The Passing of a Legend – John Wooden

This weekend we lost a great human being in John Wooden.  At age 99, he passed of natural causes and left a legacy that shall remain for ages.  Known for creating and living daily the “Pyramid of Success”, he taught thousands to become better husbands, wives, family members, friends, citizens and human beings, in general.

“Success is a peace of mind which is a direct result of self satisfaction in knowing you made the effort to do the best of which you are capable.” – John Wooden

This statement wraps up a mantra from his pyramid whcih contains words like love, enthusiasm, team spirit, cooperation, initiative, skill, loyalty, friendship, self control and other important values.  If you haven’t seen or studied his background, you can find the link to the pyramid below or click here to go directly to the Official John Wooden site:  http://www.coachwooden.com/pyramidpdf.pdf

As our world and economy is changing so quickly and drastically, there is an irony of the life lessons that were an integral part of this man’s life has and will continue to mold leaders in our communities.  Reach out to his website and study the lessons in leadership and life skills.  Begin touching those around you in a positive manner and display your enthusiasm for life and opportunities for success even in the face of adversity. 

Take the opportunity and begin making a difference to those around you, one thought, one statement and one action at a time……and by the way, John Wooden was also a very good basketball coach.

JWoden-pyramidpdf.pdf (3.56 mb)

Automatic IRAs to be presented by President Obama

http://eba.benefitnews.com/news/obama-to-propose-automatic-iras-2682876-1.html?ET=ebabenefitnews:e521:1823469a:&st=email

This to be expanded on this evening from President Obama. Great concept but who controls the money? If private and participants can choose their individual investment provider, how much effort will fall in the hands of the employer, once again, to comply with submission of contribution. Sounds like their could be additional labor & liability involved.

Stay tuned!!

The Sun Shined Bright on My Old Kentucky Home — for 48 hours!!”

http://sports.espn.go.com/ncb/recap?gameId=300262579

As an avid Kentucky Basketball fan, I saw the bright ball of fire in the sky for approximately 48 hours as the youthful bunch of Calipari Cagers danced atop the ratings of college basketball. As Pat Forde of ESPN stated, my index finger has been underutilized since the 2003 season.

My hat’s off to one Devan Downey, who at 5’9″ tall played giant killer and led South Carolina to a great victory in front of their home fans.

March Madness is on it’s merry way and I can’t wait!!

Back to work in Lexington but still enjoying the ride!!

COBRA subsidy extended

 

Congress Extends COBRA

On December 19, President Obama signed legislation extending the eligibility period for the Consolidated Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act (COBRA) premium reduction through February 28, 2010 — an additional two months — and the maximum period for receiving the subsidy for an additional six months. “Millions of unemployed Americans and their families will be better able to afford and keep their health benefit coverage because of this new law,” said Assistant Secretary of the Employee Benefits Security Administration Phyllis C. Borzi. “However, it is critical that individuals that feel they are eligible for the additional premium subsidy continue to pay 35 percent of premiums to retain their right to the extended subsidy, even if they have not yet received notice from their employers about the extension.”

For additional information from the Department of Labor:

  http://www.dol.gov/ebsa/cobra.html

COBRA Subsidy update – ARRA extension up for debate.

The House will consider the COBRA subsidy expansion as part of the House Amendment to the Senate Amendment to H.R. 3326 – Department of Defense Appropriations Act, 2010.
If enacted in its current form, the provision would:
a) Change the end date of eligibility for the ARRA subsidy from December 31, 2009 to February 28, 2010;
b) Expand the ARRA premium subsidy to 15 months (increased from current 9 months);
c) Allow a period for the retroactive payment of premiums for assistance eligible individuals (i.e., individuals who were entitled to the subsidy) whose subsidy period expired on November 30th and who failed to pay their premium for December coverage. The retroactive period is 60 days, commencing with the enactment of the provision or, if later, 30 days after provision of the Notice described in d below. The same refund/credit rules under the original bill apply to any AEI whose subsidy expired in November and who have since paid the full COBRA premium.
d) Require a special Notice to all assistance eligible individuals who are on COBRA on or after November 1st or whose qualifying event is a termination of employment occurring on or after November 1st, describing the new 15 month premium subsidy. Note: Going forward most administrators will incorporate this additional notice in their standard COBRA package; and
e) Address an issue with regard to the original subsidy (i.e., both the qualifying event and the 18 month COBRA period must commence prior to the original sunset date of December 31st) by conditioning eligibility for the COBRA subsidy only on a qualifying event that is the involuntary termination of employment occurring on or before the new February 28, 2010 sunset date, without regard to when the COBRA coverage period begins. Thus, for employers providing subsidized coverage that defers the COBRA start date, the 15 month period (which is applicable only to the COBRA period) may not commence until well into the future.

Postive Attitude – Keeping your eye on the ball.

This has been a particularly tough year for many individuals, business owners and professionals.  The economy has struggled, we are at war with many outstanding decisions, health care reform is looming, the banking and automobile industries are in turmoil, heck, even Tiger Woods is wishing for 2009 to go away.

As the mainstream media beats us daily with negative information and dismal news stories, we need to keep our eye on the ball.  This weekend, I was fortunate enough to be in a fellowship group that opened with a song from Chris Rice entitled “Life Means So Much”.  A verse in the song jumped out at a number of us and it is worth sharing.  The lyrics of the verse are:

“Every day is a bank account
And time is our currency
So nobody’s rich, nobody’s poor
We get 24 hours each
So how are you gonna spend
Will you invest, or squander
Try to get ahead
Or help someone who’s under”

The rest of the song also has significant meaning but as we head into the holiday season, let’s make sure we put a larger filter in our minds to eliminate the negative thoughts and shift to the positive.  The majority of folks want and thrive to be surrounded by positive people.

Given our time is the common currency, those born on February 25, 1965 (my birthday), have accumulated:

 –15,983 days (including leap years)

– 383,592 hours

–23,015,520 minutes. 

Over 23 million minutes!!  How many of those have been positive, negative or even neutral?  I’ve spent incorrectly much too often and need to change my habits.  Think about your account ……

What are you doing with your time?  Are you investing or squandering with those around you?  Can you install a better filter for your thoughts and statements?  Are you spending your currency wisely?  What changes, if even little, can you make in your daily life to positively affect someone around you?

If you’ve read this far, my guess is you are a positive thinker.  Let’s remember the reason for the season and pass the attiude forward.  A smile is free and “Thank you’s” come cheap, start to share more of both.

Take care and Happy Holidays!

Abraham Lincoln’s Thanksgiving Proclamation

If you’ve never had the opportunity, take time to read the declaration of the holiday by Abraham Lincoln.  A brilliant man!

Abraham Lincoln’s Thanksgiving Proclamation
(from the collection of Lincoln’s papers in the Library of America series, Vol II, pp. 520-521).

The year that is drawing towards its close, has been filled with the blessings of fruitful fields and healthful skies. To these bounties, which are so constantly enjoyed that we are prone to forget the source from which they come, others have been added, which are of so extraordinary a nature, that they cannot fail to penetrate and soften even the heart which is habitually insensible to the ever watchful providence of Almighty God. In the midst of a civil war of unequalled magnitude and severity, which has sometimes seemed to foreign States to invite and to provoke their aggression, peace has been preserved with all nations, order has been maintained, the laws have been respected and obeyed, and harmony has prevailed everywhere except in the theatre of military conflict; while that theatre has been greatly contracted by the advancing armies and navies of the Union. Needful diversions of wealth and of strength from the fields of peaceful industry to the national defence, have not arrested the plough, the shuttle, or the ship; the axe had enlarged the borders of our settlements, and the mines, as well of iron and coal as of the precious metals, have yielded even more abundantly than heretofore. Population has steadily increased, notwithstanding the waste that has been made in the camp, the siege and the battle-field; and the country, rejoicing in the consciousness of augmented strength and vigor, is permitted to expect continuance of years with large increase of freedom. No human counsel hath devised nor hath any mortal hand worked out these great things. They are the gracious gifts of the Most High God, who, while dealing with us in anger for our sins, hath nevertheless remembered mercy. It has seemed to me fit and proper that they should be solemnly, reverently and gratefully acknowledged as with one heart and voice by the whole American People. I do therefore invite my fellow citizens in every part of the United States, and also those who are at sea and those who are sojourning in foreign lands, to set apart and observe the last Thursday of November next, as a day of Thanksgiving and Praise to our beneficent Father who dwelleth in the Heavens. And I recommend to them that while offering up the ascriptions justly due to Him for such singular deliverances and blessings, they do also, with humble penitence for our national perverseness and disobedience, commend to his tender care all those who have become widows, orphans, mourners or sufferers in the lamentable civil strife in which we are unavoidably engaged, and fervently implore the interposition of the Almighty Hand to heal the wounds of the nation and to restore it as soon as may be consistent with the Divine purposes to the full enjoyment of peace, harmony, tranquillity and Union. It is the duty of nations as well as of men to own their dependence upon the overruling power of God; to confess their sins and transgressions in humble sorrow, yet with assured hope that genuine repentance will lead to mercy and pardon; and to recognize the sublime truth, announced in the Holy Scriptures and proven by all history, that those nations are blessed whose God is the Lord.

- Abraham Lincoln’s Thanksgiving Proclamation October 3, 1863

5 New Technologies for Energy

5 New Technologies for Future Energy

A little out of the box thinking here when you think that future energy sources could come in the form of microwave rays from space or growing algae.

Just for fun – check out the bartender!!!

Brad meets Flippy

A good friend took his son, Brad, to Vegas for his 21st.  Imagine what he thought when they sat down for this show.  Enjoy!!

Health Care Reform – “Delay to Pay” concerns voiced

Health Care Reform -Delay to Pay concerns

“I need to get insurance. How much will it cost?’

This article in the NY Times describes an expense to the health care system for those choosing not to cover themselves for health care until care is needed.

For those not on the street receiving the calls, we routinely get the inquiry for individual insurance only to hear the response to current medical conditions as “I’m pregnant and due in 5 months.” or “I need surgery on my (insert body part).”

This is a critical point and our legislative members with voting authority need only pick up a telephone and call their personal insurance agent to the query above. I would love to see the results of that straw poll.

“Delay to Pay” will only lead to higher insurance premiums for all participating in the game daily.