“Power To Agents"
#9
"Tough times never last.
Tough people do"
by Dean Auten
auten@compuserve.com
As I was thinking about this issue, I thought about what I wrote in Power to
Agents #7 FYI October 2001 ("What is important?"). If you read #7, you will
recognize the "Tough times never last. Tough people do" -- it is one of my
favorite quotes. It comes from Dr. Robert Schuler and he has a book by same
title -- I recommend reading. Since then we have had another plane go down and
the war against terrorism continues to escalate. A lot of people are like
me in that the 24 hours news is 24 hours for me. I wake up at 2 am and I turn on the
TV to see what has happen since I went to sleep at 8 PM. Our industry is in
for some tough times. Most reinsurance contracts will renew in January and I
expect all insurance lines will be affected. Increased premiums don't concern
me-drying up of markets and commission reductions does.
The week that American Airlines 587 (November 12, 2002) went down in New York
my wife took a flight to Indiana. I took a flight to San Francisco Nov. 15.
When I would tell someone about Elaine and I flying at the time, they asked,
"Aren't you afraid?" One friend of ours canceled her trip to New York for the
Thanksgiving holidays. She could not understand Elaine and I not canceling our
trips. Some of my friends probably said, "Dean must have not been able to
get a refund?"
What does this have to do with "Power to Agents"? Back to my "Power to
Agents # 7 ".
Do you think the things going on in New York or Afghanistan is #1 with Ed
Graham? Ed Graham has for many years been GIAA's strength. When a job needed done, Ed
did it. When I was involved in getting rid of Commissioner Tim Ryles, I called
on Ed Graham because I knew if he decided to become involved he would get
personally involved and get agents in Macon involved. Ed did get involved. The
rest is history.
Have you said "Thank You" to Ed Graham? With the help of Eddie Emmett and the
FYI Insurance Expo of 2002, GIAA is planning a "Thank You Ed Graham day"
(August 15, 2002). If you would like to be a part, please let me know. GIAA
will be looking for sponsors.
The easiest way to contact me is at auten@compuserve.com
After 38 years in the insurance business, I am always impressed with the very
few people that have worked to make my life (and yours if you are in the
insurance business) better.
So many just sit back and believe that their participation isn't necessary.
The only time they become involved is when something happens that adversely
affects them. It is OK if what happens affects "the other person" or one of
those "direct writers" or "just affects life insurance agents" or "health
insurance agents", it is a "company problem", etc.
Someone recently said the reason more agents were not joining GIAA is that we
no longer have a Tim Ryles--Oops! did you know Ryles was still around and
working in the insurance business? He was at the Commissioner's rate hearing
October 17-18, 2001.
In 1976 I was elected to the Georgia General Assembly, I was surprised at the
negative attitudes toward my insurance industry. How could a group of people
with over 70,000 agents have such a negative influence in the Legislature? If
you use the 10 times influence that means 700,000 that can and should be using
their influence with the legislature. In my district, which included some of the richest (Sea Island) and some of
the poorest (Darien), people in the State and a large territory, I had to have
help to get elected and stay elected. And yet, I felt all I needed was 10 people
that were committed to my election. After one election I determined one (yes,
one!) Person was responsible for my re-election. The woman spent months
calling every voter in my district--I did not realize until after the election how
much her calls had to do with my reelection. She was a school teacher and knew I
was a strong supporter of Georgia teachers. The 2002 elections will give each
State Legislator more people and a much larger territory. Districts were drawn to
hurt Republicans as the Democrat Legislature looked for pockets of Democrats
and drew maps to include. Legislators will need a lot of help to get elected in 2002--even the
Democrats.
Legislators get paid less than $15,000 a year for a job that has become full
time and many will spend $50,000 to get elected to a House District and
$100,000 to get elected to a State Senate District. They deserve our time and
our money. How do you expect to get your (our) message to a legislator that
does not know you? Will you be involved?
In addition Commissioner John Oxendine will be running for re-election. I
fully expect there will be a Democrat running against him - maybe even a Republican.
When it comes to my vocation and politics, I am neither Republican or
Democrat.
In New Jersey we have been told that the newly elected Gov. McGreevy is pro
insurance industry and he has already gone to the Alliance of American
Insurers in Trenton for input in resolving their insurance problems (New Jersey's
insurance problems are a lot more worse than Georgia ... today). He is a
Democrat but until he proves otherwise, he is my kind of Democrat.
How many of you have been talking to your Legislators? How can you expect them
to understand our industry if all they hear is the negative calls from
constituents who have been canceled, had a big rate increase, claim not being
handled, etc.
Why should we (P&C agents writing primarily auto insurance) be concerned with
adverse laws/regulations/marketing that does not affect us? Why should life &
health agents, direct writers agents (State Farm Agents, Allstate direct
agents, Farmers agents, Nationwide agents, Liberty Mutual agents, etc.
etc.--agents controlled by their companies, be concerned with our problem with
canceling of agents (canceling of direct writing agents is not the same--for
customers or agents. (If you do not know the difference--please let us
know--we need you in GIAA!)
Folks, all our industry needs every part of our industry to improve its image.
What happens in New York, New Jersey, California, Texas, etc. will effect
Georgia Insurance people. What we can do may be small but let’s at least do our small part.
How tough are you? Are you planning for better times or planning for worse
times?
Be a part of GIAA! Send an e-mail to GIAA Membership Chairman Todd K. Gill at
gillatl@yahoo.com and he’ll fax a renewal form / new member form to you.
........... Dean
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