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Industry News

IIABA News
Last Chance for Member Survey

Thank you to all agencies who have participated in the Big “I” national voice of the member study. If you still haven’t responded, it’s your last chance--- please take the time to share your feedback by midnight tonight (Aug. 28).

The e-mail invitation has a subject line of “National Big “I” voice of the member study: Your invitation.” This is the first time in more than a decade the national association has done a comprehensive member survey, and we need your input! Please take the time to tell us what Big “I” benefits you value most and what else the association can do to better serve your agency. The association has hired Vincent Mcabe, a third-party research firm, to ensure all results are confidential. For every survey response received, Trusted Choice^® will donate $10 to the association’s Disaster Relief Fund, which provides assistance to those who have suffered losses due to natural or man-made disasters. If you have questions regarding the survey, contact Katie Butler at 800-221-7917; katie.butler@iiaba.net.

IIABA News
Back to School with the Big “I”

Now that it's back-to-school season, families --- and the media --- are focusing on what students and their parents need to know to start the year off right. ABC News recently produced a “Money Minute” segment about IIABA’s tips on insurance needs for college students. This personal finance piece was distributed to all ABC local broadcast affiliates for use on their own newscasts. The story will be seen by approximately 2 million viewers in cities across the nation. To read more Big “I” college insurance tips, visit www.TrustedChoice.com. For more information on the news piece, contact Sue Nester, Big “I” broadcast media director, at 703-706-5448; susan.nester@iiaba.net.


Big “I” Markets
Agency-of-the-Year Competition Heats Up

Competition for the Big “I” Markets Agency-of-the-Year Awards is in full swing. Agencies are competing for two awards: 1) The “High Flyer” award, which is given for the highest amount of premium written on Big “I” Markets; 2) The “King Pin” award given to the agency that binds the most polices (i.e. knocks down the most pins).

The race for the agency with the most written premium has been heating up as the producers at the Kirby agency continue to write more of the Chubb Masterpiece^® product for affluent homeowners. Meanwhile, the Thomas Heist agency has wasted no time taking advantage of the new habitational market with the $48,000 in habitational premium written recently.

Year-to-date standings for premium written in 2008* are as follows:

1. Mid State Insurance Center in Floral City, Fla. with $1,278, 401.
2. John L. Kirby in Jacksonville, Fla. with $1,029,182.
3. Thomas Heist Agency in Ocean City, N.J. with $48,676
4. Zolofra Insurance Agency in Red Bank, N.J. with $480,003.
5. Allied General Insurance in Winter Park, Fla. with $472,784.

*Standings are reflective of premium reported by the carrier and billed in our system before 7/31/08. Some premium may not be accounted for until next month.

There’s no change at the top of the standings for the agency with the most number of binders as the Stowe agency has ridden the vacation income property product to a big lead. Arndt-McBee has made a move into the top five on the strength of its aggressive use of the RLI personal umbrella product, while the Fraser Brothers and Kagawa agencies are on a roll with the Fireman’s Fund Prestige^® Portfolio product for affluent homeowners.

Congratulations to all the agencies on the leader board! For those who would like to get into the game, visit www.bigimarkets.com and start quoting today!


Big “I” Fall Leadership Conference
Online Registration Closing Soon

Online registration for our 2009 Big “I” Fall Leadership Conference will close Sept. 5. Don’t forget to register yourself and any guests for the Installation of Officers Luncheon on Sept. 13 if you plan to attend. Luncheon tickets will be distributed onsite with registration materials. Click here to find details about the event or to register online.  There are also spaces left to play in the golf tournament on Sept. 12. Click here for details about the tournament or to register online. If you have registration questions, please contact Lauren Batch at 800-221-7917; lauren.batch@iiaba.net. 


Young Agents
Viva Young Agents – Have you Registered Yet?

Join fellow Young Agents at the 2008 Young Agents Leadership Institute, Sept. 12-13 at Caesars Palace in Las Vegas. This exciting event features the following programs:

Sept. 12
- Staff Liaison and State Committee Chairs Roundtable Discussion
- Young Agents Opening Session - Technology Forum
- Young Agents Welcome Reception
- Young Agents Awards Reception with Big “I” Leadership
- Young Agents Evening Event

Sept. 13
- Young Agents Breakfast with motivational keynote speaker, Jeff Tobe
- Unprepared for a Critical Moment: Small Business and the Risks of Personal Data Breach
- Big “I” Installation of Officers Luncheon
- The Magnificent Seven
- Young Agents at Margaritaville

The feature segment of this event is the Magnificent Seven, an interactive panel of the 2008 YAC award winners. Attendees will learn from young ygents who will offer insight into how they achieved award winning results for their program.

Don’t let this opportunity pass you by, visit www.independentagent.com and click on Events for updates on the institute and for online registration. For more information, contact Katie Cosgrove at 800-221-7917; katie.cosgrove@iiaba.net.