Young Agent Forum
Opportunities for young agents
Big "I" events provide education and practical experience
By Joey O'Conner
It is an honor to represent the young agents of the Independent Insurance Agents & Brokers of America (IIABA) as the incoming National Young Agents Committee (YAC) Chair. I look forward to the challenge of continuing the standard of excellence set forth by the numerous previous committee members and chairs who have set the bar so high for accomplishment.
The National Young Agents Committee is comprised of competent, capable and committed leaders from different regions of the country who are working hard to achieve another successful year. I encourage you to get to know your regional representatives on the National Young Agents Committee as we look forward to helping the committees from our great state associations.
At the national level, the Big “I” Young Agents offers two very different events, both of which help young agents develop skills that will help them become leaders in our industry. The first event is held in conjunction with the Big “I” Legislative Conference & Convention (LC&C) to be held in Washington, D.C., April 2-4, 2008, at the Marriott Wardman Park Hotel.
The aim of the LC&C is to help young agents observe and experience how to become politically involved. Lessons learned can be used at the state and local levels, as well as in Washington.
The other Big “I” Young Agents event is the Fall Leadership Institute (LI), which will be September 12-13, 2008, at Caesars Palace in Las Vegas and will be held in conjunction with the IIABA Board of Directors meeting.
The Institute provides training and knowledge to help young agents develop leadership skills that can be applied in their own agency, in the state association, or in the insurance industry in general. More details will be available this summer at www.iiaba.net and in Rough Notes magazine.
Importance of political involvement
With the Legislative Conference & Convention coming up soon, I encourage you to start making plans to attend right now.
The 2008 presidential debates that have been held so far show that the political chess game is in full swing. While always an important meeting, this year’s Big “I” Legislative Conference & Convention will be “kicked up a notch” because of the election year. Both sides of the aisle will begin drawing their battle lines to debate what is important to American voters, which includes you and me. Therefore, it is important to voice our opinions and explain our issues to legislators as a united front as well as one on one.
During the LC&C, young agents will learn how to effectively approach and communicate with their elected representatives. Along with independent agents from across the country, they will lobby members of Congress on key issues that are important to independent agents.
Young agents who have attended in the past know how impressive it is to watch the political process unfold right before their eyes.
If you have never been to the LC&C before, you will not be disappointed. If you think legislators do not really listen or are not engaged with their constituents, think again. Not only are they interested, they too view this as a valuable opportunity to become educated on our issues and formulate a position based on our advocacy. Please plan to take part in this important process that shapes the future of our careers and how our businesses will operate in the future.
If you are a first-time attendee, the National Young Agents Committee offers scholarships to help offset some of the costs of the trip. Also, first-time attendees can apply to receive the $1,000 Maurice Herndon Scholarship. For more information, contact Katie Cosgrove, Big “I” National Young Agents Program Manager, at (800) 221-7917 or katie.cosgrove@iiaba.net. For schedule, hotel information and other details about the LC&C, go to www.iiaba.net.
It has been said that in order to make a meaningful impact, you need to be on the playing field. No one knew more about making an impact on the field than the late Green Bay Packers coach, Vince Lombardi. He once said, “I firmly believe that any man’s finest hour, his greatest fulfillment to all he holds dear, is that moment when he has to work his heart out in a good cause and lies exhausted on the field of battle—victorious.”
The Big “I” Legislative Conference & Convention—which includes our visit to Capitol Hill—is our playing field where we can accomplish something just and worthy together as an association. The “playbook” is provided by the Big “I” with a “game plan” briefing on the issues before we take the “field” on Capitol Hill. As any Super Bowl winner will tell you, having a solid game plan is paramount, but it is just as important to have everyone on the team working together to carry out the game plan.
Like anything that you are committed to accomplish, making your voice heard in Washington, D.C., can sometimes be exhausting work; but when you know you have won, there is no greater feeling. I hope to see you April 2-4, 2008, during the Big “I” Legislative Conference & Convention, helping us achieve victory with our legislators. If you have any questions about the National Young Agents Committee, please contact me at (504) 586-3186 or joconnorjr@eustis.com.