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Industry News

InVEST

State Champions Workshop Registration Deadline June 15

Join InVEST for the State Champions Development Workshop and become part of the team tackling this industry crisis. For agents dedicated to workforce development, participating in the launch of an InVEST program in their state can be a rewarding experience.

The State Champions Development Workshop is scheduled for July 16 - 18 at the Westfield Insurance campus in Westfield Center, Ohio. The workshop is designed to help independent agents create InVEST programs in local high schools and community colleges. Get the know how needed from current state champions as they share the successes and challenges of being part of the InVEST team in their region. Learn how an InVEST program can promote workforce development for the insurance industry by attracting and training the next generation of insurance professionals. Click here for the PDF invitation and click here for the registration form. Registration, room and board are complimentary, but registrants are responsible for travel expenses. Please RSVP by June 15. Space is limited and will be available on a first-come-first-serve basis. For more information, visit www.investprogram.org or contact Bill Pierson at 800-221-7917; bill.pierson@iiaba.net or visit www.investprogram.org.

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.

EDUCATION

Big “I”  Offers AIAO Program

The Big “I” is pleased to present a dynamic educational program designed to provide insurance agency owners, producers and managers that serve emerging markets with the planning, sales and service expertise necessary to build a successful independent agency operation.

The Associate in Insurance Agency Operations (AIAO) is designed to be a complete training program for insurance agency owners, producers and managers who seek the tools and strategies that will allow their agencies to be attractive business partners for top national and regional agency carriers, and to position their agencies for continued growth and success. Upon completion of the class work and all course reporting requirements, each student will be awarded the designation of AIAO by the Big “I.”

Save these dates for this three-part course, which will be held at the Big “I” national office in Alexandria, Va.: Sept. 18 – 20 (strategic planning), Dec. 4 - 6 (sales training) and Feb. 12 - 13 (superior customer service).

For registration information, contact Gwen Garvin at 800-221-7917, x5441; gwen.garvin@iiaba.net.

BIG “I” PROFESSIONAL LIABILITY^SM

Register for Free Swiss Re-Sponsored Flood Teleconference

Nearly 700 agents have registered to join the Big “I” Professional Liability Program’s endorsed E&O carrier, Swiss Re, as it hosts a free teleconference examining E&O issues relating to flood coverage June 19 and 21. Click here to learn more and to register for the call.

BIG “I” MARKETS^SM

Back-up Non-Profit D&O Coverage Available

Several months ago, Big “I” Markets^SM company provider Fireman’s Fund made a very unique and useful endorsement available to its affluent clients who purchase its Prestige Excess (umbrella) coverage and sit on a non-profit board of directors. Many insureds and even agents could benefit greatly from having back-up D&O coverage provided by an umbrella/excess policy. The endorsement, called non-profit organization directors and officers’ liability coverage, extends an individual’s own Fireman’s Fund Prestige Excess policy to cover wrongful acts committed in the course of duties as a director or officer for a non-profit organization. Covered acts include: employment practices as well as actual or alleged negligent acts, errors or omissions, misleading statements and breach of duty resulting from duties for a listed non-profit organization.

Agents interested in Fireman’s Fund affluent coverages can review coverage details simply by logging on with their user name and password at www.bigimarkets.com. A copy of the non-profit extension endorsement is available via product resources. To submit a quote, member agents need to register for Big “I” Markets, but basic coverage descriptions are available to any agent. Anyone who doesn’t know their password should click here, provide their e-mail address and those who are in the national database will receive their password via that e-mail address. For anyone who wants to register for Big “I” Markets, a link to the online registration process is available at the Web site.

BIG “I” FLOOD PROGRAM

FEMA CDs a Big Hit with Members

“What You Need to Know about Flooding and Flood Insurance” (click here to view) was a big hit when introduced to Big “I” Markets members via Two for Tuesday last week. Given its popularity, the Big “I” thought it would pass along the info to anyone who missed it and provide yet another flood resource for agents. The newest CD from FEMA provides numerous updates and everything an agent would want to know about flood maps. The section titled “Agent Tips on Flood Map Changes” is especially helpful, particularly in increasing the consumers’ understanding of the flood map process. For example, most agents probably didn’t know that customers who buy a flood policy before maps are adopted and maintain coverage, can retain the lower risk zone rate. Discover more flood information by clicking here to review the CD. For more information on the Big “I” Flood program, contact Linda Mackey at 800-221-7917; linda.mackey@iiaba.net.

YOUNG AGENTS

Call for 2007 YAC Award Submissions

The Big “I” National Young Agents Committee is seeking submissions for the 2007 YAC awards in the following categories: membership development, state committee project, communications, Young Agents meeting and political involvement. Outstanding Young Agents Committee-of-the-Year and first runner-up honors will also be awarded. Participating in the National YAC awards program demonstrates the commitment state young agents and brokers committees have towards perpetuating the independent agency system and solidifies their presence as the driving force behind its future. The 2007 YAC awards will be presented at the 2007 Young Agent Leadership Institute being held in conjunction with the National Board of State Directors meeting scheduled for Sept. 28-30 at the Manchester Grand Hyatt in San Diego, Calif.

Entries must be postmarked by July 1. Visit www.independentagent.com and click on Young Agents and then Tools to download the 2007 YAC Awards Criteria. Please direct questions to Katie Cosgrove at 800-221-7917; katie.cosgrove@iiaba.net.

IA MAGAZINE

Keep IN&V Out of SPAM Folders

SPAM. That dirty four-letter word that drives everyone crazy. As everyone tries to eliminate SPAM, there are often times where e-mails that should be received become a casualty of the SPAM filtering processes. For those reading this note, IN&V is not one of those casualties, but you may know someone who should be receiving IN&V, but is not. If that is the case you may want to pass along these few suggestions to make sure IN&V is not getting caught in a SPAM filter. If the SPAM-blocking program being used has a setting of “approved senders” or something similar, try putting the e-mail address IN&V@iiaba.xmr3.com or just the e-mail domain   iiaba.xmr3.com to specifically allow e-mail from this address. If the SPAM-blocking program uses “rules” that you can define try specifically defining a rule that will allow an e-mail to be delivered that has IN&V in the subject line. Although there are many SPAM blocking programs out there one of these options should be available and should insure that IN&V is being received by those who need it.