ALLCHOICE Insurance :: Blog

ALLCHOICE Insurance would like to congratulate Love That Music for being honored as Kernersville, NC’s business of the month.

ALLCHOICE Insurance is proud to be the Insurance Provider of choice for Love That Music, as well as Love family.

For more information about Love That Music visit their website: www.lovethatmusicstore.net or visit their Facebook Page

As I sit here on the back deck staring at an empty backyard, no sounds coming from the house (the kids are at the Grandparents’ & the wife is out looking for a new comforter), my thoughts are filled with both sorrow and joy.  I guess that is the way life works!

Last night Melinda & I had dinner with two very important figures in our lives.  Austin & AnnMarie Preik came into our lives a little over two years ago.  Granted, from a historical perspective, two years is but a blink of an eye, but from where I sit it has been a lifetime.  Two years ago my family was invited to attend River Oaks Community Church in Clemmons.

Before I go further, you should know one thing about me…I am a people watcher.  That Sunday, the Church’s Praise Band included a young lady with Red Hair and a fireball of energy that was undeniable.  From the first note of the first song, you could tell that she was filled with love for the Lord.  In fact, she was filled with so much love at it seemingly spilled over into “empty cup”.

With both Melinda and I feeling that we had finally found a Church we could call home, we decided to join the Church.  Unlike many churches that I have been around, River Oaks actually requires people to attend 6 weeks of classes before joining.  We were one couple in a group of probably 30 couples.  One of those couples were our best friends, Jeannie & Jason Felten.  This was perfect (or so I thought)!  Melinda & I would be going through this 6 weeks with the Feltens. WRONG!  The church leaders came in a seperated the various couples into smaller groups.  As it happened, Melinda & I were seperated from Jeannie & Jason (more importantly…Jason & I were seperated).  I was devastated.

Now seemingly alone, Melinda & I started our classes with a leader who was both strange and intriguing to me.  Strange you might ask…well there was something “off” about him.  Quickly it came to light that this “off-ness” was simply the fact that he was CANADIAN!  As we progressed through the classes, each week we came to know and like our leader even more.  You could definately tell this guy “knew his stuff”.  Better yet, he was just a GOOD GUY.

Fast forward through the 6 weeks, Melinda & I becomes members of River Oaks.  Now Melinda says that we have to join a “small group”.  The Small Group at River Oaks is basically a Wednesday night Bible Study group.  Coming from a Methodist background, WE DON’T DO WEDNESDAYS!  Having said that, what the wife wants…the wife gets.  So, again I thought that we would join the Small Group that Jeannie & Jason were in!  WRONG!  Melinda stated that we had to join the Small Group that our class leader (Austin) headed up.

So we go to Small Group, and I was not happy!

Fast Forward 18 months to last night (Friday July 8th).  Melinda and I are having our “farewell dinner” with Austin (our class leader) and AnnMarie (the Red Head Singer) Preik.  That’s right, the person responsible for showing me River Oaks was the Church we could call home, and the person responsible for leading us through the our journey toward a closer relationship with the Lord we in fact MARRIED!  This wonderful couple had been called to uproot their life and move to Africa.

So back to my feelings of both sorrow & joy!  Obviously, the sorrow comes from the fact that such an important couple will be moving around the globe and we will not be able to see them every Sunday and Wednesday.  The joy?  Well in my opinion the Lord opens and closes doors for all of us.  When doors close, their tends to be sorrow.  It is if you are “losing” something or that something is “ending”.  The inverse however is the true power of the Lord.  The joy I feel is in knowing the power this amazing couple has in bringing the Lord into the lives of people.

If Austin & AnnMarie can change the lives of these two “lost” people…I can only imagine the LIVES that will changed in Africa!

Austin & AnnMarie…we love you and miss you!  Until next time we dine together!

You can stay up to date with the Preiks and their journey by visiting their blog: www.goodgreatgospel.com

ALLCHOICE Insurance will be closed in observance of the 4th of July Holiday.

ALLCHOICE would like to thank each and every person who has ever fought so that we enjoy freedoms that America has to offer.

It seems like only yesterday when I opened the doors to ALLCHOICE Insurance.  Now, in a little over a month ALLCHOICE will be celebrating its 7th Birthday.  Just like any successful business, ALLCHOICE can only attribute its success to YOU! That’s right!  We do understand that there would not have been a 1st Birthday (much less a 7th) without the faith and support that our customers have placed in us.

As a way to say thank you, ALLCHOICE is will be giving away a NEW Apple IPAD 2 to one deserving customer!

ALLCHOICE BIRTHDAY IPAD 2 CONTEST DETAILS

Contest Dates – July 1st – August 31st

How To Win – Refer Someone To ALLCHOICE Insurance (1 Referral = 1 Entry)  The more people you refer, the better your chances of winning!

How To Refer – Simply call our office (336.540.0463) or email (info@allchoiceinsurance.com) your referrals

Visit the IPAD 2 Details Page on our website www.allchoiceinsurance.com

As I write this “article”, “tidbit”, “diddy” or whatever you want to call it, I am sitting on my back deck.

Let me set the scene!  Currently it is approx 90 Degrees, the sun is on its descent, and there is little – to no breeze.  The tiki torches are lit, along with some citronella candles.  In case you can’t tell the “skeeters” are out in a big way.  Peyton (the middle child – 6 years old) is hanging upside down on the monkey bars.  Cooper (the youngest – 4 years old) is inside the house aggravating Artemis (9 month old Bullmastiff).  Caylee (the oldest 11years old) is at the beach.  Melinda (the best wife and mother a man could ask for) is in the kitchen attempting to understand the new stove that was purchased last weekend so she gets the tater-tots just right.

So you know what everyone else is doing, I guess I should probably give you some details on what I am up to.  Today marks the end of another jammed packed week in the life of this “Insurance Guy”.  The insurance business is funny.  Every day offers new challenges and opportunities.  This week our agency achieved the highest Tier possible in Erie Insurance’s “Commercial Blitz” (with over a week left until the contest ends).  For those who aren’t insurance geeks, basically we have written a ton of new commercial insurance policies.  Most seem to be in the construction arena.  Maybe we could take that as a good sign that the economy could be turning around?!?!?!

Today was definitely hectic for this guy!  Starting the day off I knew I was going to have to leave the office early (we’ll get into that later).  Anytime, I know my day will be short, it seems that things just don’t seem to run as smooth as I would like them to.  Honestly, nothing horrible took place.  I actually got the majority of the stuff that was cluttering my desk taken care of.

Unfortunately, I don’t think Trish’s (ALLCHOICE’s Customer Protection Specialist) day went quite as well.  Again, nothing too much out of the ordinary.  However, Trish & I had an impromptu conversation about how we could increase our organizational efficiency.  She did say something very odd to me.  She said that she always gives me ideas about how to improve things but that I never listen to her.  I find it amazing that both my wives (my marital wife and my work wife) seem to make the same story up about me.  I think they both need professional help!

Enough of that!  Now down to the real action.  I had to leave the office at 2:30 so I could make it to Winston Salem by 3:20.  Peyton has been in theater camp all week and today was the conclusion of said camp.  The camp culminates with a Theatrical performance of Snow White And The Seven Dwarfs.  Peyton had the role of “Dopey”.  I must say that all the kids did a great job.  They were all exceptionally adorable.

After the performance I started to head for “Mi Casa”.  While driving, I thought that it would be a good idea for me to go ahead and get dinner figured out.  You see, in the Wingate House 99% of the marital tension can be traced back to one thing….”What’s for dinner?”!  I went ahead and headed for Harris Teeter.  When I called my wife to ask her idea for dinner, she only offered up that Shrimp sounded good.  Well, in my book, Shrimp does not make a full meal in themselves.  I typically like to couple grilled shrimp with some form of beef.

My first thought was to find a nice looking Flank Steak to join the shrimp with.  To my horror, Harris Teeter had no flank steak.  Always quick on my feet, I pivoted from the original plan and grabbed some burgers and brats.  I thought, we could do burgers and brats tonight.  Then I could grab a nice flank steak from Costco tomorrow and we could have our shrimp and flank tomorrow night.  BOOM!  I had just taken care of dinner for two nights.

As I sit here enjoying the deck, I am grilling hamburgers and shrimp!  Bet you didn’t see that one coming!  I know I didn’t.  So much for having dinner taken care of for two nights!  No points for me!

Well!  I think that about wraps it up.

From the back porch, this is just my perspective on things!

PS – I am pumped about last nights return of Burn Notice

PPS – I am just as pumped about watching Friday Night Lights tonight

ALLCHOICE is pleased to welcome announce we have helped another local Dry Cleaner save money on insurance!

Located in Kernersville, NC this Dry Cleaner has a long family history in the Dry Cleaning business.  Before joining the ALLCHOICE Family, the business had been insured with Nationwide Insurance.

In reviewing the business’s Risk Management Program (or lack there of) ALLCHOICE uncovered the need for a Commercial Umbrella Policy.  The Commercial Umbrella Policy is a little used Rick Management strategy in most small businesses.  In dealing with the Protection Programs of countless small businesses, the overwhelming reason for a lack of adoption when it comes to Commercial Umbrella Policies comes down to two factors:

1st – Small Business Owners assume Umbrella’s are too expensive

2nd – Most Small Business Insurance Agents do not take the time to explain and OFFER this important protection!

Once ALLCHOICE explained “why” the Umbrella was important showed this Small Business Owner how much an Umbrella actually cost (more importantly what it doesn’t cost), this savy business owner was eager to add this protection to his Risk Management Program.

Of course, just like every Small Business Owner, at the end of the day, he/she wants to have the very best protection(s) at the very best value.  In the case of this Dry Cleaner, ALLCHOICE was able to save him over $1,500 a year (approx 22%) over what he had been paying with Nationwide!

ALLCHOICE Insurance would like to wish one of its spokespeople, Cooper Wingate, a very happy 4th Birthday!

From the looks of it…Cooper enjoyed his favorite meal…Cheese Quesadilla!

ALLCHOICE Insurance we would like to say “Happy Father’s Day” to all the fathers out there!

ALLCHOICE Insurance will be closed Monday, May 30th in observance of Memorial Day.

Our office will reopen at 8:30 AM on Tuesday May 31st!

If you have a claims issue…please visit the “Member Center” of our website (www.allchoiceinsurance.com)

As we approach Memorial Day, we can expect to see an increase in traffic on both highways and roads.  As you can imagine, the frequency of auto related accidents increases as the number of automobiles on the roads increase.  Unfortunately, holidays are a great time for local authorities and State Troopers to increase their attention towards automobile usage and violations.

Statistics show that there is an ever growing cause for automobile accidents over the past few years.  That cause…Cell Phone Usage (more importantly TEXTING).  In order to deter drivers from giving in to one of these dangerous distractions, many states have imposed some tough laws banning usage while driving an automobile.  As a North Carolina based Insurance Agency that focuses on providing Auto Insurance, we would like to provide you some information regarding these laws.

Below you will find information about the various laws in NC, SC, VA, and TN:

State – NC

Hand-Held Cell Phone Usage Ban – NO

Young Driver Cell Phone Ban (All Usage) – 18 Years Old & Younger

Texting Ban – ALL DRIVERS

Enforcement* – Primary

State – SC

Hand-Held Cell Phone Usage Ban – NO

Young Driver Cell Phone Ban (All Usage) – NO

Texting Ban – NO

Enforcement* – NA

State – VA

Hand-Held Cell Phone Usage Ban – NO

Young Driver Cell Phone Ban (All Usage) – 18 Years Old & Younger

Texting Ban – ALL DRIVERS

Enforcement* – Secondary

State – NC

Hand-Held Cell Phone Usage Ban – NO

Young Driver Cell Phone Ban (All Usage) – Learners Permit & Intermediate License Holder

Texting Ban – ALL DRIVERS

Enforcement* – Primary

*There are two type of “Enforcement” shown above.  ”Primary” indicates that authorities have the right to stop you for simply violating the Cell Phone / Texting Law.  ”Secondary” indicates that authorities may not stop you for for violating the Cell Phone / Texting Law, but instead must first stop you as result of another violoation (i.e. speeding).