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.

Get in Tune and Register for the 2006 PIIAI Convention!

Registration forms are now available for the PIIAI Convention at the Crowne Plaza Hotel in Springfield, October 4-6, 2006. For more information, click here or call (800) 628-6436 to request a registration form.
            Your all-access pass for convention ($150 Full Registration) will get you:

1. A chance to see some of the industry’s hottest speakers while earning up to 15 hours of CE
2. Entry to a sold-out trade show where you can meet and greet with 130 company reps and vendors
3. Tickets to the Wednesday night Young Agent Party where you take part in the  PIIAI Idol Contest
4. Food, fun, and entertainment by DJ Todd at Thursday night’s PIIAI Music Awards

One Day and Ala Carte registration for individual events is also available. For more details, visit click here.
For information on speakers and education classes, click here. Registration forms will be hitting your mailbox soon.

Reminder to PIIAI Convention Attendees: Hotel Reservations Accepted Starting August 1st

Rooms have been set aside at the Crowne Plaza Hotel and will be available for reservation by calling (217) 529-7777 beginning on August 1st.  Rooms at the Crowne Plaza will sell out soon after they are released. PIIAI has also set aside a block of rooms at the Holiday Inn Express: (217) 529-7771 and the Hilton Garden Inn (217) 529-7171. For information on other hotels in the area, click here.

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).

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 September 11). 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.

YA Network Sponsors Cub-Cardinal Baseball Package - Only a few tickets remain!!

The Young Agents Network is sponsoring a Baseball VIP Package on Saturday, August 26th, to watch the St. Louis Cardinals battle the Chicago Cubs. Registration is $100 per person (with costs offset by company partners). The package includes tickets to the Bob Gipson party room at the brand new Busch Stadium; lunch, beverages and snacks throughout the game; social area with personal bartender and closed circuit television; and more. Tickets are limited to 30 people and will be made available to young agents and spouses/guests on a first-come basis. Visit http://www.piiai.org/youngagents/Baseball/baseball.htm for a registration form.  Don't delay because before you know it the tickets will be....going, going, gone. For questions please contact PIIAI at 1-800-628-6436.

2006 Young Agents Midwest Conference - wrap up

For the fourth year, the Illinois, Wisconsin and Minnesota Associations joined together to sponsor the 2006 Midwest Conference.  This exciting and educational event, designed for newer insurance professionals and their families was held at the Kalahari Resort & Conference Center in the Wisconsin Dells home of the largest indoor waterpark in the United States.  Thank you to everyone who attended the event!  Next year, the event has been scheduled for June 28-30, 2007…mark your calendars!

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, Allied Insurance, The Andover Cos., Arlington/Roe & Company, Inc., CCMSI, Century-National Ins. Co., Cincinnati Insurance, Constitutional Casualty Co., Consumers Insurance Company, Drive Insurance from Progressive, Erie Insurance Group, Farmers Mutual Hail Insurance, General Casualty Co., Grange Insurance Companies, Grinnell Mutual Reinsurance Co., Hanover Insurance Company, Hastings Mutual Ins. Company, IMT Insurance Company, Insight Insurance, Interstate Risk Placement Inc., MetLife Auto & Home, Pekin Insurance, Rockford Mutual Insurance Company, SECURA, Standard Mutual Insurance Company, United Fire Group, Victoria Insurance Company, W.A. Schickedanz Agency Inc., West Bend Mutual Insurance Co.