PPL Media Room

The Green Light

“Leaders walk their talk,” Warren Bennis once said.  “In true leaders there is no gap between the theories they espouse and their practice,” he continued.  Right now the importance of “leading with practice” can hardly be over emphasized.  Simply put: leaders grow through the ranks by “practicing what they preach.”  In fact, by leading with practice, the preaching is beside the point.

Here are some examples of Green Light Leadership:

Don Thompson Report – This past week was an “exciting” one in Florida.  For the Super Saturday on August 28, I had the opportunity to broadcast live into 11 different locations in Florida, reaching an estimated 600 attendees, including more than 150 guests.  When combined with other events, more than 450 guests attended Florida events this past week, according to Don.  Here’s a summary on the attendee totals for this Super Saturday event: Fort Lauderdale (109), Orlando (106), Melbourne (78), West Palm Beach (59), Fort Walton Beach (54), Tampa (51), Tallahassee (40), Fort Pierce (40), Jacksonville (25), Fort Myers (25) and Pensacola (16).

Brooks Werkheiser Report – Brooks reports that over the past week, there have been more than 300 associates and almost 50 guests at the briefings he has attended.  In Mississippi news, mini-blitzes are now underway in some of the smaller, rural towns, including Starkville and Carthage.  Not to be outdone, Vivian, Louisiana has also started a mini-blitz led by Russell Jordan.  Little Rock, Arkansas will host a blitz on September 18, where I will be a guest speaker.  In more APT news, Baton Rouge held an event on Saturday, and with 110 attending, it was the largest such event in some time.  Katherine Brame, with provider law firm, Provosty, Sadler, deLaunay, Fiorenza & Sobel, participated in the program.  Brooks congratulates new Arkansas Regional Managers, Larry Hopkins of Pine Bluff and Joel Johnson of Little Rock.  Moving forward, Debbie Mosley will concentrate on her duties as Group Vice President for this market.  For the coming week, Brooks is scheduled to be in Pine Bluff, Arkansas; Montgomery, Alabama and Carthage, Mississippi.

Michael Humes Report – Over the past week, most North East Region markets hosted PBR blitzes with MCMs and Six-Figure Ring earners.  Throughout the month of August, there have been live recruiting calls to generate activity.  On Sunday, Dave Savula was the special guest at a New York City event that attracted 400 people including 70 guests.  On Saturday in upper New York state, Rodney Sommerville of Winston Salem, North Carolina was a special guest for a well attended event.

Rob/Charlene MacKenzie Report – Ontario held 8 briefings this past week with a total of 207 associates attending, including 92 guests.  In Manitoba, there were two meetings with 33 attendees, including five guests.  Although the region’s numbers for recruiting and membership were down slightly for the week, Ontario did rank number seven in recruiting.

Steve Fleming Report – Texas followed up its strong recent APT performance with more events this past weekend.  The Houston APT event attracted more than 200 people and San Antonio had a turnout of 135.  Steve attended the San Antonio event and says that Lynn Ross offered an excellent program for participants.

Jack Bufkin Report – The Tennessee APT this past weekend was a standing room only event with more than 200 participants.  Jack offers congratulations to Michelle and Larry Schulman for orchestrating a great event.

Ken Smith/Patti Ross Report – Chris Hughes of Murrieta, California was the guest speaker at an Edmonton, Alberta event on September 28, which included 70 participants, 10 of whom were guests.  The numbers for Alberta (for the week) are up 19 percent in recruiting and eight percent in production.  The weekly presentation in British Columbia included 40 associates and five guests.  The recruiting in the B.C. province was up more than 16 percent and production was up 33 percent over the same week in 2009.

Hal/Susan Faresh Report – Bill Butkovitch coordinated a successful APT in Las Vegas this past Saturday while Nevada as a whole has shown positive signs of growth over the past few months.  Hal credits RM C.A. Murff with growing the attendance at area meetings and events and his overall leadership in the market.  Hal attended the Las Vegas APT and he says Andrea H. MacDermot of provider law firm Dempsey, Roberts & Smith, offered an excellent presentation to the attending associates. In the Pacific Northwest, associates are working hard to earn the August bonuses and to generate a strong showing at the Leadership Summit in Dallas.

Mark/Tammy Smith Report – Mark was just in Hawaii for a Super Saturday and then in Maine for their special event.  He’ll soon be on his way to Texas for activities leading up to the Leadership Summit.  This past weekend, there was a successful tool blitz in Southern California and the region is focusing on a strong close for the month.  Mark says that over in Houston, Texas there was another week-long recruiting blitz and Dallas is preparing for a huge recruiting blitz involving 70 briefings leading up to the Summit.

Ross/Cindy Chantrel Report – In addition to their regular meeting schedule, there is a new evening meeting in Columbia, Missouri.  Over the past week, Ross’s activity included: a PBR on Monday, a business opportunity meeting in Kansas City on Tuesday, a luncheon in Kansas City on Wednesday, new associate trainings in Emporia and Wichita on Thursday, and a luncheon event in Kansas City on Friday.

Mark Michaud Report – Mark says last Friday’s blitz with Mark Smith included five briefings and training events.  Although the event was held during a weekday, it generated more participation than at all other briefings during the month.  And the blitzes continue.  This week, the plans are to host blitzes at an area Chamber of Commerce.  Mark says plans are underway to host additional blitzes in: Bangor, Augusta and Lewiston.

Kevin Montville Report – New Hampshire held briefings this past week in Manchester with 16 associates and 10 guests and in Portsmouth with 10 associates and three guests.  In addition, there is another New Hampshire blitz scheduled for September 14.

Eddie Peters Report – In the Midland/Odessa area there was a weekly briefing on Tuesday that included five associates and four guests and a Saturday PBR.  In Amarillo, Mark Brown participated in two programs, a briefing that attracted 46 participants and a luncheon event that included 32 participants.

Mike McCoy Report – Mike says that Iowa and Nebraska just held their largest APT to date.  GVP Steve Baker of Eagan, Minnesota provided an excellent presentation.  Mike says Iowa and Nebraska plan to bring in GVPs from throughout the U.S. for future APT events.

Ron/Norma Crutcher Report – “All Ohio luncheons, briefings, sit downs and PBRs are going strong,” according to Ron.  In one event, last week Agar Thomas provided an excellent program in Cleveland.  All eyes are now focusing on Dallas.

Bill/Linda Carter Report – This past week, New Mexico held a statewide PBR patterned after the recent Houston event. Presentations were held hourly from 10:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m.  Bill says the statewide turn-out was excellent.

That’s the report for the week.  As we move ever closer to the 2010 Leadership Summit in Dallas, it’s more important than ever to put action behind our words.  Let’s all “walk the talk” and become better leaders in the process.

Cordially,

Harland C. Stonecipher

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ABOUT THE GREEN LIGHT:  The Green Light is a weekly showcase of activity as reported to the Chairman of the Board of Pre-Paid Legal by successful associates across the United States and Canada. Results vary and depend on skill, persistence, and a variety of factors. This report is for recognition, motivation, and informational purposes only.

More Retirement Funds Being Tapped to Pay Bills

By Stacy Whelchel

A survey by an investment company has found that more people are taking out loans from their retirements savings in order to cover the costs of basic expenses.

A Fox business story details the survey that showed an increasing number of the million of 401(k) plans administered by the company have been the source of more loans in the first part of 2010, compared to a year ago, despite the possibility of stiff tax penalties and interest rates.

Loans considered “hardship” withdrawals also rose and most often were made to prevent home foreclosure or pay college tuition, according to the story. These financial transactions were most common among 35 to 55 years old, which are usually peak earning and savings time as many people prepare for retirement.

The anticipated golden years and the savings put toward retiring are being tarnished by the faltering economy. The dream of a financially sound retirement may now seem impossible to some people, but you know that all faith is not lost because of opportunities available through Pre-Paid Legal.

Anyone who is willing to work and 18 years or older has a chance to succeed and exceed their dreams of where they want to be when they retire. Now is a time to do more than wish for all these things to be; it is a time and a call for action to make these desires a reality.    

Millions of Cyber Attacks a Day

By Aleshia Altizer

We’ve seen in recent years that cybercriminals are no longer just petty hackers; they can also be sophisticated criminals with advanced technology set on breaking into businesses and other entities that house vast amounts of sensitive data.

According to a story from Forbes, many larger companies face security attacks almost daily, but the U.S. Department of Energy receives over 10 million attacks every day. The article states that the attacks vary from simple scans all the way to phishing attacks which try to take over via malicious code. Small numbers of attacks have gotten through, but it appears the sensitive data was kept secure.

For the average person, this should be a huge wake-up call. A large-scale data breach from a retailer, medical facility, or even a government entity that houses your data, could put your private information into the hands of an identity thief. If that happens would you know what to do? With Pre-Paid Legal’s Identity Theft ShieldSM, members receive valuable services from monitoring to restoration by licensed experts, so they don’t have to face this devastating crime alone.

2010 Leadership Summit

After a 10-year run in Las Vegas, Nevada, Pre-Paid Legal Services, Inc. (NYSE: PPD) is moving its 2010 Leadership Summit to the American Airlines Center and the Hyatt Regency in Dallas, Texas on September 9-11.  The corporate event will bring an estimated 10,000 independent PPD associates to the city.  Read More

The Green Light

This past week, we have seen a significant increase in associate participation in our Advanced Product Training (APT) events throughout the U.S. and four provinces of Canada.  These APT events, now in the seventh year of operation, offer a real foundation for success for new and existing associates.  This week, I’m also pleased to announce that Sunny Sun of Marina del Rey, California is our latest Pre-Paid Legal Services $100 K ring earner.

We have a full Green Light, so let’s started:

Hal/Susan Faresh Report – The Advanced Product Training (APT) events this past week in Hal’s region were successful and well attended.  The numbers for the region include: Union City in Northern California (432), Sacramento (231) and Washington (348).  Hal thanks John Long for his participation and excellent presentation at the Sacramento event and Linda Brown for her participation at the Union City event.  This past week, Hal participated in a luncheon in Fresno on Monday, a business briefing in Sacramento on Tuesday, a luncheon in Roseville on Wednesday, a PBR in Vallejo on Thursday, a training session in Sunnyvale on Thursday evening, a PBR in central California on Friday and on Saturday he split his time between the APTs in Sacramento and Union City.

Don Thompson Report – The statewide Super Regional event in Orlando on August 14 attracted 810 people, 743 associates and 67 guests.  Statewide, Advanced Product Training attracted 407 associates.  Over the past week there were business briefings in nearly 20 Florida markets attracting more than 600 associates.

Michael Humes Report – Mike reports record numbers of attendees at APTs throughout the Northeast Region, such as the New Jersey event which attracted 240 associates.  Mike attended this event and heard an excellent presentation by special guest, Mark Brown.  Mike also participated in an event in York, Pennsylvania on Monday night.  Albany, New York just hosted a special recruiting event with John and Tiffaney Malott.  This leads up to an even larger recruiting event on August 29.  This week, MCMs Roy Tatem and Kevin Mack will make presentations in Washington, D.C. and York, Pennsylvania.

Rob/Charlene MacKenzie Report – This past week there were APTs in Winnipeg, Manitoba, where Teresa Woolard presented to 60 associates, and in Toronto, which included approximately 230 attendees.  There was also a Business Owners Legal Solutions Plan (BOLSP) training in Toronto led by Bob and Annice Bale.  Ontario had nine briefings with a total attendance of 246, including 47 guests.  Manitoba held two meetings with a total of 42 participants, including 6 guests.   The numbers for the past week are up 13 percent compared to the same week in 2009.  Rob says the region is also preparing for the September visit by Kathy and Harold Pinson.  More than 200 tickets have been pre-sold for the event.

Darin Kidd Report – The Richmond, Virginia APT included between 275-300 participants and Michael Dorsey of Cummings, Georgia and Fred and Selina Duff of Mechanicsville, Virginia offered excellent presentations.  For the week, Darin is scheduled to be in Lynchburg for a luncheon on Wednesday and for a blitz with three presentations each day.  On August 29, Darin will travel to Dallas, Texas for two weeks, participating in the major blitz campaign.  Following the Dallas Summit, Darin and Virginia RMs are planning a statewide blitz (from Richmond).

Ken Smith/Patti Ross Report – The APTs were successful in both British Columbia (doubling past attendance) and a 20 percent increase in Alberta.  The Vancouver event featured Melanie Lawson and Joe Carangi with provider law firm, Watson, Goepel, Maledy, LLP.  There were 70 participants including 14 guests.  For the past week, production in British Columbia was up 57 percent while recruiting was down slightly from the same week in 2009.  In Alberta, the Calgary and Edmonton events (which Patti conducted via webinar) were both successful.  Edmonton included 39 participants and the Calgary event included 21 associates.  Ken and Patti send thanks to Linda Rasmussen (Edmonton) and Gloria Houghton (Calgary) for facilitating these events.

Steve Fleming Report – Last week, two of four Texas regional APTs were held.  The Dallas/Fort Worth event included 211 participants and the Austin event attracted 136.  This coming week, San Antonio and Houston will hold their APTs.  Steve says the statewide website, www.ppltexas.com has been launched in order to facilitate better communication and provide more practical information.  Last week, business briefings were held in at least eight markets with an estimated participation of more than 280 associates and guests.

Patrick Shaw Report – The Colorado APT included 269 attendees and 60 were walk-ins.  Patrick says Larry Smith provided a great program.  Over the past week more than 200 associates and guests attended briefings and 41 attended luncheon events.  This coming Saturday, the “Will Seminar” will be sold-out with 150 attendees.  Patrick notes that last week’s recruiting is down from 2009 totals, but he expects that to change soon.

Bill/Linda Carter Report – Another APT attendance record was broken in New Mexico.  Associates form Texas, Colorado, Arizona and New Mexico attended and GVP Joan Buckner offered a great event with lots of interaction, giveaways and guest speaker segments.  This Saturday, associates throughout the state will participate in a blitz that will include programs in homes, hotels and other sites.  At last week’s Las Cruces meeting, ED Robert Gonzales was the guest speaker and trainer.  Bill says the Thursday night trainings in Albuquerque have become more and more valuable to associates in the area.

Ross/Cindy Chantrel Report – The APT in St. Louis was the largest ever with more than 120 attendees.  Frank Mulcahy of Sugar Land, Texas was the guest speaker.  The Kansas City APT was also successful with 70 attendees.  Mike Riling of provider law firm, Riling, Burkhead & Nitcher was the guest speaker.  Wichita held its APT on Sunday.  This week, MoKan is working toward month-end with its regular meeting schedule coupled with daily calls to promote additional memberships for September qualification.

Ron/Norma Crutcher Report – The Saturday APT was one of the largest to date.  Ron and his team put on a full-court press (emails, calls, one-on-ones) to generate involvement among Ohio associates.  In addition, last week Dave Savula was in Columbus (for a briefing) and in Cincinnati (for a luncheon).  He will return to Ohio on August 28 for a meeting in Akron.

Kevin Montville Report – “Saturday’s APT was spectacular,” Kevin says.  There were 98 associates from New Hampshire, Maine, Massachusetts and Rhode Island in attendance.  In other news, Kris and Bill Jeffery have been named as new Regional Managers in New Hampshire.  For the coming week, business briefings are scheduled for Portsmouth and Manchester.

Jack Bufkin Report – This past week in Tennessee, there were meetings throughout the state including: Nashville: Tuesday briefing (27 attending) and luncheon (22 attending); Chattanooga: briefing (17 attending); Cleveland: briefing (20 attending); Knoxville: briefing (17 attending); and Memphis: events with 39 attending.

Eddie/Linda Sturgis Report – The Oklahoma APT (at headquarters in Ada) featured GVP Melissa Hamontree of Carencro, Louisiana.  Eddie says Melissa offered a “dynamic program that provided incredible information to all associates in attendance.”

Herman Luette Report – Herman agrees the Oklahoma APT was a definite success.  This past week, Herman attended a new business briefing in Shawnee, hosted by Eddie Baker.  He was also a guest trainer at an event in Moore this past Monday. In Tulsa, there are now evening briefings on Monday, Tuesday and Thursday and luncheons on Monday through Thursday.  This past Thursday, Melvin Hall, a partner with provider law firm, Riggs, Abney, Neal, Turpen, Orbison & Lewis, was a guest speaker at the Thursday briefing in Tulsa.

Francois Exilhomme Report – Last week’s events in Rhode Island included: a showcase (with 28 attendees); a luncheon on Wednesday (with 9 attendees); and a Friday luncheon (with 9 attendees).  For the coming week, a showcase is scheduled for Monday and an exposure and sit-down blitz on Saturday.

Mark Michaud Report – Mark says plans are underway for the day long blitz this coming Friday.  The event will feature Mark Smith of Mission Viejo, California.  Mark’s goal is to generate attendance by at least 100 associates at this event.

Eddie Peters Report – West Texas activity for the past week included: El Paso (a business opportunity meeting with 23 associates and guests) and Amarillo (a business briefing with 37 attendees).  There are also efforts underway to start new briefings in Hereford, Muleshoe and Plainview.  For the upcoming Leadership Summit, Eddie says his goal is to generate participation by at least 100 associates at the event.

James Harkema Report – Tony Petrill and other Michigan leaders hosted a very successful APT this past week.  Randy Ordway of provider law firm, Powers, Chapman, DeAgostino, Meyers & Milia also participated in this event.  This coming week, Darnell Self will be in Michigan for a Friday night Q&A and then the Super Saturday event.

This may be our largest Green Light to date.  No doubt, this is a reflection of the significant involvement in the APT events (mentioned above), coupled with the march toward the 2010 Leadership Summit in Dallas.  We often talk about momentum.  Sometimes it’s too obvious to even mention.  Do you agree?

Cordially,

Harland C. Stonecipher

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ABOUT THE GREEN LIGHT:  The Green Light is a weekly showcase of activity as reported to the Chairman of the Board of Pre-Paid Legal by successful associates across the United States and Canada. Results vary and depend on skill, persistence, and a variety of factors. This report is for recognition, motivation, and informational purposes only.

Finding a Bright Spot in Dreary Economic News

By Stacy Whelchel

Economic reports, unfortunately, continue to be bleak: A high number of foreclosures and bank repossessions in July were spurred by continuing uncertainty in the job market. This news comes from an MSNBC article and a major real estate tracking website.

In addition, applications for unemployment benefits have risen to the highest level in almost six months. This is considered a sign that companies are still not hiring or even cutting their staffs, according to another story.

People continue to look for a bright spot of hope amid all the gloom and doom of the recession. The good news is you have an answer that might provide them with an opportunity to possibly change their lives forever.

How? By sharing with others the story of how Pre-Paid Legal has made a difference in your life and those of our members as shown through their testimonies.

Our Associates and Provider Law Firms have helped so many people make it through tough times by sharing the benefits of Pre-Paid Legal memberships and business opportunities. Shouldn’t good news always be shared in hopes of brightening someone’s day?    

4 Out of 5 Adults Have Problems Understanding Credit Card Agreements

By Stacy Whelchel

Have you ever tried to read and decipher a credit card agreement form? If you found the task was frustrating and complicated, you’re not alone.

Creditcards.com has reported that research shows these important legal documents are written on an average of 12th grade reading level, thus making it difficult for a majority of Americans to understand because a 9th grade reading level is the norm in the United States. Only one in five adults reads above a 12th grade level.

These financial documents, usually received when an account is open or customers request copies, contain the fine print that defines certain credit card terms and use. But often these agreements are put away and not read until something goes wrong, according to the report.

In all this confusion, there is someone ready to help you clearly understand the legal terms and disclosures that can have a lasting impact on your finances and credit history.

The expertise of Pre-Paid Legal’s Provider Attorneys gives our members a strong advantage when it comes to reading and understanding confusing legal terms and excessive words in any contract. What can a Provider Attorney help you decipher today?

The Green Light

By my count, it’s 20 days until the 2010 Leadership Summit in Dallas.  This event promises to be another important turning point for Pre-Paid Legal Services.

I’m confident the Dallas venues, coupled with an excellent program agenda, will make this the first of many memorable “Lone Star” events.  I hope you are planning to be there to share the opportunity, the fun and the history.

Now The Green Light for the past week:

Michael Humes Report – Mike reports Philadelphia just held a successful Super Saturday with more than 400 attendees.  During the event, free copies of Profiles of Success were distributed and 34 of the guests became associates that day.  Mike also plans a presentation in York, Pennsylvania this week.  In New York, the momentum is up with a 74 percent production increase for the week compared to the same period in 2009.  New York will host APTs in Buffalo (Aug. 20) and in New York City (Aug. 21).  On August 22, MCMs John and Tiffany Malott will be in Newburg, New York for a major recruiting event.  In New Jersey, Brain Carruthers was scheduled to be a special guest for a program on Wednesday.  In New Jersey, on August 20, Mark Brown and Mike will participate in Q&A session in Newark and then the APT the following day.  Finally, Delaware is hosting a recruiting blitz prior to their APT this weekend.

Steve Fleming Report – Texas had a strong recruiting week.  Mark Smith and 20 associates from Southern California, along with Darin Kidd from Virginia, came to the Houston market for a series of activities, including 250 sit downs and a Super Saturday with more than 250 attendees and 35 guests.  In central Texas, Darnell Self participated in business briefings in San Antonio this past Thursday with more than 160 attendees, including 39 guests.  The Dallas/Fort Worth area held a Super Saturday, featuring Jacob Medford of California that attracted more than 140 attendees.  There were other successful events in markets throughout Texas last week, including: Houston, San Antonio, Corpus Christi, Pharr, Austin, Belton, Dallas and Fort Worth.

Ken Smith/Patti Ross Report – Patti offers full credit to Mark Brown for significant increases in British Columbia production this past week (as a result of Mark’s recent visit).  Last week, B.C.’s production was up more than 162 percent and recruiting was up an “amazing” 1,600 percent!  This past week, MCM Linda Kedy of Miramar Beach, Florida provided an outstanding program in Vancouver, doubling the usual program attendance.  Alberta is also producing strong results for the past week with production up more than 110 percent and recruiting up more than 357 percent.  Weekly business briefings in both Edmonton and Calgary have been steady with 30 attendees each week.  The real growth in these markets has been in PBRs.  On August 22, Alberta will host APT events in both Edmonton and Calgary and other events will occur in British Columbia.

Rob/Charlene MacKenzie Report – There was a Super Saturday this past weekend in Toronto with special guests Bill and Annette Hamilton of Dillon, South Carolina.  More than 220 people attended, including 40 guests (with a 90 percent sign-up ratio).  Rob sends out a special thanks to RM Charlene King for hosting the event.  This coming weekend, Teresa Woolard will participate in two APT events in Winnipeg, Manitoba on Saturday and another on Sunday.  Over the past week, there were 6 briefings with a total of almost 250 people, including 51 guests.  For the week as a whole, membership was up 144 percent recruiting was up 373 percent over the same week in 2009.

Hal/Susan Faresh Report – Hal had an active schedule for the past week with California events that included: a luncheon in Roseville on Monday, a PBR in Antelope, another luncheon and business briefing in Roseville on Wednesday, a Thursday luncheon in Brentwood on Thursday, a Group School (with Bill Butkovitch) in Sacramento on Friday and a PBR in Elk Grove on Friday evening.  California RMs have been promoting the upcoming APT events, such as the San Francisco event, which now has 250 pre-registered participants.

Brooks Werkheiser Report – Last week, Brooks hosted a region-wide conference call to promote the upcoming APT events.  He anticipates this being the best attended series of APT events in the Gulf South Region to date.  This week, Brooks plans included: a Monday night meeting in Ruston, Louisiana (with Russell Jordan); a Tuesday night business briefing in Jackson, Mississippi; a Thursday event in Montgomery, Alabama; and Friday and Saturday events in Birmingham (including the Saturday APT with PPL Co-CEO Randy Harp).

Ross/Cindy Chantrel Report – This past week, MoKan held nine business opportunity meetings, five luncheons, one Missouri license training, one small business training (with Tom Sappington) and group training events in Springfield, Missouri and Wichita, Kansas.  For the coming week, APTs are scheduled for St. Louis, Kansas City and Wichita.

Patrick Shaw Report – Last week, Colorado held six luncheon events that drew 27 associates and 11 guests and business briefings drew more than 170 attendees.  Patrick reports that Eric Opon and Brian Brown, formerly of Chicago, moved to Colorado Springs and they have started a new weekly briefing.  The “will seminar” is a sell-out with more than 200 registered and the upcoming APT, scheduled for Saturday, has more than 120 pre-registered for the event.

Mark/Tammy Smith Report – Mark says the Southern California momentum is growing as the summer wanes.  There were standing room only recruiting events throughout the region over the past week.  They just completed a region wide RM call to finalize plans for a tool blitzes in all markets the last Saturday of this month.  At the end of the month, SoCal will also complete its seven-month long “strive for five” recruiting contest with the winners being announced at region Super Saturdays in September.  For this week, SoCal is pushing hard to generate APT participation with the goal of 800 attendees.

Frank/Theresa AuCoin Report – South Carolina had a strong week with recruiting up 90 percent.  On Thursday and Friday in Charleston, there were four presentations and four training events (modeled after the California and Texas blitzes).  GVP Scott Chapin of Canyon Lake, California was the special guest for the business briefing and training event at the regional Super Saturday event.  Frank and Theresa compliment Scott for dynamic presentations and for his “clarity, vision and motivation.”

Jack Bufkin Report – Tennessee is working to generate strong participation in the upcoming APT event.  For the past week, Nashville’s Tuesday briefing included 24 attendees including 4 guests and a luncheon event attracted approximately 30 participants.  Other market events include: Chattanooga (21 participants), Cleveland (16 participants) and Knoxville (14 participants).

Eddie Sturgis Report – Meetings in Oklahoma City are increasing.  On Tuesday, there is a luncheon and evening briefing and on Thursday, there are two evening briefings.  To maximize the potential for the August promotions, Eddie conducted two additional briefings on Saturday, August 9 and three presentations this past Saturday.  Eddie says there is also an increase in area PBRs.  The State of Oklahoma is “in a full-court press to promote the upcoming Dallas Leadership Summit,” Eddie reports.

Francois Exilhomme Report – Rhode Island also had a good week with a showcase that attracted 17 associates and six guests and a tool blitz that included 12 associates and distribution of 89 tools.  For the coming week, there will be: a Monday showcase, a Wednesday noon luncheon, a Friday luncheon and the Saturday APT event.

Mark Michaud Report – Coming off the special event this past weekend with special guest, Jeff Olson, Maine associates are working hard toward a special one-day event on August 27 with Mark Smith.  Mark will participate in a series of business briefings and trainings programs throughout the day.

That is a full report for the week.  There was lots of activity for the past week, more for the coming week, and still more in advance of 2010 Leadership Summit.  Let’s keep up the momentum.

Cordially,

Harland C. Stonecipher

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ABOUT THE GREEN LIGHT:  The Green Light is a weekly showcase of activity as reported to the Chairman of the Board of Pre-Paid Legal by successful associates across the United States and Canada. Results vary and depend on skill, persistence, and a variety of factors. This report is for recognition, motivation, and informational purposes only.

Important Upcoming Events!

Have you been tuning in to the Leadership Show? Attending your Business Briefings and luncheons? So much is going on right now, that not only do you want to stay up-to-date on all the latest events, but you need to be there, with guests! Here’s just a few of the exciting events happening in the next few weeks:

- Group School: Bring your business to a whole new level by training to offer Pre-Paid Legal's suite of services to businesses and groups. Group School at the Home Office is August 19-20 or check Associates Only for Group School training dates in your state or province.

-Attend an Advanced Product Training! (APT): This includes four full hours of product information and training that will benefit you. APT is only offered four times a year, so don’t miss it! Log on to Associates Only for the time/date/location nearest you. For the August APT only, the company is announcing special promotions for September. You must attend an APT to participate in these promotions.

- The Dallas Leadership Summit is only a few weeks away:  September 9-11. It’s an amazing opportunity to get motivated and inspired, receive training and make lifelong friends in the business! If you’re serious about your Pre-Paid Legal Business, don’t miss it!

Thieves are Marketing Children’s SSNs

By Aleshia Altizer

How old were you when you first had your credit checked? Most likely you were well into your teens and trying to open a bank account or get a credit card. This is one of the reasons why children are prime targets for identity thieves. They have unused and typically unchecked Social Security numbers (SSNs) that thieves can steal and use for years before the theft is finally discovered. An Associated Press article explains how hundreds of online businesses are obtaining these inactive Social Security numbers and selling the numbers as CPNs (Credit Privacy Numbers) to help people establish fake credit or run up debt.

According to the article, the thieves get the SSNs randomly, using computers and publicly available information. They can also make educated guesses using information like a person’s age or area of residence when the number was issued. Once obtained, they run the numbers through public databases to determine if the number is active. An inactive number can sell for up to several thousand dollars and the buyer who obtains the unused SSN can go back and buy another one when the one they have is tarnished.

Pre-Paid Legal offers Safeguard for Minors^SM, which extends valuable identity theft services to minor children. The service will monitor for credit files opened under your child’s name, and notify you should any be found. In addition, licensed investigators stand ready to address any questions or concerns, and will also step in to correct any identity theft issues that surface.

The Green Light

Yesterday, I read New York Times Columnist Bob Herbert’s “The Horror Show.” It depicts an unemployment scenario that is worse than a bad movie because it’s real.  According to a recent Pew Research poll, half of all adults in the U.S. labor force have experienced some “work-related hardship” since the recession began in December 2007.

In his column, Herbert looks beyond the “screen” of official projections noting, “With 14.6 million people officially jobless, and 5.9 million who have stopped looking but say they want a job, and 8.5 million who are working part time but would like to work full time, you end up with nearly 30 million Americans who cannot find the work they want and desperately need.”

Is it becoming abundantly clear that we have an opportunity to help some of these neighbors and citizens find an opportunity they “desperately” want and need? 

Here’s your Green Light:

Mike Humes Report – The Northeast Region just held a Super Sunday that drew 500 associates and 106 guests.  The event featured Darnell Self and Mike.  This past Saturday, Delaware, Pennsylvania, New York, New Jersey and Connecticut participated in a private business reception blitz with more than 300 PBRs recorded by associates.  For this week, Mike and Darnell will also be featured at the August 14 recruiting event in Philadelphia.  Beyond that, Mike’s schedule includes a trip to York, Pennsylvania for a briefing; a Tuesday night meeting in Largo, Maryland; meetings in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania on Wednesday and Thursday; and the APT event (along with guest Mark Brown) in Newark, New Jersey on August 20 and 21.

Frank/Theresa AuCoin Report – July was a strong month for South Carolina.  Recruiting was up 66 percent and production was up 7 percent compared to July of last year.  August is also showing promise.  Both recruiting and production were up 35 percent for the week, compared to the same week in 2009.  The Charleston Tri-County area is adding its fourth luncheon: a Monday event in Summerville, South Carolina.  This brings a total of four luncheon events in the area.  For the coming week, South Carolina will host a two-day blitz, August 12 and 13, in Charleston with presentations conducted every two hours (16 over the two-days).  In addition, there will be a Super Saturday on August 14 with Scott Chapin of Canyon Lake, California as the guest speaker.

Ken Smith/Patti Ross Report – Both British Columbia and Alberta are on the rise.  For the past week, Alberta recruiting was up 500 percent and production was up 100 percent compared to the same week in 2009.  In British Columbia, recruiting was up 55 percent for the past week compared to 2009.  Today, MCM Linda Kedy of Miramar Beach, Florida will be in Vancouver for a briefing and training and then on August 21 Melanie Lawson will be in Vancouver for the APT event.  On August 28, MCM Chris Hughes of Murrieta, California will be the special guests for several events in Edmonton, Alberta.

Hal/Susan Faresh Report – Hal says Northern California continues to add events to the calendar.  There are two new briefings in the Antioch / Concord area of California.  South San Francisco has also added a new luncheon event.  For the past week, Hal’s California schedule included: a luncheon in Los Banos, a PBR in Bakersfield, a luncheon in Riverside, and a business briefing in Sacramento.  On Wednesday, Hal made a presentation at a luncheon event and a briefing in Roseville and then on Thursday and Friday he was in San Francisco for a business briefing and a PBR.

Larry/Doni Smith Report – This past week, Tucson held a Super Saturday featuring special guest Mikal Mekki of San Leandro, California.  Mikal provided a “homerun” presentation, according to Larry.  There was also a Super Saturday in Phoenix, featuring special guest Kao Khamphilavong of West Linn, Oregon.  Doni attended this event and she shares equally high marks on Kao’s presentation.  In other Phoenix news, Joseph and Debbie Wray are doing a great work building this market.  Phoenix now boasts the state’s largest business briefing with 100 to 200 attending on a regular basis.  This past week, Tucson held its largest Monday night business briefing to date, according to Tucson RM Bobby Garcia.

Brooks Werkheiser Report – This past week, Brooks was in Gulf Shores, Alabama, where Glenn Davis of Annapolis, Maryland was a guest speaker.  Glenn provided an excellent presentation, according to Brooks.  For this week, Brooks was scheduled to be in Tupelo, Mississippi on Monday; Covington, Louisiana on Tuesday; Jackson, Mississippi on Wednesday; and then either Jonesboro, Arkansas or Houston, Texas on Thursday.

Mark/Tammy Smith Report – SoCal held a Super Saturday this past week with scores of associates and more than 70 guests.  Mark says his team is “laser focused on Dallas” and they are organizing a tool blitz for a strong finish for the month.  SoCal will play a big roll in the Texas blitz that begins this week.  Mark says three car loads of area leaders travelled from the SoCal Super Saturday to Houston, Texas to help coordinate the event.  More than 300 sit-downs were scheduled for the Houston event.

Ross/Cindy Chantrel Report – In addition their regular meetings there will be two group training events: one in Kansas City with Thomas Owens and the other in St. Louis with Alan Roman.  This past week, Ross’ schedule included a briefing and training in Springfield on Tuesday; a luncheon and PBR on Wednesday; a business briefing on Thursday in Overland Park; and a luncheon event on Friday.

Rob/Charlene MacKenzie Report – Rob says this past week (a Canadian holiday weekend), there were still “packed house” briefings throughout the region.  It helped.  Recruiting was up 34 percent for the week compared to 2009. This coming weekend, Bill and Annette Hamilton of Dillon, South Carolina will be the special guests at Ontario’s Super Saturday.  In Winnipeg, Manitoba, Teresa Wollard will lead APT events on Saturday, August 21 and another on August 22.

Francois Exilhomme Report – The New England Regional this past weekend for Massachusetts and Rhode Island markets featured Jeff Olson and the event attracted associates from Maine, Rhode Island, New Hampshire, Maine and Vermont.  For the coming month Maine and Rhode Island will focus on blitzes, sit downs and other events to generate enthusiasm.

Ron/Norma Crutcher Report – Last week included numerous briefings, luncheons, sit downs and PBRs.  There was also a market wide tool blitz on Saturday.  Next week, Dave Savula will be in Ohio for an August 17 briefing in Columbus and a luncheon in Cincinnati on August 18.  Amilda Coffman is helping prepare for the upcoming APT with Michael Little of West Harrison, Indiana.

Patrick Shaw Report – Upcoming events in Colorado include the “Will Seminar” on August 21 (with more than 120 tickets already sold) and the August 28 APT with Larry Smith of Glendale, Arizona as the featured speaker and trainer.  Patrick reports that recently four new weekly luncheons have been added in Colorado markets.

Darin Kidd Report – This past week, Darin had an active Virginia travel schedule including events in Chesapeake on Monday, a luncheon in Roanoke on Wednesday, a training event in Lynchburg on Thursday and a Super Saturday in Richmond.  This week, Darin is in Houston, Texas with Mark Smith and other regional leaders.

Dave Hall Report – Nearly 50 people – one-third of whom were guests -- attended the August 6 business luncheon event in West Jordan, Utah, featuring Larry Smith.  Dave says this was the best attended Utah event in years and that Larry provided an inspiring message to the attendees.

That is a full report for the week.  There is a great deal of activity in all our markets. But when we read the “headlines,” it’s clear that many Americans need the legal services we provide and the opportunity for prosperity that we offer.  Let’s continue working hard to share both. 

Cordially,

Harland C. Stonecipher

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ABOUT THE GREEN LIGHT:  The Green Light is a weekly showcase of activity as reported to the Chairman of the Board of Pre-Paid Legal by successful associates across the United States and Canada. Results vary and depend on skill, persistence, and a variety of factors. This report is for recognition, motivation, and informational purposes only.

Associate Rob Vest Authors Article in National Construction Industry Magazine

Pre-Paid Legal Associate Rob Vest is a featured author in the August issue of Construction Business Owner magazine. Rob authored a piece on the use of legal service plans in the construction industry.

The bylined article is posted on the national trade magazine’s website, but a printable PDF is also available here.  This can be used as a great merchandising piece for your business development efforts, no matter the industry targeted by your PPL business.

Job Market Not Welcoming Younger Educated Americans

By Stacy Whelchel

Millennials, described by researchers as those born in the 1980s and 1990s, might be considered one of the county’s best educated generations, but they are now facing paying college loans and starting careers in an adverse economy where competition for jobs is intense.

 

The Pew Research Center studied this generation and its research revealed that among 18-to 29-year-olds the unemployment rate is the highest it’s been in more than three decades, according to a MSNBC story.

 

Even though the recession has hurt young workers, many in this age group believed choosing the higher education route would lead to more appealing jobs in the long run, according to the detailed Pew Center report. This might have been a successful plan in the past, but in today’s tough job market this generation is faced with trying to establish career paths while finding themselves competing for work alongside older experienced workers.

 

This situation is complicated by older workers delaying retirement depleting job openings. In addition, in times of layoffs, younger employees are often the first to be let go from jobs.

 

The transition from school to work is a major life change for any generation. The good news is that the Pre-Paid Legal opportunity is available for anyone over age 18 who wants to take charge of their future and enter a job market of vast potential. Remember, the first step to their success is your call.  

The Many Benefits of Having a Will

By Aleshia Altizer

You may think having a Will isn’t important because your family knows how you would want your assets distributed; or you may have only one close relative to receive your assets. Unfortunately, it’s not always that simple.

An article from Forbes points out some of the pitfalls of not having a Will. First, you have no guarantee your assets will be distributed according to your wishes, and even if they are, it could takes weeks or even months for the courts to get all your assets listed and identify and locate potential beneficiaries. In contrast, the article points out several benefits of having a Will. These include:

- Wills can limit family disputes.
- You can (and should) be very specific about who receives what.
- You can outline personal preferences and desires. For example, you also have an opportunity in your Will to let your family know how you would like the asset to be used in the future.
- Wills make it easier to quantify and distribute assets. A probate court might have to send out letters of inquiry to various financial institutions or relatives in order to get a better handle on your financial situation and assets. A Will outlines all of your assets and may also quantify what they are worth.
- You can name a guardian for your children in your Will.
- You can provide for heirs with special needs.

And don’t forget your pets. You can also specify who will receive and care for them after you are gone. Pre-Paid Legal Members can get a standard Will and have it updated yearly at no additional cost. Members also have access to their Provider Law Firm for assistance and advice on drafting this important document.

The Green Light

Some say it’s a numbers game . . .

There are an estimated 1.4 million Americans who have been out of work for 99 weeks or more.  Some call themselves the “99ers,” indicating their membership in this unfortunate fellowship.  Can you imagine: out of work for 99 weeks and wondering if there is light at the end of the tunnel?  Even worse, it appears we’re still slipping.  These individuals need an opportunity: a real opportunity for self-help and self determination.

Consider some other numbers.  Dave Paperno of Palm Desert, California just earned his $250K ring.  In selling group plans, Dave utilizes the “28-8-2” rule.  Going to 28 companies, gets an audience with 8 decision makers and that leads to 2 group sales.

Here are some other numbers (and activity) for the week:

Rob/Charlene MacKenzie Report – Rob says Ontario and Manitoba are still reeling from their recent Super Saturday.  For the past week, the numbers are up: 100 percent in production and 63 percent in recruiting.  And for the entire month of July, production was up more than 20 percent and almost 38 percent in recruiting.  This past week, Roy Tatem of Norfolk, Virginia was a special guest in the Ontario market for a series of briefings, luncheons and training events.  In Winnipeg, Manitoba, RVP Patti Ross was a special guest for a highly successful weekend of events, including a Super Saturday.

Brooks Werkheriser Report – This past weekend, the Gulf South Region held Super Saturdays in Baton Rouge, Louisiana and Little Rock, Arkansas.  Brooks attended the event in Baton Rouge and he congratulates Russell Jordan and Marilyn Jackson for their leadership in the Shreveport area.  In Jackson, Mississippi, Jeff Tharp is continues to grow business among insurance agents and agencies while Dan Armstrong is working on some key state agencies (departments) accounts.  On August 7, Foley, Alabama will host a Super Saturday organized by David Hughes.  David also continues to generate business in the Mobile and Gulf Shores area of Alabama.

Ron/Norma Crutcher Report – “Breakthrough August” in Ohio is off to a great start, Ron says.  This past Monday, Rabu Gary was in Cincinnati for a series of excellent presentations and briefings.  Mike Little will be the special guest for the statewide conference call on Wednesday, as well as the featured trainer for the APT event.  Ron says tool blitzes, briefings, luncheons, sit downs and PBRs are underway in all Ohio markets for the coming week.

Kevin Montville Report – Kevin says, “We are working on helping all associates focus on recruiting and with moving up the ranks using the tools, events, PBRs and in creating a sense of urgency regarding the Dallas event.”  Upcoming events in New Hampshire include two briefings and a training event.  Planning is also underway for the NH APT.

Those are the numbers (and activities) for the week.  As we move into August, let’s follow a simple formula: the more numbers you reach, the more numbers you convert.  It’s a numbers game all good salespersons know and live by.

Cordially,

Harland C. Stonecipher

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ABOUT THE GREEN LIGHT:  The Green Light is a weekly showcase of activity as reported to the Chairman of the Board of Pre-Paid Legal by successful associates across the United States and Canada. Results vary and depend on skill, persistence, and a variety of factors. This report is for recognition, motivation, and informational purposes only.

PPL in the News!

Your company has been featured in an article in the Journal Record focusing on PPL’s provider law firm network and the role that technology plays in assisting the law firms in the mission to provide quality service to our members.

Here's the story:
https://www.prepaidlegal.com/pdf/ao/news/072810JR.pdf

Articles of Interest

Mark Brown, Co-CEO, Sr. VP, CMO

The following articles have been mentioned on the Leadership Show. I would highly encourage you to share them to illustrate today's growing need for Pre-Paid Legal as a beneficial legal service product and a viable business opportunity!

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2010/03/11/AR2010031103654.html 

http://www.star-telegram.com/2010/07/23/2357952/the-job-search-goes-on-for-many.html

Is Fear in the Workplace Taking a Turn for the Worse?

By Stacy Whelchel

In a tight economy, tough competition for a paycheck can become an even more difficult situation if an attitude of fear is prevalent at a worksite.
 
This interesting Bloomberg Businessweek article discusses several indicators that point to a workplace becoming an unhealthy fear-based environment:

1) Appearance is everything meaning if the boss is still in the office late in the evening so are the employees. These workers could be focused more on making a good impression on management, rather than the quality of their work;
2) Distrust reigns where employees are afraid to openly share ideas because of a lack of confidence in backstabbing co-workers;  
3) An overdependence on policies and procedures takes precedence over faith in the common sense of employees so rules are lengthy and tedious to discourage staff from thinking independently;
4) People who get rewarded and promoted are the least knowledgeable, but compensated for flattering management with more “yes” answers than truthful responses.

Does this sound like a workplace you know or what someone you know is going through?

There is a better way to do business. The Pre-Paid Legal opportunity is a great way to experience a freedom that offers each Associate a chance to live up to his or her own potential without the fear of facing a negative workplace each day. No one should be subjected to a future of fear when the potential of success is so readily available to all.

Feeling Overworked and Stressed – Maybe You Need a Vacation, but Maybe Not!

By Adam Huckeby

Most people experience stress at work. 

Most people think about what it would be like to work at something that has real purpose…real meaning…real happiness.  And most of us look forward to the time we have away from work with great anticipation.  Have you ever heard of, or experienced any of the following?

- Monday Morning Blues
- Case of the Mondays
- Hump Day – which anticipates the weekend on Wednesday, of course.
- TGIF
- Working for the Weekend

But maybe your thoughts drift more toward an exotic cruise, sunning on the beach, or hiking in the canyons.  Whatever your dreams are, most people get excited about the possibility of a vacation.  Many of us believe it will make us happier, more rested, and recharged.  All of those things seem to be true, at least for a time.  However, a recent Newsweek article reported on new scientific data that indicates our vacations won’t actually make us happier.  The article reports, “Vacationers were happier before their trips than were non-vacationers, confirming the anticipation effect…”  and continued, “But, ‘post-trip happiness did not differ between vacationers and non-vacationers.’”

This study seems to indicate that it may be the anticipation, not the actual vacation, that plays a major role in our happiness.  So what if your days could be filled with anticipation?  What if Monday was just another great day of the week…just like Friday?  What if you could essentially anticipate every day and honestly say, “I’m excited to work today because I love what I do!”

Pre-Paid Legal offers an opportunity vehicle that allows many people to find purpose in their work, meaning for getting up in the morning, and happiness because they know that they are in control of their own lives.  Besides, regardless of studies, vacations are usually fun, exciting, and worth doing – the Pre-Paid Legal opportunity offers a great full-time income potential, but can also serve as a part-time supplement to help pay for that next getaway! 

Introducing the “On Target” Program and a New Brochure

By Staci Elizondo, PPL Graphic Designer

The new ON TARGET program through www.amacustom.com!

If you are serious about your business, you owe it to yourself to check this out!  Now, not only can you personalize your contact information on the back of the brochure, but you can also customize the type of industry showcased in the brochure! 

For example, if you want to target the market for bankers needing legal services, you can now go to the AMA Custom Brochure website, click on the “On Target” link, and order brochures specifically marketed towards bankers.  From the content to the photographs, this brochure will convey why they—as bankers—need a Life Events Legal Plan.  Our goal is to constantly add new professions to the program – as of this writing, we have six.  One can certainly imagine the possibilities that will open up as a result of this program! 

If you would like to suggest a profession to be added to the new On Target program, please email your suggestion to creativedirector@pplsi.com.

Our standard Life Events Legal Plan brochures, used in sharing Pre-Paid Legal Services, Inc.,  with a prospective member have changed.  

Legal services tend to be a heavy subject for many people.  By using mostly a metallic gold ink in the background, the new product brochures convey a sense of quality without the heaviness.  There is also a similar look between the new brochures and the member guide a new member will receive.  As a result, members experience a continuity that displays the professionalism of our company and its services.

The content of the brochure has also been re-written to make it easier to see exactly what is being offered with a Life Events Legal Plan.  When we ask Associates what they prefer to sell the membership, in most cases we hear that easy to understand and bulleted product descriptions sell best.  You’ll find that many of the exclusions previously on the back panel were worked into the inside of the brochure.  Service areas are clearly outlined, which makes it easy to present the benefits of a Life Events Legal Plan to a prospective member.

Additionally, the new front covers help you identify the correct brochure for your prospect quickly and easily.  For example, the new Expanded Plan brochure says “with Expanded Trial Defense Benefits” on the cover. 

I sincerely hope that you enjoy the new product brochures and the new Industry Specific Custom Brochures.  Our goal is to develop tools that help you further your Pre-Paid Legal business and share with others the possibility of truly having Justice for All.