MARCH 1998 CHAPTERGRAM

A Message From Your President...

It was great to visit the sub-chapter in February. I want to thank Gary Pedigo and the other officers for the invitation. The Iowa Chapter is lucky to have such an active group in Grinnell.

The March education seminar scheduled for March 12 looks to be a good and reasonable educational event. The seminar "Ethics in Claims Handling and Commercial Property Insurance" is scheduled to run between 8:00 and 11:30. Please mark your calendars to attend. A special thank-you to Jeff Baker for organizing the event.

Cindy Adams, CPA, CPCU President-Iowa Chapter

LaMair-Mulock-Condon Co., Iowa's oldest insurance firm, has for the second year in a row been nationally recognized as one of the Top 30 insurance agencies in the country. It was selected from more than 700 agencies.

The award, given by Reagan & Associates and Westinghouse Productivity and Quality Center, was part of a performance review and study entitled "The Best Practices of the Leading Independent Insurance Agencies in the United States."

The study was commissioned by the Independent Insurance Agents of America (IIAA) whose task was to identify new ways for agencies to grow, increase profitability and stability, perpetuate their ownership and operations and, by doing so, enhance their viability and value.

The annual survey and study of leading independent insurance agencies documents the business practices of these "best" agencies and urges others to adopt similar practices.

The March meeting of the Iowa Chapter is a seminar entitled "Ethics in Claims Handling and Commercial Property Insurance" on Thursday, March 12, 1998 from 8:00 to 11:30 am. The seminar will be held at the Farm Bureau Financial Services auditorium, 5400 University Avenue, West Des Moines.

You should have already received a special mailing on this seminar, where Mr. Bruce Hillman, Managing Editor of the National Underwriter Co.'s FC&S, will be the speaker.

CEC's have been applied for through the Iowa Insurance Department.

If you have not already registered, enclosed is another form for you to complete and send to Bob Conroy by Thursday, March 5.

Because of the Iowa Insurance Hall of Fame banquet on Thursday, April 23, the April monthly meeting of the Iowa Chapter is being held Tuesday, April 7. The meeting and lunch will be at the Hotel Fort Des Moines, 10th & Walnut, from 11:30 am. to 1:00 p.m. The topic is the "National Flood Insurance Program," and our speaker will be Mr. Dean Ownby, CPCU, Regional Marketing Manager for the Flood Program.

In addition to the presentation, there will be a business meeting of the Iowa Chapter.

Please complete the enclosed reservation form and return it to Bob Conroy, CGA Insurance Services, by Tuesday, March 31.

On Wednesday, April 8, there will be a teleconference on the National Flood Insurance Program administered by FEMA (Federal Emergency Management Agency). Registration is from 7:30 am. to 8:00 am., 8:00 to 12:00-teleconference, lunch on your own, 1:00 to 5:00-teleconference, and the cost is $10.00. Iowa insurance producers will receive 8 hours of continuing education credit.

Locations for the teleconference are the SECO STARC Armory, 6100 NW 78th Ave., Des Moines, and also Boone, Burlington, Clinton, Fort Dodge and Muscatine.

For information, contact Dean Ownby or Sonja Wood of NFIP, 913-780-4238.

Thank you for the support of the CPCU Fire Safety House during past years. The Fire Safety House is a small version of a home, and it provides a realistic setting for fire safety education. As CPCU volunteers, we help with tasks assigned by the Fire Department--helping children climb down the ladder, prompting children to dial 911, etc. We plan to assist the Des Moines and West Des Moines Fire Departments while visiting third grade elementary school classes again this spring, and volunteers are needed. We have received the following schedule:

More schedules from Des Moines and West Des Moines schools will be received in the next few weeks. Please allow approximately 2 hours to help with the Fire Safety School.

Please call Nancy Green at 280-2850 or Joanie Florer at 245-8871 to register for a school or to obtain additional information.

Kevin Seward, Pat Martin, and Nancy Green visited the Des Moines Area Religious Council Food Pantry February 13 to deliver boxes of extra food remaining from the CPCU booth which was established at Drake University during the January CPCU exams. The donations from the Iowa CPCU Chapter were greatly appreciated, and the volunteers at the Food Pantry provided an interesting tour of the Food Pantry facility'.

Keith R. Coomes, CPCU, passed away suddenly on February 9, 1998 at the age of 51. He was a charter member of the Grinnell CPCU Sub-Chapter and a regular member of the Iowa CPCU Chapter since 1984.

Keith valued being a CPCU highly. His professional manner, technical competence and desire to promote the CPCU values stand as a perfect example to all those who hold the CPCU designation.

Colleagues, friends and family will miss Keith.

Nominations are now being accepted to identify members for the Iowa Insurance Hall of Fame. Iowa insurance professionals who have compiled extraordinary records of service and achievement are eligible.

Inductees will be announced at a banquet on Thursday, April 23 at the Iowa Historical Building (600 E. Locust Street).

Each nominee for membership must have had an Iowa connection, must have served as a role model for other insurance professionals, must have exhibited the highest of ethical standards and must have significantly impacted the insurance industry. Nominations must be received by Monday, March 16.

Alison Cate is coordinating the nominations for the CPCU chapter. If there is a CPCU that you would like to be considered for nomination, please forward your submission to Alison at the following address:

Alison Cate
EMC Insurance Companies
717 Mulberry
Des Moines, IA 50309
Telephone: 280-2606
Fax: 280-2895

Mark Your Calendars...

Thursday, March 12, Education Seminar, Farm Bureau Financial Services

Tuesday, April 7, National Flood Insurance Program, Hotel Ft. Des Moines

Thursday, April 23, 2nd Annual Hall of Fame Induction & Joint Meeting of Des Moines Area Insurance Organizations, Historical Building

Wednesday, May 20, Afternoon Golfing Reception, Dinner installation of Officers, Willow Creek

Future Issues...

If you have news of interest to the Chapter, send it to:

Bruce Kelley
EMC Insurance Companies
P.O. Box 712
Des Moines, IA 50303-0712

Please return by Thursday, March 5. Thank you.