June 29, 2004

 

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

Come experience the new and beautiful Village of Baytowne Wharf in the Sandestin Resort. The Young Agents conference is July 22-24, 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 topics are “Four Phases of Attitude” and “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.

 

NATIONAL LEGISLATIVE NEWS: House and Senate Introduce Bills to Assist with Do Not Fax Laws

After a year of aggressive education and lobbying by IIABA and others, a bill to exempt existing business relationships from anti-fax laws has advanced in the House and has been introduced in the Senate. In response to last year’s FCC Do-Not-Fax ruling, The Junk Fax Prevention Act (HR 4600) would reverse the onerous June 2003 FCC rule and exempt all commercial faxes to recipients with whom an existing business relationship (EBR) exists. The House Energy and Commerce Committee approved H.R. 4600 late last week. Separately, a Companion bill (S. 2603) by the same title was introduced in the Senate last week. AIIA requests that you contact your Congressional Representatives in support of these bills in order to secure the passage of these acts. Sample letters are attached for the House and the Senate as well as contact information for lawmakers. Please contact your representatives and senators today.

 

The Junk Fax Prevention Act reverses the Federal Communication Commission’s (FCC) onerous rule from June 2003 that removed the exemption status for all commercial faxes to recipients with whom an existing business relationship (EBR) exists. Without this exemption, all faxes that are an advertisement of goods or services would require express written permission from the recipient; violators of this rule would be subject to fines of up to $11K per incident. Due to its extensive bipartisan support, we are hoping for expeditious consideration from the full House of Representatives. The details of H.R. 4600 are as follows:

 

This is a very positive development on a rule that has the potential to cost both state associations and our members who rely on facsimiles as a means of commercial communication thousands of dollars a year. IIABA will continue to lobby this bill and the pending Senate companion with the hope of having this issue legislated out of the hands of the FCC prior to the expiration of the emergency stay, January 1, 2005.

 

This bill, if it becomes law, will provide a crucial exemption for businesses and associations like AIIA, who need to be able to send commercial faxes to individuals with whom they do business without collecting and maintaining written consent forms. The bill also protects consumers by creating an opt-out mechanism for those who wish to be removed from fax lists. “We commend the House Energy and Commerce Committee for advancing this important legislation as well as the senators who introduced their companion bill, and we urge the entire House and Senate to take it up and pass it expeditiously,” says IIABA’s grassroots coordinator Patrick O’Brien.

 

AIIA Capital Campaign – Who Will Help Us Break $700,000?

Exciting news! AIIA’s Building for Tomorrow’s Capital Campaign nears $700,000! Thanks to the following contributors who raised our pledge total to $695,900! We are so close to $700,000 – Who will be the one to break $700,000? Will you help us reach our goal? Call in your pledge to AIIA today! 205-326-4129.

Brian Skinner, Crawford-Skinner, Springville  $2,000

Morris Slingluff, Slingluff United, Dothan   $1,000

Young Agent Contributor Gordon Newman, Southern States Insurance, Huntsville  $400

Jim Farrior, Colonial Insurance, Montgomery  $250

Phillip & Jan Underwood, Talladega Insurance, Talladega  $1,000

Ginger Spencer, Hampton Insurance Agency, Tuscaloosa  $1,000

The Mobile Local Board, Mobile $2,000

Ed Mikos, Mikos/Kampakis Insurance, Birmingham  $2,000

Thanks so much to all Capital Campaign Contributors! We cannot do it without your help!

 

NATIONAL LEGISLATIVE NEWS: Big “I” Hails Passage of Flood Insurance Bill

Hard work by the Big “I” government relations team paid off last week when the House passed the Flood Insurance Reform Act (S. 2238). The bill will renew the National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP) for five years through September 2009 and reform it through several provisions, including implementation of a pilot mitigation program targeting repetitive flood-loss properties. The Senate passed the measure last Wednesday. With the House vote, the legislation now goes to President Bush for enactment. The Big “I” worked closely with leaders in both chambers to pass this legislation renewing and reforming the flood insurance program, which covers more than 4.4 million homeowners nationwide, before its expiration date of June 30. Members of Congress the Big “I” worked with on this important legislation included: House Financial Services Committee Chairman Mike Oxley (R-Ohio), Insurance Subcommittee Chairman Richard Baker (R-La.), Rep. Doug Bereuter (R-Neb.), Housing Subcommittee Chairman Bob Ney (R-Ohio) and Ranking Member Barney Frank (D-Mass.), as well as Senate Banking Committee Chairman Richard Shelby (R-Ala.), Economic Policy Subcommittee Chairman Jim Bunning (R-Ky.) and Ranking Member Paul Sarbanes (D-Md.).

 

EDUCATION OPPORTUNITIES

"Insuring Contractors" Class Coming to Alabama in July. Don't miss this practical course taught by Patrick Deem, CIC. Patrick is one of the nation's most highly sought after instructors and expert witnesses, with excellent practical knowledge on every line of insurance that is commonly written on contractors. Topics include general liability, business auto, contractual liability issues, builders risk, workers compensation and more. Questions from the class will be taken, so be sure to bring your questions. This course is approved for 6 hours CE credit. Class meets 8am until 3pm on July 27 in Mobile, July 28 in Montgomery, July 29 in Birmingham, and July 30 in Huntsville. Cost is only $80.00 for AIIA members! Space is still available in all cities, but we encourage early registration, as this is a popular class. 

 

CIC, Personal Lines Institute, August 4-6, 2004. Registration is $325. Reserve your spot, as the next available Personal Lines Institute will be in November 2005!

 

EMPLOYMENT / AGENCY OPPORTUNITIES

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 (251) 625-8971.

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

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.

Ø      Seeking Commercial Lines Assistant. Birmingham agency seeking experienced individual to assist Account Executives with customer service. Please submit resume to fax 205-930-0450, Attn: W. Cochrane or email to wcochrane@jrprewitt.com .

Ø      Experienced Personal Lines Seeks Position.  Experienced Personal Lines agent/CSR seeks position in Birmingham area. If interested, please contact Judy at (205) 254-8353.