July 27, 2004

 

AIIA Capital Campaign – Who Will Help Us Break $800,000?

Thanks to the following contributors who raised our Building for Tomorrow’s Capital Campaign pledge total to $733,150! Who will help us reach $800,000? Will you help us reach our goal? Call in your pledge to AIIA today! 205-326-4129.

Thanks to John Truitt, Truitt Insurance, Birmingham $5,000!

Thanks to Frank Smith and QBE, Anchor MGA, Montgomery  $2,000

Thanks to Newton Gribble, NAI / North Alabama Insurance, Florence  $1,500

David Hobbs, HRH, Birmingham  $1,000

Stan Kasuba, Stan Kasuba Agency, Fairhope  $1,000

Jerry Walker, Walker Insurance Agency, Hamilton  $1,000

Sagamore Insurance Company,  $1,000

Thanks to the employees of Colonial Insurance Agency, Montgomery $150

Robert Froese, Aronov Insurance, Montgomery $500

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

 

AIIA Young Agents Conference Touches Minds and Hearts

The Young Agents conference was held last week at The Village of Baytowne Wharf in the Sandestin Resort. The highlight of the conference was motivational speaker Steve Morgan, who spoke about the “Four Phases of Attitude” and “Customer Relations.” Steve was so dynamic he captivated the hearts and minds of all attendees. His active humorous presentation style had members crying tears of laughter and later, crying tears of thoughtfulness. People who belonged to other groups even joined the morning sessions to learn how to complete the “whole person” by prioritizing the various areas of life and to deal with different personalities types as we encounter them. Conference guests hung on every word Steve spoke. Forty guests watched dolphin swim on the dolphin cruise while several teams competed in the golf tournament. Saturday’s Beach Olympics was hindered by the hot weather, but many young children enjoyed the Mullet Toss, even little girls as young as three. Mark Young accepted the award for Associate Member of the Year on behalf of Alabama Retail Comp. David Ousley of McGriff, Seibels & Williams in Birmingham was honored as the Young Agent of the Year. Next year, the Young Agents conference will be in con junction with the Big “I” Conference in June.

 

STATE NEWS: Alabama Dept. of Insurance Bulletin – Prohibited Policy Cancellations and Non-Renewals

Per a Dept. of Insurance bulletin issued July 20, 2004 – “It shall be prohibited for an insurer to cancel or non-renew a property insurance policy based solely on claims arising from catastrophes, natural disasters, acts of nature, or weather related causes. It shall also be prohibited for an insurer to cancel or non-renew an automobile policy for claims under the comprehensive coverage based solely on claims arising from catastrophes, natural disasters, acts of nature, or weather related causes. This prohibition does not preclude an insurer from canceling or non-renewing either policy in the event of such claim if there are additional substantial reasons for the action such as concealment, misrepresentation, or fraud by the insured relating to this insurance policy whether before or after this loss, which reasons can be verified by the insurer. An offer of placement in another tier within the same company or an offer to place coverage with an affiliate insurer does not constitute cancellation or non-renewal of coverage.

 

“An insurer failing to comply with the directives set forth in this bulletin shall be considered to be engaging in an unfair trade practice and may be subject to a proceeding pursuant to Section 27-12-21, Code of Alabama 1975. This bulletin supercedes and replaces the directives on this subject set forth in the bulleting issued dated July 11, 1995, and for those reasons, said bulleting is hereby withdrawn.”

 

Alabama Dept. Of Insurance Issues Warning on Hawaiian RRG Liquidation

The Alabama Dept. of Insurance issued an alert to Alabama Citizens concerning a Hawaiian risk retention grouped licensed to do business in Alabama that has been placed into a liquidation process by order of a Hawaiian circuit court. The department said Heritage Warranty Mutual Insurance Company RRG was placed in supervision because it does not have enough assets to meet its liabilities. If any Alabama citizen has a claim against a policy from Heritage Warranty Mutual Insurance Company, they are requested to contact Ryan Donaldson, associate counsel, Ala. DOI at (334) 241-4148. Deadline for claims against the company is August 31.

 

Upcoming AIIA Important Dates

Ø      July 28th                           AIIA Board Meeting                             AIIA Office Birmingham

Ø      August 26th                      CIC / CISR Conferment Ceremony        The Club atop Red Mountain, Birmingham

Ø      September 14th                 Big I PAC Golf Tournament                  Prattville Country Club, Prattville

Ø      September 22nd                Small & Rural Agents Conference         The Radisson, Birmingham

Ø      September 29th                 COMMITTEE DAY                             AIIA Office Birmingham

 

EDUCATION OPPORTUNITIES

Ø      The annual CIC / CISR Conferment Ceremony will be held August 26th at The Club, atop Red Mountain in Birmingham. Tickets cost $ 27.50. Time is 12-1pm. Letters are being mailed. To reserve tickets, please contact Nita Blankenship, Director of Education Administration at nblankenship@aiia.org or call (205) 326-4129.

Ø      You Just Thought You Were Going To Update In September! Your CIC update traditionally held in September in Birmingham has been moved to August. If you need your update before the end of October, this is your last chance to do so in Birmingham. Space is limited. Call Nita Blankenship at (205) 326-4129 immediately to reserve your space. Online registrations are accepted at www.aiia.org. We will reserve a waiting list for this institute. 

Ø      Insuring Contractors. Topics include Commercial lines such as builders’ risk, general liability, Inland Marine, Work Comp, Business Auto and much more.

July 28th                 Montgomery

July 29th                 Birmingham      This class is full.

July 30th                 Huntsville

Ø      Send your New Hires to the Best P&C Licensing School! Courses held in Birmingham at AIIA HQ August 18, 20, 23, 25, 27. Sponsored by Infinity Insurance, this course satisfies the Alabama Department of Insurance 40-hour pre-qualification requirement for P&C licensing. Course fee includes textbooks and supplemental study materials. Cost is only $225 for members / $300 for non-members. Register online at www.aiia.org or call Nita Blankenship at (205) 326-4129, ext. 105.

 

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      Seeking Position. Moving to Helena. Licensed, experienced with CISR designation seeks Commercial Lines CSR position in North Shelby County or South Jefferson County. Leaving current employer August 13th. Contact via phone (251) 639-0985, ext. 135, or email tlaforty@aric.cc . Resume available upon request.

Ø      Seeking Personal Lines CSR. Established Birmingham agency seeks honest dependable individual for personal lines customer service position. One or more years of insurance experience plus license preferred. Please send resume with cover letter to ellen.roberts@greenhalghinsurance.com or fax to 205-967-8444.

Ø      Are you the top producer in your insurance field? Need a new challenge? We are searching for 2 talented commercial and/or P&C insurance agents for our Huntsville office. Contact Dianne Barker 888-318-8060 ext. 257 or dbarker@willstaff.net for more information. All inquiries are confidential.