Action Summary

 

Interest Section:  Claims Section

                                                                                   

Chairperson:                 James D. Klauke, CPCU, AIC, RPA

 

Meeting Date:               10-10-2003

 

Attending: 

            Members: James Franz; Darnell Pettengill; Christine Sullivan; Marcia Sweeney; Brian Marx; John Gikins; Dave Mandt; Pat Jeremy; Robert McHenry; Eric Sieber; Brian Philbin; Christian LaChance; Donna Popow; and Richard Litchford

                                                                       

            Members absent:  Ralph Riemensperger; Carola Hogan; Tony Nix; Barbara Levine; and Andrew Zagrzejewski

 

 

Item # 1            Subject:  Welcome

 

Discussion:   Each member introduced each other.  Discussed dinner after the meeting and provided map.  Agreed to members being available at the new designee hospitality room.  Jim Franz to do the radio broadcast.

 

Action(s) taken:  

 

Status:   Completed

 

 

Item # 2          Subject:   Sections Booth

 

Discussion: Assignments were arranged prior to the annual meeting.

 

Action(s) taken:             Jim Franz                     Friday              4:00pm to 5:00pm

                                    Brian Philbin                 Friday              4:00pm to 5:00pm

                                    Pat Jeremy                   Sunday             8:00am to 9:00am

                                    Christine Sullivan          Sunday             8:00AM TO 9:00AM

                                    Robert McHenry          Sunday             11:30am to 2:00pm

                                    Eric Sieber                   Sunday             11:30am to 2:00pm

                                    John Gikins                   Monday           12:30pm to 1:30pm

                                    Marcia Sweeney           Monday           12:30pm to 1:30pm

                                    Tony Nix                      Monday           4:30pm to 6:00pm

                                    Richard Litchford          Monday           4:30pm to 6:00pm

 

Status:   Completed

 

           

 

 

 

 

Interest Section:        American Institute

 

Item # 3          Subject:  Classes and courses

 

Discussion:  Donna Popow talked about the institute and presented a report.

 

Action(s) taken:            No actions

 

Status:  Closed  

 

 

Item #  4         Subject:  Coverage Questions & Surveys in CQ and on Web

 

Discussion:  Brian Marx will do a coverage question on the CQ on a liability issue.  Should appear in the next CQ.  Hope is that the poor response to last one was subject matter.  Brian will keep track of responses.

 

Discusses a survey on the web site.  Decided to try one to see what it would take to get claims CPCU’s back to the annual meeting.  Five options for an answer will be given.  Will send it to Eric to do it through the web site.  Options are as follows:

            Reasons you do not attend annual meetings.  Mark all appropriate and rank as most important with 1 being most important and 5 being least important.

1.      Company will not pay for the meeting cost

2.      Company will not provide the time off work

3.      Low interest level

4.      Not enough claims oriented programs

5.      Don’t like the location of the meeting (2003 New Orleans)

6.      Don’t like the location (2004 Los Angeles)

 

Action(s) taken:   None

 

Status:  Pending

 

 

Item # 5          Subject:  Chairs Meeting Review

 

Discussion:  Discussed the meeting with the chairs and the results of the feedback.  I was very up beat except for LA seminars issue.  I did not cover that discussion here.  Got feed back from section for afternoon meeting. 

            On dues for sections issue, committee feels strongly that Society should not let company participation in section dues be a governing factor in decision to eliminate dues.  Suggest the Society not increase Society Dues the first year after making the decision to eliminate the section dues.  Also believe Society people need to meet with company CEO’s and market the value the CPCU brings to the company by their employees.

 

Action(s) Taken:           Presented at afternoon chairs meeting.

 

Status:              Completed

 

 

Item # 6          Subject:  Award – CPCU Society Insurance Professional of the Year

 

Discussion:  This is my idea and the committee agrees it would be a good thing.

 

Action(s) Taken:           Presented to Chairs meeting in afternoon.  I was appointed as sub-committee chair to make a formal proposal.  Appointed Kathleen Robison  and Patricia Saporito as commit members.  Plan to appoint a chapter president as well.  Will make presentation at mid-year meeting chairs meeting.

 

Status: Open

 

           

Item # 7          Subject:  Box Lunch

 

Discussion:  John Gikins outlined and made presentation.  No speaker so time is available for networking.  Agreed that I would talk for a minute, everyone would introduce themselves and Marcia would talk about CQ.  Committee members would emphasize liaison program and ways the members could get involved and the various programs we have.

 

Action(s) Taken:           Lunch was Tuesday and 62 members paid and 49 attended.  One was turned away because she did not have a ticket.  We were able to get several volunteers for our liaison program and several others that indicated they would help with CQ articles.  It was a good session. Room was good size and the air was working.  Location was not good.

 

Status:  Closed

 

 

Item # 8          Subject:           New Orleans Seminars

 

Discussion:       Darnell Pettengill and Brian Marx reviewed the program and speakers.

 

Action Taken:               Seminars were conducted Monday at 10:30amand 1:30pm.

            At the morning session we had on of only two small rooms with 70 chairs.  We had 85 attendees and managed to find several additional chairs.  I had my committee stand in the back so the others could have a chair.  We turned away about a dozen other people that wanted to attend.  Then, the air conditioning was poor and the room became very warm.  Six people got up and left because of comfort.

            The afternoon session had plenty of chairs.  Many of the people in the morning session did not return.  We had 35 attendees and we think it was because of the room.

            In short, air was bad, location was bad and it was too small.  I suspect the comments are going to be bad.  I would like to see them all if possible.

 

Status: Closed

 

 

 

 

Item # 9          Subject:           Circle of Excellence

 

Discussion:       Darnell Pettengill and Jim Franz discussed the program and the results, which is the gold ribbon.  Criteria were discussed because Jim Franz is on the Circle committee.  He discussed the reasons items are accepted and some of the criteria used.  Then discussed events we are doing that will get us the gold again.  Spent some time praising Darnell for his leadership and tireless help on the committee for the past 9-years.

 

Action Taken:               Jim Franz and Lola Hogan appointed to sub-committee as Darnell is leaving the committee.  They will keep in contact with members to record qualifying activities.

 

Status:              Open

 

 

Item # 10        Subject:           Other Organizations

 

Discussion:       Pat Jeremy made presentation about the PLRB, which has appointed him as a director.  They are going to open to underwriters and left earl to make presentation to the underwriting section.  RPA is another association but they are in infant stage.  Donna Popow indicated they are doing the exams for the RPA.  Pat will look after them more.

We discussed other organizations, which were web site programs, ECM and IRMI.Com.  Agreed to consider ECM at mid-year when director is attending as our new committee member.  I will talk to other association about articles.  They want an article per quarter from a writer.

We discussed that other organizations to be recognized and co-sponsored will require that they be education oriented and not just a social organization.

 

Action Taken:   Pat to get speaker at PLRB to talk about the value of the CPCU designation.  Kathleen Robison has volunteered and Pat will see if we can do it at this year’s convention since program has been set.

 

Status: Open

 

 

Item # 11        Subject:           CQ

 

Discussion:       Marcia Sweeney made presentation and made call for articles.  She talked a little about how she gets articles from various sources and pointed out that most articles are still authored by CPCU members.  There were 6 CPCU Claims people articles, 2 with other institute designations, 6-attorneys and 2 Vendor/Industry analysis people     Marcia reports that 68% of articles are in technical/functional areas.  Other articles were in support of the CPCU Society initiatives on web site development, spread the word, national service, sections and Circle of Excellence and committee profiles.  

 

We will post the names of all participants who contributed to the Circle of Excellence award.  In this way we can recognize all members who contribute and have a reason to encourage non-committee members to contribute.  Marcia left early to attend newsletters committee meeting.

 

Action Taken:               Marcia agreed to stay on for another year.

 

Status:              Open

 

 

Item # 12         Subject:            Web Site

 

Discussion:       Eric Sieber made presentation for the sub-committee, which consists of Eric, Ralph Riemensperger, Brian Philbin and myself as chairman.  Eric apologized for the fact that no changes were made since our last annual meeting.  He agreed to make changes and we discussed some possible changes.  We also agreed that changes would be made every month.  I will send an e-mail every time Eric advises that a change was made and request content material from each member.

            One item I requested was a list of all articles authored by section members with a link to the article.  The Circle award will be updated and a link to the society web site where the material submitted can be found.  We agreed not to put photos of members in the CQ so there is no chance of identity theft.  Group photos will require permission of persons in photo in advance.

 

Action Taken:               Eric assured committee that changes will be made monthly.  He and sub-committee left early to attend meeting with IT section.

 

Status:              Open

 

 

Item # 12        Subject            Chapter liaison Program

 

Discussion:       Both sub-committee members were not in attendance.  I spoke for them and reviewed where we were with liaison members.  Currently have ten chapter liaison people.  I was requested to send a copy of list of members after the annual meeting, the duties documents and the cover letter sent to each liaison.

            Committee suggested we go to the chapter presidents to have them recommend or appoint a liaison.  I agreed on the condition the person be a claims person as some chapters have a liaison person for all sections.  It was felt that the chapter presidents would also help the liaison person get claims people involved in the chapter activities as well.

            We discussed preparing short lunch speeches that could be made available for liaisons to use when chapter presidents request a speaker for the one claims program per chapter per year.  We will do the following:

Donna Popow                          Ethics

Rick Litchford                          Communications

Darnell Pettengill                       Depositions

James Klauke                           Appraisal

Chris LaChance                        Fraud

 

Action Taken:               I will send a letter to all chapter presidents, which will include a copy of the duties of the liaison.  Will go through John Kelly for e-mail addresses.

 

Status:              Open

 

 

 

 

Item # 13        Subject            Workshops & Seminars

 

Discussion:       Dave Mandt is planning to do a NLI program for his chapter in Seattle area in the spring.  Robert McHenry is doing an I-day seminar.

            Canned seminars will be developed for Pleadings and Practices by Chris LaChance and Communications by Rick Litchford.

            Darnell reports that he has organized or presented the de[position seminar to 20 different companies offices with 20 to 40 attendees each within his company structure.  Will do the same with communications when completed.

 

Status:              Open

 

 

Item # 14        Subject            2004 Section Goals

 

Discussion:       I used the stand and asked all members to come up with a goal for the section to accomplish in 2004.  They are as follows:

1.      Put on 6-seminars in each time slot at Los Angeles.  Plan is to advertise to claims people in the Society to come back to the annual meeting.  Will advertise to members in the CQ and web site, e-mail notification, liaisons and chapters.

2.      Improve communications with members by committee.  We plan to send an e-mail to all members at least monthly.  More discussion through the liaisons.  Intent is to develop resources within the membership.

3.      Reach out to chapters to assist them.  This would be through the liaisons or direct contact with the chapter presidents.

4.      Improve web site.  Improvements to be made monthly.

5.      Get members to contribute to Circle and recognize them for their contribution.  This will be by direct request through e-mail contact and by the liaison, CQ and web site.

6.      Partner with other sections and organizations.  Will offer to co-sponsor seminars with other sections.  Will try to get speakers or programs for other organizations.

 

Action Taken:               All members to review and participate.

 

Status:              Open

 

 

Recommendation(s) to Board of Governors

 

Interest Section:        Claims

 

Recommendation (Item # 1 ):              We recommend the section dues of $30 be deleted and all members of the Society be automatically offered one section when they send in their dues after becoming a member.  New designees should be assigned a section in accordance with their job classification.  If a member wants to join multiple sections he/she should be allowed for a nominal fee.

 

This is a repeat item presented after the mid-year meeting in Tampa.

 

 

Rationale Supporting Recommendation:

 

We believe most if not all revenue can be made up in a small increase in annual dues to the membership.  This will make all society members part of a section and make them more accessible to the sections.  This will assist the sections to get more Society members involved in Society activities.

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Recommendation (Item # 2):    Claim section is prepared to put on one two-hour seminar in each time slot of the Los Angeles Annual Meeting. 

 

Rationale Supporting Recommendation:

 

We intend to reach out to claim section members and all other claim related CPCU’s to “Come Back to the Annual meeting”.  We feel that if we have a full program, a claims person can have a better chance of getting approval to attend.  Further, with only one or two programs most claim managers on tight budgets will not spend several thousand dollars for staff to attend.

 

We plan to track attendance and report to the Society on the results.  If successful, we will suggest other section make similar attempts on a rotating basis.  The theory is to reach out to Society Members that do not attend the annual meeting.

 

Our programs currently planned are as follows:

1.                  Bad Faith – This seminar will be the three attorneys that were involved in the State farm case that went to the US Supreme Court.  This case has defined punitive damages and it will be discussed in great detail.

2.                  Boiler vs Fire with time element – This seminar will explore the differences and similarities of boiler and machinery claims and fire claims.  It will also have a time element theme.

3.                  Personal Lines Fraud – This seminar will discuss the elements of fraud in auto and homeowners claims.

4.                  Workers Compensation and Continuing Trauma – This will be a workers compensation seminar.  Sponsor not at annual meeting.

5.                  Auto Technology Claims – What does the Future hold for the insurance and repair shop industry as well as the policyholder?  Will cover improvem,ents in the auto industry and its impact on the industry.

6.                  Structure settlement – This seminar will have a time element theme and will explore the advantages of structured settlements.

 

This recommendation is now being presented for the third time without a response.  Not having a response, we proceeded with our planning and are ready to proceed.  We need a response by 11-17-2003 in order to finalize the program.

 

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Recommendation (Item # 3):     We request a written response to Recommendations sent with this report.

 

Rationale Supporting Recommendation:

 

Our sections people work hard in their volunteer work and the above recommendation about LA is a prime example.  We continued to plan an extensive program because there was no negative response to our recommendation.  A fair assumption was that the idea was agreed upon.  Only now that the program is fully planned and ready to go are we hearing that we might not be able to do it.  That hurts since we have to lean on friends and business associates to put these programs on in the first place.

 

It was also suggested at the Section Chairs afternoon meeting that we should not only receive a written response to our submissions, but we should receive a copy of all submissions and the reply for every section.  Our section will support that request as well.

 

Recommendation (Item # 4):              We would like the green Claims ribbon attached to the badge of all new designees and other CPCU members attending the annual meeting, the same as all the other ribbons.

 

Rationale Supporting Recommendation:

 

When we are given the ribbons we do not get to all our members.  The real reason for this ribbon is to eliminate an experience I had at my annual meeting in 1985 when I got my designation.  I was at the receptions and knew no one.  Had I known someone was in claims, I would have introduced my self and started talking.  How many times have we seen new designees and their spouse at receptions standing by themselves looking like they do not fit in.  This will help them find someone in their own line of business where they can be assured of having some common interest.

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Recommendation (Item # 5):  All seminar rooms at annual meetings should have a minimum of 100 chairs.

 

Rationale Supporting Recommendation:

 

The claims section had a bad experience at the Marriott in New Orleans where we had to turn people away from attending a seminar.  This should never be allowed to occur.

 

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