Getting Out and About

The insurance industry traditionally is bullish on education, networking and sharing professional experiences with colleagues and business partners. After all, the industry is largely made up of “people” people who thrive on connecting with their clients, as well as their competitors.

And one wonders what would happen to golf courses and golf communities around the world in the highly unlikely event that insurance professionals decided they were no longer going to participate in the game. Ha! Like that would happen!

Aside from the many charity golf events associated with the industry, there are always plenty of opportunities to socialize with peers and customers, as well as to learn, network and shake hands. The listing of national and international industry events, which starts on page N22 in this issue of Insurance Journal, offers up just some of the conferences and meetings available to insurance professionals in every niche of the industry. Plus, state and local agent associations and CPCU chapters are active in presenting an ongoing slate of educational and social events for their members throughout the year.

Kicking off the New Year of educational opportunities in the South Central region is the Independent Insurance Agents of Texas’ 45th Annual Joe Vincent Management Seminar, to be held in Austin Jan. 27 – 29. This enduring event, named in honor of longtime IIAT member and past president Joe E. Vincent, will feature a motivational presentation by an Olympic speedskater and a rapid-fire wrap up by Insurance Information Institute President Bob Hartwig. In between, there will be offered a variety of technical and management workshops addressing four major areas: Operations, Sales/Marketing, Human Resources and Small Agency Presentations.

Obviously, the Joe Vincent seminar is by no means the only networking and educational opportunity of the year. Check with your local and state associations for their event calendars. The Young Agents committee of the Independent Insurance Agents of Oklahoma has a couple of social and professional development activities lined up for January. And the Independent Insurance Agents of Arkansas Young Agents Spring Conference is coming up in early March.

Those are just a few regional events that come to mind. But rest assured, if you really want to you can find lots of reasons to get out and about in 2008.

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