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Industry News
IIABA News
Board, Member Meeting Notice
Pursuant to Article V, Section 3, of the Constitution of the Independent Insurance Agents & Brokers of America, Inc., notice is hereby given that a meeting of the National Board of State Directors of the Independent Insurance Agents & Brokers of America, Inc., will be held in San Diego, Calif., at the Manchester Grand Hyatt Sept. 29-30, 2007.
In connection with the above-referenced meeting of the National Board of State Directors, your attention is directed to the
Rules and Regulations of the Board, part of which read as follows:
“Any member of the Board may request any subject to be placed on the agenda by transmitting such item to a Senior Staff Corporate Officer of the National Association thirty (30) days prior to any meeting.”
Notice also is hereby given pursuant to the above-referenced provisions of the Constitution that a meeting of the members of the Independent Insurance Agents & Brokers of America, Inc., will be held in conjunction with the National Board of State Directors’ meeting in San Diego, Calif., at the Manchester Grand Hyatt Sept. 29-30, 2007.
Please take further notice that the membership of the Independent Insurance Agents & Brokers of America, Inc., will be requested at the meeting of the membership to:
1) Elect the president-elect of IIABA for the corporate/fiscal year 2007-2008;
2) Ratify all actions taken by the Executive Committee, the National Board of State Directors, IIABA committees and officers and IIABA staff since the membership meeting held Sept. 9-10, 2006, in New Orleans at the Hilton New Orleans Riverside;
3) Consider replacing the IIABA Constitution with newly drafted Bylaws (subject to possible revision by the members at the meeting of the members referenced above), which draft will be available to members for review no later than Aug. 30, 2007, by logging on to www.independentagent.com, selecting “Legal Advocacy,” then “IIABA/Industry Information & News” and choosing “Membership Information” (which requires members to log on to the site with their user ID and password); and
4) Consider such other business as may appropriately come before this meeting.
If you have questions or need further information, contact Debra Perkins at debra.perkins@iiaba.net
BIG “I” ADVANTAGEsm
Caliper Offers Free Planning Webinar
Caliper will sponsor a free Webinar, “How to Develop the Future Executives of Your Organization,” through HR.com on Wednesday, Sept. 12.
The Webinar will address:
• How to determine the appropriate succession plan for your organization;
• The personality traits/qualities your future leaders need in order to continue the growth of your organization;
• How to build a talent pool that can help you select your future key leaders; and
• The steps involved in the succession planning process and how to implement them.
For more information and to register, contact Caliper’s Tara Putnam at tputnam@calipercorp.com.
TRUSTED CHOICE®
Year of Trusted Choice® TV Ads Planned
The past year of advertising has been very successful for Trusted Choice®, so we are continuing with the ad strategy of advertising for two weeks every month on national cable channels. This schedule works because not only are many consumers seeing the ads, but it also allows many more tie-in opportunities for Trusted Choice® agencies. This all leads to a greater consistency in exposure to the brand for consumers.
Trusted Choice® will continue with this strategy for another year, starting in September. The cable networks for each of those months are as follows:
For detailed programming schedules, click on the appropriate channel.
Trusted Choice® has the whole year planned well in advance, which should help you secure good advertising rates when you purchase the media space early. The media space is the only cost to you, as you can log onto the “Agents/Brokers” area on TrustedChoice.com, under “Advertising,” and find print, billboard, radio and television ads produced specifically with Trusted Choice® agencies in mind. Agencies can tag all of the advertisements with their contact information.
Significantly raise the profile of your Trusted Choice® agency with local consumers—including existing and prospective customers—by investing a little time and resources in advertising today. For additional information, contact Jenner Gohr at 800-221-7197; jenner.gohr@iiaba.net.
EDUCATION
Sales Training for Agency Owners, Managers
The Associate in Insurance Agency Operations (AIAO) program offers a three-day session on managing an agency’s the sales process. Planning and goal setting are part of an overall program that helps an agency manager, or anyone who hopes to be one, build on the vision for consultative sales within their organization. Participants will learn more about effective negotiations and techniques on managing the sales process and the sales forces they lead.
This session will be held Dec. 4-6 in Alexandria, Va., and is part of the overall program that leads to earning the AIAO professional designation. The other parts of the program are Strategic Planning (Sept. 18-20) and Superior Customer Service (Feb. 12-13, 2008). The various parts can be taken in any order, so if the upcoming September dates do not work for you, you can still start the program in December with this sales part (Strategic Planning will be offered again at dates TBA in 2008).
The tuition is $1,600 for the entire three-part series if you register for one of these three segments (normally $2,000) and can be paid in installments. Hurry, class size is limited to just 15 students and is open to all Big “I” members and staff. Click hereto download more information or contact Gwen Garvin at gwen.garvin@iiaba.net.
BIG “I” MARKETS sm
Be There For Banks
Lenders need the right kind of management liability coverage. Consider the following claim scenario: A bank raises capital through an offering of equity securities. After the offering, the bank’s financial condition and performance decline, lowering its value—and also the value of its securities. The investors bring an action against the bank, as well as the directors and officers, alleging negligent misrepresentation of the bank’s business prospects, earnings, expansion plans and future business prospects.
The best way a bank or credit union can protect itself is to make sure it is protected by one of the best insurance policies available. Big “I” members have access to such a product through the Travelers SelectOne sm product for Community Banks. One of the best things about Travelers is that you don’t have to worry about being an expert in banking. If you can get an appointment with the bank officer who handles insurance, you can enlist the support of the Travelers underwriter who will even make the sales presentation for or with you if you need. So don’t be afraid of this business. Leverage your community contacts and go after these kinds of opportunities. Visit www.bigimarkets.com to learn more or submit a quote today.
InVEST
Annual Report Now Available
For 30 years, InVEST has been leading the industry in recruitment and training young professionals in the insurance industry by offering basic insurance instruction in the high school classroom. In the past few years, the program has expanded to the community college and vocational school levels. Bringing educators and insurance people together as a team to open a student’s eyes to the opportunities of an insurance career is what InVEST is all about. Learn about the stories of some of these people in our latest Annual Report. To download a PDF of the document, click here. For more information or to request a copy of this report, contact Amber Williamson at amber.williamson@iiaba.net.
BIG “I” FLOOD PROGRAM sm
Hurricane Season Entering Peak Season
The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration’s 2007Atlantic hurricane season outlook indicates a 75% chance (very high) of an above-normal hurricane season, and contrary to popular belief, Florida isn’t the only area at risk. The Federal Emergency Management Association recently issued a press release reminding homeowners that “many scientists predict the Northeast is long overdue for a major hurricane.” The month of August typically marks the beginning of the active part of hurricane season, so if you have customers with coastal property, now a good time to consider their protection.
Be proactive and help your customers make sure they are prepared in the event of a flooding incident. Click here for a useful document you can print and either give or send to clients. It tells them how to prepare for a flood, how to create an emergency plan and what to do to stay safe during a flood. Visit www.independentagent.com/Floodto learn about how you can take advantage of the Big “I” Flood Program, or contact Linda Mackey at linda.mackey@iiaba.net.
IIABA NEWS
Back-to-School Media Spotlight
Big “I” CEO Bob Rusbuldt appeared on CNN and Headline News last weekend on the program “Open House,” a show about homeowner and real estate issues. Rusbuldt provided insurance tips for the millions of families sending students back to college this time of year. In his interview with host Gerri Willis, he discussed renters policies for students living off-campus, auto insurance tips for those taking cars to school and those leaving vehicles behind and important health and property coverage advice for students preparing to study abroad.
The segment was taped at CNN’s New York studio and aired three times over the weekend for an audience of over a million viewers. For more information on college insurance issues, click here. For more information, contact Sue Nester at 703-706-5448; susan.nester@iiaba.net.
IIABA News
Prather Joins Government Affairs Team
The Big “I” Government Affairs team recently welcomed Kristen Prather as its manager of political affairs. In her new position, Prather will oversee the day-to-day activities of InsurPac and assist with a variety of other political projects. She has worked in the office of Rep. Ralph Regula (R-Ohio) as an assistant and intern. Prather graduated Magna Cum Laude from Catawba College in 2004.
YOUNG AGENTS
Leadership Institute Features Breakout Sessions
The 2007 Young Agents Leadership Institute, be held Sept. 28-30, 2007 at the Manchester Grand Hyatt in San Diego, Calif., includes a full program of speakers, breakout sessions, panel discussions and networking events. Distinct breakout sessions focusing on membership development, communications and political involvement can help enhance Young Agents programs across the country. Attendees will learn how to boost their current efforts and learn new ways to develop and improve their programs. Attendees will leave the program with a plan of action to utilize for the year ahead of them. Breakout session speakers include:
• Membership development: Lisa Harrington; vice president of education, Florida Association of Insurance Agents;
• Communications: Susie Bonner; non-profit marketing manager, IIABA; and
• Political involvement: Randy Lanoix; state national director of Louisiana and Government Affairs committee member.
Don’t let this opportunity pass you by—click here for event updates and to register online. For more information, contact Katie Cosgrove at 800-221-7917; katie.cosgrove@iiaba.net.
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