A message from OUR PRESIDENT
Paul Ehlert President & Chief Executive Officer T
S
pring is here and the warmer temperatures, sunshine, and bluebonnets are such a welcoming sight for all of us. Many of our Germania policyholders are still picking up the pieces from a particularly harsh winter. The snow and ice storm in February resulted in the largest winter event Germania has ever experienced. Many of our own employees and our agents endured losses of their own at the hands of Mother Nature. However, this did not stop them from providing responsive and caring claims service – working into the night and over the weekends to make sure each policyholder filing a claim was contacted and responded to in a timely manner. For those of you who may have experienced hurricanes or flooding, you know that recovery from large weather events, such as this arctic freeze, can take months. We appreciate your patience as we work with you during this time. It has been just over one year since the COVID-19 pandemic caused daily life as we knew it to come to a halt. Group gatherings were minimized or eliminated and virtual communication became more relevant than ever before. With COVID-19 still posing a risk, Germania has asked our agency partners to host their annual local chapter meetings virtually or by teleconference. A mainstay of Germania over the years has been our policyholders getting together in April for our annual membership meetings. I know most of us would have preferred meeting in person this year. I understand this is a significant shift in Germania’s culture of personal interaction among members and agents and may not be the most accessible option for all our policyholders. However, our foremost interest is to protect the health and well-being of our agents and policyholders.
We will also continue to hold our Board of Directors election via mail or online. Ballots were mailed March 25, and you may cast your vote either by return mail or online during the month of April. This is your chance to have a voice in the organization! Farm mutual insurance companies are unique and collaborative, so we rely on your input on who will provide direction and oversight for the company. April is a big month at Germania with Local Chapter meetings and Director Elections, but I am ready to get outside and soak up the sunshine this spring. In this issue, we have put together the ultimate Texas bluebonnet roadmap that will take you on a tour through many gorgeous towns, including our very own Brenham, Texas. Don’t forget to tag us in your bluebonnet pictures on social media. I can’t wait to see the many photos of our beautiful state flower on my newsfeed. Also in this issue, we are breaking down any questions you may have about umbrella insurance. Umbrella coverage is particularly important to have if you have certain risks, such as teenage drivers, own rental property, or a swimming pool, and can be a true safety net if you find yourself in a litigious situation. Germania has recently transformed its umbrella insurance products, and we look forward to helping you cover any needs not being met by your personal liability insurance. I feel blessed to have received my COVID-19 vaccine this spring and look forward to returning to more pre- pandemic activities this year. Don’t forget to pencil in a few important dates on behalf of Germania this spring and get outside and enjoy the sunshine!
Spring 2021 | 3
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