Welcome to the Young Agent's Advocate, an electronic newsletter published by the Professional Independent Insurance Agents of Illinois. If you are a young agent (under the age of 40), we invite you to join our young agents mailing list. Simply send an e-mail to Shannon Churchill that includes your name and agency, and we'll add you to our database.

Last Chance to Register - Insurance Industry Legislative Day Set for February 14, 2006

Insurance Industry Legislative Day has been scheduled for Tuesday, February 14th, 2006 at the Hilton Hotel in Springfield. The event is being coordinated by the PIIAI, Illinois Association of Insurance and Financial Advisors (IAIFA), Illinois Insurance Association (IIA), Illinois State Association of Health Underwriters (ISAHU), Illinois Association of Mutual Insurance Companies (IAMIC) and the Financial Planning Association of Illinois (FPA of IL).

Legislative Day 2005 drew over 400 insurance agents and company representatives to lobby their legislators on legislative issues impacting the insurance industry. The 2006 event will feature a Gubernatorial Candidate Forum during the lunch presentation; break out sessions; lobbying at the Capitol; and a reception with members of the Illinois General Assembly.

Registration forms will be posted online soon at www.piiai.org/government. PIIAI has reserved a block of rooms at the Springfield Hilton Hotel for the night of Tuesday, February 14th. If you would like to reserve a room, please call (800) 445-8667. The block is held under Insurance Leg. Day. Reservation cut off is Tuesday, January 24th. The Hilton is located at 700 E. Adams in downtown Springfield.

Please contact Jennifer Jacobs at (217) 321-3013 or email jjacobs@piiai.org with questions about this event.

Take the Challenge - WhirlyBall - March 10th in Lombard

The PIIAI Young Agents Network presents an evening of WhirlyBall! WhirlyBall is an exciting combination of basketball, polo and hockey, played with a Jai-Alai type plastic scoop and a plastic whiffle ball the size of a softball. Two teams challenge each other, with each player riding in an electrically powered machine, similar to a bumper car, called a WhirlyBug. The object is to throw the ball into a 15-inch net target on goals situated on both ends of a 4,000 sq. ft. court. It's an easy game to play and is competitive for EVERYONE of all ages and sizes.
The WhirlyBall tournament will begin at 7pm on Friday, March 10 at the WhirlyBall center in Lombard. At only $40 per person, the package includes dinner, beverages, court time and equipment. Click here for registration materials.

Big “I” National Legislative Conference and Convention

The Big “I” National Legislative Conference and Convention is scheduled April 26-28, 2006, in Washington, D.C. The conference will include an in-depth legislative issues briefing session as well as meetings with the Illinois Senators and members of Congress. Highlights of the convention will include a tradeshow, a keynote address by General Colin Powell, USA (Ret.), and a CEO panel discussion hosted by Big “I” CEO Bob Rusbuldt.

PIIAI plans to host a delegation of 70 agents, representing all 19 Illinois congressional districts, at this year’s event. PIIAI will pay conference registration fees and a travel stipend for all members who attend. First-time attendees will also be reimbursed for their two-night stay at the Grand Hyatt Washington on a shared-room basis. Due to our goal of increased participation, travel incentives are limited to the first five participants from each district.

PIIAI is still actively seeking members who live in the following congressional districts to attend the 2006 conference:  District 1, Bobby Rush; District 3, Daniel Lipinski; District 4, Luis Gutierrez; District 5, Rahm Emanuel; District 7, Danny Davis; District 8, Melissa Bean; and District 12, Jerry Costello.

For more information, or to find out how you can join PIIAI at the Big “I” National Legislative Conference and Convention, please contact Jennifer Jacobs at (800) 628-6436, ext. 3013 or email jjacobs@piiai.org.

Looking for Qualified Young Talent for Your Agency?

Following the success of the past internship programs, PIIAI is again seeking agencies interested in hiring qualified intern candidates from some of the top universities in the state. The summer program offers a pool of young talent available to participating agencies allowing the agencies to mold the future of the industry.  If you chose to hire an intern through this program, your agency will be responsible for compensation and guiding the student through an eight-week program that allows them to experience the independent agency system. Different from previous years the 2006 program will be completely on-line.  Students will have the opportunity to search the list of agencies looking to fill positions and agencies can search the database of students.  If your agency is interested in participating in this program please go to the Internship website at http://www.piiai.org/internship/ and fill out the agency sign-up form.

PIIAI Accepting College Scholarship Applications

The Young Agents Committee, in conjunction with PIIAI, is sponsoring four college sponsorships: G.A. Mavon Memorial Scholarship ($1,000 per semester), Roy & Harriet Robinson Scholarship ($500 per semester), Keith Payne Memorial Scholarship ($500 per semester), and Independent Insurance Agents of Kane County Scholarship ($500 per year). To be eligible, students must be a resident of Illinois (IIAKC recipient must be a resident of Kane County); have junior or senior status in college; be in a business degree program with an interest in insurance; be a full-time student; write a brief essay; and have a letter of recommendation from a PIIAI sponsor (current member in good standing or retired member). This is an excellent program to offer to clients and/or agency personnel with college-bound children. Deadline for submission is July 1, 2006. Click here for more information and to print a copy of the scholarship application.

For more information on upcoming classes, visit the PIIAI Education Center.