OCTOBER 1 FLU AWARENESS 6 L&L: “IMPORTANCE OF BLOOD DONATION” 8 WELLNESS CULTURE AUDIT 24 & 27 END OF 12 WEEK CHALLENGE MEASUREMENTS 30 HALLOWEEN PARTY NOVEMBER 1 TOBACCO CESSSATION 1 FOOD DRIVE BEGINS2-22 “SHOW ME THE FUNNY” CHALLENGE11 L&L “MENAPAUSE” 18 CELEBRATION SALAD 26 THANKSGIVING

DECEMBER1-18 THANK YOU LUNCHES1-14 GRATITUDE CHALLENGE 3 L&L: “NAVIGATING FOOD IN THE FAST LANE” 16 MASSAGE DAY 16 LUNCH & LAUGH 2 5 CHRISTMAS 31 NEW YEAR’S EVE

The focus I have all the time—every day—is the differentiation of what we do: Personal Lines, Commercial Lines and Group Benefits. This involves identifying, isolat-ing and developing words, behaviors and products that

accelerate the objective to not only promote the strengths of each department, but set The Starr Group apart from and ahead of other agencies.

There are some really cool things happening that are starting to shape and support our culture of “Different”.

1. Just one year of the Culture Index’s use is showing its value in those we hire. We have been interviewing quality candidates and looking to add new people in several positions throughout the agency and our work is paying off as you will soon see.

2. Differentiation with a crescendo is occurring daily with our use of:A. Windsor software in Group Benefits that

allows us to do calculations and accu-rate projections of wellness risks within a company’s population that other agencies simply cannot do.

B. Risk Management Analytics — For many years, I have been following with special interest an influencial person within our industry, and communicating a wish I have held for The Starr Group for a long time re-garding RMA. It has finally happened! Starr is one of only 10 agents in the United States that has this tool right now! This is a big advantage for us and our larger accounts.

Also, the results of our Radio efforts have become rather exciting as of late, as numerous contacts are listening and calling in to our offices. We’ve gotten several good leads from this tried and true marketing avenue.

So, overall good stuff is happening at TSG. It is exciting to see the overall impact of our thinking and strategy. As always, thanks so much to all our staff for your support and caring!

SEPTEMBER 2015

From the President’s desk

A GENTLEMAN’S GAME On July 15th, The Starr Group participated in the 21st Annual NARI Founda-tion Golf Outing. TSG sponsored the second hole once again and this year greeted golfers with a sling-style backpack with goodies and a golf movie trivia challenge. Golfers who donated $10 to the NARI Foundation received a premium golf glove. After dinner, TSG presented a check for $6,326.47 to the foundation . These donations are made possible in conjunc-tion with Frankenmuth Insurance.

Brendt Johannsen, Mark Pohlman and Eric Cormany on the first hole of the 2015 NARI Foundation Golf Outing at Ironwood Golf Course.

Kimina Falkowski patiently awaits the arrival of golfers to TSG tent.

On Sept 22, TSG set up the “LIVE CHAT” feature on its website! CSRs should mention the feature to our customers so staff acclimates to monitoring and routing online customer connections to the appropriate CSR. Exciting public promo-tions of this new feature will be made in the upcoming weeks.

Knowledge is NOT power. I say this because the gap between what we know about

adding years to life and life to our years, about preventing disease and promoting health…and what we do with this knowledge is extremely differ-ent. We’d all love to see a cure for cancer, and Parkinson’s, and type 1 diabetes. In fact, billions of dollars are spent each year attempting to find cures. But in reality, how much sense does it make to pursue answers to these questions while ignoring the answers we already have.

Heart disease, cancer, stroke, diabetes and dementia are leading causes of premature death in the U.S. and the world. What is at the root of all of these diseases? These diseases are, in fact, not the causes but the effects of the actual root causes. Upwards of 80% of these dis-eases are the result of bad use of our feet (not being physically active), our forks (not eating well) and our fingers (holding tobacco products) AND are pre-ventable with lifestyle changes. If we did not use tobacco, ate well and were physically active, we could eradicate up to 80% of all chronic disease in the world today. Sadly our modern culture has failed to turn our knowl-edge into the power of routine actions that could prevent these devastating outcomes.

Your lifestyle is truly your medicine. Dr.

David Katz

From the ViCe President’s desk

compares this to a six cylinder engine where the cylinders are feet (physical activity), forks (diet), fingers (tobacco), sleep (quantity and quality), stress and love (social connections/sense of community). The hectic pace of modern living, the dispersal of family and the increasing reliance on technolo-gy get in the way of maintaining a smooth running engine.

Step one is to use what we know. 8 times in 10 heart attacks, cancer, stroke, diabetes and dementia do not need to happen if we simply used what we already know…and quite frankly have known for decades.

Step two is recognizing that this is not about an anonymous public, it’s about you, and me, and the people we love. This is up close and intensely per-sonal to all of us. It is about bequeathing a healthier lifestyle and world to our children. It is an awareness of how great the potential prize really is.

To make this happen we need to change our culture so

that eating well is the norm, being active is the norm, not using tobacco is the norm, get-ting enough sleep is the norm, a strong sense of community is the norm and mitigating stress is the norm. But…we cannot afford to keep waiting for the world to change because each of us has skin in the game NOW. We need to apply what we al-ready know and begin by want-ing to be healthy and vital and to share this with the people we love. This involves willpower and “skillpower” because, as we know from experience, wanting something and knowing how to implement it are two very different things.

The Starr Group’s Wellness Program, Fit4Life, is here to help provide you with the necessary knowledge or “skillpower” and to help you turn what you know into what you do. In the words of Abraham Lincoln: “the best way to predict the future is to create it”.[Excerpts from an expert inter-view with Dr. David Katz]

Ho! Ho! Om... It can get busy and stressful during the

Holiday season and it may be difficult to find a little extra time just for

you. TSG appreciates the hard work and tremendous efforts each employee exhibits all year

long. Therefore, we are bringing back our “THANK YOU LUNCHES”!

“Thank You Lunches” allow each employee to add an extra hour to one of your lunch hours each week.

Beginning Tuesday, December 1st, and continu-ing through Friday, December 18th, one hour may be taken directly before or directly after the current lunch time. We hope this will give you a little extra shopping, errand or relaxation time during a busy Holiday season. Please note, you may also use this hour to do your online shopping in-house on your computer! Its our way to say “Thank You for your loyalty, hard work and commitment during the year”. So plan ahead and may your holiday truly be a season of be peace!

Each time a client compliments a Starr Group employee, $5.00 is placed into Charity Kitty on their behalf. At year’s end, these funds are totaled, doubled by TSG, and is donated to The Boys and Girls Clubs of Greater Milwaukee. This quarter, half of TSG staff received Kudos from clients, prospects and business associates --some made the list for the first time--and brought in $100! To date in 2015, TSG has collected $165. Thanks to each of you for providing exceptional service to our customers! Keep those compliments coming!

Every Friday TSG employees may participate in Casual Day for a Cause by contributing $2.00 to the Charity Kitty maintained by the Best of the Best Committee. These funds are collected by the Receptionist and distributed to a chosen charity at the end of each Quarter. In 2015, the funds are being donated to the following causes:

Q1 Variety Children’s Charity of Wisconsin - $256

Q2 Midwest Theraputic Riding Program - $214

Q3 AHA Milwaukee Heartwalk - $392 (+ $500 donation!)

Q4 The Hope House -

FEET

FORKS

FINGERSSLEEP

LOVE

STRESS

From the VP-oPerAtions’ deskMuch is going on as TSG continues to monitor the workload of our service

staff. We listened and understood additional help was needed. We welcome our newest hires Tasha Greene and Valeria Dewall in Commercial and Group Benefits respectively. Both ladies are being brought in as Account Coordinators which means they will assist Ac-count Managers and Sales Execu-tives in the daily operations of our CL

and GB departments. We will help them reach their goals of obtaining their licenses, as well as equip them with knowledge to deliver working solutions and positive outcomes for our customers. They will master various carrier coverage options and use of carrier websites. We look forward to their success and growth with us. We are excited to announce our newest Group Benefits Account Manager-in-training, Christine Friedbacher. Just after three months with TSG Christine has displayed the willingness and work

ethic to move into this role. She will work side by side with Cindy, gaining knowledge from both her and the Sales Executives to improve her rhythm, speed and efficiency in the delivery of positive outcomes for our GB customers.We can’t say enough about our newest “Director of First Impres-sions.” Alex Kernen has stepped in and learned our systems quickly. While enhancing workflows, she has created a new Stweardship Tracking Spreadsheet...wait until you see it! Welcome, Alex, we are thrilled to have you on board.

OCTOBER 16 TIM STARR

NOVEMBER 3 MARY KURTH

DECEMBER14 CHRISTINE FRIEDBACHER

19 MARY STARR

OCTOBER 8 JOE SOMOGYI

11 KIMINA FALKOWSKI

NOVEMBER17 MARK PIONTEK

26 LINDA STARR WINANS

DECEMBER

Best Dressed EmployeesThere isn’t—but if there were—a regional competition for “Best Dressed Agency”, The Starr Group would win hands down. To keep our staff looking sharp, TSG offers a little known office perk: Dry Cleaning Service. Wolf’s Dry Cleaning & Laundry is available to keep those sales suits and dresses looking fresh and new. Wolf provides exclusive monthly specials to The Starr Group for services such as dry cleaning, laundry, alterations and repairs. Ask about their cobbler service to prolong the life of your favorite shoes. Pick up and delivery is done right at our office! Here’s how it works: 4Completely fill out the form located at the reception desk (sam-

ple at right).4Place item(s) in plastic bags found in cabinet across from cubi-

cles of Personal Lines Account Managers.4Attach applicable coupon from monthly email forwarded by

Socorro (see samples below).4Place laundry bags in front closet in Reception area.4Inform Receptionist of the order to be called in to Wolf for pick

up.4Office Pick up and Delivery is every Monday, Wednesday and

Friday.4Special orders may require additional time to process.

Inquire with Wolf Cleaners for specific details.4Wolf Cleaners will send individual billing to your home

address.

Who’s That Girl? TSG welcomed Alexandra Kernen to the staff, August 31. “The last 4 weeks have just flown by! Thank you all for your patience while I’m learning to be your new ‘Director of First Impressions!’ Everyone has been SO welcoming and helpful – it makes my transition much less scary and for that, I’m truly grateful. On a separate note... ‘FIDUCIARY’ has been a really fun word to add to my vocabulary.”

IT’SSHOWTIME! The Starr Group held the second of its two summer cookouts sponsored by its internal Fun Committee. The July 22nd Cookout was themed “Hollywood!” and employees were given the “Red Carpet” treatment as they arrived in the morning.

The “Walk of Fame” displayed the names of each “star” of The Starr Group.

Those in Award-Show finery were treated to a photo op with the Paparazzi. Employees could vote for their favorite “Best Dressed Male and Female.”

A scavenger hunt through-out the office sent movie fans scrambling between meetings for items from 9 movies, and a trivia contest of Famous Movie Quotes tested the most serious cinema buffs who had to fill-in-the-blanks of 18 quotes PLUS name the movie from which they were taken. Steak

with sautéed mushrooms topped the A-List Menu, with Shrimp and Chicken as co-stars. Also appearing were various hors d’oeuvres, chees-es and sausages, and pasta salads, platters of fresh veggies and fruit, with cheesecake petit-fours and a homemade bunt cake for dessert.

During lunch, diners enjoyed a screening of “Gone With the Wind”, and popcorn was available throughout the afternoon for snacking.

Check out The Starr Group Face-book page for more photos from the “screwy, ballyhooey” day!

Ally-OOP! TSG staffers found themselves out-doors again for a fun activity on July 23rd for a make-shift game of “Buckets” -- a lawn “dart” game in which players toss “safety” darts into buckets for points. Terry Weinecke (left) shows off her unique style that won second place for her. Top “tosser” of the day was none other than Mary Kurth.

BOCCE, CAPICE? The Lord has certainly blessed TSG with good weather this summer, allowing the Fun Committee to schedule many outdoor activities. On July 30th, “Bocce Ballers” (left to right) Socor-ro Lococo, Mary Kurth, Maureen Arndt, Terry Weinecke (bowling), Christine Friedbacher and Ericka Berceau compete for “Fun Points”. Ericka brought home the win!

Brendt Ryan Sam Cheryl Cindy Terry

YeeHaw! On August 28th, TSG played “Hillbilly Golf”, swatting at a golf ball with items other than a golf club. Socorro Lococo (above) putters around the bucket with a root from Cheryl’s oak tree. Lasha Torres (above right) “shovels” the ball across the lawn. Cindy Algiers

SOO-EY! In honor of the Wisconsin State Fair, TSG held its “Pig Races” on August 12. At left, Brendt Johannsen speeds down the hall past Ryan Jones. At right, Maureen Arndt and Mark Piontek prepare to race for the coveted Oreo cookies, the incentive the actual piglets race for at the State Fair. Mark was the overall champion and the cook-ies were shared among the staff.

(below) shows everyone how to win with the least amount of strokes using a hockey stick.

Thump! Thump! Sporting custom-designed team shirts, TSG participated in the 2015 Milwaukee Heartwalk on September 20th. It was a beautiful morning for a walk along the Lakefront!

HAVING A BALL TSG staff gathered on the lawn again for the final fun activity of the quarter Sept. 28. Alex Kernen (tossing) and Socorro Lococo (third from right) took 3rd and 2nd place respectively. Winner of the activity was Cheryl Michalek (behind the camera.)

The Starr Group held its annual “Family Picnic” on the palatial “Starr Estate” in Franklin on September 13th. This year, the children spent hours climbing, jumping and sliding through an inflatable Pirate Ship activity. Since it was opening day for the Green Bay Packers football season, a large screen tv was brought outside on the deck for picnickers to enjoy the game. The Packers thrashed the Chicago Bears by a score of 31-23. Speaking of a “thrashing”, the annual Three-Legged Race was won by Ryan Jones’ boys Dominic (age 8) and Jack (age 6). The pair raced past reigning “3LR Champ” Mary Starr and her daughter (and fill-in partner) Eli to take the title. As Mary recalls it with a wink, she would have “clothes-lined” those boys to stop them from winning -- if only they were a little taller! Rumor has it the Jones Brothers trained a year for the annual event. It paid off!

Packers, Jones Bros Win Big at Starr Group Family Picnic

Above, the “S.S. Buccaneer” is shanghaied by the children of TSG employees during the annual Family Picnic. Brendt Johannsen can be seen monitoring the mutiny from inside the ship.

Above, Cheryl Michalek briefly captures the attention of baby Liam with her Green Bay Packers “Spirit Fingers” while proud mama Lasha Torres looks on.

The TSG children dig in the sand for buried treasure. Umm, Brendt, that’s for the kids!

Socorro Lococo with nieces Sierria (l) and Nicole (r) Falkowski, and daughter Veronica (center).

At right, enjoying the Cuban flavors of the catered lunch, are Mark and Amanda Piontek and two of their offspring Andrew and Charlotte, along with Ericka Berceau and her daughter Isabel,

and Ryan Jones’ daughter Lily.