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Online Branding Course Now Available |  Prepare Your Students for Scholarships |  Young Agents Leadership Institute |  Apply for a Grant | Big "I" in the Media | Save the Date | Sneak Peek of October Issue | Industry News

T R U S T E D     C H O I C E ®
Online Branding Course Now Available

Branding is vital to establish an identity and cement a reputation with consumers. Would a roadmap be helpful as you co-brand your agency with Trusted Choice®? Are you looking for creative ways to strengthen your agency’s local brand with Trusted Choice®? Trusted Choice® and the Big "I" Virtual University have just the resource for you. The brand program and the Big "I" online insurance education center have teamed up to offer a three-hour online course based on the highly acclaimed "Zoom in on Branding" workbook created by Trusted Choice®.

This valuable Internet-based course offers step-by-step guidance—specifically oriented toward independent agents and brokers—on creating and maintaining a powerhouse brand. Your agency’s brand is the most important asset you manage. Through this course, you will learn how to manage your firm’s brand, how to leverage its strengths and how to increase customer loyalty, which drives more revenue to your agency. You can work through the course at your own pace over a year timeframe. Along the way, you can test your knowledge and participate in fun and innovative online activities to get your creative juices flowing. Once registered, you will have access to the course for a year, allowing you to go back and review areas where you need more help or to get new ideas.

Register for this new online course before Dec. 31 and you will save $10 off the $65 fee. Use the discount code TCDISC to get your special discount! To register click here, then click "National Courses" and then "Zoom in on Branding". For more information, contact Madelyn Flannagan at madelyn.flannagan@iiaba.net  or Jeff Myers at jeff.myers@iiaba.net; (800) 221-7917.

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I N V E S T
Prepare Students for Scholarships

Every year, InVEST awards several scholarships to students currently participating in a high school or community college InVEST class and pursuing higher education with an emphasis on insurance or a related business field. Entries must be received by April 28, 2006. InVEST encourages agents involved in the program to begin promoting the scholarships now to help rise the level of awareness for students.

For future consideration, students must submit the following materials: A completed application form, a letter of recommendation from their InVEST teacher, an essay about the benefits and effects of InVEST, a copy of school transcript, SAT or other college entrance exam scores and a photo. For more information, please contact Lisa Williams at 800-221-7917; lisa.williams@iiaba.net.

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Y O U N G   A G E N T S
Young Agents Leadership Institute

Save the Date! The Young Agents Leadership Institute will take place Sept. 8 through 10, 2006, in conjunction with the NBSD meeting being held at the Hilton New Orleans Riverside. For more information, contact Leslie Mularski at 800-221-7917; leslie.mularski@iiaba.net.

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K A T R I N A   R E L I E F   F U N   D
Apply for a Grant

The Big "I" Katrina Relief Fund is now accepting applications for grants from affected agents. To download an application, click here. To read the Big "I" Katrina Relief Fund Distribution Guidelines, click here.

The Big "I" Katrina Relief Fund has collected more than $300,000 to date. The fund will assist those whose lives have been tragically altered by Hurricane Katrina and its aftermath. All donations will assist insurance industry colleagues, including independent agents, brokers, their employees and families in the impacted areas.

Checks should be made payable to "Big ‘I’ Katrina Relief Fund" and mailed to:

Big "I" Katrina Relief Fund
c/o InsurBanc
10 Executive Drive
Farmington, CT 06032

If you prefer to contribute via credit card, please click here.

All funds contributed to the Big "I" Katrina Relief Fund are tax deductible as charitable contributions.

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I I A B A   N E W S
Big "I" in the Media

In covering the long-term effects of Hurricane Katrina’s devastation, the broadcast and print media turned to the Big "I" for insurance and storm recovery expertise. Big "I" leaders recently appeared on local and national newscasts offering advice and damage assessments for TV viewers everywhere. Big "I" CEO Bob Rusbuldt appeared on CNN’s "Lou Dobbs Tonight" and also participated in a lively debate on CNBC about the Mississippi attorney general’s lawsuit against insurance companies. Madelyn Flannagan, Big "I" vice president of education and research, appeared on MSNBC and is working with CNN on a story to air Saturday at 9:30 a.m. Flannagan also was quoted recently in two articles in USA Today discussing the insurance precautions to should be aware of when opening your home to hurricane survivors, and steps consumers should take to prepare for a disaster, including protecting their important documents. The Washington Post quoted Randy Lanoix, SND of Louisiana, about hardships his customers face in getting their claims handled. The New York Times quoted David Treutel of the Treutel Agency in Bay St. Louis, Miss., about the challenges agents face in running their businesses in the wake of Katrina. For more information, please contact Emily Crane at 800-221-7917; emily.crane@iiaba.net.

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B I G   " I "   C O N V E N T I O   N
Save the Date

Mark your calendars now for the 2006 Big "I" National Legislative Conference & Convention! Join fellow agents and brokers, Big "I" staff, and company partners April 26 through April 28, 2006, at the Grand Hyatt Washington and Convention Center in Washington, D.C. This is the first time the National Legislative Conference and Big "I" Convention will be held consecutively, creating a groundbreaking insurance industry event and great networking opportunity. For more information, contact the Events and Conferences Department at 800-221-7917.

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I A   M A G A Z I N E
Sneak Peek of October Issue

The October issue of Independent Agent magazine is now available. Among this issue’s features: "Sharing the Passion," an in-depth profile of new Big "I" President Bill Stiglitz; "Money, Money, Money," insights into insuring clients with deep pockets; "Stick to Value Nuts and Bolts," a primer about determining your agency’s value; "Rev Up Your Retirement Planning," which examines how to make your agency the primary source for clients’ retirement needs; and more! And it doesn’t stop there—don’t forget to visit IAmagazine.comfor this issue’s Online Extras as well.

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