T H U R S D A Y ,   F E B R U A R Y   2 8 ,   2 0 0 8

Industry News

TRUSTED CHOICE^®
Support the Trusted Choice^® Disaster Relief Fund

Trusted Choice^® would like to thank the South Carolina, Louisiana and New York state associations, along with the numerous other individual agents and association staff who have generously contributed to the Trusted Choice^® Disaster Relief Fund.

The Trusted Choice^® Disaster Relief Fund was created by the IIAA Educational Foundation, a 501(c)(3) entity, in an effort to provide ongoing outreach to those most in need following devastating natural and other disasters.

A disaster can happen at any time and often there is little time to prepare. From 9/11 to Hurricane Katrina and beyond, IIABA members and others in the insurance industry have suffered tremendous losses and unfortunately more tragedies are inevitable. The Trusted Choice^® Disaster Relief Fund enables the insurance industry, including IIABA members, their agency staffs and others, to make financial contributions to aid victims and surviving family members of disasters, and to provide insurance agents with supplies and resources to provide disaster relief efforts to aid victims and surviving family members. No fees are deducted from contributions for staff time to manage it and make distributions.

If you would like to join the ranks of those who have already donated and show your support those in the industry who need help, please make a tax-deductible contribution to the fund. Contributing online is easy --- simply click here to donate. Thank you in advance for your support!

For more information on the Trusted Choice^® Disaster Relief Fund, please contact Debra Perkins, IIABA executive vice president, at 800-221-917; debra.perkins@iiaba.net.

IIABA NEWS
Staskiel Named 2007 ACSR-of-the-Year

IIABA and AICPCU/IIA would like to congratulate Andrea Staskiel, manager/vice president at The Insurance Doctor Agency in Williamsburg, Va. for earning the 2007 ACSR-of-the-Year award. This award is designed to recognize the tremendous contributions of an accredited customer service representative who displays outstanding leadership and service to the independent agency system and the public. In addition, IIABA would like to recognize CSRs nationwide for their dedication and the value that they bring to the insurance industry. For more information, contact Lisa Johnson-Briggs at lisa.johnson-briggs@iiaba.net.

LEGISLATIVE CONFERENCE & CONVENTION
Agents to Take Top Issues to the Hill

Federal governmental advocacy efforts are once again at the forefront of the daily battles the Big “I” wages on members’ behalf to protect their businesses and livelihoods. During the Big “I” Legislative Conference & Convention, April 2 – 4 in Washington, D.C., more than 1,200 independent agents from all over the United States will descend on Capitol Hill for three days of extremely important meetings with key members of the House and Senate. Issues agents will bring to the hill include: Big “I”-backed legislation to streamline agent licensing requirements and to provide for non-resident licensing reciprocity; the general issue of how and where insurance is regulated, including opposition to proposals to create an optional federal charter; flood insurance reform; natural disaster insurance proposals and crop insurance. With the 2008 election approaching, the stakes are very high for independent agents. Make sure your voice is heard.

While attending the Big “I” Legislative Conference & Convention, members will also have access to the largest tradeshow in the industry. Just as members attend the event to rub elbows with the nation’s political leaders, representatives of the top independent agency companies and agency service providers come for the tradeshow to rub elbows with members.

The Big “I” has also lined up the perfect venue for members to pick up some excellent insider information to share with colleagues back home. From 4:15 – 6:30 p.m. on April 4, two of the nation’s top political pundits, Paul Begala and Tucker Carlson, will share the main convention stage with Big “I” President & CEO Bob Rusbuldt, in a lively presidential election-year debate. Anything goes in this no-holds-barred debate and members will see it live and unedited. And to prove the politicians and bureaucrats in Washington D.C. don’t have a sense of humor, the convention general session will close with a performance by the “Capitol Steps,” a group of Senate staffers who set out to satirize their employers.

For more information on the Big “I” Legislative Conference & Convention, contact Jeff Etzkin, jeff.etzkin@iiaba.net.

BEST PRACTICES
Leaders Reveal Their Best Practices

Recently, the independent agency system has been in an ever-evolving time of transition and change. Agency principals and managers must constantly learn from the past, while still focusing on their future. Everyone has heard about agencies that have adapted to the changing business environments and achieved growth and success. Now, anyone can study their methods to help guide their way to best practices.

IIABA is pleased to offer “The Five Practices of Highly Effective Leaders,” a Best Practices handbook that presents five key practices used by 18 leaders who successfully navigated their agencies through periods of change and uncertainty. This exceptional guide provides real life examples of how these practices can be applied in any agency. The 200-plus-page handbook contains useful worksheets for developing a plan of action, and contains countless lists of tips, techniques and key objectives for building effective teams, using teams to identify productivity improvements and cost savings, use of goals and plans to focus activities and much more. Most of the chapters begin with a “Quick Quiz” designed to help determine where your current status versus where you would like to be, while the remainder of each chapter contains information on how to achieve your objectives. “The Five Practices of Highly Effective Leaders,” which normally retails for $30, is available for only $19.95 through April 15. By utilizing this book, along with all the other great tools in the Best Practices library, agencies can better prepare for the changes to come. Click here to download the order form. To find out more about the other Best Practices resources, visit www.independentagent.com and select “Member Resources” then “Best Practices.”

YOUNG AGENTS
Young Agents’ Exclusive Preview of New D.C. Attraction

Shhhh…the Newseum is not open to the public, but on April 2 it will be open exclusively for Young Agents. As part of the Big “I” Legislative Conference & Convention, Young Agents will be given a special VIP tour of the newest attraction in the Washington, D.C. area.

The Newseum is a museum dedicated to the news and journalism industry featuring seven levels of galleries, 15 theaters and state-of-the-art broadcast facilities where visitors can go behind the scenes to learn how and why news is made. Among some of the museums highlights are sections of the Berlin Wall and a moving 30-foot radio antennae from the north tower of the World Trade Center.

The Newseum will formally open on April 11, however Young Agents will be treated to this special pre-opening event --- all part of Young Agents’ registration for the Big “I” Legislative Conference & Convention. Don’t miss out on this sneak-peak, register today!

For more information, contact Katie Cosgrove, manager of the National Young Agents program, at 703- 776-5455; katie.cosgrove@iiaba.net.

VIRTUAL UNIVERSITY
Is Your Staff Leveraging the VU?

The Big “I” Virtual University (VU) is well recognized as a premier source of technical information for producers and principals, but did you know that everyone in your office can benefit? From front-line customer service reps to IT professionals to sales managers, the Virtual University offers exceptional insurance information to improve job performance and increase customer satisfaction. And it’s all at your --- and your employees’--- fingertips.

Start with the VU Research Library, which offers the most comprehensive body of technical insurance information available on the Internet today. It provides access to hundreds of insurance, business and technology articles written by volunteer faculty and other contributors. Technical insurance articles often include links to full sample ISO forms.

The VU supplements that library with a robust links page that features other helpful online sources. For even more in-depth information, VU’s online courses cover every aspect of the insurance business, from basic sales techniques to complex technical issues.

If all else fails, the “Ask an Expert” service can help solve even the most challenging questions. Big “I” Members can submit questions to VU’s faculty of experts from around the country, and a response usually is sent within three to five business days.

Take some time to familiarize your employees with the wide array of resources the Virtual University has to offer. Make sure everybody has their login information and encourage them to take advantage of the services. A little knowledge goes a long way. Log on to the VU today www.iiaba.net/VU.

InVEST
Sneak Preview: 2008 InVEST Silent Auction

What will be featured at the 2008 InVEST Silent Auction? To preview the upcoming auction items donated so far, click here. Items new to the auction this year include: a MacBook Air, a Dover Downs Hotel & Casino getaway, a star garnet and tickets to the 2008 regular season finale Cleveland Cavaliers vs. Miami Heat game.

The InVEST Silent Auction will take place during the Big “I” Legislative Conference & Convention’s Trade Show from 6 to 8 p.m., April 3 and from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m., April 4.

InVEST would like to thank all of its supporters, both donors and “bidders” who make these auctions fun, and a valuable way to help young people further their insurance studies. For more information about the auction, contact Sandra Skipper, InVEST program manager, at 703-706-5437; sandra.skipper@iiaba.net.