May 25, 2004

 

Have You Joined AIIA’s Capital Campaign?

The fundraising campaign for the new building is off to a great start, but we need the assistance of ALL members. We still need more than $450,000 to meet our building goal. Every contribution is important, and everyone will be recognized in a place in AIIA history. Even though we’ve met the halfway mark of $500,000, we need your participation. We would love to have 100% participation from our agency and associate members. Remember, any contribution helps!

Infinity Insurance Donates $5,000 to New AIIA Building

Please join AIIA in thanking Infinity Insurance for the $5,000 donation to our new facility! Thanks, Infinity!

 

Thanks to the following Capital Campaign Contributors for their recent pledges:

Thanks to the Insurance Marketing Association of Alabama, IMAA, who pledged $1,000 to AIIA’s Capital Campaign. IMAA represents the following companies:  Alabama Self-Insured Worker's Compensation Fund, First City Insurance Brokers, ARIC, Zurich Small Business, American Mining, National Security, Alabama Trucking Association, Encompass Insurance, Southern Coastal Underwriters, Allied Underwriting, Southern Insurance Underwriters, Anchor MGA, Penn National, American Century Casualty, EMC, The Gulf Agency, Southern Guaranty, Merchants Property, Ala. Public Auto, Victoria Insurance Group, The Covenant Group, MetLife Auto & Home, Travelers, Burns & Wilcox LTD, Jim Webb, Alabama Retail Association, United Fire Group and Pennsylvania Lumbermens. 

Lin Moore, Pritchett-Moore, Tuscaloosa  $3,000

Joni Holt, Ken Holt Insurance Agency, Bessemer  $1,000

Frederick Renneker, HRH, Birmingham  $1,000

Mike Shannon, Shannon & Banks, Gadsden  $1,000

Clinton Bothwell, Harleysville Insurance, Nashville $500

Dennis Stastka, Stastka Insurance Agency, Robertsdale  $1,000

Gerald Marks, Stovall-Marks Insurance, Decatur  $1,000

Young Agent Contributor TJ Grimwood, Grimwood Insurance, Huntsville  $400

Young Agent Contributor Tom Bonhaus, Pritchett-Moore, Tuscaloosa  $400

Richard Hull, RF Hull & Associates, Tuscaloosa  $250

Lana Mawhinney, LMJ Corporation, Birmingham  $1,000

Eddie Pruett, Blackbelt Insurors, Marion  $1,000

Insurance Place, Birmingham  $500

 

Convention is Just A Few Weeks Away! Largest Trade Show Ever!

We’ve set a new record! Thanks to all convention registrants, sponsors and exhibitors for participating in what will be the largest Trade Show in AIIA history. Once all of the trade show booths were filled, many companies still wanted to join the AIIA Trade Show, so we opened up additional booths to accommodate! There are one or two booths left, call Nancy Crowe or Kim Kay at (205) 326-4129 today.

 

Don’t forget that AIIA offers events for the entire family. Golf and Fishing events occur Friday afternoon; and Saturday morning there is a special Ladies Program for spouses not attending the General Session. It will be fun, fun, fun in the sun June 10-12 at the Sandestin Hilton. You do not want to miss your lucky chance to spin Progressive’s Wheel of Fortune. Relax with our favorite party band - “Meet The Press,” performing Thursday night poolside adjacent to the hospitality suites. What will hypnotist and motivational speaker Robert Ian inspire you to do? Infinity Insurance will offer several free CEU classes. Guest speakers include IIABA President-Elect Thomas Grau, CPCU, Joey Ammons from the Alabama Dept. of Industrial Relations, Cathy Rein, CEO and President of MetLife Auto & Home, will speak about the state of the industry. Register online at www.aiia.org, click Meetings. Don’t want to register online? Need a registration form? Call Kim Kay or Nancy Crowe at (205) 326-4129.

 

AIIA Young Agent Conference is July 22-24 at the New Baytowne Village Resort

Come stay in the new Sandestin Resort property – the Village of Baytowne Wharf. The Young Agents conference is July 22-24 this year, and will not overlap the back to school rush of August. Come experience a taste of New Orleans in this pedestrian setting. Full of shops, eateries and a rich atmosphere, the Village will be the perfect spot to mix business with pleasure. Speaker Steve Morgan is back by popular demand. His high energy and topics received great response the last time he joined us. His topic this year is, “Four Phases of Attitude & Customer Relations.” We all know attitude plays in huge role in our daily interaction with customers. Fun events include a dolphin cruise for all ages and a golf tournament. Registration information is available online at www.aiia.org or call Nancy Crowe or Kim Kay at (205) 326-4129.

 

ON THE HILL: Allies Rally Against Crop Insurance Cuts
Nearly 100 members of Congress, both Democrats and Republicans, have inundated Agriculture Secretary Ann Veneman with letters opposing plans to cut $41 million from the crop insurance program and make other troublesome changes. The Big “I” has played a crucial role in mobilizing lawmakers of both parties to contact Veneman in opposition to the proposed Standard Reinsurance Agreement (SRA) proposed by U.S. Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) Risk Management Agency (RMA). Members of Congress have echoed Big “I” concerns that the proposals could gut agent commissions and drive independent agents out of the crop insurance business—a development that ultimately would hurt farmers. A total of 54 House members organized by Reps. Earl Pomeroy (D-N.D.) and Jack Kingston (R-Ga.) wrote Veneman to ask for “a full analysis of the proposed SRA … so that we may fully evaluate provisions that could accelerate any further concentration of the crop insurance industry." The entire Idaho congressional delegation, Republican Sens. Larry Craig and Mike Crapo and Reps. Mike Simpson and C.L. (Butch) Otter, also wrote Veneman last week to express concerns. Additionally, 15 senators earlier wrote a joint letter to Veneman on this issue, and a number of other individual senators and representatives have written letters as well. The Big “I” urges its members to keep the pressure on by contacting their elected representatives and the USDA on this issue.

 

 EMPLOYMENT / AGENCY OPPORTUNITIES

Ø      Underwriter Needed. Underwriter needed for fast-paced MGA in Florence. NAI seeks an experienced E&S binding underwriter. www.nai1982.com Send resume and salary requirements to P.O. Box 2909, Florence, AL 35630.

Ø      Seeking Licensed C/L Producer. Hoover / Vestavia Hills agency seeks licensed commercial lines producer. Excellent work environment & commissions. Submit confidential resume (205) 979-3919 or email to cull6453@bellsouth.net

Ø      C/L CSR Seeks Position. Licensed CSR with CISR designation seeks position in Birmingham area. Please contact Brenda Hope @ 205-791-2985.

Ø      C/L Lines Marketer Seeks Position.  Experienced commercial lines marketer seeks agency position in the Mobile area performing marketing and/or agency management function. Contact Dick MacDonald at (205) 625-8971.

Ø      Seeking P&C Producer. Florence agency needs P&C producer. Please call (256) 766-2222 for more info.

Ø      PL CSR Seeking Position. Licensed personal lines CSR seeks position in Jefferson / Shelby County. 23 years of experience. Call Lavelle Huff at (205) 680-1799.

Ø      Seeking Receptionist. Birmingham agency seeks receptionist with light computer skills. Please call (205) 969-2131.

Ø      Seeking P&C Producers: Agency needs P&C producers in Alabama to sell top Auto insurance. For appointment or sponsorship, call (205) 795-2540.

Ø      Seeking Agents:  Birmingham area agency looking for agents to solicit surety accounts. Agency will provide office space and is willing to split commissions 50/50 with the agent on all business they produce. All inquires confidential. Send all inquiries to PO Box 449, Trussville, AL  35173.