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 Industry News

N L C & C
Sit in the CNN Audience

Friday night after the Big "I" National Legislative Conference & Convention Closing General Session, please join CNN correspondents from around the globe for "On the Story," a CNN program that provides viewers with a behind-the-scenes look at how CNN journalists gather the news and what it's like to be on the front lines of the world's most newsworthy events. Panelists share never-before-seen video and reporter diaries and answer questions from the studio audience at GW University. To apply for a free ticket to the show, call 202-994-8CNN or visit www.CNN.com/onthestory. Group tickets are available. Doors open at 7:45 p.m., and audience must be seated by 8:30 p.m.

Workshop: Taking Advantage of Big "I" Market Access

Attend this workshop during the NLC&C to learn about the newest markets available through Big "I" Markets, the online market access program available exclusively to Big "I" members with no fees, no volume commitments and competitive commissions. Learn about non-standard homeowners, employment practices liability, real estate agents E&O---and the Big "I" Flood Program's new and improved commission structure. Each attendee will be entered into a drawing to win an iPod shuffle.

Bid on the InVEST Silent Auction

Don’t miss your chance to support the next generation of industry professionals! Participate in the InVEST Silent Auction and support the program’s annual scholarships awarded to graduates of InVEST who are pursuing higher education with an emphasis on insurance. A 501(c)3 educational trust, InVEST introduces high school and community college students to insurance and the more than 350 diverse careers available within the industry, giving students a new outlook on the future. The program offers insurance agencies, brokers and carriers a diverse and talented group of entry-level recruits. Play an important roll in the future of InVEST’s brightest students by participating in the 2006 Silent Auction. For more information, contact Sandra Skipper at 703-706-5437; sandra.skipper@iiaba.net.

T R U S T E D   C H O I C E ®
Only 30 Days to Trusted Choice® Month

When someone says "May," what comes to mind? Warm weather? Blooming flowers? A brightly shining sun? OK, we’ll give you that. But don’t forget, when you think of May, think of Trusted Choice®!

May is Trusted Choice® Month 2006, our largest promotional campaign thus far in 2006. The axis of this concerted promotional activity will be a two-week nationwide ad flight on cable TV. This campaign will run May 1 through May 14 and feature nearly 225 ads on FoxNews, CNN, ESPN, Fine Living Channel, Food Network, Home & Garden TV (HGTV) and the Travel Channel. To see the complete May TV ad schedule, click here.

Why these channels? The Trusted Choice® target audience is college-educated adults age 35 to 64 with household incomes of $75,000 or more. Research shows that this target audience’s passions are their homes, food, sports, news and travel. These passions have a direct correlation to the TV programming they watch. We identified television networks and programs that create maximum brand exposure for Trusted Choice® with its target audience.

Supplementing the TV advertising campaign is an Internet ad flight and a public relations campaign. The Internet ads will be located on high-profile, consumer-oriented Web sites to create further awareness of Trusted Choice® and its participating agencies and company partners as well as to build logo recognition.

We highly encourage Trusted Choice® agencies to launch a local advertising campaign during May to run in conjunction with all the national advertising. This activity will raise your agency’s profile with consumers and help position it as the trusted advisor for insurance needs.

Professionally produced, tag-able ads are available on the Trusted Choice® Web site for your use. Click here to view, order or download these television and radio ads and to learn how to purchase broadcast and print advertising. If your agency is not yet a member of Trusted Choice®, there’s no time like the present to join. Simply click here and enter your agency ZIP code in the box located under the "Join the Movement!" area. This launches the easy online registration process. As you can see, we have a lot to look forward to in May, and it’s not just the pending arrival of summer—it’s Trusted Choice® Month! For more information, contact Jeff Myers at jeff.myers@iiaba.net; 800-221-7917.

I A   M A G A Z I N E
Renew Your Free Subscription Today

Want to have the latest industry news and trends, management information, specialty lines access and government affairs coverage at your fingertips? Even though you’re a member of the Big "I," we still need you to renew! Take action now to keep your IA magazine coming, delivered straight to your home or office each month. To validate your subscription online, go to IAmagazine.com and click on "Update Your Subscription." Use the six-digit ID printed on your magazine mailing label and follow the directions. Direct IA subscription questions to Jill Cosgrove at 800-221-7917; jill.cosgrove@iiaba.net.

I I A B A   N E W S
Last Call for ACSR Scholarships—Must be Postmarked April 1

IIABA, in close cooperation with the National Association of Insurance Women International (NAIW), has established a new scholarship program to further promote and assist insurance agents and brokers’ commitment to excellence.

During NAIW’s upcoming annual convention in June, the Big "I" and NAIW will award the following scholarships toward IIABA’s Accredited Customer Service Representative Designation (ACSR):

· One full scholarship to take all classes required to earn the ACSR personal, commercial or life-health designation; and

· Three scholarships to take one ACSR personal, commercial or life-health class.

"We are thrilled to be partnering with NAIW to offer their members and our own association members the opportunity to continue their education and gain valuable technical and professional training," says Madelyn Flannagan, Big "I" vice president of education and research. "The ACSR Designation is an important one—it promotes and recognizes the professionalism of customer service personnel in the insurance industry."

Scholarship recipients will gain critical professional development skills, improve their customer service tactics, retain accounts and reduce their agencies’ E&O exposure.

Applicants must be current and active members of the NAIW in good standing, work full-time at a Big "I" member agency and have at least one-year tenure in the insurance industry. Applicants must intend to complete and achieve the ACSR designation within three years or take the ACSR class within one year and expect to continue their career for the next three years in the insurance industry. To obtain an application, which must be postmarked by April 1, click here.

Market Share Report Available

Have you seen the mentions in the trade press lately? IIABA’s 10th annual market share report is out! If you want to know how independent agents stack up in the marketplace, check out the results of the market share study. Big "I" members can obtain a copy of the full report on the Big "I" Virtual University. If you don't know your User ID or Password, e-mail your name, agency name and address to logon@iiaba.net. For non-IIABA members, subscriptions to the Big "I" Virtual University are available. For more information contact Madelyn Flannagan at 800-221-7917; madelyn.flannagan@iiaba.net.