President Perspective

PRESIDENT PERSPECTIVE Changes and Openings

As agents, we are currently facing unique challenges, and this is our chance to shine. The “new normal” we live in gives us an opportunity to reexamine our business practices and operations. We are being called upon to provide advice and serve our clients who are in need emotionally, and even financially.

I am fortunate enough to have the space which allows my staff to safely return to the office. We follow strict rules of reopening, including requiring masks and safe distancing to enter the building. Even though the channels of communication include phone, video chats, text, email, fax, electronic signatures, and social media, we find many clients showing up at our doorstep looking for advice, comfort, payments, etc. Everyone that comes to our door is fully masked and screened even though, of course, some do let us know how much they dislike wearing them.

Border agencies are facing RMV challenges with appointment scheduling and state-to-state registration transfers. Claims have certainly not dissipated and sometimes it takes a visit to the agency for a client to obtain comfort and reassurance. Also, cash payments are the only way for some to pay their policy premiums and they prefer to hand the payment to us and walk away with a receipt.

Larger agents face more challenges due to the number of employees and volume of clients. Which employees will return to the office, which ones will work from home? Once given the opportunity to work from home, many begin to prefer it rather than driving to work and sitting in the office. Again “how we run our business” may never be the same as it was a year ago.

This has been a strange year to be the President of the IIARI. With every trip, function, and the annual convention being cancelled, my memory of being President will be the year of the Pandemic.

Accomplishments were made in spite of these unique situations. IIARI has enrolled into the Independent

“Please stay strong and be safe!”

Market Access (IMS) program that will provide a member platform for markets. The markets themselves will be developed over time but the UPC program will be the first to transition to IMS. This is being done to compliment the Big I Markets program, not to replace it. There will more to come in the future.

In closing, thank you for the honor, privilege, and opportunity to serve as your president of this great association this past year. I am very proud to be a member and to have served on the board for several years. Please stay strong and be safe!

EXECUTIVE VICE PRESIDENT PERSPECTIVE

Company Support & Partners Program

It may be intuitive for many that company support means a great deal to the Association. I say intuitively but most agents may not comprehend the correlation between that support and our ability to operate as IIARI. I imagine most will recognize the annual perennial supporters, but does anyone understand the importance of their support?

IIARI is a 501c(6) not for profit entity that is fundamentally different than a 501c(3) nonprofit. True nonprofits are exempt from taxation and organization contributions are typically tax deductible. They are not able to lobby on issues whereas a 501c(6) is permitted to do so. We do pay taxes on unrelated income like any other for profit, but the bulk of our activity is exempt.

As a not for profit operation we target an annual breakeven budget which necessitates the need to secure enough revenue to run the operation while managing our expenses. Our major sources of revenue have been dues, convention, education, and sponsorships. To say sponsorships helps our budget is an understatement. Let me explain.

Since its inception, the annual Partners Program has assisted the Association with meeting our budget. Absent that direct company support, either dues would increase exponentially, or we would reduce or eliminate some of our services. Each year we owe a huge debt of gratitude to our Partners Program companies. It cannot be overstated, the Partners are a critical part of IIARI success.

The Beacon Mutual Insurance Company has supported the Partners Program since its

inception. What places Beacon Mutual above all others is they also support the annual RI Trusted Choice® branding campaign AND underwrite convention registration for commercial lines CSRs. It is exemplary what they do to support our organization. Recently they even hosted two workers’ compensation sessions on the #RI Agents Live programs which were well attended. A few years ago, Beacon Mutual was recognized at our Annual Meeting for their years of Association support, but I would like to express my personal gratitude to them for supporting our organization through these unprecedented times.

And while we note Beacon’s long-term commitment to IIARI, we would be remiss not to recognize and thank the other companies who have been in the program since its inception like EMC insurance Companies and Progressive.