Welcome back to the Bull Pen.

It has been said that only a biker knows why a dog sticks its head out the window of a moving vehicle.  While I may not have hair for the wind to blow thru I have been a lifelong enthusiast of spending quality time via two wheels.  It's hard to believe but my passion for riding started almost 30 years ago.  Over those 30 years, I have enjoyed countless hours exploring many of the roads less traveled. 

You would think that the longer you do something the better your skills develop, but is that really true?  I do believe I am a much better rider than when I started but being involved in a few serious accidents one thought continued to haunt me.  That thought was "Could I have done something more to avoid these accidents".   The conclusion I came to was yes.

The way I look at it, many of us learn to ride and continue to repeat our first year of riding over & over.  Sure you pick up a few skills over the years, but do you really approach riding as a lifelong opportunity to learn & improve?  I can tell you from years in the saddle that many of us don't.  So let's fast forward a bit, I wanted to learn & improve my riding skills and shared my thoughts with other Rescue Rider leaders and found that I wasn't the only one who felt this way. 

Ok, what did I get myself into?  I now not only have to find a way to learn, but need to also make sure this solution includes 19 other Rescue Rider leaders.  Solution, Woodstock Harley Advanced Riding School.  The great folks at Woodstock Harley helped the Rescue Riders host two, five-day advanced riding classes and what an amazing experience it was. 

Let me ask you, what would you do if you were riding on gravel at 40 mph and locked up your rear tire?  Would you apply the front brake?  Feather the back brake?  NOPE.  Do that and you will end up like one of our most excellent Rescue Rider leaders, Dan Nolan pictured here.  Dan is a great sport and I can tell you that as a result of his newly learned skills he can easily lock a brake at 40 mph and now actually have fun doing it & walk away without a scratch. 

Ooh, so I don't leave you hanging, the correct thing to do if you ever lock your rear tire is to keep it locked and steer the bike to counteract any movement to the left or right.  Inquiring minds want to know right?  Learning to ride or more correctly, ride better was something that was long overdue for me and the other students.  One of our participants, Dan DeBoey said that if you were to ask him when he started riding before taking the class he would have said 1964.  After completing the class his answer was Wednesday night which was the day our class began. 

So where am I going with this?  As bikers, we all face increased dangers while riding.  In Illinois for example, motorcycles make up about 4% of registered vehicles but represent about 14% of Illinois traffic fatalities.  As a parent & husband, I don't want to be included in the 14% number & I hope you feel the same way.  One of the best ways to survive on our full-contact roads these days is to learn to ride with & high level of skill.  One added bonus for completing many of these courses is a discount on your motorcycle insurance.  Saving a few bucks is never a bad thing. I hope you join me in committing to lifelong learning & look into some of the many wonderful riding classes in your area.     

Well, that's it for this month.  When I am not sharing my wisdom with you via my Saddle Tramp editorials or volunteering for the Rescue Rider program, I run an insurance agency West of Chicago.  I enjoy working with fellow bikers helping you protect what matters most.  If I can help you with your insurance please drop me a note at deanakey@allstate.com or give me a call at 877-232-9899.  I would love to hear from you.  Until next month, enjoy the ride.

Welcome back to the Bull Pen.  It sure is great to see the warm weather return and many of you enjoying some overdue two wheel therapy.  Many of us have our spring rituals we perform to get ready for riding season.  We have all heard the old saying "an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure" so giving the bike a "once over" is something most of us do to prepare for riding season but do you ever give your motorcycle insurance the proverbial "once over"? 

As a biker who happens to also be an insurance agent, I am frequently asked insurance related questions so let me share some important information about your motorcycle insurance.  Before you roll your eyes back and let loose that yawn, just give me a few minutes of your life.  You may be glad you did.  Motorcycle insurance is much like a parachute.  You don't really appreciate it until you need it.  I hope you read on and understand how your policy can protect you, your family and your property. 

Are you ready?  Well then, let's get started.   As consumers, we have been conditioned to compare insurance based upon price.  If you have seen the Progressive Insurance television commercials Flo tells us all how you can save money.  Let me say that even though I think Flo is a "hottie" I want you to focus on your individual needs first and then look at the price.  Let me break down some of the key components in your policy.

Bodily Injury/Liability:  This is the portion of your policy that protects your liability when you cause harm to another individual.  If you are in an accident and it's your fault, you are protected up to the limits of your policy.  Quite often I talk to bikers who have $20,000/$40,000 of liability protection.  This means if you harm another person, your policy will pay up to $20,000 per person and $40,000 per accident on your behalf to the injured person or persons.  A few years back I was hit head-on by a minivan which left 60 staples in my head, broke my collar bone and all of the ribs on my right side.  My medical bill was $14,000 and I did not stay in the hospital overnight.  I share this with you to demonstrate how quickly your liability can add up.  Liability can pay for hospital bills, lost wages, disability & disfigurement and much much more...

Uninsured/Underinsured Liability:  Many folks ask me what this is.  In a nutshell, this is coverage for you.  Unfortunately Illinois only requires motorists to carry a minimum of $20,000 of liability coverage.  Our friends in Wisconsin just passed legislation lowering required limits as well which in my opinion is horrible news.  Some states do not require motorists to carry any liability insurance.  If someone injures you and they do not have insurance or sufficient insurance coverage to pay for your damages, your Uninsured/Underinsured coverage can pick up the slack.  This is one of the most important elements of your policy and very often overlooked. 

Property Damage:  This is the protection you have to repair or replace other folk's property if the damage was caused by you.  Many of you carry $50,000 of property damage on your policies.  What this means is that if you cause an accident and a Lexus hits a Corvette, your insurance policy will pay up to $50,000 to repair or replace the damaged vehicles.  Don't get caught in this trap.  All motorcyclists need at least $100,000 of property damage.  The good news here is that it typically costs less than $10 years to upgrade from $50,000 to $100,000 so don't delay.  I often hear the objection, how much damage can my bike cause to another vehicle.  You don't even need to make contact with another vehicle to be at fault.  If you are ticketed and two vehicles collide you are responsible to repair or replace their vehicles.  I have personally seen $100,000 property damage claims where the bike was not damaged but the operator was found to be at fault.  Don't let this happen to you.   

Guest Liability:  Do you ever take passengers for rides?  If you do you should have Guest Liability Coverage.  These levels are typically consistent with your Bodily Injury and Underinsured/Uninsured coverage.  This component of your policy covers your liability when carrying a passenger.  In other words, if you are in an accident and your passenger is injured, you could be sued for damages.  If your policy provides this coverage you are protected up to the limits of your policy.  Now for the scary part.  Many motorcycle policies do not provide this coverage.  If you don't have this on your policy, ride solo.

Collision:  This is the component of your policy that pays to replace or repair your scooter.  You choose the deductible that fits your budget and your motorcycle will be repaired or replaced up to the market value of your bike.  Now if you are like me you have probably added some bling to your scooter along the way.  What happens if your bike is wrecked?  Read on.

Optional Equipment:  If you are riding a stock bike skip to the next section.  If you have upgraded your bike you need optional equipment coverage.  Most insurance agents mess this part up.  Here is how optional equipment coverage works.  Let's say that you added a Mustang seat ($650) Bassani Exhaust ($850) and Custom Wheels ($2000) and a Baker six speed transmissions ($2500).  Your agent may tell you that you need $6000 of optional equipment coverage.  Sorry to tell you this but if you took that advice you are paying too much.  In calculating the correct dollar amount of Optional Equipment coverage you need we need to determine the difference between your upgrades and the original stock components.  Let's assume your bike is damaged in an accident.  You already have coverage to repair/replace your stock components less your deductible.  If your policy will already pay for a stock exhaust ($350) and stock wheels ($1000) and stock transmission ($1450) all you need to do is cover the difference which in this case would be $3200.  Many policies already include some coverage for Optional Equipment so if your policy covers $1000 of optional equipment already, add the $2200 and you are covered.  If you have custom paint or engine upgrades you typically want to cover those at the full value of the upgrades. 

Comprehensive:  This component of your policy typically covers you for incidents that occur when you are not riding your scooter.  There are a few exceptions to this but that's another topic in itself.  If your scooter is vandalized, damaged by hail etc your comprehensive will pay to repair or replace your vehicle less your deductible.        

Rider Protection:  This is an Allstate exclusive.  A few years ago the pointy heads at Allstate asked me to help them design a new motorcycle policy.  My reaction was why are we offering what everybody offers?  Let's reinvent motorcycle insurance.  We did.  Most motorcycle insurance companies offer much of the same "stuff".  Up to now, none of the motorcycle insurance companies offered protection for the rider.  Our new Rider Protection package will pay you if you are injured and cannot work as the result of an accident.  The payments will continue as long as you are unable to return to work.  In addition, we can also include $15,000 of life insurance if the worst happens. As bikers, we all like to think that we will never be in an accident or worse but having been in several myself, I can tell you this does happen more than we would like to think.     

So what do I recommend you should carry in terms of coverage?  It really depends on your needs.  Are you married?  Do you have children?  A mortgage?  Your policy should fit your needs.  Don't hope you are covered, know so.  My name is Dean Akey and I sell motorcycle insurance.  I enjoy working with fellow bikers helping you protect what matters most.  If I can help you please drop me a note at deanakey@allstate.com or give me a call at 877-232-9899.  I would love to hear from you.  Until next month, enjoy the ride.

Welcome back to the Bull Pen.

As bikers we all are familiar with the old saying "it's not if but when" relating to being involved in a motorcycle accident.  Having been involved in several serious accidents myself I still don't believe we should accept this as the norm.  One such man who defied the odds was Former Wisconsin State Senator David Zien.  I have always looked at Dave as a larger than life kind of guy and still do.  I have had the pleasure of riding with Dave and getting to know him a little better over the past few years. 

It's with great regret that I share with you that Dave was involved in a serious motorcycle accident on March 14^th.  The accident occurred when an SUV traveling in front of Dave on Interstate 10 attempted to change lanes, lost control and flipped onto its side. Dave who celebrated his 61^st birthday on March 15^th, tried to take evasive action but was unable to avoid the overturned vehicle. 24-year-old Ryan G. Matheny of Marietta Ohio was driving his SUV with a suspended driver's license.  Matheny, the driver of the SUV, only had minor injuries and was cited by the Florida Highway Patrol for Improper Lane Change and Driving With a Suspended Driver's License. 
 
According to Florida Statute 316.085(2), "Improper Change of Lane" is only a $60 fine.  The driving while his license was suspended could result in probation, or possibly even be dropped by the State.  Are you kidding me???

Dave was flown to the Tallahassee hospital for treatment.  The collision resulted in Dave having his left leg amputated above the knee, and two plates being implanted in his right hip to treat his fractured pelvis, emergency surgery to repair his bleeding spleen & multiple head lacerations & a broken left hand. 

As Dave begins his long road to recovery, many of you have asked what you can do to help Dave & his family.  As you can imagine, the direct & indirect costs will be astronomical.  Please join me in helping Dave by donating to the Get Well Foundation for Dave Zien.  Please place account #5284063483 in the notes section of your check and send to Wells Fargo, 2910 Mall Drive. Eau Claire, WI 54701. 

For those of you who don't know Dave Zien, let me share a little background about this exceptional man.  Dave served as a Wisconsin State Senator from 1986 - 2006 and has been a "man of the people" both in and out of office.  Dave earned a Purple Heart while serving our country in Vietnam as a Marine. 

Impressed yet?  Read on.  Dave holds 118 long distance riding records.  As a legislator from 1986 to December 1, 2006 Dave logged 1,327,500 total miles on two wheels.  Now you may be thinking, did this guy ever work?  You bet he did and I wish other elected officials worked as tirelessly as Dave does.       

In addition to being a riding machine, Dave initiated the first major veteran's monument that recognizes motorcyclists...Wisconsin Veterans Tribute located at Cadot, Wisconsin.

Dave also helped coordinate the largest object left at the Vietnam Veterans Memorial in Washington, D.C. (a handmade custom Harley, 1998) and was inducted into the National Motorcycle Hall of Fame Museums at Anamosa, Iowa, Pickerington, Ohio and Sturgis, South Dakota.

When not riding, Dave has run 11 marathons (26.2 miles each) carrying a 3X5 USA flag on a pole to honor fallen veterans and as a reminder of POW/MIA's.

Dave's accomplishments are legendary but here is one that will blow your mind.  While Dave has logged over 2 million miles in the saddle close to half of them were on his 1991 Harley FXRP.  On April 4^th, 2009 Dave hit 1 million miles on his trusty scooter.  That's 1 million miles on one motorcycle.  This is a world record. 

Dave, you & your family are in all of our thoughts & prayers.  We all wish you God Speed during your recovery and thank you for all you have done for us.  God Bless you Dave.   

Well, that's it for this month.  When I am not sharing my wisdom with you via my Saddle Tramp editorials or volunteering for the Rescue Rider program, I run an insurance agency West of Chicago.  I enjoy working with fellow bikers helping you protect what matters most.  If I can help you with your insurance please drop me a note at deanakey@allstate.com or give me a call at 877-232-9899.  I would love to hear from you.  Until next month, enjoy the ride.

Welcome back to the Bull Pen. If you don't remember me, my name is Dean Akey and I will be your guide for another fun filled edition.  Are you ready?  OK then, let's get started...

Ronald Reagan once said, "Politics is supposed be the second oldest profession. I have come to realize that it bears a very close resemblance to the first."  Never were truer words spoken.  We live in an era where our elected officials are more concerned with protecting their individual interests versus ours.  Don't get me wrong, this article isn't about bashing the Democrats or Republicans.  They are both equally guilty in my eyes and a topic for another day. 

You may have heard that the tax cuts originally instituted by President Bush were extended in an eleventh hour bill for the 2011-12 tax years.  While some of this legislation will help directly address the needs of Middle America, there are a few components which give me great concern.  Specifically, the temporary reduction of the amount we individually contribute to social security.  Before I tell you why, let me start by stating that I don't feel old.  So when should I start acting or feeling old?  With constant advances in medicine, wellness, nutrition and public health many of us need to rethink what constitutes old age.

For many of us, our conception of being old or at least being retirement age is when we turn 65.  How did we arrive at the age of 65 as being symbolic of retirement & trading in our careers for rocking chairs?

Actually, the age of 65 was chosen by Otto Von Bismark, who created Europe's first pension plan in the 1880's.  Bismark selected an age which people were considered too enfeebled to work and should be provided for via the government.  Now one thing you need to know was back in the 1880's, the average life expectancy in the United States & Europe was 45.  I guess if you worked your whole life and lived 20 years past your life expectancy this was a reasonable plan. 

Now let's fast forward to the current day.  If we use the math that Otto used when would we be considered old & worthy of financial support?  As I mentioned, the life expectancy in the 1880's was 45.  I suspect you already know that we now live longer than 45 but how much longer?  The most recent life expectancy for women in the US is just shy of 80 years old.  The life expectancy for men is just shy of 75.  

Now back to the math, if we use Otto's formula, you would receive financial support at about 97.  Now don't think for a minute that I am suggesting we postpone retirement or social security until you are in your 90's but I do want to challenge your thinking on what is considered old.

So I guess there is good news and bad news here.  The good news is that you are going to live longer.  The bad news is that you are going to live longer.  So what does this mean?  It means that as a society we need to rethink what old age is and what our "useful" years are.  Many of us started the countdown when we entered the workplace.  You know what I am talking about..... 30, 20, 15, 10, 5, 4, 3, 2, 1 years to retirement.  Unfortunately we still think retirement age is 65.  Don't get me wrong, it still can be but only if you are prepared. 

Let's say you entered the work force at 21 and worked until 65.  That's 44 years of hard work which is a lifetime by anyone's standards.  What did you do during that 44 years?  The average Americans save far less than what would support your retirement but let's say you put away 15% of your earning a year.  Is that enough? It very well may be but do you know?  Saving 15% equates to about 6.15 years of earnings before we account for inflation and of course how your money has grown over the years. 

So what does this mean for you in the short & long term?  Well, as I mentioned earlier, the wizards in Washington decided that for 2011, your individual contribution to social security will be reduced from the current rate of 6.2% to 4.2%.  Lower taxes should be a good thing shouldn't they?  Don't believe everything you hear.  The one potential good thing here is that this will essentially look like a 2% pay increase before taxes.  For example, a worker earning $50,000 per year would pay $2100 in 2011 (4.2% of $50K) vs. having paid $3100 (6.2% of $50k) for a net decrease in taxes paid of $1000.  If you earned $100,000, your net decrease in taxes paid would be $2000.  Now remember, if you earn an extra $1000 or $2000, Uncle Sam and your state will want their cut which will ultimately reduce your take home pay by your effective tax rate.  But isn't $600-$1200 or so more in your pocket a good thing?    

It can be if you pay yourself first.  The pointy heads in Washington are counting that they will tax your additional 2% of income and you will blow whatever is left.  Don't get caught in this trap.   Unless you live in a cave, you probably have heard that we have some major issues with the solvency of social security.  In a nutshell, social security pays out more than it collects.  By most estimates, social security will be broke in less than ten years.  By reducing what you pay into social security, we accelerate the demise of what many of you were counting on to help you survive in your retirement years. 

In the past few years we have seen the age in which you can draw full retirement increase from 65 if you were born in 1937 or earlier to 67 if you were born in 1960 or later.   Don't fool yourself by thinking that this hurdle won't be raised again.  It will.  So what should you do?

As I mentioned, you should use this opportunity to pay yourself first.  Instead of falling in to the tax & spend scheme that was set for you, take this opportunity to increase your retirement savings at work so that your money ultimately works for you.  If you don't have a retirement plan, give me a call and I will help you start one.  I may even be able to help save you a few bucks on your insurance as well. 

 Well, that's it for this month.  When I am not sharing my wisdom with you via my editorials, I run an insurance agency west of Chicago.  I enjoy working with fellow bikers helping you protect what matters most.  If I can help you please drop me a note at deanakey@allstate.com or give me a call at 877-232-9899.  Until next month, enjoy the ride.

Welcome back to the Bull Pen.  As we approach the holiday season, it's a great time to reflect on those people and things you are thankful for.  I have always been a "glass half full" kind of guy, so with that in mind let's get started. 

 Thanks for the Memories... 

If you were to ask me six years ago, would you be interested in becoming an EMT or becoming an instructor for Accident Scene Management or the American Heart Association, I would have thought about it for a moment and politely declined. I had a successful career in the financial world working for gas & electric utility companies managing energy portfolios.   

Near the end of my energy career I was involved in a serious motorcycle accident which resulted in a broken collar bone, broken ribs and head injury which left me looking like something out of a horror movie.  Much like Isaac Newton being hit on the head with an apple, this accident made me reflect on what mattered most.  My priorities were to spend more time with my bride Eileen and our two children Clay (15) and Emma (11).  I also wanted to do more to help people, which is ultimately why, with some help from some amazing folks, I founded the Rescue Riders.  I knew how helpless you feel when laying in the road after being the victim of a motorcycle accident and hoping other bikers could help.

What was I thinking?  Think about it?  What business does a guy with a finance background have starting a nonprofit group to help educate, train and deploy bikers as emergency medics?  As the profit Wayne would have said, "I'm not worthy".  Maybe I was worthy but certainly not qualified.  To say the learning curve was monumental was an understatement.  About the same time, I decided to open an Allstate Insurance agency so I prayed that this old dog could indeed learn some new tricks.  There were many times I wanted to throw in the towel and focus on earning a living as to be honest with you, any hour you are volunteering, you aren't earning.  There were multiple personal & professional sacrifices along the way and each time I thought about giving up, you brought me back.  If you were judge the Rescue Riders as a business, we would be considered a struggling venture.  To me however, nothing could be further from the truth.  What a departure for a finance guy to consider a financially strapped organization as a success.  In my office, I have a file I call "higher calling".  In that file are your notes & letters sharing how you either provided or received aid from one of our volunteers.  In a handful of cases, lives were saved as a result of our volunteers so in my book there is no higher measure of success we can achieve.

More than five years after the start of this journey I am happy to share with you that while we have not arrived, we are solidly on track at building an organization you can be proud of.  It has taken amazing dedication and hard work from our leadership team & you, our volunteers.  We now have over 3000 trained volunteers in forty states serving fellow bikers as Good Samaritans.   Well done.

As we prepare for 2011, I am looking forward to welcoming some new leaders to our ranks and also supporting my successor.  It has been one of the greatest honors to be a part of this program and I look forward to our collective success in the future. 

Well, that's it for this month.  When I am not sharing my wisdom with you via my editorials or volunteering for the Rescue Rider program, I run an insurance agency West of Chicago.  I enjoy working with fellow bikers helping you protect what matters most.  If I can help you please drop me a note at deanakey@allstate.com or give me a call at 877-232-9899.  I would love to hear from you.  Until next month, enjoy the ride.

Welcome back to the Bull Pen.  Are you ready for another fun filled installment?  Great, sit back, relax and let's get started.  It's hard to believe that it's been 30 years since the debut of the cinematic masterpiece Caddyshack.  Just the mention of Caddyshack brings back many wonderful memories for me but did you know there are actually some important life lessons that can be learned from this timeless classic?  Don't believe me?  Read the following excerpts from Caddyshack and decide for yourself.   

Judge Smails (Ted Knight): "There's a lot of...well, badness in the world today". "I see it in court every day". "I've sentenced boys younger than you to the gas chamber. I didn't want to do it- I felt I owed it to them". "The most important decision you can make right now is what you stand for- goodness...or badness".

Danny Noonan: "I've made some mistakes in the past. I'm willing to make up for that. I want to be good".

Good choice Danny.  Shouldn't we all stand for "goodness" as Judge Smails mentioned.  I have the pleasure of knowing such a person who took Judge Smails advice literally that I want to introduce you to.  Her name is Vicki Sanfelipo and she is the Founder & Director of Accident Scene Management (ASMI) and Co Founder of the Road Guardian program.  I recently had the pleasure of attending the grand opening of the new Road Guardian/ASMI headquarters in Big Bend WI and all I can say is "wow".  Guests of the grand opening were treated to some great food, music, displays from local police & fire departments as well as the Wisconsin Department of Transportation traveling motorcycle safety training trailer and much more.  Many participants brought their children to take advantage of the free child identification program sponsored by our friend's at the most excellent law firm of Hupy & Abraham. 

It's equally hard to fathom that since its inception, ASMI has trained close to 20,000 fellow bikers how to provide emergency medical aid which has ultimately saved countless lives.  Just ask any of the fathers, mothers, sons or daughters who were saved by folks trained by ASMI if they are thankful for Vicki & crew.  Switching back to Caddyshack, who can forget when Bill Murray who plays Carl shares his tale of caddying in Tibet for the Dalai Lama. 

Carl: So I jump ship in Hong Kong and make my way over to Tibet, and I get on as a looper at a course over in the Himalayas.

Angie: A looper?

Carl: A looper, you know, a caddy, a looper, a jock. So, I tell them I'm a pro jock, and who do you think they give me? The Dalai Lama, himself. Twelfth son of the Lama. The flowing robes, the grace, bald...striking. So we finish the eighteenth and he's gonna stiff me. And I say, "Hey, Lama, hey, how about a little something, you know, for the effort, you know?" And he says, "Oh, uh, there won't be any money, but when you die, on your deathbed, you will receive total consciousness."

I am not exactly sure what "total consciousness" is but do believe that the Lama was referring to some sort of reward at the end of days for practicing "goodness" as Judge Smails points out.  In my book, it's a good thing to meet your maker with saving the lives of others on your resume.  For that reason, I am thankful for Vicki and all of the dedicated volunteers who have invested their time in us.  The world is a better place as a result of your efforts.  It takes a great amount of hard work to deliver this program to the masses so I invite you all to help us help each other by both joining the Road Guardian program and attending an ASMI course.  You can learn more about the Road Guardians at roadguardians.org or accidentscene.org. 

I am happy to share with you that our Friends at Allstate Insurance are also practicing "goodness" by donating $5 to the Road Guardian program for motorcycle quotes for the balance of 2010.  If you want to help the Road Guardians please call me at 877-232-9899 or drop me a note at deanakey@allstate.com  and help us help each other.  That's it for this month.  My name is Dean Akey and I sell insurance.  I enjoy working with fellow bikers helping you protect what matters most.    Until next month, enjoy the ride.

Welcome back to the Bull Pen. 

What's your favorite season?  Mine has always been fall.  If it were up to me, fall would last ten months a year.  I enjoyed the official start of fall by enjoying some two wheel therapy at the Tomahawk Fall Ride.  It's amazing to see explosion of colors from day to day as the cooler air drifts into the area.  I arrived in Tomahawk early (Tuesday) to get a start on some long overdue therapy.  My first lesson learned this year is that a 40 degree sleeping bag just doesn't cut it when the temperature drops below 30 degrees.  After a quick trip the following morning to Wal-Mart, problem solved via a $10 child size sleeping bag that I threw over my 40 degree "fair weather" bag.  Problem solved.

Each day we were treated to a new symphony of colors as the cold weather coaxed the trees into transforming from green to brilliant shades or orange, yellow, red & purple.  While we did have rain most days, that didn't extinguish the beaming smiles from our faces but I do have to tell you, next year I may finally invest in a rain suit as the wet & cold did get a bit old for the areas your chaps don't cover.  While riding, we saw more deer & wild turkeys on the twisty roads than you could count which is an added bonus if you ask me.

My original plans were to return to Chicagoland on Sunday as I have in previous years.  Something in my gut told me I better head back on Saturday this year as our Rescue Riders were supporting a fairly large run on Sunday (Autism Speaks) and we were short on Rescue Rider volunteers.  All I can say is that I am glad I listened to my gut on this one.  Sunday morning we saddled up and headed out from WildFire Harley Davidson in Villa Park enjoying a crisp morning with about 900 fellow bikers.  When our Rescue Riders provide emergency medical support, we stagger our riders in the ride and on this day we had two volunteers every 150 bikes. 

Many of the events we support are without incident but you would probably be surprised to know just how many injured bikers we patch up over the course of the year.   In the first ten miles of the route our volunteers provided aid to three victims of separate & serious motorcycle accidents.  The first accident was a head injury, the second was a back injury and the third was a broken clavicle, humerus & wrist.  What a start to the day.  What can I say other than that our volunteers were amazing and really excelled at providing aid. 

Personally, I know how helpless you feel when laying in the road after being the victim of a motorcycle accident.  That's why we started the Rescue Rider program.  At the conclusion of the run many of the participants asked how they can become involved in our program.  The answer is simple, join us at our www.rescuerider.org website and sign up for a basic & advanced Accident Scene Management class.  There is an old saying us bikers know which is "It's not if but when" referring to the question of have you been in a motorcycle accident.  If your hobby was sky diving and one of your fellow sky divers pointed out that your harness was frayed and would soon fail would you do anything about it?  If you subscribe to this philosophy and have not yet invested time in training on how to help fellow bikers in need my question is what are you waiting for?  Please take a moment and visit the fine folks at Accident Scene Management and find a class near you and help us help each other.  You can look at class listings at their website www.accidentscene.org. 

That's it for this month.  My name is Dean Akey and I sell insurance.  I enjoy working with fellow bikers helping you protect what matters most.  If I can help you with your insurance please drop me a note at deanakey@allstate.com or give me a call at 877-232-9899.  I would love to hear from you.  Until next month, enjoy the ride.

My fellow Americans, I hope you join me in celebrating Labor Day this year.  Many of our citizens are casualties of a faltering economy & government.  Whether you are currently employed or not, Labor Day, which is celebrated on the first Monday in September, is more than just a paid vacation day.  Labor Day was created as a tribute to our American workers.  Many of you believe Labor Day was created by our government.  Ironically, it was not.  The first Labor Day holiday was celebrated on Tuesday, September 5, 1882, in New York City.  Still, more than 100 years after the first Labor Day, there is still some debate on who created the holiday which celebrates the backbone of our Nation.... Our Workers..

Both Peter J. McGuire, cofounder of the American Federation of Labor and Matthew Maguire, Secretary of the Central Labor Union in New York have been credited of creating the Labor Day holiday.  Initially, municipalities began to recognize Labor Day as a holiday by passing ordinances as early as 1885. Oregon was the first state to officially declare Labor Day a state holiday in 1887.  Over the years, other states followed suit and by 1894, Congress passed an act making the first Monday in September of each year a legal holiday.

As laborers and citizens, we have built America from the ground up.  Just as our laborers created our only national holiday celebrating our contributions, it's up to us to continue to build our nation.  As any good carpenter will tell you, a solid foundation is paramount to a long lasting structure.  As we continue to build our collective future, let's make sure our elected officials represent us.  Personally, I am disappointed in what appears to be a "Let them eat cake" mentality in Washington and in many of the states we call home.  Periodically, a structure becomes damaged and is determined to be beyond repair.  In these instances, the most effective solution is to tear down the structure and start over.  While I don't believe we are there in terms of our elected officials, our structure is in dire need of repairs.  I hope you will join me in investigating the issues that are important to you and support candidates who represent America.

That's all I have to say about that..... For now....  God Bless America 

Welcome back to the Bull Pen.  You know, Benjamin Franklin once said "In this world nothing is certain but death and taxes."  Sad but true Ben.  Unfortunately I can't help you escape either fate but I would like to share with you some thoughts on how to ease the suffering for your loved ones.  You know I am a big fan of protecting what matters most.  I guess I should be as I am father, husband and insurance agent.

About now, you are probably thinking I am trying to sell you something or remembering the Woody Allen quote "There are worse things in life than death. Have you ever spent an evening with an insurance salesman?" For those of you that are still with me let's get started.   

According to the Life and Health Insurance Foundation for Education (LIFE), many Americans do not have adequate life insurance protection. Perhaps, you may think you already know the facts about life insurance - so some of the statements below may sound familiar to you. But, these "facts" are actually myths. As September is the third annual observance of Life Insurance Awareness Month, the LIFE organization, in an industry-wide effort with member companies, including Allstate Life Insurance Company and Lincoln Benefit Life Company, would like to help debunk some of these life insurance myths and help to provide you with facts to consider as you review your individual situation.

Myth #1) Singles or couples without kids don't need life insurance. Fact: Life insurance can help provide for loved ones in the event of death, even for those without children.  For example, people in this group may carry debts that they would prefer were taken care of rather than taken out of assets left to their loved ones. Still, others may use life insurance proceeds to help nieces, nephews, cousins or siblings achieve their financial goals.  For a modest premium, life insurance can help to provide for those who are left behind. 

Myth #2) Life insurance is expensive. Fact: Term life insurance, which is life insurance purchased for a period of time, can be very affordable for many people.  For example, a healthy, non-smoking, 35-year-old female who has a good family health history may be able to purchase a term life insurance policy from Lincoln Benefit Life Company with a $250,000 death benefit for an average of $14.66 per month, for the first 10 years of the policy term.  Or, she may be able to purchase a term life insurance policy from Lincoln Benefit Life Company with a $500,000 death benefit for an average of $14.88 per month, for the first 10 years of the policy term.* Either way, the premiums are approximately the price of two movie tickets per month!

Myth #3) Stay-at-home parents don't need life insurance because they don't draw an income.  Fact: While a stay-at-home parent may not provide an actual paycheck for the household, they do provide services that could cost tens of thousands of dollars to replace. These include: the cost of day care, a chauffeur or taxi service, a cook and a home cleaning service to name a few. An individual life insurance policy could help to ease the burden for the family if the stay-at-home parent should pass away.

Did you know that if you had to hire someone to do the things your stay at home spouse did, it would cost you quite a hefty sum.  As a matter of fact, the national average for a full time homemaker runs between $64,000 - $174,000.  Don't believe me?  I have attached a link below that helps you calculate the hidden paycheck. 

http://swz.salary.com/momsalarywizard/htmls/mswl_momcenter.html

Myth #4) You can take your life insurance policy with you from job to job.  Fact: Typically, group life insurance purchased through an employer isn't portable - meaning if an employee leaves the job, he or she is probably also leaving the life insurance protection behind.  However, if you own individual life insurance policies purchased through an insurance agent or a financial professional, leaving a job will have no effect on the coverage provided by them.  So, in that case, if you change your job, you would still have your life insurance policy even if you no longer have employer-provided group life insurance.

Having a policy through an employer is also becoming a rarity.  According to a 2004 U.S. Department of Labor Bureau of Labor Statistics Employee Benefit Survey, fewer workers have life insurance benefits.  The number has declined eight percent since 1999, from a high of 56 percent to 48 percent in 2004. 

Myth #5) You don't need life insurance once your children are adults.  Fact: Life insurance can help achieve a goal of leaving an inheritance to children or other loved ones or help relieve the burden of paying for final costs such as a funeral or final medical bills.  

Don't let these life insurance myths deter you from making sure that you have adequate life insurance protection.  Take a few minutes to review your current life insurance coverage and consider buying an individual life insurance policy if you don't currently have one. 

Let's face the facts; we have all seen the impact an untimely death has on the remaining family members.  Personally, I wouldn't throw my leg over my scooter without knowing that should anything happen to me, my family would be protected.  Do yourself and your family a favor, call your insurance agent and investigate what options are available to protect your loved ones. 

If you don't have an agent, I can help.  My name is Dean Akey & I sell life insurance.  Take that Woody.  You can reach me at 630-232-9811 or drop me a line at deanakey@allstate.com.     

Well, that's all I have to say about that.  Until next month, enjoy the ride.

Dean "Bull" Akey

The parable of the Good Samaritan comes to us from Luke 10:30-37.   In the parable, a man was going along the way and suddenly found himself in great dismay He was robbed, beaten and left for dead.  A priest happened to go down the street and saw the man whom the robbers did beat, but he passed him by on the other side.  A Levite also did the same. Finally, a Samaritan saw & took pity on the man. The Samaritan bandaged his wounds, took him to an inn and then the next day paid the innkeeper to care for the man until recovered. The term Samaritan was used to describe residents of "Samaria" an ancient city and country that during this time was the capital of the Kingdom of Israel.

Referring to someone as a "Good Samaritan" during this time period would be like calling someone a "Good American".  Maybe that's why we refer to the past as the good old days as words meant what they meant.  Today if you hear the term "Good Samaritan" a number of different definitions and images come to mind.  Legally defining this subject matter is equally daunting task with many of our states creating their own definitions.  While many countries do have laws that require citizens to stop and provide aid, in America we have no such requirements.  There are some states that do consider it an act of negligence if a person doesn't at least call 911 for help.  So are you a Good Samaritan?  According to law enforcement agency reports, less than 10% of our citizens actually do stop to lend a hand to someone in need.  Not a very good showing if you ask me.  

Generally speaking, a Good Samaritan in legal terms refers to someone who voluntarily provides aid in an emergency to ill or injured people.  Volunteer "Good Samaritans" who do provide aid are expected to be reasonably careful providing care that is in the best interests of the injured or ill person.  We will spend some more time on this in a bit. 

Good Samaritan laws which grant immunity from civil liability, vary from state to state.  Generally speaking, Provisions of Good Samaritan Laws include the following three criteria. 

1. Aid must be given as a result of emergency (illness or injury).
2. Must not give aid for payment or expect payment which includes rewards. 
3. Emergency care must not be given in grossly negligent way or meant to harm the victim. Care must be given in good faith.

Ok, if you are still with me you are probably wondering what would be considered grossly negligent. 

Gross Negligence:  People who give aid to others must be prudent in their care offered. For example, lets assume that you are in a restaurant and notice a man choking and have been trained in CPR & First Aid, you may offer to provide aid via a Heimlich maneuver or a few hard taps on the back.   Should the victim agree, your actions would be considered prudent care as long as you provided the aid as you have been trained.  Now let's say that you saw this episode of MacGyver on the television where the mighty Mac uses a pen knife & straw to perform an emergency tracheotomy.  If you try to provide aid the MacGyver way, you now are providing care above and beyond your training which would most likely be considered grossly negligent. 

So what does this really mean to you?  It means that the more relevant training & certifications you hold, the more aid you can provide to victims and enjoy protection under Good Samaritan Laws.  One question to ask yourself, are your training & certifications current?  It does matter. 

To better understand Good Samaritan Laws, there are a few key terms & concepts that you should know.  To start with, what happens when you arrive at the scene of an accident?  Let's face it, some of us are a bit scary looking.  If your victim is an 88 year old woman, she may be a bit nervous about you cutting off her pants to expose an open femur fracture. Prior to providing any aid you must first obtain Consent..

 Consent:  You need to first obtain permission of conscious injured persons to give first aid. Respect their wishes if they refuse. When you happen on an injured victim, always state your name and any relevant training you have. Then inquire if you can assist them.  Example, "I'm John, I am a Rescue Rider and have been trained to provide first aid in situations like these by completing basic & advanced  Accident Scene Management courses.   Would you like me to help you?"

If they reject your aid and you believe potential the victim's life may be in danger explain this to them.  If they still reject, call 911 and inform them of the situation.  Do not provide aid unless the victim either provides consent or their status changes (unconscious).   For those who are unconscious or unable to give consent (like an infant), it's considered "implied consent" if you assist by giving first aid or CPR.  Guess what can happen if you don't obtain consent and still provide aid?  You can be charged with Assault or Battery.

Assault or Battery:  Victims who do not fall under implied consent must still consent to care for the rescuer to be considered a Good Samaritan.

Ok, now you have been given consent, are trained to provide aid and are doing so in a reasonable manner, what's next?  Let's say the victims friends arrive on scene while you are providing CPR.  They tell you that they can take over and stay with their friend until the ambulance arrives.  Don't get caught in this situation.  In order to leave a victim after you have started to provide aid, you will need to hand off care to someone who has at least the same level of training you do.  Failing to do this can be considered Abandonment. 

Abandonment:   In most areas, once you initiate care you still need to hand off to the same or higher level of care. In some rural areas, this may mean a ride to the hospital.

Many of our volunteers are medical professionals. As licensed health care providers, we have to comply with regulations which state what type of care we can provide.  This is called Scope of Practice.  I mention this as you may or may not be a licensed health care professional but you should understand this concept and what it means to you.

Scope of Practice: Skills that licensed healthcare providers are trained to do. Scope of practice is defined by the government that issues the license, usually a state. Every healthcare provider has a scope of practice, except physicians. Physicians have the ability to develop new skills as necessary.  The reason this concept is important to all Good Samaritans is it defines what you can & cannot do.  As an unlicensed Good Samaritan, to be protected from civil liability, you need to provide prudent care.  Prudent care for health care professionals is based upon their level of training amongst other things.   This concept should apply to you.  To give prudent care, only provide aid in a manner that is consistent with the training you have completed. 

By following these simple rules, you should be protected from civil liability under your Good Samaritan Laws.  I suggest you take a moment to read the individual Good Samaritan laws of your state.  I hope this article has helped you better understand Good Samaritan laws and stress the importance of continuing to train or complete refresher courses. 

Well, that's it for this month.  When I am not sharing my wisdom with you via my editorials or volunteering for the Rescue Rider program, I run an insurance agency West of Chicago.  I enjoy working with fellow bikers helping you protect what matters most.  If I can help you please drop me a note at deanakey@allstate.com or give me a call at 877-232-9899.  I would love to hear from you.  Until next month, enjoy the ride.