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.

Wrigley Field Rooftop Event - SOLD OUT! vs

St. Paul Travelers and the PIIAI YAC have joined forces to sponsor the St. Louis Cardinals vs. the Chicago Cubs premier Rooftop Event on Thursday, August 11 th. Tickets are sold out! For those of you who have registered, if you have not already received it, your confirmation will be coming by mail.

PIIAI Annual Showcase set for September 14-16, 2005

Make plans now to attend the Convention Showcase at the Crowne Plaza Hotel in Springfield. Young Agent events on Wednesday include the Young Agent of the Year Award which will be presented at the luncheon, a special YA Orientation and Reception that evening and following dinner, the collegiate-style Young Agents “Tailgate” party. Be sure to wear your favorite college sports team apparel.

Other highlights include the 130 exhibitor Tradeshow, the Annual Meeting, various CE courses, spouse program, and the “Sports-A-Rama” party. This event provides the opportunity to network with agents and company reps from throughout the state and earn up to 15 hours of CE at the same time. For more information visit the official convention website at http://www.piiai.org/Convention2005/default.htm.

Complimentary Convention Registration Opportunity Available to Young Agents for PIIAI’s Convention Showcase

PIIAI is again offering complimentary convention registration packages for the Convention Showcase. To be eligible, you must:

1. Never have attended a previous convention (in full or in part).
2. Be a young agent (40 years old or younger) employed by a PIIAI member agency.
3. Plan to attend the PIIAI convention (in full or in part).

The PIIAI Convention Showcase is September 14-16 at the Crowne Plaza Hotel in Springfield. The value of a full registration package is $150 (one-day packages also available). Recipients are responsible for their own travel, overnight accommodations, and incidentals. Only one complimentary registration per agency.

To be considered, please click here to submit your request online (deadline is August 24). If you would rather print the pdf form and fax it in, click here. If you have additional questions, e-mail Shannon Churchill or call her at (800) 628-6436, extension 3004. For more information on the convention or to review the schedule, click here.

Midwest Conference Wrap-Up

Sponsored by Illinois, Minnesota and Wisconsin, the third annual Midwest Conference was again a huge success. Total attendance for the event was over 400, with over 130 of those being agents and company representatives. Thank you to those Young Agents and their families that attended. Mark you calendars for next year’s conference which is tentatively scheduled for June 15-17, 2006. To view photo highlights from the event, click here.

Trusted Choice Big “I” Junior Classic

Thank you to those Young Agents who volunteered for the state golf tournament held July 6-7 in Pekin. Illinois will send 4 boys and 2 girls to the National Tournament held at Birck Boilermaker Golf Complex's Kampen Course in West LaFayette, Indiana on July 31 - August 4, 2005. Results of all tournaments and photo highlights can be found on our website http://www.chooseindependent.com/Golf.

U of I Fighting Illini Football Game

The PIIAI Young Agents Network will sponsor a Tantalizing Tailgate package. The game is set for October 29 th when the Fighting Illini take on the Wisconsin Badgers. Ticket information and more details will be included in the next edition of the Advocate.

2005 IIABA YA Sales & Leadership Conference

The ultimate experience for the next generation of industry leaders, the IIABA Sales & Leadership Conference brings together young agents and brokers from across the country to network with peers and company partners, develop sales and leadership skills, and learn about the latest industry trends and technology. Whether you're new to the industry or already in a leadership role in your agency or association, this event will help all young agents and brokers regardless of experience to create a solid foundation for long-term success.

The IIABA Young Agents Sales & Leadership Conference will be held September 9-11, in New York, NY. When you register for the conference, you are automatically registered for the Big “I” Convention at NO ADDITIONAL COST. You’ll definitely want to plan on staying through Monday, September 12 th for the Big “I” closing general session featuring former New York City Mayor Rudy Giuliani. For more information visit http://na.iiaa.org/Convention/05/home.htm

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

August 11	Wrigley Field Rooftop Event, Chicago, IL
September 9-11	IIABA Young Agents Leadership Conference, New York, NY
September 14-16	PIIAI Convention, Springfield, IL
October 29	U of I Football Game

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