T H U R S D A Y ,   N O V E M B E R   1 5 ,   2 0 0 7

Industry News

EDUCATION

National ACSR of the Year Call for Nominations

Know someone who deserves to be the ACSR of the Year? Nominations are now being accepted for the award, which honors insurance CSRs who demonstrate the highest levels of commitment to the industry by earning their personal, commercial or life-health ACSR designation and also provide outstanding service to their clients and agency. The ACSR of the Year program was created to acknowledge the crucial value CSRs bring to the independent agency system and the clients they serve. Consistently delivering superior customer service is one of the most important things an agency can do to enhance its value, and those who obtain their ACSR designation demonstrate the ultimate commitment to that critical goal.

Award candidates must meet the following criteria to be considered: hold a minimum of one ACSR designation line (P/L, C/L L/H); complete a simple application form; write an essay answering one of three provided questions in 1,000 words or less and submit letters of recommendation. The National ACSR of the Year competition offers an opportunity to showcase an agency and its staff and also provides a monetary award, engraved plaque and registration for one CPCU or IIA course offered by AICPCU/IIA to the winner. Agency principals are encouraged to nominate their ACSRs, but ACSRs may also nominate themselves. As an added bonus, the recipient will be announced on Feb. 27, 2008, ACSR Tribute Day, when ACSRs all over the country are lauded for their industry service. The deadline for all materials has been extended to Dec. 14. Please click here to download an award entry packet. For more information on the ACSR program, e-mail ACSR@iiaba.net.

VIRTUAL UNIVERSITY

Click to It

Big “I” members have access to more than 5,000 full-text articles on a variety of insurance topics and issues simply by accessing the Big “I” Virtual University’s Research Library. Members can do this research in their office, at home or wherever and whenever they’re searching the Web.

From technology to coverage analysis, the VU’s Research Library can help with members’ operational initiatives or sales strategies. While no library card is required, members do need their ID and password to access this free benefit. Click here to login or, if you don’t know your ID and password, follow the instructions to obtain one today. Also, make sure everyone in the office has their information. Take time to visit the VU and subscribe the free VUPoint newsletter to receive new articles published regularly on the latest trends and topics important to the success of every agency.

BEST PRACTICES

Importance of Disaster Planning

It’s a different world than it was before Sept. 11, 2001. Today, everyone is more aware of their vulnerabilities, more appreciative of their freedoms and more understanding of the personal responsibility for preserving the safety of families, neighbors and businesses. Agents know disaster preparedness works. Research shows that 85% of companies who do not have a recovery plan fail shortly after their business is interrupted by a crisis, and insurance doesn’t seem to prevent this unfortunate statistic.

Agency owners or managers can take action now that will help protect employees, reduce the impact an emergency has on their agency operations and deal with the chaos if an incident occurs.

Prepare a plan to get back into operation quickly. With the Best Practices of Crisis Management, a unique, CD-based software package that will help with recovery planning, agency owners and managers will identify their agency’s essential team and their response priorities for action. And, for those who require stewardship during the creation of their plan, a crisis tool consultant can help with completing their plan.

The Best Practices of Crisis Management can help you:

* Create a response team for emergency business shut-down.
* Identify the tasks the team will focus on.
* Work out the details of what team members will do.
* Create an emergency call list of essential people and services.
* Create worksheets, forms and checklists to assist in assessing damage and facilitating recovery.

With all these time and cost-saving features, agencies can’t afford not to protect their business with The Best Practices of Crisis Management. Click here to order and to learn how cost-effective peace of mind can be.


InVEST

Scholarship Program Accepting Applications

InVEST awarded $43,000 in scholarships last spring to students participating in a high school or community college InVEST class and pursuing higher education with an emphasis on insurance or a related business field such as finance or marketing.

With the new school year, the process starts all over again. Click here to download the InVEST scholarship application and to learn more about eligibility and requirements. Applications and essay entries must be received by April 18, 2008. InVEST encourages agents involved in the program to begin promoting the scholarships now to help raise the level of awareness for students. 

Two other InVEST awards also will be presented next spring: The InVEST Teacher of the Year award, which recognizes an InVEST teacher who has made substantial contributions to his or her InVEST students, and the Dach Award, bestowed upon an InVEST industry liaison(s) dedicated to their InVEST students. Submissions for both awards are due March 14, 2008. Click here for more information.

For more information on InVEST, visit www.independentagent.com and click “InVEST” or contact Amber Williamson at 703-706-5425; amber.williamson@iiaba.net.


TRUSTED CHOICE^®

Live the Brand Month by Month

Have you been following the weekly and monthly agency activities in the Trusted Choice^® “Living the Brand” guide? Need some peer motivation to do it? Join Big “I” Chairman Bob Fulwider each month in the “Chairman’s Voice” column in IA magazine as his agency tackles the “Living the Brand” guide month by month. Share your agency’s branding success stories with Trusted Choice^®! Contact Jenner Gohr at jenner.gohr@iiaba.net.