|
President’s message By: LaVawn Coleman, Grange Mutual Insurance Company
“It was the best of times, it was the worst of times, it was the age of wisdom, it was the age of foolishness, it was the epoch of belief, it was the epoch of incredulity, it was the season of Light, it was the season of Darkness, it was the spring of hope, it was the winter of despair, we had everything before us, we had nothing before us, we were all going direct to Heaven, we were all going direct the other way.” —Charles Dickens A Tale of Two Cities |
It is always interesting to me how truly exceptional literature remains relevant throughout the course of human development. As we know from our high school literature classes, Dickens was speaking of Victorian England (1837-1901), a time when England experienced great technological and industrial advancements, yet struggled with poverty and disease.
If we fast forward some 100+ years after the Victorian period ended, Dickens’ words still ring eerily true. In the last twelve months, the United States has witnessed a truly historic presidential election, yet felt the intense burning of an economic meltdown.
Mutual insurance companies, such as the members of OAMIC, have not been immune from these events – particularly on the meltdown side of the equation. We have felt the impact on our investment portfolios. We have witnessed job losses in our communities and belt-tightening by consumers. Most concerning of all, however, is the current movement in Washington, D.C. to add another layer of costly regulation on the insurance industry. We’ve all seen AIG used as the poster child to justify Congress’ attempt to expand insurance regulation to the federal level. We all understand why Congress’ logic is flawed. But what, you may ask, can we do?
My challenge to the OAMIC membership is to look upon this time not as “the worst of times” but as the “best of times.” This is our chance, as mutuals, to focus on the basic concepts and principles that have allowed the mutual insurance industry to remain a stalwart in our communities since the Victorian Era. We focus on people, our policyholders, our employees, our agents, our service providers and our communities. We provide needed protection from life’s turbulence. There have been tough times before now and there will be tough times ahead. I take great comfort in the skills and abilities of the people who work in our industry. I am also incredibly thankful for the folks at NAMIC who have been working diligently to focus Congress on the forces that actually caused this economic meltdown rather than looking for scapegoats like the insurance industry. If you haven’t given to the NAMIC PAC or participated in the Congressional visits in the past, now, more than ever, is the time to be involved.
I am convinced that if the members of OAMIC focus on our core values and remain engaged in the debate, both here and in Washington, our industry will emerge from this crisis and say maybe it wasn’t the “best of times,” but we made the “best of the times.”
2009 OAMIC Golf Classic to be held June 17, 2009
The 2009 OAMIC Golf Classic is scheduled for Wednesday, June 17, 2009, at the Wooster Country Club.
Registration begins at 11:15 a.m. and the lunch buffet starts at 11:30 a.m. on the patio. A shot-gun start golf scramble begins at 12:30 p.m. Dinner will be held at the conclusion of play (about 5:30 p.m.) on the patio.
Many of you have registered and we look forward to seeing you there!
Our full sponsors for this year’s event are:
AllCAT Claims Service
CEI Insurance Services
FRSTeam by DKS Dry Cleaning Restoration
General Re
Guy Carpenter & Co.
MSB, Inc.
Munich Re America
Swiss Re
W.J. Lehrke Co.
Our hole sponsors for the 2009 Golf Classic are:
Buckeye Insurance Group
CEI Insurance Services
DMA Insurance Housing Assistants
Farmers Mutual Relief Assn.
Grange Mutual Casualty Group
J. Bowers Construction
MSO, Inc.
Mutual Boiler Re
Rudick Forensic Engineering
Rural Computer Consultants
Shelter Re
Transatlantic Reinsurance Co.
Wayne Mutual Insurance Co.
Western Reserve Group
Our door prize sponsors for this year’s event are:
BF Re Underwriters
Bricker & Eckler, LLP
Celina Insurance Group
DMA Insurance Housing Assistants
FRSTeam by DKS Dry Cleaning Restoration
General Re
Grinnell Mutual
J. Bowers Construction
Mennonite Mutual Insurance Co.
MSB
Mutual Boiler Re
Rudick Forensic Engineering
Shelter Re
Transatlantic Reinsurance Co.
Western Reserve Group
2009 fall seminar set for Oct. 22
The 8th annual OAMIC/Ohio Insurance Institute/Bricker & Eckler fall seminar will be held on Thursday, October 22rd at the Villa Milano in Columbus, Ohio.
The seminar, Challenges Amid an Economic Storm, has been submitted for continuing education credit; and approval is pending for 6 hours of Ohio Agent CE credit and 4.25 hours of CLE credit.
The seminar agenda and online registration will be available at www.oamic.org by the end of June.
Be sure to mark your calendars now!
2010 OAMIC Convention set for Feb. 17-18
Plans are underway for the 2010 OAMIC Convention on Feb. 17-18, 2010, at the Doubletree Hotel in Worthington, Ohio. Please mark your calendars now; we hope to see you there!
Sponsorships are being sought for the 2010 convention. Information regarding sponsorships will be available in October.
Registration and online registration for convention participants will be available in December.
About OAMIC…
Purpose:
- To bring together its members in a mutual concept
- To develop and maintain cooperation among its members, other insurance associations and organizations
- To take an active role in the education of its members and the insuring public for which the membership serves
- To work in all matters that are beneficial to the membership of this association
Membership:
Insurance companies incorporated under the laws of the state of Ohio are eligible for full membership in the association.
Insurance companies not incorporated under the laws of the state of Ohio, industry-related insurers, service organizations, corporations or other associations are eligible for associate membership in the association.
2009 - 2010 Officers/Directors
President
LaVawn Coleman, Grange Mutual Insurance Co
President-Elect
James R. Silver, Pike Mutual Insurance Co.
Vice President
Rod Stapleton, Celina Mutual Insurance Group
Secretary/Treasurer
Blaine E. Budd, Washington Mutual Insurance Assn.
Past President
Dave Tschantz, Wayne Mutual Insurance Co.
Board Members
John Brooks, Buckeye Insurance Group
Blaine E. Budd, Washington Mutual Insurance
LaVawn Coleman, Grange Mutual Casualty Group
Susan Haack, The Motorists Insurance Group
Kevin Rall, Ohio Mutual Insurance Group
Mary Jane Rodgers, Perry County Mutual Fire Co.
James R. Silver, Pike Mutual Insurance Co.
Rod Stapleton, Celina Mutual Insurance Group
Dave Tschantz, Wayne Mutual Insurance Co.
Jonathon Younker, Woodville Mutual Insurance Co.
Administrative Staff
Daniel J. Kelso, OII President (dank@ohioinsurance.org)
Kathleen B. Strawn, OII Director, Member Services (kathys@ohioinsurance.org)
Mitchell A. Wilson, OII Vice President Public Information & Education (mitchw@ohioinsurance.org)
Calendar of Events
June 17, 2009 | OAMIC Annual Golf Classic | Wooster Country Club | Wooster, Ohio |
Oct. 22, 2009 | OAMIC/OII/B&E Fall Seminar | Villa Milano | Columbus, Ohio |
Feb. 17-18, 2010 | OAMIC 131st Annual Convention | Doubletree Hotel | Worthington, Ohio |
March 24, 2010 | Central Ohio Insurance Education Day | Villa Milano | Columbus, Ohio |
|
| 
