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.

1st Annual Young Agents Pro-Am Golf Outing - Open to All Agents

The PIIAI Young Agents Network is hosting a Pro-Am Golf Outing on Tuesday, August 7th at Prairie Landing Golf Club in West Chicago. Foursomes will compete in an 18-hole scramble with a 1p.m. shotgun start. After golf join the young agents for dinner with special guest speaker Phil Lackman, who will update attendees on current state and future outlook of the insurance industry. This event will provide young agents in Illinois with the opportunity to interact with carrier representatives on a more personal, informal level while competing in a friendly tournament environment. For more details, click here. Sponsorship opportunities are also available for those interested, click here or contact Shannon Churchill (800) 628-6436 ext. 3004, schurchill@piiai.org for more information.

Young Agent of the Year Nominations Being Accepted

Do you know an Outstanding Young Agent who has demonstrated service to the insurance industry, professional trade associations, and community in a manner that would be considered exceptional for a person of his or her age?  If so, they could be the PIIAI’s next Young Agent of the Year. This annual award recognizes the achievements of young agents in Illinois and will be presented during the PIIAI Annual Convention, October 3-5, 5007, at the Crowne Plaza in Springfield, Illinois. For more information, click here.

PIIAI Accepting College Scholarship Applications

The Young Agents Network, 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, 2007. Click here for more information and to print a copy of the scholarship application.

Do You Need Some Help with Your Summer Workload?
The Interns are ready! Sign your agency up today to participate in the Summer Internship Program. Details available at http://www.piiai.org/internship/. The candidates come from some of the top universities in the state. They are all ready to work for the summer and are awaiting your contact. If you have questions about the program please contact Shannon Churchill at (800) 628-6436 ext. 3004, or schurchill@piiai.org.

PIIAI Convention Showcase – Save the Date!
Mark your calendar and begin making plans to attend the 2007 PIIAI Convention Showcase, October 3-5th at the Crowne Plaza Hotel in Springfield. Join PIIAI as we bring you education, networking and plenty of entertainment at this year’s County Fair themed event. Highlights of the 2007 event include: -Up to 15 hours of CE Credit – Including flood insurance compliance opportunities -One of the industry’s largest trade shows featuring more than 100 company reps and vendors -Food, fun, and entertainment, all centered on the “County Fair” theme -Keynote address by former Governor James R. Thompson
More information will be coming soon to www.piiai.org.

PIIAI Seeks Community Service Information

Martin Luther King, Jr. said it best. “Everyone can be great, because everyone can serve.”  Independent Insurance Agents have a long history of giving back to their community in huge doses. Conduct a quick check into any agency or company and you will likely find many individuals working hard for numerous causes. It is not at all unlikely for an agent to sit on the board of a charitable organization, chair an annual fundraising project, or even spearhead a new fundraiser altogether.

At PIIAI, we are proud of the many civic and charitable contributions our members make to their local communities. To that end, we are starting a regular feature in this publication that will highlight the community involvement and service of our members.

If you have information about a project on which you are currently working, or have recently completed, please forward it to Deann French, (dfrench@piiai.org) and we will get it placed in this new column. In addition, we welcome corresponding pictures to accompany the article. If you have any questions, or need additional information, please contact Deann French 800-628-6436, ext. 3022.

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

Thank you to our Young Agents Sponsors! 
Their financial contributions have enabled PIIAI to offer activities to young agents at substantial cost savings.
AAA Insurance, Allstate/Deerbrook/Encompass Insurance, Arlington/Roe & Company, Inc., Badger Mutual Ins. Company, Consumers Insurance Company, General Casualty Co., Grinnell Mutual Reinsurance Co., The Hanover Insurance Group, IMT Insurance Company, Insight Insurance Services, Inc., Interstate Risk Placement Inc., Iowa Mutual Insurance Company, Mercury Insurance Group, Ohio Casualty Group, Pekin Insurance, Progressive, Rain & Hail, LLC, Rockford Mutual Insurance Company, Roush Insurance Services, Inc., W.A. Schickedanz Agency Inc., Society Insurance, Standard Mutual Insurance Company, United Fire Group, West Bend Mutual Insurance Co., Westfield Insurance Companies, J M Wilson, Zurich Small Business in Indiana