| Author |
Message |
Linda (Linda)
| | Posted on Wednesday, July 19, 2000 - 12:52 am: | |
Oops, sorry, I meant Russ Lott. |
Linda (Linda)
| | Posted on Wednesday, July 19, 2000 - 12:28 am: | |
I'm not too sure if I am supposed to be humbled at being voted a member or frightened for fear my name will appear. But, being the brave soul that I am, I have chosen to be humbled by this "honor" (I think).
The next time my fellow IAPA members are called to duty in a foreign land, I may just go along with a purse full of good old U.S. green backs and open shop as a loan officer.
If Bob Curren had called this meeting a few weeks earlier, he would have had a captive audience (most of us) there in Illinois. A great opportunity missed.
Ah, such is the life of an adjuster. Never in the right place at the right time.
I feel honored to be counted among you (I think) and I also think I can manage to provide the refreshments. But Russ Doe is going to have to choose the location.
I have neither taken offense nor felt harrassed. If I could remember how to curtsey without falling on my face, I would but in that absence--
My compliments Gentlemen. |
Jim (Jim)
| | Posted on Tuesday, July 18, 2000 - 10:43 pm: | |
By the authority vested in me by the Royal Canadian Mounted Police~Rene Prefontaine Battalion, the Canadian Order of Bridge Burners & Village Blasters and Her Majesty, Elizabeth, Queen of our Motherland, I hereby declare Linda Asberry to be a full fledged Member in Good Standing of the IAPA. Of course, after the IAPA secret induction, she may be the only one left standing. This seeing as how BC Bob, Watermelon Man, and HO Lott insist on having the IAPA inductions in the nearest watering hole which serves cold Canadian malt products.
As the IAPA Keeper of the Golden Ballot Box, I have counted the secret ballots and the "ayes" have it. (As a side note, we have learned to never let the Canadians count anything).
Linda, welcome aboard. You may not want to tell anyone about your IAPA membership if you want your name and reputation left unblemished.
Just in case you are wondering what you have now joined, this ragtag bunch is also known as the International Association of Professional Adjusters or as we more affectionately call it, the IAPA.
Of course, do not take offense nor deem it sexual harassment, but when we are together assembled, we more informally address each other as HO'S.
The current list of IAPA HO Members is as follows:
John Ronk
Russ Lott
"BC Bob" Curren
John Nichols
Curtis Overby
Carlton Steubing
Roy Cupps
Linda Asberry
Pierre Godin
Pardeep Sidhu
Marty Paradis
Ken Remington (the JF of Canada)
Jim Flynt |
Bcbob (Bcbob)
| | Posted on Tuesday, July 18, 2000 - 10:35 pm: | |
Only if she worked Montreal and/or has the endorsement of a majority of members or supplies some Molsons or Labatts at the next IAPA general meeting to be held in central Il at the convenience of the esteemed VP of membership. |
Russ (Russ)
| | Posted on Tuesday, July 18, 2000 - 10:01 pm: | |
Now how can we induct Linda into the IAPA? |
Jim (Jim)
| | Posted on Tuesday, July 18, 2000 - 9:54 pm: | |
Ok Linda, since Russ is being shy as well as coy, it behooves me then to share this story.
First of all, there were 6 American adjusters who went to Montreal to work the 1998 Quebec Ice Storm with a large Canadian vendor.
This particular Canadian vendor paid us our first paycheck 9 weeks after we got there.
Next, banking in Canada is quite different than in the US. The banks there are open (maybe) from 10AM until 3PM. Once we got our paychecks drawn on one of the larger Canadian banks, we still had a major problem cashing them up there. Finally, after enough "bitchin" we were able to, but only after paying a $5.00 check cashing fee and providing enough identification to pass a Top Secret Nuclear clearance. Needless to say it was frustrating.
I tell you this only as a backdrop for the story.
Some one of the 6 American adjusters somehow was able to hang on to one American Hundred Dollar bill. From time to time, each and every one of us was "broke" and needed a short term loan until we either got a per diem check (which was modest at best) or a paycheck.
So what happened was that I borrowed a hundred from Russ. A few days later when I went to pay Russ back, he told me to just give the money to John Nichols as he (Russ) had borrowed a hundred from John. When I chased John down, he told me that he had had to borrow a hundred from John Ronk and to just give it back to Ronk. Of course when I found Ronk, he passed me along to Carlton Steubing who had loaned him a hundred. When I finally caught up with Carlton, there was no problem. The buck stopped with Carlton so to speak. As everyone who knows Carlton is aware, he still has the first nickle he ever made.
THAT is the story. |
Linda (Linda)
| | Posted on Tuesday, July 18, 2000 - 7:07 pm: | |
OK, once more, what is the story about the $100 dollar bill???
Russ????? Jim????? |
Tom Weems
| | Posted on Sunday, July 16, 2000 - 12:41 pm: | |
Actually I enjoyed the Montreal Storm of 98. There was more adjusting talent there than on any storm in recent memory. Certainly it was an experience that I will not soon forget. The people up there are very different than we are used to dealing with. "Neighboritus" seems to be universal *LOL*. We went into a difficult situation, did our job and left everyone better than we found them. The carriers were surprised that we write our own estimates, so most of the friction was caused by the local "adjusters" who had been living the life of Rielly up to that point. I would go back without any problem. |
Linda (Linda)
| | Posted on Saturday, July 08, 2000 - 11:41 pm: | |
Okay, either Jim or Russ needs to tell us the rest of the story. |
DaveB
| | Posted on Saturday, July 08, 2000 - 9:45 pm: | |
Dollar Bill?? Thats a story I haven't heard, Russ... |
Linda (Linda)
| | Posted on Saturday, July 08, 2000 - 9:27 am: | |
Okay, Russ, let's hear about that hundred dollar bill. |
Jim (Jim)
| | Posted on Friday, July 07, 2000 - 9:14 pm: | |
Russ, tell everyone about the 1 one hundred dollar bill (American) that got passed around the whole storm from one American adjuster to another.
Thinking about that storm is like reliving a bad dream or better yet, a nightmare. |
Dave (Dave)
| | Posted on Friday, July 07, 2000 - 8:28 pm: | |
Oui Madam,
But of course, and rest assured,the circumsances would be somewhat different than the prior visit. |
Russ (Russ)
| | Posted on Friday, July 07, 2000 - 8:24 pm: | |
Linda, the experience was, to say an experience. If you ever desire to work out of country please heed these lessons we all learned so well.
1. If you are not fluent in the language , make sure the vendor will provide a translator who is also fluent in the language.
2. Make sure that payment is contractural. That is work only under an employment contract, that specifies the cycles of payments and in what currency.
3. Make sure that the vendor provides you with a source that can provide you with cash if an advance is made.
4. How many claims are you going to be working and what is the fee schedule and then translate that into the currency exchange. You will be suprised at how much you will loose in the exchange.
Dave , Jim please add to the list if there is anything I have left out |
Jim (Jim)
| | Posted on Friday, July 07, 2000 - 2:33 pm: | |
Linda to answer your question: To visit YES. To work NO. |
Linda (Linda)
| | Posted on Friday, July 07, 2000 - 11:58 am: | |
Thanks Dave for pointing out to me that I had not read your KATT'S Montreal. I did, however, read it this morning.
Sounds as if the Americans were the necessary evil to them. Having been to Montreal, I realize that even if they CAN speak English, they WON'T. But they will certainly take the American dollars. Seems it was a true test of an adjusters patience and sanity.
However, from the names of the American adjusters who did go, it seems Canada got the cream of the crop. Would you go again? |
Linda (Linda)
| | Posted on Thursday, July 06, 2000 - 9:16 pm: | |
All of you have have mentioned Canada but none of you have told us what was so memorable of your time there. I know two young men who assisted you are now adjusters themselves, but will someone please tell the rest of us what happened?? |
Jim (Jim)
| | Posted on Tuesday, July 04, 2000 - 10:45 am: | |
Tom, Montreal for many was sort of like having sex with a porcupine. We didn't get as much as we wanted, but we got more than we could stand. |
Tom Toll
| | Posted on Monday, July 03, 2000 - 11:55 pm: | |
Actually my wife and I enjoyed the experience in Montreal. Would we go back, no way. I too have flashbacks everytime my knee or arm hurts and they do quite frequently. I fell while working a claim, presented a work comp claim and have been treated sub-human since. Still have problems, but livable. I have never given up on a job, never will, not if I am able to stand and move and think. We enjoyed being somewhere different, but did not like the arrogance of the people, not all, but most. It was a good learning experience though and we don't regret going. |
Russ (Russ)
| | Posted on Tuesday, July 04, 2000 - 7:56 am: | |
Then there were the bonny lasses, what a town, really beautiful women and the beer wasn't too bad either. Marty and Pardeep are keeping the two-four cool.
Bon Jour |
Dave (Dave)
| | Posted on Monday, July 03, 2000 - 4:39 pm: | |
Oui Mousier Jim,
Il est la Bonne voyage, n'est pas?
How come it was a real learning experience for me? Sure we had some difficulties, but we did overcome them, as we do in almost all cases.
Flashbacks do occur to all, especially those involved in the "conflict" IYGMM.
That's the joy of this business, always something new to learn, coupled with differing places, people, faces and the constant contribution to the altruistic values we all seem to possess. ( well those that do will understand)
God speed to all, wherever your next assignment may take you. |
Jim (Jim)
| | Posted on Monday, July 03, 2000 - 2:14 pm: | |
It was a "cruel joke" to remind everyone wasn't it Tom?
Although I think I did hear someone tell me that Dave Hood is now taking French lessons to get ready for the next one!
Oui? |
Tom Weems
| | Posted on Monday, July 03, 2000 - 9:41 am: | |
Most of us that were there are still having flashbacks anyway.... |
Jim (Jim)
| | Posted on Monday, July 03, 2000 - 3:20 am: | |
For those of you who worked in Montreal or Quebec during the 1998 ice storm, perhaps the following website will bring back memories. I discovered it while researching something else.
CNEWS Ice Storm '98 can be found at http://www.canoe.ca/CNEWSIceStorm/home.html |
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