Who’s Who Across Texas, Local Associations at Work

Here’s what some of the local Big “I” chapters have been doing over the past year:

The Amarillo chapter is currently providing college scholarships to children of agency staff members. Speakers throughout the year have included: William Arrington, Texas Mutual, Subject – Terrorism and It’s Effect on Reinsurance; Steve Mudd, Republic Insurance, vice president, Subject – Mold, a Company’s Viewpoint; and John Smithee, Insurance Committee Chair, Texas House of Representatives, Subject – Pending Legislation. The Association will hold its Big “I” day on August 15. The event will include lunch, golf and dinner.

IIA Austin held its 30th Annual Big “I” Golf Tournament at The Golf Club at Star Ranch in September 2001. The following month, Bo Gilbert and Paul Martin with IIAT spoke at the luncheon meeting. Both discussed legislative, mold and privacy issues. December’s annual holiday luncheon featured live entertainment and recognition of past presidents. Kenneth R. Kapelka, president of Independent Insurance Agents of Texas, spoke on IIAT. This event drew 200 attendees and everyone walked away with a t-shirt featuring the IIA Austin logo, name and website! The February luncheon meeting featured Scott A. Brutocau, an attorney with Brobeck, Phleger & Harrison LLP, spoke on “Trade Secrets.” In April, the luncheon meeting featured Gary A. Thornton, a partner in the litigation section of Jackson Walker, who spoke on “Workers Comp: To Drop or Not to Drop? Advice to Clients.” IIA Austin is proud of its Web site, where members and consumers can get information 24 hours a day/7 days a week. It features information for consumers, an online membership directory, a calendar of events, past presidents, award information, and much more. Check it out at www.iiaaustin.com.

Following IIA Dallas’ September 2001 officer installation banquet, the group held its annual All Industry Day in November. The annual event is a joint venture between the association and the Dallas chapter of CPCU and is the largest one-day tradeshow in the Southwest. It brings 1,200 insurance professionals together to meet with company representatives and industry leaders and includes a full day of seminars and an exhibit area with 61 booths.

On March 27th IIAD launched it’s inaugural issue of the Dallas Insurance Insider with a message from Congressman Dick Armey! The magazine has been a huge success and will continue with summer, fall and winter issues, which will be distributed to all IIAD members.

The IIA Dallas Young Agents held it’s 2nd Annual membership drive party at the Beau Nash restaurant/bar in the Dallas Crescent Hotel. On June 20 the Young Agents will sponsor the Independent Insurance Agents Junior Classic (IIAJC) qualifying tournament, which is open to golfers under 19.

In January Jess Johnson, former Green Beret and KRLD talk show guest and a regular guest on the Charlie Jones show “SITREP” (Situation Report) spoke to the group and in June, sports anchor Mike Doocy from Fox 4 will speak at the group’s meeting.

On May 13, IIAD hosted it’s Big “I” Day Golf and Tennis Tournament at the Dallas Athletic Club and it was a great success! Over 200 golfers and tennis players competed and more than 300 attended the dinner.

Finally, to its other great member benefits, IIAD has added discounted rates for the famous Cooper Clinic at the Cooper Aerobics Center and discounted Six Flags and Hurricane Harbor tickets.

The highlight for the Independent Insurance Agents of El Paso in 2001 was the Big “I” Golf Tournament in July at Painted Dunes Course and an outstanding appreciation reception complete with music, cocktails and a Mexican buffet. For the first time ever, the board of directors designated profits from the golf tournament to be used to fund a new college scholarship, which was awarded to two Association members for the fall and spring semesters at the college of their choice.

The Association also helped finance a trip to the IIAJC golf tournament in the Woodlands for the top teen qualifiers who competed in the local junior golf tournament. IIAEP continues to support the community efforts of the Independent Insurance Professionals of El Paso and gave a donation toward their holiday service project. An elegant installation dinner was conducted in January.

IIAH began its association year with the Charity and Installation Gala on September 22, 2001. The new board of directors was installed and past president Jim Berger presented IIAH’s highest award, the Outstanding Service Award, for 2001 to Gerri Rougeau, HARCO Insurance Services. Gerri, who has served both IIAH and PIAH as president, has worked tirelessly for years to better our association. She has been the driving force behind our charitable efforts that have grown significantly over the years. Following the installation, all guests moved to the Charity Gala for a fun filled evening of dancing, casino gambling and auctions that benefited many local charities.

The 2001 Fire Poster Contest Awards ceremony was held November 15, 2001, in conjunction with National Fire Safety Week. Over 3000 posters were entered, by special education and kindergarten through grade 12 students from participating Houston area schools. Awards given to 1st, 2nd and 3rd place winners included a ribbon, cash awards and a t-shirt with the image of their winning poster on it. The Grand Prize winner was Angel Castelan, 5th grader from Brookline Elementary. His poster was reproduced on a billboard that will rotate around the Houston area.

IIAH held its 27th Annual Firefighter of the Year Award Luncheon on January 16, 2002. Award recipient Captain Terry Crawford has been with the Houston Fire Department for 30 years. He was recognized for his work with the Houston Fire Department Honor Guard since 1989.

March 6 was the date for IIAH’s annual Big “I” golf tournament, held on two courses at Cypresswood Golf Course with over 190 golfers participating. The IIAT IIAJC Texas Finals will be held at the TPC Woodlands, July 9-11. Over 400 expected junior golfers will compete for 102 positions through 17 local qualifiers held across Texas in May and June. The Texas Finals qualify the top 6 boys and 4 girls to compete in the national IIAJC finals, hosted this year by IIAH at Northgate Country Club, August 12-16.

“Around the World” 19th annual Houston Insurance Day was held on April 24. More than 800 agents, their staff and company representatives attended educational seminars and an exhibit hall with 90 exhibitors. The keynote luncheon speaker was the entertaining Cactus Pryor, representing himself as Dr. David Hunter, a counselor to Lloyds of London and the Great Baltic and Black Sea Insurance Company in Russia. In addition an ASCR conferment ceremony was held for those Houston CSR’s attaining their ACSR designation this past year.

IIAH, in conjunction with 360Training, unveiled its IIAH Virtual University (see www.iiah.org) at the “I” day. The launch has set a new standard in Texas insurance continuing education policy by allowing licensed agents to take mandatory continuing education online, entirely self-paced, without the need for taking a final exam in a proctored facility, which has been a requirement set forth by state policy for all courses presented through a distance learning medium in years past. IIAH currently has 6 hours of CE credit online, with another 9 hours under development to be released soon.

Not to be left out are the IIAH Young Agents, who are involved in every aspect of the association. They meet monthly to coordinate social, educational and charitable events for our local Young Agents. They also serve as a liaison to the IIAT committee to recommend programs to benefit young agents on the state level as well. Most recently they sponsored an educational seminar at Houston Insurance Day with featured national speaker Jeff Gelona. Young Agent Committee vice-chairman Mary Ellen Hamel and committee member Nancy Cypert joined other Texas delegates in attending the IIAA Legislative Conference in April. Both met with all of the Houston legislators to discuss issues important to the future of our industry.

IIAH is set to run its third session of the highly successful Insurance Service Associate (ISA) program beginning September 9. A record 11 students are enrolled in this seven-week course designed to fully train a new employee with little or no insurance experience. IRS-AIMS is sponsoring the use of their agency management and rating software to be used during the program. This program has been so successful, IIAH will begin to offer a spring and fall session in 2003. In addition to IIAH’s core education seminars and 15 hours of free CE offered to all licensed members, IIAH developed new programs this past year, including:

Personal Lines “Camp Big I” – to be held June 11-12. A two day seminar covering farm and ranch, motorcycle/watercraft/RV’s, homeowners, personal articles, flood and mold remediation. Approved for 15 hours of CE credits and 15 hours of IIAT ACSR update credits.

Commercial Lines “Camp Big I” – held February 12-13, covered mold, reading financials for business interruption, business interruption coverage, experience modifiers, PEO’s, “the adjuster and you and the claims process,” marine insurance and inland marine.

The Midland and Odessa local associations are in the process of merging their chapters. The process is expected to be completed in June or July.

The Independent Insurance Agents of Tarrant County kicked off their year in September with A Picnic Under the Lone Star—a fajita buffet at the race track in Grand Prairie. About 200 IIATC members and their guests attended a night of fun. There was a trackside patio with a fajita buffet and where picnic-goers watched the horse races. In October the group held a campaign to collect funds for the Red Cross Disaster Relief efforts.

The CSR’s in Tarrant County were recognized at our annual CSR Appreciation Day in December. Each CSR was given a nice gift and treated to a wonderful program and lunch. The Young Agents held their annual Toys For Tots drive in December and its members did not disappoint! There were toys, toys, and more toys donated by generous members and their staff. In February IIATC held the annual Tradefest, which had a patriotic theme and a record attendance. All of the booths sold out. Finally, May 6 was the Big “I” Day golf tournament. Despite the wind, the day was perfect, with lots of sponsors, participants, prizes and fellowship.

Topics Texas Agencies Training Development