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Trusted Choice® Month Ad Flight Finalized | InVEST Announces PERI Partnership |
2005-2006 IIABA Committee/Task Force Appointments | Crane Joins Big “I” Communications Department | Access EPL through Big “I” Markets | InsurBanc Increases Commercial Deposit Points | NLC is One Month Away | Reserve Your Room in NYC | Industry News
T R U S T E D C H O I C E ®
Trusted Choice® Month Ad Flight Finalized
Are you ready for Trusted Choice® Month? If not, you still have plenty of time to prepare for the big events that will unfold in May, the centerpiece of which is a half-million dollar advertising flight.
The ad flight commences May 9 and runs through May 22. During the two-week period, nearly 100 Trusted Choice® ads will be seen nationally and locally by millions of consumers on cable networks Fox News, TNT, Home & Garden Television (HGTV) and The History Channel. Programming highlights include “O’Reilly Factor” on Fox News; “Law & Order,” the top-rated cable program, on TNT; a Civil War special on The History Channel; and numerous primetime slots on HGTV. To view the complete national ad flight schedule, click here .
Complimenting the national ad flight will be local advertising campaigns conducted by individual agencies and state associations. The state association advertising activities are funded in part by the Trusted Choice® State Grants Program, a matching-funds program that helps state associations deliver the brand’s message of choice, customization, and advocacy to consumers within their borders. This three-tier advertising approach will give the brand program unprecedented reach among consumers during the month-long celebration.
“Getting the Trusted Choice® message to consumers is half the battle of educating the insurance-buying public about the value of a Trusted Choice® agency,” said Ronald A. Smith, CPCU, chairman of the brand program board. “The more agencies and state associations that augment the national ad flight with their own campaigns, the more consumer awareness of the brand and your agency are raised.”
In addition to the advertising flight, Trusted Choice® will unveil a consumer survey on small business insurance issues that will be distributed to national consumer media. Participating agencies will recieve a drop-in press release and supporting materials they can use to promote their Trusted Choice® agency to the local media.
It’s not too late to make plans to participate in Trusted Choice® Month activities. Check out the ad flight schedule here, and use the tag-able TV, radio and print ads available by clicking here (you will need your agency username and password). If you are not yet a member of the brand program, you can join by going to the “Agents/Brokers” section at www.TrustedChoice.com and entering your agency zip code to launch the easy online sign-up process. For more information, contact Jeff Myers at 800-221-7917; jeff.myers@iiaba.net.
I N V E S T
InVEST Announces PERI Partnership
Public Entity Risk Institute (PERI), a not-for-profit organization intent on being a catalyst in the risk management field and a vehicle for allocating greater resources to key needs in risk management, recently became an InVEST sponsor.
“One of PERI’s principle charters is to help create a better educated consumer in insurance and risk management,” said PERI Executive Director Gerry Hoetmer. “The InVEST program is doing just that, and we are pleased to be a sponsor.”
“With our shared vision as practical, forward-thinking organizations in insurance and risk management, we are excited to welcome PERI to our family of supporters,” said InVEST Executive Director Barbara Miller-Richards . “PERI’s investment will help us expand to bring new and diverse talent to carriers, agents, brokers and the corporate and public risk management practice—and along the way produce knowledgeable insurance consumers.”
PERI’s goals are to facilitate the development and delivery of education and training on all aspects of risk management for public and private entities; serve as a resource center and clearinghouse for risk management, environmental impairment liability, and disaster management; and operate an innovative, forward-looking grants and research program in risk management, environmental impairment liability and disaster management.
InVEST annually prepares more than 6,000 graduates for careers in the insurance industry. Local agent, broker and insurance company volunteers provide classroom assistance, industry guest speakers, field trips, internships, and job placement assistance. To learn more about starting an InVEST class in your area, click here or contact Sandra Skipper at 703-706-5437; sandra.skipper@iiaba.net.
I I A B A N E W S
2005-2006 IIABA Committee/Task Force Appointments
Much of the IIABA’s success is due to the hard work of various committees and task forces, and in planning for the next year, nothing is more important than the perpetuation of that strong committee/task force structure. The Big “I” is currently seeking help in identifying qualified agents to serve on committees/task forces. We are seeking recommendations for appointments from State Associations and, in an effort to broaden our reach, we invite agents interested in serving on committees/task forces to submit their own Committee/Task Force Appointment Request Form.
If you have not previously been active at the national level, consider getting involved now, including young agents and multicultural agents. If you are interested in being considered for a committee/task force appointment, please complete a separate Committee/Task Force Appointment Request Form for each committee/task force you are interested in serving on and submit each form by April 26, 2005 in accordance with the directions on the bottom of the form. If you have questions about a particular committee or task force, its current activities, or the frequency of its meetings, etc., contact Cathy Spencer at 800-221-7917; cathy.spencer@iiaba.net.
Crane Joins Big “I” Communications Department
The Big “I” Communications Department is pleased to welcome Emily Crane as its new manager of media relations. Crane comes to the Big “I” from Campbell-Crane and Associates, a Washington, D.C. lobbying firm, where she coordinated the firm’s fundraising activities, arranged meetings with members of Congress and staff, provided legislative research on various economic and health-care issues and also gave logistical support to clients including the American Burn Association, The Chubb Group, Raytheon, the University of Massachusetts, Merck & Co., Shriners’ Hospital for Children and others. She also worked during the 2004 election campaign for the Louisiana Democratic Party, during which time she conducted opposition and issue-based research, compiled news clips, drafted press releases, responded to media inquiries and performed various other press-office duties. Previously, she held internships with Boston-based Hill, Holliday, Connors and Cosmpolus, an advertising firm, and the office of then-Rep. J. Joseph Moakley (D-Mass.). Crane graduated from Boston Collegewith degrees in communications and sociology in May 2003. She can be reached at 800-221-7917; emily.crane@iiaba.net.
B I G “ I ” M A R K E T S
Access EPL through Big “I” Markets
Over the past two decades, employment practices disputes have become one of the fastest growing sources of litigation in the United States . The top 10 employment practices verdicts and settlements in the United States reported from January 2000 to August 2002 resulted in more than $1 billion in losses. Employment-related claims currently present one of the most serious areas of exposure to loss for financial institutions and specifically community banks.
Bankers, especially those in small towns who tend to treat their employees like family, are often surprised when they face allegations of wrongful terminations or sexual harassment. Frequently, such claims are settled out of court, but not before a significant number of dollars have been spent on legal costs. With the number of employment practices lawsuits on the rise, it is a wonder that more banks do not have employment practices liability (EPL) insurance.
According to a study compiled by the American Bankers Association, barely 50% of banks with assets under $50 million and only 70% of larger banks with assets of more than $1 billion have EPL coverage. With EPL claims on the rise and a large percentage of banks uninsured, an opportunity exists for you to help make sure your local community banker is covered. As a Big “I” member, you have access to an excellent EPL insurance product available on Big “I” Markets, the St. Paul Travelers SelectOneSM for Community Banks. Log onto www.bigimarkets.com and click on the “Product Resources” section of the community banks site to learn more. For more information or to register for Big “I” Markets, click here.
I N S U R B A N C
InsurBanc Increases Commercial Deposit Points
InsurBanc, the federal savings bank jointly developed by the Big “I” and W.R. Berkley Corporation, has expanded its network of national commercial deposit points to better meet the needs of independent agencies throughout the United States .
By utilizing the extensive branch networks of Bank of America, Wachovia, Wells Fargo and Fifth Third, independent agents can now make in-branch commercial deposits at more than 12,000 locations across the country. Once an InsurBanc client agency deposits its funds at a local branch of one of these institutions, the funds are swept overnight into the agency’s account at InsurBanc with immediate availability of funds.
InsurBanc Chief Operations Officer Mary Grazen said the bank pioneered this unique delivery network to further extend its services to independent agencies. “Our agency clients asked for additional flexibility and convenience in their commercial banking options. We responded by developing this unique solution to bring our capabilities closer to them, no matter where they may be. With our state-of-the-art online banking system and now over 12,000 deposit points, nearly all independent agencies can take advantage of our services.” For more information, visit the InsurBanc Web site.
N A T I O N A L L E G I S L A T I V E C O N F E R E N C E
NLC is One Month Away
Less than one month remains until this year’s Big “I” National Legislative Conference, which may be the most important one in the event’s 29-year history.
With producer compensation under fire in the fallout from alleged large-broker bid-rigging, it is crucial that as many independent insurance agents and brokers as possible come to Washington to speak directly with their elected leaders.
The Big “I” National Legislative Conference is the insurance industry’s best-attended, most effective legislative meeting. This year’s event will take place April 20 through 22 at the Grand Hyatt Washington.
In addition to providing an opportunity to lobby members of Congress on compensation and other important issues, there are also power-packed daily sessions featuring Washington movers and shakers. Senate Majority Whip Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) will speak at a breakfast April 21, with other top leaders expected to be announced soon.
Other highlights of the Big “I” National Legislative Conference will include an in-depth issues briefing session; the annual Big “I” congressional reception on Capitol Hill; appearances by numerous high-profile speakers discussing important insurance and national issues confronting lawmakers as well as agents and brokers in Washington, D.C.; and hundreds of meetings on Capitol Hill between Big “I” agents and brokers and their elected representatives in the Congress. To register online and make hotel reservations, click here.
B I G “ I ” C O N V E N T I O N
Reserve Your Room in NYC
It is not too early to begin thinking about the Big “I” Convention, scheduled for Sept. 10 through 12 at the Hilton New York in New York City . In fact, you can even reserve your hotel room now. Discounted rooms are expected to go fast, so make sure not to get left out.
This year’s convention will feature former New York City Mayor Rudy Giuliani as its keynote speaker on Sept. 12. Giuliani, noted during his tenure (1993-2001) for fighting crime, revitalizing the city and displaying exemplary leadership in the wake of the Sept. 11, 2001 , terrorist attacks, will speak on the theme of leadership.
In addition to Giuliani, the convention will feature an array of thought-provoking and nationally recognized business speakers, industry-leading panelists and innovative insightful workshops. The Big “I” Convention also will offer attendees the largest trade show in the insurance industry. Additionally, industry professionals and business partners can enhance their sales and management skills during the Best Practices Management Institute.
Also, young agents and brokers from across America will gather immediately before the Big “I” Convention—starting Sept. 9—for the Young Agent Sales & Leadership Conference. During this event, young producers will learn the skills that will prepare them to assume leadership of their agencies and the independent agency system. To register for the event and book a room at the Hilton New York, click here.
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