|
The Rough Notes Company Community Service Award for independent agents
The Rough Notes Company seeks to recognize "silent heroes"
By Robert N. Kretzmer
The Rough Notes Company is pleased to formally open the nominations for the 10th annual Community Service Award for independent insurance agents, brokers and agencies. We are seeking those very special and socially concerned insurance professionals who, by their philanthropic deeds, have made their local communities a better and stronger place in which to live. We are ready with our readers’ support to identify, recognize and honor the industry’s best who have volunteered their time, talent and energy to help the less fortunate.
“The Rough Notes Company has been an integral part of the independent agency system for more than 130 years as a publication for agents,” observes Rough Notes President/CEO Walter J. Gdowski.
He continues, “Now, we are poised for the 10th time to choose and recognize one of the many agents from around the country who make a difference by the great volunteer service they provide in their communities. We ask agents, agencies, trade associations,insurance companies, charities or other community service organizations to nominate worthy independent agent, broker or agency candidates.”
What are the characteristics that all of our past winners have in common? First and perhaps foremost, all of the previous winners are humble; and most, if not all, do not really want any public recognition. The winners also have shown themselves to be altruistic, charitable, sensitive, caring, kind and concerned citizens. Each in his or her own way has made significant differences in his or her community—from feeding starving children to providing proper housing for the less fortunate.
Below you will find our Community Service Award conditions and pre-requisites along with the Nomination Form. Again, we ask you, our loyal readers, to help us recognize deserving and qualified independent insurance professionals for our award. Your participation is greatly appreciated, not only by us, but by your peers as well.
Our previous award winners and their special community service projects are listed here:
• 2007 - Gaines Lanier, West Point, Georgia
Gaines Lanier and J. Smith Lanier & Co. is a leading participant in the drive to eliminate the substandard housing in West Point, Georgia, and Lanett and Valley, Alabama, by providing matching funds up to $200,000 for the construction of new homes for the less fortunate.
• 2006 - Markham Rollins III, Tuckahoe, New York
Mark Rollins sponsors, financially supports and helps groups construct safe housing for poverty-stricken families in Nicaragua through Bridges to Community.
• 2006 - Mark Williamson, Little Rock, Arkansas
Mark Williamson spearheaded fund-raising efforts for the Central Arkansas Radiation Therapy Institute (CARTI), raising more than $550,000 to support families unable to pay for cancer treatments.
• 2005 - J. Douglas Reichardt, West Des Moines, Iowa
Douglas Reichardt served as chairperson of the 2005 United Way of Central Iowa fund-raising campaign. Under his leadership the campaign raised more than $20 million, a 9% increase of the past year.
• 2004 - Jim McGovern, Belmont, California
Jim McGovern was inspired by a personal tragedy in his own family to take action in the battle against blood-related cancers by establishing a “Walk for Ben” for the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society.
• 2003 - Harry Swimmer, Charlotte, North Carolina
Harry Swimmer owns and operates a therapeutic horseback-riding clinic for handicapped and disabled children and adults.
• 2002 - Jack & Jason Rua, Fall River, Massachusetts
Brothers Jack and Jason Rua raised more than $2 million for the local Fall River United Way annual campaign.
• 2001 - Kenneth Felton, Vero Beach, Florida
Ken Felton recognized the need for after school programs for children and researched, developed and opened the first Boys and Girls Club in Indian River, Florida.
• 2000 - Dick Lees, Pana, Illinois
Dick Lees raised enough funds to build an emergency room unit at his local hospital, which serves a tri-county area.
• 1999 - Al Singer, Teaneck, New Jersey
Al Singer helps feed thousands of children nationwide through his program called People Against Children Starving.
The above distinguished winners of the Community Service Award sponsored by The Rough Notes Company personify and exemplify our idea of the silent heroes within our wonderful industry. They all have given of their time, efforts and financial resources to be certain that the underprivileged are not forgotten or left behind within their local communities.
In early 2009, the winner and up to five honorable mention recipients will be honored in Indianapolis, Indiana, in conjunction with Rough Notes magazine’s Marketing Agency of the Year celebration. The agent’s winning charity is honored with a check for $5,000 in the name of the winning agent, broker or agency; and, the honorable mention charities will receive a check for $1,500 in the name of the honorable mention recipients. Each winner will receive an engraved sculptured eagle as a memento of his or her outstanding philanthropic activities.
To nominate an agent, broker or agency for the 10th annual Community Service Award, see the rules below and complete the Nomination Form found here, including all of the supporting documentation. The winner and honorable mention recipients will be notified by mail on or before January 30, 2009.
We encourage insurance professionals within our industry to again help us identify these very special agents, brokers or agencies by submitting a Nomination Form. And, we thank you for improving the lives and conditions of so many people through your acts of service to your local communities.
The Rough Notes Company
Community Service Award
Award Conditions and Prerequisites
Purpose: To recognize and award an independent insurance broker, agent or agency that has demonstrated extraordinary community service within his/her/their local, regional or national community. And, to present the winning community service project with a check in the amount of $5,000 to help further its special cause(s).
Criteria: Nominees will be judged on their overall contribution (funds raised, people helped, volunteerism, etc.) to their community service project and/or initiative, and the positive impact (both short-term and long-term) that their efforts have made toward their community service project.
Nomination Period: Nominations will be accepted at the offices of Rough Notes magazine by U.S. mail, overnight delivery or hand delivery up to and including December 31, 2008. No nomination forms will be accepted after December 31, 2008. Please note that no facsimiles or e-mails will be accepted.
Conditions:
1. Nominators must complete the nomination form in its entirety and provide all supporting documentation;
2. All nomination forms and supporting documentation must be received at the offices of Rough Notes magazine no later than December 31, 2008;
3. No facsimiles or e-mails will be accepted;
4. All nomination forms and supporting documentation become the exclusive property of Rough Notes magazine. Further, the nomination form and supporting documentation may be used at the sole discretion of Rough Notes magazine to publicize the award and award recipient, and to promote the Community Service Awards program;
5. A letter from the community service project verifying and describing the project must accompany the nomination form;
6. Incomplete nomination forms or nomination forms without supporting documents will not be considered;
7. Nominators may nominate themselves or their agency.
Note: Please detail only one service project per nominee.
Selection: Designated individuals from The Rough Notes Company and selected others will review all nomination forms and supporting documentation and select a winner and honorable mention recipients. The winner and honorable mention recipients will be honored at Rough Notes magazine’s “Marketing Agency of the Year” awards dinner in Indianapolis. A representative of the winning community service project will also be invited to attend this function to be honored and presented with a check.
Awards:
1. The winning community service project will be presented with a check in the amount of $5,000 in the name of the award recipient.
2. The winning broker, agent or agency and honorable mention recipients will be presented with a sculptured engraved eagle.
3. Honorable mention projects will receive a check for $1,500 in the name of the award recipient.
4. Rough Notes magazine will publish an article to publicize the community service project, the award winner and the honorable mention recipients.
5. The awards dinner will be held in Indianapolis in early 2009.
Mailing: All nomination forms and supporting documents are to be sent to or received at:
The Rough Notes Company
Attn: Community Service Award
11690 Technology Drive
Carmel, Indiana 46032-5600
The author
Robert N. Kretzmer, CIC, is with V.W. Brown Insurance Service, LLC, in Bethesda, Maryland, and the executive director of The Rough Notes Company’s Community Service Award for independent agents.
|
