PARMA E-Newsletter

Fall 2021 | In This Issue:

PARMA Member Spot Light - Roberto Reyes

Tell me about how you became a risk manager?

I am a Claims Representative for the County of San Diego rather than a Risk Manager. My inquisitive nature has led me to want to do investigative work. I previously worked at GEICO Insurance with my ultimate goal being to work for the anti-fraud team, however along the way I changed paths and began my work with the County. I have been adjusting liabilities for the greater part of the last decade.

PARMA Vendor Scavenger Hunt

Calling all PARMA members up for a challenge! Past President, Catherine Jones will give $50 to the first person that can identify all 17 company items on her desk or the person with the highest number of accurate answers by 5pm, September 30. Zoom in and look hard. Duplicates don't count, there are 17 different companies represented in her desk!

Email your answers to info@parma.com.

Ask Larry

Hey Larry! I heard through the grapevine that the typical banquet and dance party at the next conference in Disneyland in February is not going to happen. What’s up with that? That’s when I like to show off my dance moves!

What you’ve heard is true and I understand why you’re disappointed, I like to show off my moves too. But you’ll be happy to know we’ve replaced the banquet/dance with something we think EVERYONE is going to enjoy even more. Believe it or not but we’ve been able to reserve, just for conference attendees, the new Avengers Campus inside Disney California Adventure. Yes, you heard that right, we will first have a reception in the Hollywood Lounge and The Hyperion Queue for two hours and then conference attendees will have exclusive access to the Webslingers and Guardians of the Galaxy (formerly Tower of Terror) attractions. How about that?! So even if you have to stand in very short lines to get on either attraction, you can still show off your dance moves to others in line before it’s your turn to get on the attraction. We think everyone is going to love this in lieu of the banquet/dance. Thanks for the great question.

Medical and Religious Exemptions for COVID Vaccine in Employment

PARMA Webinar: Medical and Religious Exemptions for COVID Vaccine in Employment

Date: September 23, 2021

Time: 11:00am – 12:30pm

Description: In this presentation, we will discuss requests for accommodation or exemption from COVID-19-related policies, including policies requiring vaccination, vaccination or testing, and the use of face coverings. We will discuss both requests for accommodations based on health and medical conditions and those based on religious beliefs, practices or observances. We will discuss what language employers may include on accommodation request forms, what additional questions they may ask, and how to process requests when all information and documentation is provided. We will consider the initial determination as to employee's qualification for the interactive process as well as the employer's determination as to the reasonableness and safety of the accommodation requested by the employee accommodation.

Presenter: Alex Volberding, Liebert Cassidy Whitmore Alex has spent his career working for and with public agencies. He is a member of the firm’s Labor Relations practice group and has broad and deep experience working with a wide range of collective bargaining statutes. Alex is well-versed in bargaining strategy and tactics and negotiates collective bargaining agreements with employee organizations and Project Labor Agreements (“PLAs”) with building and construction trades councils. When he is not bargaining, Alex regularly provides advice and counsel to clients navigating meet and confer obligations and in administrative proceedings defending clients against unfair practice charges and in arbitrations defending clients against contractual grievances.

PARMA Board of Directors Election Notice

According to the PARMA Bylaws and Policies, officers serve two-year terms with no further election required. The three (3) PARMA officers, Karen Bianchini, Jeff Rush, and Larry Costello are each completing the first year of a two-year term of office. For the 2022 election no further vacancies exist. For this reason, PARMA’s Board of Directors requires no elections for the 2022 election year, and nominations are not being sought.

Susan Eldridge PARMA Conference Scholarship

PARMA’s vision is to assist Public Entity Risk Managers in achieving success in their careers and to provide Public Entities with the support they need to make their Risk Managers successful. PARMA has designed a conference to provide quality education and training in all the aspects of risk management. To help assist in funding, PARMA offers scholarships for the conference from both PARMA as an association and through its chapters.

The Susan Eldridge PARMA Conference Scholarship is for eligible public entity employees. The scholarship includes conference registration, room accommodations at the lowest priced option for Conference Host Hotel for a maximum of three room nights, paid directly by PARMA. Round trip travel at the IRS rate mileage and/or airfare, not to exceed $600.

How to Apply for a Scholarship

The 2022 Conference Scholarship is October 29, 2021 - Click here to apply.

Click here to submit an application for the Ben C. Francis Education Fund Scholarship (this application remains open throughout the year).

Each chapter that maintains a specified amount in their chapter treasury may also award a scholarship. If you are interested in either of these programs, simply complete one application form online and your application will be considered for the PARMA or Chapter scholarships. You must be employed by a Public Entity to apply. For more information, please click HERE.

APPLY TODAY

PARMA Conference 2022 Registration Now Open!

The 2022 PARMA Conference to be held at the Disneyland® Resort, Anaheim, CA February 27 - March 2, 2022.