June 2023 Newsletter
Patricia Lee
A Note From The Publisher
As Father's Day approaches, I am thinking of my own Father even more so than usual. He is 88 years old and unfortunately, fighting Dimentia/Alzheimer's. Several months ago, I had to move in with my parents to help my mother with my daddy. Yes, this is one of the cruelest diseases on the planet but that is not what I want to talk about right now.
I want to honor my father, or as I call him, "daddy." He is one of the greatest men I have ever known. You could trust him with your life, your wife, or your money. Everyone who has ever known him highly respects him and has always said to me, "If it comes out of JP's mouth, it's so!" I would just beam when I would hear this and other accolades and nothing was better than to hear someone say, "You are just like him." That is the highest honor I could receive. He taught me so much but two things stand out to me and that is; You are only as good as your word. And, he taught me human nature. He was in sales for 40+ years, so he could read people very well. He could size you up in a heart beat and he was always right. He shared so many work stories with me that by the time I started my own career, I was already over half way to success. That wasn't just true for my career but my personal life, as well.
If you are lucky enough to still have your father and can have a coherent conversation with him, get on your knees and thank your other Father; Father God. When you get up off your knees, go have conversation with your daddy. Ask him to tell you a story about his childhood or any story he wishes to share. Do it for me because that is blessing I will never have again. My daddy's body is here but the man I knew, the man I could talk to about anything, the greatest story teller on earth, is no longer around. He does still know who I am part of the time. The other day he said, "Heyyyy there, little bitty buddy!!!" He hasn't called me that since I was a child but it was an every day occurrence back in those days. Once I grew up, he just shortened it to, "Buddy." It was a fine moment to hear that old phrase from him and I cherish it more than anything I own. Bits and pieces like that are all I have now..... and my memories.
Personal Message:
If you are a resident of the Destin or close surrounding area, I invite you to join our private locals Destinites Facebook group at www.Facebook.com/Destinites with 7,900+ members. If you own a local business and would like to advertise in our group or here in our newsletter, please email me at [email protected]. Thank you!
If you live in Destin proper, you receive the freely distributed Destin Life newspaper. Please look for my article every month titled "Ask Destinites."
Palms 144: 1 & 2: From The Living Bible 1972 version
"Bless The Lord who is my immovable Rock. He gives me strength and skill in battle. He is always kind and loving to me; He is my fortress, my tower of strength and safety, my deliverer. He stands before me as a shield. "
Patricia Lee, Owner: www.Destinites.com Destinites, Inc. (TM)
Creator: www.Facebook.com/groups/Destinites Est: October 2018
As Father's Day approaches, I am thinking of my own Father even more so than usual. He is 88 years old and unfortunately, fighting Dimentia/Alzheimer's. Several months ago, I had to move in with my parents to help my mother with my daddy. Yes, this is one of the cruelest diseases on the planet but that is not what I want to talk about right now.
I want to honor my father, or as I call him, "daddy." He is one of the greatest men I have ever known. You could trust him with your life, your wife, or your money. Everyone who has ever known him highly respects him and has always said to me, "If it comes out of JP's mouth, it's so!" I would just beam when I would hear this and other accolades and nothing was better than to hear someone say, "You are just like him." That is the highest honor I could receive. He taught me so much but two things stand out to me and that is; You are only as good as your word. And, he taught me human nature. He was in sales for 40+ years, so he could read people very well. He could size you up in a heart beat and he was always right. He shared so many work stories with me that by the time I started my own career, I was already over half way to success. That wasn't just true for my career but my personal life, as well.
If you are lucky enough to still have your father and can have a coherent conversation with him, get on your knees and thank your other Father; Father God. When you get up off your knees, go have conversation with your daddy. Ask him to tell you a story about his childhood or any story he wishes to share. Do it for me because that is blessing I will never have again. My daddy's body is here but the man I knew, the man I could talk to about anything, the greatest story teller on earth, is no longer around. He does still know who I am part of the time. The other day he said, "Heyyyy there, little bitty buddy!!!" He hasn't called me that since I was a child but it was an every day occurrence back in those days. Once I grew up, he just shortened it to, "Buddy." It was a fine moment to hear that old phrase from him and I cherish it more than anything I own. Bits and pieces like that are all I have now..... and my memories.
Personal Message:
If you are a resident of the Destin or close surrounding area, I invite you to join our private locals Destinites Facebook group at www.Facebook.com/Destinites with 7,900+ members. If you own a local business and would like to advertise in our group or here in our newsletter, please email me at [email protected]. Thank you!
If you live in Destin proper, you receive the freely distributed Destin Life newspaper. Please look for my article every month titled "Ask Destinites."
Palms 144: 1 & 2: From The Living Bible 1972 version
"Bless The Lord who is my immovable Rock. He gives me strength and skill in battle. He is always kind and loving to me; He is my fortress, my tower of strength and safety, my deliverer. He stands before me as a shield. "
Patricia Lee, Owner: www.Destinites.com Destinites, Inc. (TM)
Creator: www.Facebook.com/groups/Destinites Est: October 2018
If you are interested in being a sponsor or article contributor, contact Patricia: [email protected]
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Lori Leath Smith
Military Association Awards $29,000 In Scholarships:
Story by Lori Leath Smith, Publisher - Life Media, Inc. Destin Life community newspaper
The Northwest Military Officers Association (NWFMOA) Annual Scholarship and Awards
Luncheon in May saw eight scholarships awarded totaling $25,500 to JROTC cadets at six of
our communities’ local high schools and one $4,000 scholarship awarded to a local ROTC cadet
at the University of South Florida.
NWFMOA board members Maj. Dave Parisot, USAF, Ret., and president of the Scholarship
Fund, Lt. Col. George Colton, Lt. Col. Bob Allen, Lt. Col. Fred Westfall, Col. Karl Eschmann and
Lt. Col. Charles Farmer establish the scholarship policies and procedures, review and score the
applications, and interview the applicants in March and April each year.
“The MOAA Medal was crafted to recognize leadership and academic achievements of ROTC
and JROTC cadets,” said Maj. Parisot. “It is presented annually to specially selected junior year
students who are participating in ROTC or JROTC programs throughout our country and who
exhibit high potential for military leadership. This award reflects the cadet’s superior
accomplishments and support of his or her high school Junior ROTC program, high academic
achievements and service to school and community. This award further reflects the high regard
of each school’s JROTC instructors.”
“When you hear what they [these students] have done, you know our nation is in good hands,”
said Brig. Gen. Fran Hendricks, chapter president.
Begun last year, NWFMOA continued its program of naming its scholarships in honor of
deceased NWFMOA Chapter members. Following are this year’s JROTC scholarship recipients:
1. Cadet Col. Dawn Kerwin, Fort Walton Beach AFJROTC, received the Lt. Col. James “Jim”
Heavener, USAF, Ret., and Mrs. Una Heavener Memorial Scholarship – $4,500.
2. Cadet Col. Mark Almazan, Fort Walton Beach AFJROTC, received the Dr. Howard Fisher, Lt.
Col., USAFR, Ret., and Mrs. Irene Fisher Scholarship – $3,000.
3. Cadet Petty Officer First Class Jacob Herrera, Navarre NJROTC, received the Dr. Fred
Westfall, Lt. Col., USAF, Ret., and Mrs. Janet Westfall Scholarship – $3,000.
4. Cadet Col. Paige Lettelleir, Choctawhatchee AFJROTC, received the Mrs. Chong Cha (Kim)
Parisot Memorial Scholarship – $3,000.
5. Cadet Lt. Col. Maziah Davis, Crestview Army JROTC, received the Cdr. Olive Clyde Locke,
USN, Ret., Memorial Scholarship – $3,000.
6. Cadet Maj. Jeremy Figueroa-Olmeda, Choctawhatchee AFJROTC, received the Col. Richard
“Dick” Prater, USAF, Ret., Memorial Scholarship – $3,000.
7. Cadet Maj. Kelvin Lora, Baker School Army JROTC, received the Col. Jack Gardner, USA,
Ret., Memorial Scholarship – $3,000.
8. Cadet 1st Lt. Alissa Easley, Niceville AFJROTC, received the Col. Donald Panzenhagen,
USAF, Ret., Memorial Scholarship – $3,000.
9. Cadet Col. Kayla McCarthy, AFROTC, University of South Florida in Tampa criminology
major, received the Col. Douglas L. ‘Doug’ Hardin, USAF, Ret., Memorial Scholarship – $4,000.
Three local high school seniors who have received appointments the United States Air Force
Academy at Colorado Springs, Colo., were also honored and selected for the USAFA Class of
2027: Olivia Beard and Alexander Davidson, both Fort Walton Beach High School, and Therese
Sherwin, Niceville High School.
Maj. Parisot also recognized two retiring JROTC Senior Instructors: Col. Mark Batcho, USAF,
Ret., is retiring after seven years at Fort Walton Beach High School AFJROTC, and Maj. Scott
Bates, USAF, is retiring after 11 years of leading the Choctawhatchee High School AFJROTC.
During their tenures, these instructors have influenced more than 3,500 JROTC cadets.
NWFMOA is a local, non-profit organization of more than 200 local active, retired and separated
officers, including warrant officers, who have served in one of the eight uniformed services:
Army, Navy, Marine Corps, Air Force, Coast Guard, Space Force, Public Health Service and
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. The membership also includes surviving
spouses who belong in an auxiliary member context.
In addition to scholarships, one of NWFMOA’s missions is to purchase gift cards at the base
commissary to distribute to young enlisted families in grades E-4 and below to purchase food.
NWFMOA partners with the Eglin and Hurlburt First Sergeant Councils, the 7th Special forces
Group and the Military Family Readiness Centers at Hurlburt and Duke Field to distribute the gift
cards to their neediest enlisted families. In the past three years, this local chapter has donated
610 commissary gift cards of $25 each, for a combined value of $15,250! The chapter also
advocates for Wreaths Across America, Bob Hope Village, and other community outreach
projects.
This local chapter is affiliated with the Military Officers Association of America (MOAA), the
largest military officer association in the nation. MOAA currently has nearly 350,000 members
including 63,000 surviving spouses (auxiliary members). Membership in MOAA supports the
National Military Coalition, which coordinates 34 military associations in their efforts to lobby for
legislative action in support of all veterans. Membership in MOAA entitles members to
participate in all national activities and to benefit from all MOAA programs.
Story by Lori Leath Smith, Publisher - Life Media, Inc. Destin Life community newspaper
The Northwest Military Officers Association (NWFMOA) Annual Scholarship and Awards
Luncheon in May saw eight scholarships awarded totaling $25,500 to JROTC cadets at six of
our communities’ local high schools and one $4,000 scholarship awarded to a local ROTC cadet
at the University of South Florida.
NWFMOA board members Maj. Dave Parisot, USAF, Ret., and president of the Scholarship
Fund, Lt. Col. George Colton, Lt. Col. Bob Allen, Lt. Col. Fred Westfall, Col. Karl Eschmann and
Lt. Col. Charles Farmer establish the scholarship policies and procedures, review and score the
applications, and interview the applicants in March and April each year.
“The MOAA Medal was crafted to recognize leadership and academic achievements of ROTC
and JROTC cadets,” said Maj. Parisot. “It is presented annually to specially selected junior year
students who are participating in ROTC or JROTC programs throughout our country and who
exhibit high potential for military leadership. This award reflects the cadet’s superior
accomplishments and support of his or her high school Junior ROTC program, high academic
achievements and service to school and community. This award further reflects the high regard
of each school’s JROTC instructors.”
“When you hear what they [these students] have done, you know our nation is in good hands,”
said Brig. Gen. Fran Hendricks, chapter president.
Begun last year, NWFMOA continued its program of naming its scholarships in honor of
deceased NWFMOA Chapter members. Following are this year’s JROTC scholarship recipients:
1. Cadet Col. Dawn Kerwin, Fort Walton Beach AFJROTC, received the Lt. Col. James “Jim”
Heavener, USAF, Ret., and Mrs. Una Heavener Memorial Scholarship – $4,500.
2. Cadet Col. Mark Almazan, Fort Walton Beach AFJROTC, received the Dr. Howard Fisher, Lt.
Col., USAFR, Ret., and Mrs. Irene Fisher Scholarship – $3,000.
3. Cadet Petty Officer First Class Jacob Herrera, Navarre NJROTC, received the Dr. Fred
Westfall, Lt. Col., USAF, Ret., and Mrs. Janet Westfall Scholarship – $3,000.
4. Cadet Col. Paige Lettelleir, Choctawhatchee AFJROTC, received the Mrs. Chong Cha (Kim)
Parisot Memorial Scholarship – $3,000.
5. Cadet Lt. Col. Maziah Davis, Crestview Army JROTC, received the Cdr. Olive Clyde Locke,
USN, Ret., Memorial Scholarship – $3,000.
6. Cadet Maj. Jeremy Figueroa-Olmeda, Choctawhatchee AFJROTC, received the Col. Richard
“Dick” Prater, USAF, Ret., Memorial Scholarship – $3,000.
7. Cadet Maj. Kelvin Lora, Baker School Army JROTC, received the Col. Jack Gardner, USA,
Ret., Memorial Scholarship – $3,000.
8. Cadet 1st Lt. Alissa Easley, Niceville AFJROTC, received the Col. Donald Panzenhagen,
USAF, Ret., Memorial Scholarship – $3,000.
9. Cadet Col. Kayla McCarthy, AFROTC, University of South Florida in Tampa criminology
major, received the Col. Douglas L. ‘Doug’ Hardin, USAF, Ret., Memorial Scholarship – $4,000.
Three local high school seniors who have received appointments the United States Air Force
Academy at Colorado Springs, Colo., were also honored and selected for the USAFA Class of
2027: Olivia Beard and Alexander Davidson, both Fort Walton Beach High School, and Therese
Sherwin, Niceville High School.
Maj. Parisot also recognized two retiring JROTC Senior Instructors: Col. Mark Batcho, USAF,
Ret., is retiring after seven years at Fort Walton Beach High School AFJROTC, and Maj. Scott
Bates, USAF, is retiring after 11 years of leading the Choctawhatchee High School AFJROTC.
During their tenures, these instructors have influenced more than 3,500 JROTC cadets.
NWFMOA is a local, non-profit organization of more than 200 local active, retired and separated
officers, including warrant officers, who have served in one of the eight uniformed services:
Army, Navy, Marine Corps, Air Force, Coast Guard, Space Force, Public Health Service and
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. The membership also includes surviving
spouses who belong in an auxiliary member context.
In addition to scholarships, one of NWFMOA’s missions is to purchase gift cards at the base
commissary to distribute to young enlisted families in grades E-4 and below to purchase food.
NWFMOA partners with the Eglin and Hurlburt First Sergeant Councils, the 7th Special forces
Group and the Military Family Readiness Centers at Hurlburt and Duke Field to distribute the gift
cards to their neediest enlisted families. In the past three years, this local chapter has donated
610 commissary gift cards of $25 each, for a combined value of $15,250! The chapter also
advocates for Wreaths Across America, Bob Hope Village, and other community outreach
projects.
This local chapter is affiliated with the Military Officers Association of America (MOAA), the
largest military officer association in the nation. MOAA currently has nearly 350,000 members
including 63,000 surviving spouses (auxiliary members). Membership in MOAA supports the
National Military Coalition, which coordinates 34 military associations in their efforts to lobby for
legislative action in support of all veterans. Membership in MOAA entitles members to
participate in all national activities and to benefit from all MOAA programs.
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Andrea & Paul McArthur
SUMMER HOME MAINTENANCE CHECKLIST:
By Paul McArthur - Owner: Agape Home Pro
Summer is here, and it is essential to maintain your home to ensure everything is running correctly. Even if your home is brand new or a few years old, it’s vital to check up on it to make sure you and your family can enjoy a safe and stress-free summer.
Start with an Inspection:
The first thing you should do when summer begins is inspect the inside and outside of your home. You should start with the outside by checking for any damage to the structure of your home. Next, check out the plumbing in your home and make sure there aren’t any leaks and everything is draining properly.
Once you’re done with the outside, head inside and inspect there. First, check the electrical system by ensuring everything turns off and on and checking on the outlets in your home.
Finally, check your HVAC system and ensure that your home is cooling correctly. If anything you have inspected has any damage or is not working properly, contact a professional to ensure your home is in the best condition. Sometimes it’s best to leave some things to the professionals, but there’s some maintenance you can do inside and outside your home.
Outside Maintenance:
Even though it is hot outside, it’s still important to do maintenance to keep your house in pristine condition all summer long for you and your family to enjoy.
Preparing for bad weather:
One of the first things you should do when it comes to maintaining the outside of your home is to determine whether your weather screens need to be replaced and if so, replace them. This becomes essential because certain parts of the United States experience more storms than others.
Next, you should make a list of all of your outside furniture so you know what must be put away before a bad storm. You should also talk to your insurance agent about what kind of coverage you have if you experience any weather damage. After the first summer storm rolls through, take time and walk through your property to see if there are any leaks or mold. Make sure to check your gutters and downspouts to ensure that they are draining correctly. By finding any leaks or damage early on, you can fix them before they get worse, preventing further damage and saving you money.
Examine your home:
After preparing your home for bad weather, it is essential to go outside and examine the exterior of your home. Start by seeing if there’s any loose or rotten wood; next, check if there’s any chipped or cracked paint. Finally, check your windows for any leaks. Depending on the extent of the damage to the exterior of your home, you may have to contact a contractor; but remember, it’s cheaper to fix it now than later.
Inside Maintenance:
While maintaining the outside of the home is important, it’s also essential to maintain the inside of your house during the summer to ensure your family stays cool, safe, and comfortable.
Maintaining safety:
One of the first things you should do is check the smoke and carbon monoxide detectors. You should replace the old batteries with new ones to make sure they’re working. If either of these detectors have batteries inside that are dead, your family will not be alerted in an emergency. So be sure to check all the detectors in your home to keep your family safe.
The cleaning you haven’t thought of:
You likely do cleaning once or twice a week, but there are plenty of places homeowners forget to clean, like your appliances that clean items for you. It’s important to clean your appliances to keep them in good shape. You should clean your garbage disposal by flushing it out with hot water and dish soap. Then you should clean your dishwasher with one cup of vinegar. Place it in the bottom of your empty dishwasher and run the dishwasher with hot water. You should also remove your dishwasher filter and clean it in your sink with dish soap.
While cleaning these appliances, you should go ahead and clean your washing machine and dryer. You can clean your washing machine by running an empty cycle of vinegar and hot water. Finally, you can clean your dryer by vacuuming the inside of it and emptying the dryer vent and exhaust duct. Once you’re done cleaning your appliances, it’s time for them to return to the cleaning.
Even though summer is the perfect time for family fun inside and outside of the home, you must complete some maintenance every summer, not only to keep your home in pristine shape, but also to keep you and your family safe so everyone can enjoy the fun for years to come!
By Paul McArthur - Owner: Agape Home Pro
Summer is here, and it is essential to maintain your home to ensure everything is running correctly. Even if your home is brand new or a few years old, it’s vital to check up on it to make sure you and your family can enjoy a safe and stress-free summer.
Start with an Inspection:
The first thing you should do when summer begins is inspect the inside and outside of your home. You should start with the outside by checking for any damage to the structure of your home. Next, check out the plumbing in your home and make sure there aren’t any leaks and everything is draining properly.
Once you’re done with the outside, head inside and inspect there. First, check the electrical system by ensuring everything turns off and on and checking on the outlets in your home.
Finally, check your HVAC system and ensure that your home is cooling correctly. If anything you have inspected has any damage or is not working properly, contact a professional to ensure your home is in the best condition. Sometimes it’s best to leave some things to the professionals, but there’s some maintenance you can do inside and outside your home.
Outside Maintenance:
Even though it is hot outside, it’s still important to do maintenance to keep your house in pristine condition all summer long for you and your family to enjoy.
Preparing for bad weather:
One of the first things you should do when it comes to maintaining the outside of your home is to determine whether your weather screens need to be replaced and if so, replace them. This becomes essential because certain parts of the United States experience more storms than others.
Next, you should make a list of all of your outside furniture so you know what must be put away before a bad storm. You should also talk to your insurance agent about what kind of coverage you have if you experience any weather damage. After the first summer storm rolls through, take time and walk through your property to see if there are any leaks or mold. Make sure to check your gutters and downspouts to ensure that they are draining correctly. By finding any leaks or damage early on, you can fix them before they get worse, preventing further damage and saving you money.
Examine your home:
After preparing your home for bad weather, it is essential to go outside and examine the exterior of your home. Start by seeing if there’s any loose or rotten wood; next, check if there’s any chipped or cracked paint. Finally, check your windows for any leaks. Depending on the extent of the damage to the exterior of your home, you may have to contact a contractor; but remember, it’s cheaper to fix it now than later.
Inside Maintenance:
While maintaining the outside of the home is important, it’s also essential to maintain the inside of your house during the summer to ensure your family stays cool, safe, and comfortable.
Maintaining safety:
One of the first things you should do is check the smoke and carbon monoxide detectors. You should replace the old batteries with new ones to make sure they’re working. If either of these detectors have batteries inside that are dead, your family will not be alerted in an emergency. So be sure to check all the detectors in your home to keep your family safe.
The cleaning you haven’t thought of:
You likely do cleaning once or twice a week, but there are plenty of places homeowners forget to clean, like your appliances that clean items for you. It’s important to clean your appliances to keep them in good shape. You should clean your garbage disposal by flushing it out with hot water and dish soap. Then you should clean your dishwasher with one cup of vinegar. Place it in the bottom of your empty dishwasher and run the dishwasher with hot water. You should also remove your dishwasher filter and clean it in your sink with dish soap.
While cleaning these appliances, you should go ahead and clean your washing machine and dryer. You can clean your washing machine by running an empty cycle of vinegar and hot water. Finally, you can clean your dryer by vacuuming the inside of it and emptying the dryer vent and exhaust duct. Once you’re done cleaning your appliances, it’s time for them to return to the cleaning.
Even though summer is the perfect time for family fun inside and outside of the home, you must complete some maintenance every summer, not only to keep your home in pristine shape, but also to keep you and your family safe so everyone can enjoy the fun for years to come!
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Daniel Jones
Top 4 Types of Coverage you Need for your Small Business:
by Daniel Jones, Insurance Agent and Owner: Norton Insurance Agency
One of my favorite things about living in a small town with big amenities is the volume and range of small businesses. Every day we have locals calling in to set up their insurance for a new venture. Hearing their creativity, ambition, and entrepreneurial spirit inspires us . I see these business owners setting off with excitement and trepidation just like our kids are doing when we take the training wheels off their bike. By the time you start your business, you’ve already honed your skills and are ready set off. Your hobby and side projects were the training wheels that helped you learn your skills, now it’s time to get into motion.
Before our kids can learn to balance or steer, we teach them about the importance of your helmet and how to fall off your bike properly. Insurance is your helmet when things go wrong and it’s vitally important to your business. Whether you’re just starting out cementing your hobby into a business plan or fine-tuning operations for hundreds of employees, your insurance needs are all going to be different and complex.
Taking the most popular and important questions we encounter; we’ve summarized the types of coverages you should consider when starting a business. There are four main types of insurance we recommend when you are just starting out:
Professional Liability is coverage for things you say or advise rather than the more physical operations covered under General Liability. Typically, this is a primary coverage for professionals like engineers, realtors, directors & officers, accountants, insurance agents, lawyers, doctors, etc. It is usually quite specialized and tailored to your field, something you want specially fitted to you and not something you want to buy off the shelf.
We recommend getting one million in coverage starting out, this is usually the sweet spot for value where premium amount and coverage meet.
Workers Compensation covers accidents that happen to you or your employees while on the job with; common incidents involve motor vehicles, falls, cuts, and back strain. If you start off as a one-man/woman operation, Workers Comp may feel like an unnecessary expense. Luckily, depending on your trade and how you set up your business (LLC, Corp, Sole Proprietor) you can exempt yourself from this coverage and save on premium. Businesses can additionally exempt up to four co-owners if they have at least 10% share in the business. In Florida, non-construction industries don’t require Workers Compensation until you exceed three employees, and many are tempted to avoid getting this customer. We recommend getting this coverage no matter your company size because the average workers compensation claim costs around $40,000, a hefty burden for small businesses to bear. Workers comp companies also act as your advocate in workplace safety and training, providing materials and resources to assist you.
Life Insurance and disability coverage are important for your family in the event of death or an accident that renders you unable to provide an income for your family. Many large employers provide this to employees but once you go out on your own it now falls on you to provide this security to your family. No one likes to think about that situation, but it’s even more unbearable to think about your family not having the income to provide for their needs. We generally recommend starting at around $1 Million for business owner but even a small $50,000 policy would be enough to cover burial expenses.
Business Auto seems to be a gray area when you’re just starting out. If your car is registered and owned in the business name, it’s time to switch it over to a Business Auto Policy. If you use your personal vehicle for work, be sure to add “business use” on your personal policy. If it has logos on the side, job materials in the back, and an employee or client in the passenger seat, you’re probably better off moving it to a business policy.
With these coverages acting as padding for the pitfalls of business ownership, you’ll be riding down the path of success. Once you’ve mastered the startup business, you’ll move up to a more specialized operation. Like a twelve-speed bike on Hwy 98, your business will encounter new risks, but also greater speed and momentum. If you’re smart and driven enough, like an electric bike, you can advance further to a business that can traverse a vast country. The categories of middle and large sized businesses will each require new and additional sets of coverages that will help with your long-term speed and efficiency. We’ll get into these unique coverages in the next edition of the Destinites newsletter.
by Daniel Jones, Insurance Agent and Owner: Norton Insurance Agency
One of my favorite things about living in a small town with big amenities is the volume and range of small businesses. Every day we have locals calling in to set up their insurance for a new venture. Hearing their creativity, ambition, and entrepreneurial spirit inspires us . I see these business owners setting off with excitement and trepidation just like our kids are doing when we take the training wheels off their bike. By the time you start your business, you’ve already honed your skills and are ready set off. Your hobby and side projects were the training wheels that helped you learn your skills, now it’s time to get into motion.
Before our kids can learn to balance or steer, we teach them about the importance of your helmet and how to fall off your bike properly. Insurance is your helmet when things go wrong and it’s vitally important to your business. Whether you’re just starting out cementing your hobby into a business plan or fine-tuning operations for hundreds of employees, your insurance needs are all going to be different and complex.
Taking the most popular and important questions we encounter; we’ve summarized the types of coverages you should consider when starting a business. There are four main types of insurance we recommend when you are just starting out:
- General Liability or Professional Liability
- Workers Compensation
- Life Insurance
- Business Auto Insurance
Professional Liability is coverage for things you say or advise rather than the more physical operations covered under General Liability. Typically, this is a primary coverage for professionals like engineers, realtors, directors & officers, accountants, insurance agents, lawyers, doctors, etc. It is usually quite specialized and tailored to your field, something you want specially fitted to you and not something you want to buy off the shelf.
We recommend getting one million in coverage starting out, this is usually the sweet spot for value where premium amount and coverage meet.
Workers Compensation covers accidents that happen to you or your employees while on the job with; common incidents involve motor vehicles, falls, cuts, and back strain. If you start off as a one-man/woman operation, Workers Comp may feel like an unnecessary expense. Luckily, depending on your trade and how you set up your business (LLC, Corp, Sole Proprietor) you can exempt yourself from this coverage and save on premium. Businesses can additionally exempt up to four co-owners if they have at least 10% share in the business. In Florida, non-construction industries don’t require Workers Compensation until you exceed three employees, and many are tempted to avoid getting this customer. We recommend getting this coverage no matter your company size because the average workers compensation claim costs around $40,000, a hefty burden for small businesses to bear. Workers comp companies also act as your advocate in workplace safety and training, providing materials and resources to assist you.
Life Insurance and disability coverage are important for your family in the event of death or an accident that renders you unable to provide an income for your family. Many large employers provide this to employees but once you go out on your own it now falls on you to provide this security to your family. No one likes to think about that situation, but it’s even more unbearable to think about your family not having the income to provide for their needs. We generally recommend starting at around $1 Million for business owner but even a small $50,000 policy would be enough to cover burial expenses.
Business Auto seems to be a gray area when you’re just starting out. If your car is registered and owned in the business name, it’s time to switch it over to a Business Auto Policy. If you use your personal vehicle for work, be sure to add “business use” on your personal policy. If it has logos on the side, job materials in the back, and an employee or client in the passenger seat, you’re probably better off moving it to a business policy.
With these coverages acting as padding for the pitfalls of business ownership, you’ll be riding down the path of success. Once you’ve mastered the startup business, you’ll move up to a more specialized operation. Like a twelve-speed bike on Hwy 98, your business will encounter new risks, but also greater speed and momentum. If you’re smart and driven enough, like an electric bike, you can advance further to a business that can traverse a vast country. The categories of middle and large sized businesses will each require new and additional sets of coverages that will help with your long-term speed and efficiency. We’ll get into these unique coverages in the next edition of the Destinites newsletter.
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Jessica Fricke
Travel Is Tricky - Get Insurance!
by Jessica Fricke Independent Travel Advisor with Travelmation
Before the most recent pandemic, travel insurance was often considered an unnecessary expense. But man, oh man, how things have changed! When setting a budget for your travel, it is strongly encouraged that you include the cost of travel protection in that final number. Let’s explore a few of the reasons why.
Unexpected medical expenses – Many people wrongly assume that their primary health insurance will cover them during their travels as well, but this often is NOT the case. In fact, very few US based health insurance plans provide coverage when you travel overseas. Travel insurance provides coverage for many unexpected medical issues that may arise during your journey. Things like gastrointestinal issues, ambulance visits, slip and falls, dental issues, and more can lead to very, very expensive medical bills in a foreign county, but travel insurance will typically pay reasonable and customary charges for these and other services. This alone makes the minimal cost worth it for many!
Trip cancellation coverage – Before 2020, it was often relatively easy to cancel and/or rebook a scheduled trip; however, that is no longer the case. Cancellation policies have tightened and penalties for trip changes can often be extreme. Travel insurance can provide protection in these situations, offering “cancel for any reason” protection.
Emergency Evacuation and Transport – No one wants to think of all the things that could go horribly wrong when traveling, but with medical evacuation and transport services costing anywhere from $10,000 – $200,000+, this is a possibility you want to be prepared for. These services are typically included in travel protection plans or can be added for a small, additional cost.
Lost/stolen baggage and trip delay – Again, one of the not-so-fun, but very possible outcomes of traveling, especially when traveling overseas. Thankfully travel insurance can help offset any losses occurred from airline cancellations or lost baggage.
Travel insurance – don’t get caught without it! Reach out to your Travel Advisor for a quote today.
by Jessica Fricke Independent Travel Advisor with Travelmation
Before the most recent pandemic, travel insurance was often considered an unnecessary expense. But man, oh man, how things have changed! When setting a budget for your travel, it is strongly encouraged that you include the cost of travel protection in that final number. Let’s explore a few of the reasons why.
Unexpected medical expenses – Many people wrongly assume that their primary health insurance will cover them during their travels as well, but this often is NOT the case. In fact, very few US based health insurance plans provide coverage when you travel overseas. Travel insurance provides coverage for many unexpected medical issues that may arise during your journey. Things like gastrointestinal issues, ambulance visits, slip and falls, dental issues, and more can lead to very, very expensive medical bills in a foreign county, but travel insurance will typically pay reasonable and customary charges for these and other services. This alone makes the minimal cost worth it for many!
Trip cancellation coverage – Before 2020, it was often relatively easy to cancel and/or rebook a scheduled trip; however, that is no longer the case. Cancellation policies have tightened and penalties for trip changes can often be extreme. Travel insurance can provide protection in these situations, offering “cancel for any reason” protection.
Emergency Evacuation and Transport – No one wants to think of all the things that could go horribly wrong when traveling, but with medical evacuation and transport services costing anywhere from $10,000 – $200,000+, this is a possibility you want to be prepared for. These services are typically included in travel protection plans or can be added for a small, additional cost.
Lost/stolen baggage and trip delay – Again, one of the not-so-fun, but very possible outcomes of traveling, especially when traveling overseas. Thankfully travel insurance can help offset any losses occurred from airline cancellations or lost baggage.
Travel insurance – don’t get caught without it! Reach out to your Travel Advisor for a quote today.
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Kim Schneider
You Don’t Have to Break the Bank to Love Your Space:
by Kim Schneider owner: Home - Coastal Design by Kim
Like many, there’s probably a space or two in your home that you’d love to
update. A remodel may not be financially feasible right now, yet below are
a few changes you can make throughout your home to revitalize and keep
it feeling fresh.
Paint is the easiest and least expensive way to make a big impact in your
home. Select a color that compliments your furniture and flooring. A light
and airy color will make your space feel larger and brighter.
If you’re not in love with your kitchen cabinets or vanity, consider painting
those too. There are a few products on the market that are made for
painting cabinetry and it’s worth it. If you don’t want to take on that
project, then consider adding new hardware. You’ll be amazed at how
much new handles and knobs can update your space.
Speaking of cabinets, if you’ve got those hard to reach spaces or deep dark
shelves you can replace them with pull-out shelves. It’s a great way to get
organized too.
New throw pillows are a great way to add texture and a pop of color to a
room. Mix and Match your colors and patterns for added interest.
Adding or replacing your existing rug is a game changer. Rugs can add color
and texture to your space. They’re great for anchoring a room and can help
absorb sound too.
There are so many more things we can do to revitalize our space that won’t
break our bank. Selecting the right colors, textures, and sizes are all
important when making your decision. If you need guidance, we’re just a
phone call away.
by Kim Schneider owner: Home - Coastal Design by Kim
Like many, there’s probably a space or two in your home that you’d love to
update. A remodel may not be financially feasible right now, yet below are
a few changes you can make throughout your home to revitalize and keep
it feeling fresh.
Paint is the easiest and least expensive way to make a big impact in your
home. Select a color that compliments your furniture and flooring. A light
and airy color will make your space feel larger and brighter.
If you’re not in love with your kitchen cabinets or vanity, consider painting
those too. There are a few products on the market that are made for
painting cabinetry and it’s worth it. If you don’t want to take on that
project, then consider adding new hardware. You’ll be amazed at how
much new handles and knobs can update your space.
Speaking of cabinets, if you’ve got those hard to reach spaces or deep dark
shelves you can replace them with pull-out shelves. It’s a great way to get
organized too.
New throw pillows are a great way to add texture and a pop of color to a
room. Mix and Match your colors and patterns for added interest.
Adding or replacing your existing rug is a game changer. Rugs can add color
and texture to your space. They’re great for anchoring a room and can help
absorb sound too.
There are so many more things we can do to revitalize our space that won’t
break our bank. Selecting the right colors, textures, and sizes are all
important when making your decision. If you need guidance, we’re just a
phone call away.
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Travel & Day Trips Around Florida
There is a website you might enjoy called, Florida Back Roads Travel. Here is a link to one of their pages where you can find day trips by theme; for example: amusment parks. Check it out! https://www.florida-backroads-travel.com/florida-day-trips-by-theme.html
There is a website you might enjoy called, Florida Back Roads Travel. Here is a link to one of their pages where you can find day trips by theme; for example: amusment parks. Check it out! https://www.florida-backroads-travel.com/florida-day-trips-by-theme.html
Events Calendar
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AREA EVENTS! <-- Please click the picture to view some of our local events for the Destin area. Monthly Calendar. |
AMEN!
Destin City www.cityofdestin.com
Volunteer Opportunites: Posted from the Destin City website at Volunteer Opportunities | Destin, FL - Official Website (cityofdestin.com)
Volunteer Opportunities City Boards/Committees (details)
Volunteer Opportunities City Boards/Committees (details)
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Gotta love it!
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Okaloosa County Master Gardeners: Facebook page https://www.facebook.com/OCMGA
If you want to know what to plant and when, check out this Planting calendar on the OCMGA website. https://www.ocmga.org |
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June at the Destin Library: Click on the picture to be taken to the Library's calendar of events for the month of May. They have some exciting, fun things taking place! I think you just may be surprised at what all goes on there. There is a lot more than just books at that place. Check it out! |
Christian Corner: by Patricia Lee
Psalms 144: 5 and 6 From The Living Bible 1972 version
"Bend down the heavens, Lord, and come. The mountains smoke beneath your touch. Let loose your lightning bolts, your arrows, Lord, upon your enemies and scatter them."
Enemies of the Lord are my enemies and mine are His. Before you lash out or plot revenge towards someone, remember they are a child of God and He loves them no matter if you do or not. He does not look the other way; punishment does come. Yes, He could stop evil from happening in the first place but He doesn't because He gave us free will. The world is full of evil but that doesn't mean there is no recourse. Trust in Him when you are being attacked. He knows best what to do and He will do it. He loves you and will not forget.
Psalms 144: 5 and 6 From The Living Bible 1972 version
"Bend down the heavens, Lord, and come. The mountains smoke beneath your touch. Let loose your lightning bolts, your arrows, Lord, upon your enemies and scatter them."
Enemies of the Lord are my enemies and mine are His. Before you lash out or plot revenge towards someone, remember they are a child of God and He loves them no matter if you do or not. He does not look the other way; punishment does come. Yes, He could stop evil from happening in the first place but He doesn't because He gave us free will. The world is full of evil but that doesn't mean there is no recourse. Trust in Him when you are being attacked. He knows best what to do and He will do it. He loves you and will not forget.
No part of this website or newsletter may copied or reproduced in any way without expressed written consent of the owner. Destinites is a legally registered name with logo copyright and TM. All rights reserved 2023.
Website Est. 2018
Newsletter Est. Dec. 2021