Illinois Association of Mutual Insurance Companies

2010 Southern Regional Meetings - Effingham, IL

Wed, 24 Mar 2010

The day will begin at 8:00 a.m. with Registration and a Continental Breakfast and end by 4:00 p.m. to allow travel home. Meeting begins at 9:00 a.m.

Three Director Certification Courses will be offered at this year’s Regional event. Board members from small companies as well as large companies will benefit from this meeting. Directors and Managers alike will gather knowledge to help make your Mutual run more efficiently. Early Bird Member Registration (on or before March 10) is only $125.00 and will include breakfast, lunch and breaks! Non Member pricing is $165.00. Registration after 3/10/10 is $165.00 for members and $200.00 for non members.

Corporate Governance – Tim Sullivan, NAMIC

This course will cover many of the best practices in corporate governance. We will review the rules of order including the organization and structure of the Board. Policyholder involvement can be a positive experience when you handle it with integrity; this course will review the benefits of operating with strong ethical values – everyday, even when no one is watching. Organization and structures of boards, term limits and qualifications for board positions will be reviewed. Compensation along with the Role of the Chairperson will also be discussed. This is one of the more in depth classes for Director Certification -- everyone will go away with something to help them be better board members!

Board Evaluations - Tim Sullivan

Understanding the need to conduct board evaluations as well as focusing on the principles underlying board assessment and development will be part of this presentation. In addition to the risks, we will also evaluate the benefits of board evaluation. We will examine approaches to board evaluation and review the 360 degree evaluation process and board self-assessments. And finally we will discuss providing feedback of the results including feedback to the full board versus feedback to individual directors.

Claims 101 - Zack Spykerman & Jerry Balek, Grinnell Mutual Insurance Company

Understanding the claims process will help directors when developing policy to ensure against bad faith claims. Well intended "consultations" with policyholders can lead to bad faith claims if the director doesn't understand the company policy or the claims process - this course will focus on everyone's responsibilities. This class will not only cover the basic adjusting process but will discuss the catastrophe management requirements as well. If your Mutual has never faced a catastrophe, you may not realize the challenges you could face if you do not have procedures organized and stored off site for instant recovery. This class will assist in being pro-active and having a plan in place before the need arises. We will wrap up the program discussing the determination of values, depreciation, fraud, and claim audits followed by a case study to demonstrate proper procedures.

Please join us at the Thelma Keller Convention Center in Effingham, IL on March 24, 2010. Partnering with NAMIC, we will be providing credits toward the Director's Certification Program to those who have submitted an application with NAMIC. Please be sure to complete this section of the application! While Regional meetings are geared for Directors, this event will provide valuable information for Managers too! Please forward registration information to all directors so they can determine their need for this education opportunity. Click Here for a printable registration form which can be faxed to our office at 888-403-0935 or follow the on-line registration form. Registration is $125.00 (members) or $165.00 (non-members) if you take advantage of the Early Bird Discount and register on or before March 10, 2010. After March 10th, prices will be $ 165.00 (members) and $200.00 (non-members).

Driving instructions:

North Int. 70 - EXIT 160 - make first right hand turn - go past BP gas station, make next right into convention center parking.

South Int. 70 - EXIT 160 - make first left hand turn - get into right hand lane - go past BP gas station, make next right into convention center parking.

Room registrations can be made by calling 217-540-7777 - the Hilton Garden Inn which is attached to the convention center.

I look forward to seeing you there!

2010 Northern Regional Meetings - Moline, IL

Thu, 25 Mar 2010

The day will begin at 8:00 a.m. with Registration and a Continental Breakfast and end by 4:00 p.m. to allow travel home. Meeting begins at 9:00 a.m.

Corporate Governance – Tim Sullivan, NAMIC

Board Evaluations - Tim Sullivan

Claims 101 - Zack Spykerman & Jerry Balek, Grinnell Mutual Insurance Company

Please join us at the Stoney Creek Inn in Moline, IL on March 25, 2010. Partnering with NAMIC, we will be providing credits toward the Director's Certification Program to those who have submitted an application with NAMIC. Please be sure to complete this section of the application! While Regional meetings are geared for Directors, this event will provide valuable information for Managers too! Please forward registration information to all directors so they can determine their need for this education opportunity. Click Here for a printable registration form which can be faxed to our office at 888-403-0935 or follow the on-line registration form. Registration is $125.00 (members) or $165.00 (non-members) if you take advantage of the Early Bird Discount and register on or before March 10, 2010. After March 10th, prices will be $ 165.00 (members) and $200.00 (non-members).

Room reservations can be made by calling toll free 800-659-2220 or 309-743-0101 where rooms have been reserved for $99.00/per night or you can upgrade for an expanded King for $109.00 while rooms last. Room cut off is 2/24/10.

2010 Capitol Contacts, Washington D.C.

Mon, 12 Apr 2010

Getting involved in the legislative process

and ensuring the success of your industry is imperative

and it is your responsibility.

You cannot and should not rely on the efforts of others to get the message out to our Congressmen and women about the mutual industry and our many concerns. Don’t just take responsibility for the success of your mutual; take time to get involved and make a difference in the industry as a whole.

The Congressional Contacts Program (CCP) is the avenue through which you can make this difference. By bringing members of our industry together with our elected officials, the Congressional Contacts Program is making a difference in our industry - our Congressmen and women are much better educated about the state of our industry and the needs that our companies and policyholders have. Register today to take part in this important program. A scholarship is available to help defray some of the cost ~ click here to learn more!

Our Capitol Contacts has been scheduled for April 12 & 13th in Washington, D.C. We will be staying at The Hotel George and 20 rooms have been reserved for IAMIC members at a rate of $299.00/per night. Please register with IAMIC at your earliest convenience to secure your room. You must secure your own plane reservations.

The tentative agenda is as follows:

12th 5:00 P.M. Briefing NAMIC Office, Washington D.C.

Immediately Following --- IAMIC hosted Dinner

13th 9:00 A.M. Visit to the Hill --- pre-arranged meeting with Representatives from the State of Illinois

Usually wraps up the day by 5:00 p.m. * the schedule is determined by NAMIC staff and will not be available until closer to date.

2010 Ethics Seminar

Mon, 19 Apr 2010

Ethics for Everyone

Can you live a life of integrity AND ambition? For all the well-publicized failures of unethical business people, one might think that everyone cheats, but it is only the fools who get caught. Wrong! This session will take a refreshing look at personal and organizational ethics and how they translate into personal and professional success. Video clips of ethical scenarios give participations the opportunity to consider ethical implications of everyday decisions. Demonstrating the many ways we act ethically and unethically at work and provide guidance on how to deal with ethical dilemmas will prove to be eye openers.

Our speaker will be Lisa Plantamura from AAIM Employers Association ~ a meeting that will benefit all staff members! You may share this information with all independent Agents, but any attendee must be affiliated with a Mutual Insurance Company that is a member of IAMIC.

Early Bird Registration is $50.00 and ends 4/1/10. Registration after 4/1/10 is $75.00 Space is limited ~ this is the ONLY Ethics seminar IAMIC will offer for 2010.

2010 Underwriting Seminar

Tue, 20 Apr 2010

Please join us at the Doubletree Hotel in Bloomington, IL for the Underwriting Seminar on April 20, 2010. Room reservations can be made by calling 309-664-6446. We have reserved a block of room for April 19 at a rate of $109.00 good thru April 7, 2010. Rooms will be released at this time and subject to availability after this date. Don't forget that we are holding the ONLY Ethics Seminar on April 19 at this same location.

We have a great agenda scheduled for the day - be sure to join us! The Registration will begin at 8:00 am with a continental breakfast and the program will begin at 9:00 a.m. Join us for the wonderful event!

For Members: $180.00 before 4/07 ($205.00 after 4/07)

Non Members: $225.00 before 4/07 ( $250.00 after 4/07)

AGENDA

08:00 - 09:00 Registration & Continental Breakfast

09:00 - 09:15 Welcome—IAMIC Updates

09:15 - 10:30 Wind Technology

Presented by: Peter Stolk

As Wind and Solar Energy Technologies are continuously improving and system costs are coming down, they are becoming increasingly more common in today’s rural landscape. Modern wind and solar energy systems are appealing because they are a clean source of energy and a reliable way of lowering our electricity costs. This session will introduce these two sources of renewable energy, how they work and the main components of these systems. You will also learn what can go wrong with these technologies and the possible consequences when something fails, as well as the insurance implications a system failure can impose. This presentation will enable you to have a better understanding of these technologies in addition to providing you with suggestions to minimize losses.

10:30 - 10:45 Refreshment Break

10:45 - 12:00 Are We Breaking The Law?

Presented by: Dick Allender, DOI

There are many reasons an insurance policy is cancelled or non-renewed, and even the seasoned manager must review the proper procedures because they are different for each situation. IAMIC decided to go straight to the source and bring you the rules and regulations involved in the legalities of some of the most disputed issues. We will have a representative from the Department of Insurance guiding us through this presentation. In addition, we will cover time sensitive issues such as canceling an agent and we will also allow for questions and answers at the end of the presentation.

12:00 - 01:00 Lunch

01:00 - 02:15 Underwriting Today's Farms

Presented by: Lana Mueller

Technology has skyrocketed in the farming industry with many new challenges for the underwriters. One important area of concern is the huge machine sheds being built that hold millions of dollars worth of equipment and properly underwriting these are a must! Liability issues such as LLC’s and individual farm locations can cause conflicting insurable interest - are you writing them correctly?

02:15 - 02:30 Refreshment Break

02:30 - 03:45 Equipment Breakdown

Presented by: Tom Hulbut

Contrary to most insured’s beliefs - the standard policy is not all risk! It’s important that we offer endorsements to cover equipment breakdown for home and farm. From heat-pumps to farm refrigeration units, there are many valuable services that need coverage and Tom will discuss how to properly endorse these coverages on your policies. Working with the agents to ensure protection will help us reach our ABCs goal of – Always Better Customer Service!

Early Bird Registration ends APRIL 7th!

We have applied for 6 hours of continuing education for this seminar. Click Here for a printable registration form or go back to the top of the page to register on line.