AAMGA Special Section

83rd Annual Meeting:
The Strength of the Association

May 17 - 20, 2009
Boca Raton Resort & Club
Boca Raton, Florida

By Phil Zinkewicz

Last year, when the then-AAMGA President Tom Albrecht of The Barclay Agency in Montgomery, Alabama, passed the baton to Euclid Black of the Henderson, Nevada-based Black/White Associates, Black did not aim to make major changes in the association. His thought was that the idea is to build on what the AAMGA has accomplished and where it’s going.

He also stressed education as “extremely important” in helping the Association speak for its members. “I think we should use our resources to promote educational and vocational courses over the Web,” he said. Black noted that the AAMGA had raised an additional $1 million over and above its revenue to donate to Georgia State University to establish an excess and surplus lines chair. “This gives even more credibility to our own university and allows us to get more research done for us by the chair,” he said.

Now, a year has gone by. Next month, it will be Black who passes the baton to the incoming AAMGA president, Curtis Anderson of RPS in Scottsdale, Arizona. In the tradition of AAMGA presidents, Anderson doesn’t see the need to change what has been accomplished. Rather, he believes he must successfully continue to build on those accomplishments and move AAMGA ahead even though times may be tough.

“With the financial crisis and a difficult economic situation, we will have to look to our committees to discuss what needs be done to help our members,” says Anderson. “We will need to refresh and reenergize our committees to face the new challenges that affect our members. Moreover, our Government Affairs Committee will have to keep a sharp eye on the Washington scene for developments that might not be good for our members.”

Anderson says that the economy has taken its toll on AAMGA members. “The good news is that people are always going to buy insurance, but the bad news is that the economic slowdown will result in fewer premiums unless our members can find more customers. They must write more business.”

Regarding the educational opportunities at the AAMGA, Anderson praised the AAMGA University, saying that the University educational programs are extremely valuable. These programs include workshops offered as stand-alone programs, member-sponsored sessions, courses offered at AAMGA business meetings, and a series of online education programs. He also praised the AAMGA initiatives at Georgia State University, saying that they target both the young and the middle-aged members of the AAMGA in terms of improving education.

Anderson says that the AAMGA will continue to work with the National Association of Professional Surplus Lines Offices (NAPSLO) on important issues where there is a commonality of interests between the two organizations. More than 60% of AAMGA members also belong to NAPSLO, according to Anderson. “On many issues we can speak with one voice,” he says.

“There are a great many things that need to be done in the upcoming year—a difficult year—a year with a new administration and a new Congress. But with hard work and the dedication of our committees, we’ll get them done,” he concludes. “Our committees are the backbone of our association. We want to encourage more involvement in various committees on the part of our members.”