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Big "I" on the Little Screen Following Hurricane |  Don’t Miss Big "I" Advantage Flood Insurance Workshop |  Not too Late: Register On-Site |  Flood Tips Available Online  |  Financial Services Veteran Takes Helm |  National Ad Campaign Airs Next Week |  September Issue Now Out | Industry News

H U R R I C A N E   U P D A T E 
Big "I" on the Little Screen Following Hurricane

In covering Hurricane Katrina’s devastation, the broadcast media turned to the Big "I" for insurance and storm recovery expertise. In a spate of interviews in the days following the catastrophe, Big "I" leaders appeared on local and national newscasts offering advice and damage assessments for TV viewers everywhere. Big "I" CEO Bob Rusbuldt appeared on Fox News Channel’s "Your World with Neil Cavuto," MSNBC and several local newscasts. Executive Committee member David Daniel of Daniel Eustis Insurance in Baton Rouge, La., offered a ground-level assessment of the damage and challenge ahead in a live interview from the storm-torn region on CNN. Big "I" member Eileen Frank of J.P. West, Inc., in New York City, appeared on the nationally syndicated program "Business Week TV" to discuss where and how homeowners may be underinsured for disasters such as Hurricane Katrina. The Big "I" media reach extended beyond U.S. borders. Dave Evans, Big "I" senior vice president of retirement and financial planning, was interviewed on CNN International, and Executive Committee member Alex Soto of InSource, Inc., in Miami, Fla., was live on CNN Spanish discussing various aspects of hurricane recovery. For more information on these or other broadcast media appearances, please contact Sue Nester at susan.nester@iiaba.net; 800-221-7917.

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B I G   " I "   C O N V E N T I O N
Don’t Miss Big "I" Advantage Flood Insurance Workshop

In the wake of Hurricane Katrina, flood insurance is a pressing issue for many agents in the affected areas, as well as agents and brokers across the country. Don’t miss this opportunity to learn more about the Big "I" Flood Program on Saturday, Sept. 10, during the Big "I" Advantage workshop "Big ‘I’ Flood Program—Don’t be a Drip, Think Flood." Learn how easy it is to include flood insurance in the portfolio of products you offer to clients. Find out how rewarding selling flood insurance can be and how offering flood coverage can help you avoid errors & omissions claims. Clearly, this is a timely issue and couldn’t be more relevant in today’s insurance climate. Learn about the National Flood Insurance Program from the experts.

Not too Late: Register On-Site

It’s not too late to register for what promises to be one of the best Big "I" meetings on record as thousands of independent insurance agents and brokers and other industry professionals prepare to descend on New York City for the Big "I" Convention.

The convention, the showcase event of the Big "I," will take place Sept. 10 through 12 at the Hilton New York. The event will feature nationally recognized speakers such as "America’s Mayor" Rudy Giuliani, who revitalized New York City during his tenure and inspired his city—and the nation—to come together and move forward in the wake of the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks. The convention also features insightful continuing-education workshops, numerous networking events and the largest trade show in the insurance industry. You can register on-site during registration hours: Sept. 8, 5 to 7 p.m.; Sept. 9, 7:30 a.m. to 6:30 p.m.; Sept. 10, 7:30 a.m. to 7:30 p.m.; Sept. 11, 6:45 a.m. to 6 p.m.; Sept. 12, 7 a.m. to 3 p.m. There are options for one-day only, two-day only, exhibit hall only, and opening or closing reception passes.

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B I G   " I "   A D V A N T A G E
Flood Tips Available Online 

When the phone rings or a customer comes into your office "thinking flood," are you prepared to answer the questions that will come flooding at you? Here are some links with materials provided by the National Flood Insurance Program in the aftermath of Katrina that are now available at www.floodsmart.gov.

Bulletins are coming out quickly from NFIP Bureau concerning claims handling for Katrina and the program operations. Go to the Bureau site and click on the "WYO Company Bulletins" button at the bottom left of the page to access the information about the Single Adjuster Program, Extension of Payment Grace Periods, Advance Claim Payments and more.

For more information about the Big "I" Flood Program, check out the "Underwriting & Coverage" pages as well as "Product Resources" under the flood product at www.bigimarkets.com. And for your flood quote, log to Big "I" Markets and select flood as your product for either personal or commercial accounts. You will receive a 24-to-48-hour response with a quote and application. If you need help with any other flood questions, contact the Big "I" Flood Program’s Linda Mackey or Alisa Johnson at flood@iiaba.net.

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I N S U R B A N C
Financial Services Veteran Takes Helm

InsurBanc announced the appointment of David W. Tralka as the bank’s new president and chief executive officer.

Tralka has more than 20 years experience in banking and financial services. Most recently, he was served as chairman of Merrill Lynch Business Financial Services, part of the Merrill Lynch Global Bank Group. In his tenure at Merrill Lynch, Tralka served in numerous senior management positions, including president of Merrill Lynch Bank and Trust and director of credit operations for small business lending. He began his career at Chemical Bank in New York where he completed their Management Training Program.

"InsurBanc is a fast-growing bank with tremendous potential," Tralka says. "I am excited to join InsurBanc because we are firmly positioned for future growth and continue to be an innovative, leading provider of financial products and services for the independent agency community."

Tralka replaces Michael Herlihy, who left InsurBanc to pursue new opportunities.

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T R U S T E D   C H O I C E ^®
National Ad Campaign Airs Next Week

This is your last chance in 2005 to tie in local advertising with the nationwide Trusted Choice® cable television advertising campaign. The latest ad flight will air Sept. 12 through 25 and will be seen by millions of consumers from coast to coast. The ads will be featured on well-watched cable networks ESPN, FoxNews, Turner Network Television (TNT), The History Channel and Home & Garden Television (HGTV). Nearly 60 spots will air nationwide during many top-rated cable shows, including "SportsCenter" and Major League Baseball on ESPN, "The O’Reilly Factor" on FoxNews, primetime programming on HGTV and The History Channel, as well as popular primetime movies on TNT. This is a great opportunity to run a local ad campaign that ties into the national ad flight. The ads introduce consumers to the Trusted Choice® brand and educate them on the valuable services—choice of companies, customized policies and advocacy support—provided by participating agencies.

Click here to view the nationwide ad flight schedule. You can choose from TV, radio and print ads to run in your local area. Each type of ad explains the benefits of using a Trusted Choice® agency and can include your agency’s name and contact information. A local advertising campaign will give your agency twice the exposure for a relatively small investment and help establish your agency as the Trusted Choice® for local insurance and financial services consumers. Click here to view and order or download the tag-able ads and to learn how to conduct local TV, radio and print advertising campaigns. If you need your agency username click on the "Forget your password?" link on the "Agents/Brokers" sign-in page. For more information, contact Jeff Myers at jeff.myers@iiaba.net or Stacy Heatherington at stacy.heatherington@iiaba.net; 800-221-7917.

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I A   M A G A Z I N E
September Issue Now Out

The September issue of Independent Agent magazine is now out. Slip it into your carry-on bag to flip through on the trip to the Big "I" Convention this week in New York City. Among the issue’s page-turning articles: "The Glamour is Back," an examination of how personal lines have become more sophisticated and profitable; "The Producer Next Door," insights into where to find great employees; "Aging Gracefully," a look at the need for LTC insurance; "The Ripple Effect," which discusses a recent Supreme Court age bias ruling; 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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