Who’s Who Across Texas, Local Associations at Work

Local associations across the state continue to contribute to their communities and their profession in a variety of ways. Following is a report on activities for the past year from those that responded to our queries about what they’ve been up to:

The IIA Abilene reported that last year’s Big “I” Day was a great success, and that this year’s event will be held on August 20 and 21. In 2000, the association gave scholarships to two local Abilene students who will attend Texas Tech University.

In September 2000 IIA Austin installed its new officers for 2000-2001. David H. Surles, CPCU, AA, Director of Insurance Programs at IIAT, spoke to the group in October about IIAT’s new E&O policy form, The Pinnacle Plus, by Westport Insurance Corp. October also had the group hitting the fairways at Lost Creek Country Club for its 29th Annual Big “I” Day Golf Tournament. In November, Karen Neeley brought the association up-to-date on the Gramm-Leach-Bliley Privacy Act.

Despite bad weather and power outages around Austin in December, IIA Austin went forward with the Annual Holiday Luncheon festivities. The group celebrated its past presidents, and IIAT sponsored an ACSR conferment ceremony and honor roll presentation.

Jose’ Montemayor, Texas Commissioner of Insurance, spoke to the group in January 2001 and in February agencies and their staff came out in record numbers to hear Karen Flaherty, executive director of FIWT, speak on “Teamwork Between the Producer & ACSR.” In March, attorney Judy Osborn enlightened attendees on employment law with a “Wage and Hour Boot Camp.” Skip Daigle, MBA, ChFC, CLU, spoke to a large crowd in April on “Survivors: An honest look at an agent’s ability to grow and carrier’s ability to help them grow.” Earl Fallen, May’s guest speaker, presented a program on “Accident Management & Prevention.”

Agencies spotlighted at association meetings this year included William Gammon Insurance, Balcones-Southwest Insurance, Searcey & Searcey, Inc., Texas Associates Insurors, Ed Weeren Insurance Agency and Eckert Insurance Group.

Following IIA Dallas’ September 2000 officer installation banquet, the group held its annual All Industry Day in November. The 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. In February 2001, the association met with area legislators during “Legislative Day” in Austin. On May 14, the group hosted over 200 golfers and tennis players and over 300 for dinner at its Big “I” Day Golf and Tennis Tournament at the Dallas Athletic Club.

In October 2000 the IIA Dallas Young Agents sponsored Dallas’ 18th annual Susan G. Komen Breast Cancer Foundation Race for the Cure. The group recently held a membership drive party at the posh Beau Nash restaurant/bar in Dallas’ Crescent Hotel and on June 14, the Young Agents will sponsor the Independent Insurance Agents Junior Classic (IIAJC) qualifying tournament, which is open to golfers under 19.

The El Paso Association is gearing up for another exciting Big “I” Golf Tournament, scheduled for July 17 at Painted Dunes Course. An appreciation reception at Michelada Club will kick off the event the evening before the tournament.

Last January, the association installed its first female president—Brooke Stenicka of Rogers and Belding Insurance. In a move to support both the community and member families, the board of directors voted to offer scholarships this year to the employees, or their children, from member agencies to attend the three institutions of higher learning in the El Paso area.

The IIA of El Paso continues to donate financially to the fund-raising efforts of Insurance Professionals of El Paso. And, the association once again conducted a local Junior Golf Tournament as part of the IIAJC. The top players attended the state golf tournament in TheWoodlands last summer.

The Independent Insurance Agents of the Gulf Coast concentrates on offering continuing education opportunities for its members. It offers classes throughout the year, often in conjunction with the Galveston Insurance Board. The association meets every other month to discuss industry issues.

At IIA Houston’s 23rd annual Firefighter of the Year Luncheon, held in January, the group honored five finalists for their dedication, unselfishness and modesty. Engineer Operator Thomas Lauersdorf, who has been with the Houston Fire Department for 18 years, was presented with the Firefighter of the Year award. He was lauded for his bravery and quick actions in saving the lives four helicopter crewmen who crashed into a lake in Ecuador during an archeological recovery mission.

In February, the IIA Houston held its annual Houston Insurance Day. The day included a full schedule of seminars and exhibits after starting off early with an interactive quiz show, “Who Wants to be an Insurance Agent?”. The show was complete with lights, buzzers, a contestant “hot seat” and three lifelines. It challenged players on their knowledge of the insurance industry and was a hit with CSRs in attendance. Winners came away with prizes such as rodeo tickets, televisions and $100 gift certificates.

The Midland and Odessa associations held the Permian Basin 2000 Big “I” Day on September 25 at the Midland International Airport’s Confederate Air Force—High Sky Wing Hanger. The day began with the Jackrabbit Scramble Golf Tournament at Mission Dorado, which was sponsored by the Odessa Independent Insurance Association. Following the tournament, the Midland Association of Insurance Agents held an old fashioned barbecue. The event, also known as the Permian Basin Insurance Marketing Day, featured plenty of door prizes and was attended by 17 sponsoring and contributing companies. The 2001 Permian Basin Big “I” Day is scheduled for September 24.

The OIAA gave out five scholarships from the Ollie Blank Memorial Scholarship Fund during the year. The scholarships are available to the Odessa association’s member agents, or employees or an immediate family member of participating agencies. The 2001 recipients are: Rebecca Felker of Milam-Felker Insurance Services; Will Duncan of Bryant & Duncan Insurance Agency; Lori Haltom of West Texas Insurance Exchange, Inc.; and Erin King, Jeannette Doss, and Jennifer Fowler all with Bogan, Dunlap and Wood Insurance Agency. The association also donated $500 to the Joe Beene Benefit Fund. Joe was a local football player who was severely injured in a practice.

New ACSR designees and their agencies were recognized at IIA Lubbock’s June 2000 meeting, and the association held its Eleventh Annual Big “I” on Oct. 2, at the Lubbock Country Club. Doug Sanford, IIAT state national director, was the featured speaker at the dinner following the golf tournament.

In December, the group donated $2,000 to the U Can Share Food Drive. The money was raised through member agencies and the local association. The IIA Lubbock and the Lubbock Chamber of Commerce co-sponsored an educational seminar for employers in February that was conducted by the Texas Workers’ Compensation Insurance Fund.

IIAT’s Doug Sanford installed Lubbock’s new 2001/2002 officers and directors at a banquet on May 8 at the 50-Yard Line restaurant. The association sponsored an IIAJC qualifier on May 20 at Meadowbrook Golf Course.

Each year the Panhandle Association of Insurance Agents awards a scholarship to a child or grandchild of the service personnel of a member agency. At the association’s May 23 meeting, the annual scholarship was awarded to Mary Pat Lehman of Booker. Lehman, who graduated from Booker High School in May, plans to attend McMurry University in Abilene and major in English. Her mother, Pam Lehman, is an agent with the Lemon Insurance Agency in Booker. The scholarship fund is managed by the Opportunity Plan Inc., which is based in Canyon.

One of newest events on the IIA San Antonio (IIASA) calendar is the annual “Trade Fair,” held on the third Thursday of March. It provides an opportunity for company and industry members to display information and visit with agent members and agency staff. Over 200 people attended this year’s fair.

In October, the IIASA co-sponsors with the San Antonio Fire Department, a Fire Prevention Week Poster Contest. The contest is held in all area schools and the association furnishes trophies for the winners. Its members serve as judges for the competition. The IIASA also provides funds for the firefighters’ “Burn an Arsonist for Cold Cash” program, which has contributed to the successful prosecution of arsonists over the years.

The IIASA worked with Robert E. Lee High School and the Northeast School District IIASA to develop Project InVEST, a program to encourage young adults to pursue insurance careers and to train them in insurance agency and company operations. Plans are in place to introduce the program at the college and technical school level. Classes are supported financially by IIASA and member sponsors and are partially taught by various agency/company/ industry/affiliate members of IIASA.

IIA Tarrant County’s year began in September with a “Picnic Under the Lone Star,” a buffet dinner at Lone Star Park in Grand Prairie. Over 100 agents and company reps met. In December, the group hosted its annual “CSR Appreciation Luncheon,” and presented gifts to the 130 area CSRs who attended.

At the December luncheon, the association’s Young Agents group collected toys for Toys for Tots, a program sponsored by the U.S. Marine Corps. to provide toys at Christmas time for underprivileged children in the Tarrant County area. The IIA Tarrant County contributed the largest amount of gifts.

All Tarrant County ACSR’s designated in 2000 were honored at a luncheon in January. The next month, the group hosted its annual TRADEFEST. Thirty-one exhibitors and 221 agents and agency staff attended the event, which had a 50’s theme.

Tarrant County’s Big “I” Day golf tournament was held in May. There was a hamburger cookout, a round of golf and a Mexican buffet awards dinner.

The group’s scholarship committee raised $2,500 over the past year and in June will present a scholarship to a college student who is a legal dependent of an IIATC agency principal or staff member or a student who is working for an agency member.

Each year the IIA Longview hosts its annual Big “I” Day festivities on the last Tuesday in April. The event was held this year at the Oak Forest County Club, and about 100 golfers and 25 non-golfers showed up for the activities and enjoyed the famous catfish dinner. The Insurance Women of East Texas assisted with the golf tournament—helping out with registration, working the betting holes and purchasing the door prizes.

The IWET held its first Industry Day, or Spring Fling, at the Longview Ramada. The event welcomed 12 exhibitors and numerous attendees, and featured two continuing education classes: one on personal lines and one on commercial lines. The group is looking forward to sponsoring a bigger and better Industry Day next year, and IIAL and IWET plan to offer combined continuing education classes.