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November 5, 2009 Sign up Forward Archive Advertise The daily insurance industry news source   News of the Day  Federal agencies join forces to fight distracted driving The Department of Transportation and the Federal Communications Commission have formed a partnership against distracted driving. The agencies have agreed to conduct an evaluation of technologies that could provide effective solutions to curb the use of certain electronics as well as host an outreach educational campaign to inform the public about the dangerous effects of texting, using cell phones and engaging in other distracting behavior while behind the wheel. Computerworld (11/4) , The Trucker (11/4) , The Hill (11/4)   Industry Watch  Study: Mid-continental tremblers might be aftershocks of big quakes Earthquakes from mid-continent faults could be viewed not as new seismic activities but as delayed aftershocks of major quakes, according to a study by U.S. researchers. Mid-continental quakes usually produce aftershocks that could occur after hundreds of years compared with those generated by continental edge faults, which spawn aftershocks only days later. USA TODAY (11/4) Louisiana leaders: Government should lead coastal restoration efforts Louisiana officials and business leaders urged the federal government to create a system that would coordinate the projects aimed at rebuilding the state's coastal wetlands. At a conference, they said federal agencies are providing conflicting policies that derail coastal restoration efforts. The Times-Picayune (New Orleans) (11/4) Washington state valley braces for winter flooding Leaders and residents of the Green River Valley in Washington are preparing for possible flooding from the heavy rains brought by the coming winter season. The Army Corps of Engineers is stepping up efforts to fix a major dam after its abutment was severely damaged by a torrential storm last year. The Seattle Times/The Associated Press (11/4) Other News Army Corps of Engineers monitors Louisiana's river levees as water levels rise The Times-Picayune (New Orleans) (11/4) Kentucky lawmakers face challenge in defining distracted driving Richmond Register (Ky.)/CNHI News Service (11/4) Louisiana parish gets $21 million to fund hurricane recovery efforts The Times-Picayune (New Orleans) (11/4) Wisconsin lawmakers seek to rescind new auto insurance standards Insurance Journal/The Associated Press (11/4)   Trends & Technology  Seat belt enforcement reduces traffic deaths in Minnesota The steps Minnesota has taken to enforce its primary seat belt law has resulted in a decline in the number of road deaths, state officials reported. Data show the state's traffic deaths dropped to 340 from 370 during the same period last year, while deaths caused by noncompliance since June this year totaled 44 compared with the 60 recorded during the same period last year. Star Tribune (Minneapolis-St. Paul, Minn.) (11/4)   Business Leadership  Morton's president: Face time with workers brings success Despite having 5,000 employees in 81 locations worldwide, Edie Ames, president of Morton's The Steakhouse, is a hands-on manager. Getting face time with the boss helps build long-term relationships, Ames says, which is why she meets with hourly employees as well as her management team regularly. "I really want all 5,000 employees to know that we make decisions based on their feedback," Ames says. Forbes (11/3) Stop dithering and get the job done People work more effectively when they're planning how to implement decisions they've already made than when they're making those decisions in the first place, notes Nick Tasler. By focusing on implementation rather than deliberation, business leaders can help their workforce achieve goals more efficiently, he writes. "If you're an executive trying to clear the recession malaise from your corporate climate ... it's time to implement," Tasler writes. BusinessWeek (11/3) Other News Mission statements don't have to be dumb Fast Company (11/2009)   Featured Content    How to Avoid the 'Bah Humbug' Spirit From Consumers This Holiday Season Janet Thaeler from Small Business Trends The Benefits of Outsourcing Your Billing Michelle V. Rafter Network-Attached Storage Is the New "Multifunction Printer" for SMBs Jon Stokes from Ars Technica Proper Credit Policies & Procedures Can Help Minimize Your Cash Flow Denise O'Berry 6 Desktop Apps for Better Organization & Focus Behance Team   NAMIC News  Onboarding: 5 tips to get it right so you don't lose new hires To increase the productivity and effectiveness of new workers -- and make them want to stay -- organizations should ensure onboarding isn't a one-time event but instead an ongoing process. Also, onboarding is more effective if it begins with the interviewing process and managers then personally help new workers learn the ropes. CareerBuilder.com/The Hiring Site blog (11/2) 4 ways to be more productive without the multitasking mania You might believe multitasking means you get more done, but a Stanford University study shows it can hurt your productivity. To be more efficient, designate time for certain tasks, have a system to collect all incoming "to do" items in writing, have an "in" box on your desk and turn off distracting technology. Web Worker Daily (11/2)   SmartQuote  The most valuable of all talents is never using two words when one will do." --Thomas Jefferson, 3rd U.S. president     NAMIC Resources About NAMIC Event calendar Advocacy (Members Only) Services NAMIC Staff Write NAMIC   Subscriber Tools       Print friendly format | Web version | Search past news | Archive | Privacy policy Advertise Sales Account Director:  Corey Thibodeau 202-737-5500 x 267   Read more at dailyLead.com A powerful Web site for dailyLead readers including: Breaking News Industry Home Competitor News Readers' Choice Press Releases Search Archive Get this RSS Feed Publish your Press Release       Recent NAMIC dailyLead Issues: Wednesday, November 04, 2009 Tuesday, November 03, 2009 Monday, November 02, 2009 Friday, October 30, 2009 Thursday, October 29, 2009     Lead Editor:  Brooke Howell       Mailing Address: SmartBrief, Inc.®, 1100 H ST NW, Suite 1000, Washington, DC 20005     © 1999-2009 SmartBrief, Inc.® Legal Information