News PO Box 2695 Bangor, ME 04401-2695 207-945-4766 fax 941-0241 exec@naifa-me.org www.naifa-me.org National Association of Insurance and Financial Advisors-Maine March 2010 President s Message We are in the stretch run for our current year. Much has been accomplished with much more to be done. I would like to utilize this column to highlight a little of where we have been this year and what we will be doing over the next four months. Government Relations Chair, Duke Marston, has worked to develop a coordinated approach within the key elements of the Government Relations Team: Lobbyist, Dan Bernier; Legislative Committee, Maureen Hedges, Chair, and Kerry Peabody; IFAPIC, Tony Smart, Chair; and IFAPAC which Duke continues to chair. Communications have increased as timely information has been delivered to our membership. Our Successes: The committee and Dan, working with Eastern Maine Member, Dick Hansen, were successful in having recent STOLI Legislation reconsidered and amended favorably by the Insurance and Financial Services Committee. Dan, working with Kerry Peabody, Todd Grove, both of Southern Maine and Carroll Harper of Eastern Maine, convinced the Bureau to favorably revise the LTC Partnership Rules and Regulations. Through the PAC, members have attended events for Senators Sullivan and Courtney as well as participating in the GOP s Annual Golf Tournament. Sales Congress Update Howard Johnson Plaza Hotel & Conference Center, Portland, Tuesday, May 18, Annual Dinner and Wednesday, May 19, Annual Convention and Sales Congress. This year the Annual Dinner will include the election and installation of officers as well as the Annual Meeting. Co Chairs Karen True Winslow and David Hamilton are putting the final touches on an outstanding program with a great line up of speakers. They will soon be reaching out for additional volunteers that will be needed to make this event a success. Please respond positively when asked for help. Jim Kachmar is coordinating our efforts with obtaining Exhibitors and Sponsors. It is through the financial support of these companies that we are able to keep the costs for our members at reasonable level. If you have a contact with a potential exhibitor/ sponsor, please respond when you receive an email from the Sales Congress Committee. Strategic Planning Update - Over past year, this committee has been evaluating the current structure of our state and local associations as well as discussing potential alternatives for the future. The committee members have gathered information other New England Associations, (Massachusetts, New Hampshire, Vermont and Rhode Island) who have merged into one statewide association to learn what has worked well for them and what they might have done differently. Local Association discussions have enabled the committee to learn more with respect to the thoughts and concerns of our members. A committee report with recommendations for future action will be submitted to the NAIFA-Maine Board of Directors on Wednesday, March 17. The Board will receive the report. No formal action will be taken. Informational discussions will be held during lunch at the Bureau and AHIP Seminars on Tuesday, March 23, in Portland and on Wednesday, March 24, in Bangor. An informational workshop will be held in South Portland at the New York Life Office on Tuesday, May 18, from 3:00 to 4:00pm. The Board of Directors will vote on the committee s recommendation at its June 25 meeting. The vote of the Board will then go to our NAIFA-Maine Delegate Council for ratification in September. The Delegate Council is comprised of all Past State Presidents who are still members of NAIFA-Maine and the current Board of Directors. The recommendation will then be sent to each Local Association Board of Directors for their consideration and a vote of their members. Thank you all for your continued support of NAIFA! John Mosley HAVE YOU REGISTERED FOR OUR MARCH CE EVENTS? AHIP LTC Partnership Workshop (4 Hour Renewal Requirement) and/or Maine Bureau of Insurance Insurance for the Medicare Population Portland and Bangor Registration forms enclosed.
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March 18, 2010 Meeting topic Health Insurance/ Employee Benefits Meetings Noon to 1:00 Kosta s Restaurant in Brewer April 15, 2010 Meeting topic Life/Annuities Pat s Pizza in Ellsworth June 17, 2010 NAIFA-Eastern Maine Annual Meeting and Election of Officers Meeting topic Multi-Line Proposed Slate of Officers 2010-2011 President: Eric Rutherford, President Elect: John York Secretary/Treasurer: Maureen Hedges National Committee Person: Anthony Smart Immediate Past President: Laurie York Proposed Slate of Officers for NAIFA of Aroostook County 2010-2011 President: Nikki Shields, President-Elect: Vicki Hagerrman Immediate Past President: Paul Soucy, LUTCF Secretary: Barbara Leach, Treasurer: Alfred Giberson, LUTCF Natl. Committee Person: Max Lynds, RHU Kennebec Valley Greetings from Kennebec Valley April 6, 2010-9 a.m. Disability Insurance from an Attorney s Perspective ME16236 1 credit Location - TBD KV Legislative Day: TBD for Spring BOARD MEETINGS: March 16 th, 2010 9 a.m. NAIFA Kennebec Valley Board Meeting. Discussion on budget, officers for 2010 and dues. MF&W Office - Augusta Please check your e-mail for details as they are announced. Lynn Quirion, President Thank you NAIFA-Androscoggin Valley IFAPAC contributors! Our local fundraising goal for 2009 was $2817. I am pleased to report that we exceeded our goal and collected $3259. This is indicative of our local member involvement in and understanding of the political and legislative issues that may impact our industry and our clients. In 2010 will continue to see significant activity involving health care, tax and financial services industry reform. And the elections in November may be some of the more interesting in recent memory. Please continue your support of our political action committee. You may donate online at NAIFA.org or you may contact Lisa Laliberte at 207-783-3332 or lisa@lisalaliberte.com for contribution forms. NAIFA s E&O Insurance! Check it out at www.naifa-insurance.com 5 NAIFA-Maine March, 2010
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Government Relations NAIFA is working for you in Augusta and Washington! To check the status of bills we are working on go to our website at naifa-me.org and click on Maine legislation and Federal legislation. The lists are long and the need for your participation is great! This fall and winter have been extremely active for your NAIFA Government Relations representatives, monitoring legislation, guided by our able lobbyist Dan Bernier. Others have been getting ready for this election year by updating our Key Contact lists of all elected legislative officials in the state. Still more have been contacting all of you to help with our PAC membership. Now for some results: Our PAC was one of only two states in the entire Northeast to make goal, and we finished 19th in the country on a per capita giving basis. We have 87 PAC members of 310 total members, over 28 percent, but still well below where we should be. Every member of NAIFA should care enough about the future of our profession to support the PAC. The money we raise helps to get us a seat at the table when legislation is discussed. Our members participation is vitally important, since we are a constituent advocacy group. Our legislators look at us differently from paid lobbyists, so our member numbers are key. We continue to refine our key contact lists so if you feel that you know a state or national legislator on a favorable basis, please let me know with a simple email. The list of grassroots contacts is especially important in an election year, as our legislators will be more active than usual, in both the legislative and fund raising areas. NAIFA works with specialists in training for grassroots advocacy, and we have been offered an opportunity for one of those training sessions. The date is still flexible, so I am hoping that many of our members will participate in this exciting opportunity. We will have more details shortly, but if you are interested please contact me. As a Government Relations committee we serve you, our members. Please take advantage of our energy and commitment. Tell us how we can help. You may contact me, Duke Marston at dukeclu@roadrunner.com or 207-338-0244. Membership Update March is National Membership Month and research shows that associations that participate get NEW MEMBERS. Here are ways to participate. Form a committee and double it! Develop a promotion that will be motivational and fun! Invite them to our Sales Congress or LTC partnership recertification class. If you have members that are willing to help but unable to make it to a phone-athon ask them to use Membership Tracker at their convenience and e-mail some lapsed and renewing members. Grab a partner to make the calls, it goes faster! Follow up with interested prospects and I know we ll have a very successful drive! Remind prospective new members that now more than ever, our friends, family and clients are counting on us to protect their interests and secure their financial futures. NAIFA takes its advocacy to the front lines on our behalf everyday on key issues such as: tax incentives for life insurance and annuities, tax reform, insurance regulatory reform, STOLI, Federal Estate Tax, and SEC/ FINRA regulation. Remember that NAIFA is the connection between you and protecting your industry while servicing your clients needs. NAIFA is your business insurance. Please contact your local leaders and let them know how you can help during Membership Month. GOOD LUCK! Respectfully submitted: Robin Thurston, President-elect THE BUREAU OF INSURANCE NEEDS YOUR HOME AND BUSINESS ADDRESSES ON FILE! If you have employees who are producers there is a form to report to the Bureau who is working for you, entitled Business Entity Add or Terminate Affiliation Form. There is another form entitled Maine Bureau of Insurance Business Entity or Individual Address Change Form the producer completes which also asks for their home information. It is the obligation of the licensee to notify the superintendent of changes in business address within 30 days. Failure to do so results in the automatic imposition of a penalty For details check the Bureau s website or call Patricia Thomson at 624-8475, email: Patricia.M.Thomson@maine.gov. NEWSFLASH! The Maine Bureau of Insurance recently issued several bulletins on the Long Term Care Partnership Program, Those bulletins will be emailed to attendees of our March 23 and 24 CE events. If you aren t attending, please check the Maine Bureau of Insurance website! 7 NAIFA-Maine March, 2010
Registation forms for the March Maine Bureau or Ins. Seminar and AHIP LTC Workshop and the May 51st Annual Sales Congress PO Box 2695 Bangor, ME 04402-2695 PRST STD US Postage Paid Permit #46 Bangor, ME 04401