you did
not receive a check.
As a reminder to the current policyholders
in Safety Group 486, if you have
not yet paid your 2010 or 2011 Group
Managers’ Fee to the NYFB, please
remit payment now. The collection of
the Group Managers’ Fee is important
not only to the operation of the Safety
Group but to the overall success of the
programs provided to the members of
the NYFB.
A couple of changes will take place
for the 2012 policy term. You will notice
a slight increase in the rates and
an increase in the NYS assessment
fee that is charged on each policy. Our
Group Managers’ Fee will remain at
7.5 percent for the 2012 term. When
you receive your renewal policy, please
review it carefully. Look at the payroll
levels and be sure it is in line with what
you have reported. If there is a substantial
increase in the payroll, please let us
know so we can investigate for you.
If you currently have workers’ compensation
coverage with another carrier
and would like to save on average
50 percent of your cost, please contact
Michele or Kevin in the NYFB Member
Services Department to request a quotation
at no obligation. Safety Group
486 is not only a better business decision—it
is a better financial decision as
well. Thank you for your continued support
of Safety Group 486 and the New
York Farm Bureau.
Farm NY Pac looks back
on very busy first year
New York Farm Bureau’s Farm NY
PAC recently celebrated its first of year
of working to accomplish much needed
public policy initiatives that benefit
the agricultural industry in New York
State. The Farm NY PAC collects voluntary
monetary contributions from
farmers and agricultural supporters
and uses the money to communicate the
industry’s needs to elected officials in
New York State through the campaign
fundraising process.
The Farm NY PAC is controlled by a
committee of New York Farm Bureau
leaders and makes spending decisions
to educate lawmakers about farm policy
and help New York Farm Bureau
achieve its public policy goals. The goal
of the committee is to strengthen New
York Farm Bureau’s grassroots lobbying
efforts, not replace them.
“There are so many competing interests
at the state capitol and policy
makers are relentlessly bombarded by
phone calls, meetings and information
on thousands of issues. Getting new
ideas to help the agricultural industry
heard by legislators is a continual challenge
for New York’s farmers,” said
Jeff Williams, manger of governmental
relations for New York Farm Bureau.
“The Farm NY PAC provides a good opportunity
to communicate agriculture’s
priorities to decision-makers.”
The Farm NY PAC is the only nonpartisan
political action committee organized
and directed by farmers. Decisions
on contributions from the Farm
NY PAC to elected officials are made
solely by the farmers that are on the
Farm NY PAC Committee.
“By contributing to New York Farm
Bureau’s newly-formed Farm NY PAC,
you can add strength to our grassroots
lobbying efforts and help reach legislators
that may need additional education
about farming and how legislation
impacts their food security and New
York’s economy,” said Williams.
For more information on the Farm
NY PAC, please contact Jeff Williams at
(518) 436-8495. Farm NY PAC contributions
can be mailed to:
Farm NY PAC
159 Wolf Road
Albany, New York 12205
Grape announcement
Congressman Tom Reed (left) unveiled the Grape Region Accelerated Production
and Efficiency (GRAPE) Act during a press event at NYFB member Jim Bedient’s
(right) vineyard in Branchport on Sept. 28. The bill, H.R. 3110, is co-sponsored by
Rep. Richard Hanna and would extend the hours of service exemption for grape
haulers from 100 to 175 air miles from the point of harvest to a processing facility
during a harvest period. This would allow farms that are located further away from
the processing facility to move their grapes quicker and preserve quality. NYFB supports
this bill.
Advice on solar energy direct
marketers can trust.
NY Farm Bureau Members John and Loretta Gill of Gill Corn Farms
and their 11.34 kW solar system that will save them over
$77,000 in electricity costs over the life of the system.
CAll or CliCk todAy.
(518) 326-1104 | www.jordanenergy.org
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