Huron Expositor, 2001-07-25, Page 3News
TMs N%MOII EXPOSITOR, July ss, 2001-3
Scott Hilgendorff photos
Aya Shimamura of Japan
demonstrates how to ride a
unicycle while Ben Shepherd
gives one a try. Below,
Andrea Murray spears ar
Japanese-style pancake with
a chop stick as an easier way
to eat. The families who are
hosting young Japanese
visitors this week and next
were treated to a traditional
Japanese meal at the Agri-
Plex on Sunday afternoon.
HURON
MASSAGE
THERAPY
CLINIC
Janis* Lavoie,
B.Sc; >ttl+rr
For appt. Thurs. Fri. & Sat. call
527-0780
Total Image II
LAWN
QUESTIONS?
Call...
524-2424'
,{1Red!•i8n�
MUSEUM TOURS
DURING MOONLIGHT MADNESS
Friday, July 27, 6 pm - 9 pm
P.
OFJL.Y
10"
-Everyone Welcome -
ADMISSION...
DONATIONS ONLY
"Celebrate our History!"
Seaforth Museum
Located in the Seaforth Town Hall (Upstairs)
BAYFIELD
PREMIER CRAFT SHOW
Saturday, Aug. 11
Sunday, Aug. 12
10 a.m. -4:00 p.m.
RESORT ONE
(Hwy. 21 South)
No Admission Charge!
LOTS OF FREE PARKING
1-800-214-5855
)r Everyone!
For real peace of mind,
look t r this symbol of protection.
McKillop Mutual celebrates 125th anniversary
By SusanHunderrtmork including $1,000 on the Karn.
$200 on a wing of the Karn.
$100 on the house and 51.700
on contents - cost the
policyholder 532 a year. or
$1 per $100 of insurance.
In comparison. today's
policyholders usually pay
only 25 to 35 cents per 5100
of insurance. even with the
typical farm covered by
$500,000 to 53 million in
insurance.
Jones says at 1 91 5
standards. a farm valued at
$500,000 would cost 55.000
a year to insure while actual
costs are more like 51.500 a
year.
"The lower rates are
because of competitive forces
and the way the industry has
evolved," he says.
McKillop Mutual
celebrated its 125 anniversary -
recently with a local dinner
dance.
Expositor Staff
While McKillop Mutual
Insurance was formed 125
years ago mainly to respond
to the possible catastrophe of
a barn fire, it now insures the
agricultural community for
any occurrence from
collapsed barn roofs to
environmental disaster.
"We started out with the
basic perils of fire and
lightning but now we have
coverage for anything," says
manager Ken Jones.
The non-profit company
was formed in 1876, two
years before the
incorporation of the town of
Seaforth. After a meeting at
the Commercial Hotel, the
company agreed to have five
representatives in each of the
townships of McKillop,
Tuckersmith and Hullett.
At its first annual meeting,
the company had 400
members with insurance
totalling $462,545 and a
membership fee of $1.50 was
"sufficient to pay the salaries
of all the officials and
expenses connected with the
company and leave a balance
of a good sum in the
treasury."
While the members and
board of directors have
mostly been farmers, the
insurance coverage gradually
expanded to house,
commercial and then auto
insurance with customers
including town residents and
businesses.
The word "fire" was
removed from the cotripany's
name in 1980 to reflect the
other lines of insurance
offered by McKillop Mutual.
The company's two worst
years were 1971 when losses
from 12 barn fires were more
than 200 per cent of the
premium income and the
Susan Hundertmark photo
Ken Jones with historic McKillop Mutual Insurance documents.
company had a net loss of
$8,908 and last year in 2000
when the loss from sewer
back-up claims after two big.
storms exceeded the
investment income by
$117,335.
"Other than last year, 1971
was the only time we had to
go into the surplus to cover
losses. Fortunately the good
years have outnumbered the
bad years and the company is
in a very strong financial
position as we embark into
the 21 th century," says Jones.
The members' surplus has
grown from $607,553 in
McKillop Mutual's
centennial year in 1976 to a
current $5.4 million.
Jones says the large size of
today's farms, along with
growing concern for
environmental issues are the
biggest challenges facing the
company since it continues to
serve a rural community.
"Modern farms are getting
larger and larger and the new
structures are so huge that we
have to make sure the roofing
is sound," he says, adding
that McKillop did not have
any claims last winter when
several local barns had roofs
collapse.
And, because farms are
becoming such big business,
McKillop Mutual is
experiencing more
competition from stock
companies to provide
insurance.
He says the large number
of homes still heated by oil
also causes environmental
concerns since any leaks
from the tanks can create
expensive pollution
problems, especially if leaks
aren't caught within the first
48 hours.
The company now offers
up to $1 million in pollution
coverage.
However, when compared
with policies of the early
1900s, Jones says customers
are actually charged less for
the insurance they receive
today.
A 1915 policy for $3,20f)
in insurance over four years -
We provide insurance protection that lets you sleep at night. That's
because the collective strength of our 50 community based mutual
insurers makes us among the most financially secure insurance networks
in the world.
For you, it means friendly knowledgeable service from people who
understand your needs and provide the protection and service you want.
393-64021e /l�ulaedi wruYz�ao w•wrra y ,.
1-800-263-1961 A Member Of The A'
Ontario Mutual Insurance Association
Call
LYNDA VINCENT
at 527-2204
.415„4,./g,„,„„„.,w or toll free
1-888-269-0377
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WE ALSO MANUFACTURE UMRRFI.I AS. REPI.ACFMFt1T CUSHIONS R FIIRNITURE COVERS
FRIDAY, JULY 27