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New Contract by Drive Insurance from Progressive |  Tiger’s niece, fellow Arizonan win Trusted Choice® Big “I” Titles |  Expose Your Agency With Trusted Choice® | 
Diversity Luncheon | August Issue Now Available |  Industry News

L E G A L   A D V O C A C Y
New Contract by Drive Insurance from Progressive

Drive Insurance from Progressive will be rolling out a new producer’s agreement in September and October 2005. The company’s territory sales managers in your area can provide further details on when you should expect to receive it if you are appointed with the company.

“IIABA was pleased to have the opportunity to work extensively with Drive executives to seek enhancements to the agreement as it was being drafted and appreciates the company’s adoption of many suggestions we made,” says Debra Perkins, IIABA executive vice president and general counsel. “Many provisions of the agreement were changed based on IIABA input, and demonstrate the company’s interest in working collaboratively and effectively with the independent agent channel.” Examples of some changes made include clarification that: 1.) Expiration information includes but is not limited to the date of expiration and policy limits; 2.) The restriction on collecting fees from insureds in addition to the fees paid by the company applies to performance under the agreement and not to other services provided to insureds; 3.) The duty to provide documents to the company can be met with copies rather than originals; and 4.) the company’s access to information about insureds is limited to information concerning policies or renewals (or applications for same) with the company under the agreement, rather than any information on insureds relating to other business placed through the agency.

To access the review, click here, log on as a member, go to Legal Advocacy and select Contract Reviews. For questions or additional information, contact Amy Hendricks at amy.hendricks@iiaba.net; 800-221-7917.

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T R U S T E D   C H O I C E ^®
Tiger’s niece, fellow Arizonan win Trusted Choice® Big “I” Titles

A lightning delay was the only thing that could slow down Cheyenne Woods on her way to victory in girls’ division at the 37th Annual Trusted Choice® Big “I” Junior Classic. Woods, whose uncle, Tiger Woods, twice won this tournament as a teenager, had extended her lead to eight strokes after 15 holes when the horn sounded during the final round of play. After her lead shrank to three strokes following the 9th hole, she gained five strokes over the next six holes to all but put the field away. Woods, 15, of Phoenix, finished the day with an 4-over-par 76, and shot a 300 over the four-day tournament to win by seven strokes.

In the boys’ division, it was a photo finish, but Cameron Edens, also of Phoenix, shot a 3-under-par 69 to edge Dodge Kemmer, 17, of Wichita, Kan., by one stroke, 284 to 285. It was the first national tournament title for Edens.

Woods led by three strokes after the first day of play on Monday and extended her girls’ division lead to an impressive eight strokes Tuesday. But Wednesday, she shot her worst round of the tournament, a 6-over-par 78, and saw her lead cut to four strokes. The issue was still in doubt Thursday until she took charge on holes 10-15 and cruised to the victory over Kristen Schelling, 15, of Mesa, Ariz., and Felicia Espericueta, 14, of Edinburg, Texas, who both shot 307 over four days, with Schelling winning a tiebreaker for second place.

Woods said she was happy and relieved to take home the title in her second try. She placed fifth in this event in 2004.

“I guess it just makes me feel like I can play at this level with all these good golfers,” said Woods, who also recently won the Bill Dickey Invitational on June 18th and the AJGA Nike Golf Junior at Jacksonville, Fla., on June 23.

Edens started the final round a stroke behind Kemmer, and the two young men battled all day on Thursday.

“I birdied the last three holes of the front nine to get two strokes up on Dodge,” Edens said. “Unfortunately, on the back side, I made a double on the 10th hole and he birdied to go one up. It was back and forth all day.”

Kemmer opened up a three-stroke lead before Edens birdied the 13th, 15th and 16th holes to even up the match, then Edens took the lead for good with a par on 17, while Kemmer double-bogeyed.

Edens said he was not surprised at the closeness of the competition.

“There are a lot of good players here,” Edens said. “Luckily, I pulled it off and played well at a big tournament, and finally won my first one.”

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Expose Your Agency With Trusted Choice®

If you haven’t completed your agency’s profile on the Choice® Agency Locator, you’re missing out on some serious exposure. And by that we mean leads, and leads translate into customers. The Agency Locator on www.TrustedChoice.com is a benefit of your membership in Trusted Choice, but it only helps you if your information is available to local consumers searching for a trusted independent agent and broker. And for you to realize that benefit, we need your help!

Please take just a few minutes to fill out your agency profile to ensure information about your agency and any of your branch office locations are easily accessible to potential customers. The Trusted Choice® Agency Locator provides a fast and easy way for your agency to distinguish itself in the highly competitive insurance marketplace. It also provides comprehensive information to assist the consumer in the buying decision and ultimately to choose your agency. Once you fill out your information, your agency profile will appear on the Trusted Choice® Agency Locator within 24 hours and you can rest assured that you aren’t missing one more minute of exposure to potential new customers.

Click here for easy-to-follow instructions for updating your agency profile. If you need your agency username click on the “Don’t Know Login” link on the “Agents/Brokers” sign-in page. For additional assistance, contact Stacy Heatherington at stacy.heatherington@iiaba.net or (800) 221-7917.

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B I G   " I "   C O N V E N T I O N   U P D A T E
Diversity Luncheon

The Big “I” will host the its Diversity Luncheon Saturday, Sept. 10 from 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. during the Big “I” Convention this Sept. 10 through 12 at the Hilton New York in New York City .

The Diversity Task Force is a cooperative industry group comprised of Big “I” agents and brokers, members of groups representing Latin-American, African-American and Asian-American agents, as well as eight leading insurance companies charged with fostering a profitable independent agency force that reflects, represents and capitalizes on the opportunities of the diverse U.S. population. With agents and company representatives from our industry partners---Aetna, AIG Agency Auto, Chubb Group of Insurance Companies, CNA, The Hartford, MetLife Auto & Home, Safeco Insurance Company and St. Paul Travelers---in attendance, this year’s luncheon offers the opportunity to share experiences, insights and ideas while learning how others deal with issues and challenges.

Demonstrate your commitment to your career, your agency and your future by joining us for the Diversity Luncheon and the New York Big “I” Convention. Click here for more information. Click here to register.

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  I A   M A G A Z I N E
August Issue Now Available

The August issue of Independent Agent magazine is now out. Crack open your copy to find these page-turning articles: "Enriched Customer Service," an in-depth look at agencies adding risk management services to their repertoire; "Pssst…Pass it On," which reveals secrets to internal agency perpetuation; "A New Retirement Formula," a look at the new Roth 401(k)s; and more. And it doesn’t stop there-don’t forget to visit IAmagazine.com for the issue’s Online Extras as well.

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