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.

U of I Fighting Illini Football Package - Last Chance to Register!!!

The PIIAI Young Agents Network is sponsoring a college football package for Saturday, October 29th when the Fighting Illini take on the Wisconsin Badgers. The package includes tickets to the game, a tailgate party hosted at Jillian’s including a lunch buffet, beverages, and games. This package is open to children so bring the family to a fun day at the stadium. For those of you who already have your own tickets to the game please feel free to join us at Jillian’s for the tailgate party (pre-registration required). For more details and a registration form click here.

Illinois Young Agents Committee Wins Three in a Row!
Congratulations to the PIIAI Young Agents Committee on winning the 2005 Outstanding Young Agents Committee of the Year Award, presented by the Independent Insurance Agents and Brokers of America. This is the third consecutive win for Illinois in this category. Thank you to all of the committee members and members of the Young Agents Network who contributed to our program’s success.
The Outstanding Young Agents Committee of the Year Award recognizes the outstanding efforts made by a state young agents committee in the areas of political involvement, membership development, communications, state committee project, and young agents meeting as well as a committee’s promotion of the independent agency system.

Elaine Wagener Named Young Agent of the Year by PIIAI

Elaine Wagener of Antioch, Ill. was named Young Agent of the Year by the Professional Independent Insurance Agents of Illinois (PIIAI) during the Association’s annual convention. Wagener, owner/producer of Wagener Insurance Agency, was presented with the Young Agent of the Year Award for demonstrating service to the insurance industry, professional trade associations, and community in a manner considered exceptional for a young agent.

Wagener has been involved in the insurance industry since 1995. She worked for a local insurance firm from 1998-2003 before founding Wagener Insurance Agency in May 2004. The agency originally focused on main-street commercial accounts such as boutiques, hardware stores, delis, accountants, and artisan contractors. In 2005, they expanded to include Preferred Personal Lines and Health/Life coverage for individuals and business clients.

Wagener is active with the Young Agents Network and was one of 35 delegates representing Illinois at the Independent Insurance Agents & Brokers Association National Legislative Conference held in Washington, DC earlier this year. She is also extremely involved in her local community, serving on a number of business & volunteer boards.

PIIAI Convention Showcase 2005 Another Successful Event

PIIAI held another successful annual convention in Springfield September 14-16, 2005. Over 1300 people attended the 2 ½ day event, and the trade show was packed with 130 exhibitors. Thank you to all of the exhibitors, sponsors and participants that made this event such a success! A full report on convention activities is published in the October issue of Insurance Insight magazine. Photo highlights from the event can be found at http://www.piiai.org/Convention2005.

Big “I” National Legislative Conference and Convention Set for April 26-28, 2006

The PIIAI will again be coordinating a delegation to attend the Big “I” National Legislative Conference in Washington, D.C., the insurance industry’s premier federal lobbying event. For 2006, the Big “I” has combined its convention trade show with the conference. Each year, PIIAI coordinates a delegation to travel to D.C. and is hoping to take a group of 70 agents, representing each congressional district in the state. PIIAI will pay convention registration fees for members who attend. First-time attendees will receive a stipend for travel and PIIAI will pay for their two-night stay at the Grand Hyatt Washington on a shared-room basis. Returning participants will receive only a stipend for travel. Due to our goal to have agents representing each congressional district, we are limited to the five participants from each district who sign up. Please mark your calendar and contact the PIIAI to reserve your place in the delegation.

To join the Illinois Delegation to DC in 2006, you must:
·    Make a minimum contribution to PIIAPAC, our state political action committee, in the current (2006) dues year.
·    Make a minimum contribution to InsurPac, our national political action committee.
·    Attend 2006 state Insurance Industry Legislative Day in Springfield (date TBD)

Members of the 2005 delegation heard from President Bush and met with House Speaker Hastert, Senator Durbin and 17 other Illinois Members of Congress. For more information, or to find out how you can join the 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.

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

October 29	U of I Football Game
March (date TBD)	Whirlyball, Lombard, IL
April 26-28	Big “I” National Legislative Conference & Convention, Washington, DC

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