Table of Contents 

The Rough Notes Company 15th annual Community Service Award

Independent insurance agents, brokers, and their firms are eligible to be honored

By Robert N. Kretzmer, CIC

The Rough Notes Company is poised for the 15th time to accept nominations for the prestigious Community Service Award for independent insurance agents, brokers, or agencies. Each year at this time we ask our readers to help us identify worthy candidates for our annual award for extraordinary community service. We invite agents, agencies, trade associations, companies, suppliers and vendors, and charities or philanthropic organizations to join in our national search for insurance professionals who have performed extraordinary service within their local communities.

We know that the insurance industry has a proud tradition of individuals volunteering their time, efforts, and financial resources within their communities on the behalf of those who are less fortunate. This has been evidenced by our wonderful honorees over the past 14 years. We ask that you help us find our 15th winner.

Is the true measure of an insurance agent or agency measured solely on increased sales and profits? Perhaps for some agents and agencies, but not for all! Many insurance agents and agencies find that philanthropic service to their local communities is an integral part of their own definition of success. We could not agree more!

The Rough Notes Company feels a responsibility to help and support the insurance industry. Since 1878, we have aided insurance professionals by providing the industry with up-to-the-minute insurance information. "We feel an enormous commitment to the industry and, therefore, have created a formal annual award for the agents who feel a need to provide philanthropic support to their communities, thereby making the world a better place to live for everyone," says Walter J. Gdowski, president and chief executive officer of The Rough Notes Company.

The reward that comes to those who devote themselves to community service is exemplified by the quote by Albert Pike: "What we have done for ourselves alone dies with us; what we have done for others and the world remains and is immortal."

Please join with us to find a worthy candidate to express our thanks and appreciation by completing the Nomination Form on page xx. Attach all the required verifying documents, and mail all the information to The Rough Notes Company to arrive no later than December 31, 2013.

The winning agent or agency will receive a $5,000 check from The Rough Notes Company to be used to help further its charitable endeavors. Additionally, the winner will be honored at a dinner in March 2014 in conjunction with the 25th Annual Rough Notes Magazine Marketing Agency of the Year celebration. The winner will also receive an engraved eagle statue. And Rough Notes magazine will feature the winning project in a special Community Service article in early spring 2014.

Our past honorees listed below represent the kind of socially concerned, responsible men and women in whom the industry can take great pride. Without a doubt, though, those we have honored are only a small percentage of the many insurance professionals who are equally worthy of formal recognition. Here are all of our former winners:

2013—James Colangelo and Richard Morello, Florham Park, New Jersey: Founded and operate Family Reach Foundation, which provides funding for expenses for families dealing with pediatric cancer.

2012—Disabled Veterans Insurance Careers, Fort Myers, Florida: James Pender and Gary Trippe established a foundation that helps disabled veterans find a career path in insurance.

2011—Chris Paradiso, Stafford Springs, Connecticut: Provides funding for the Connecticut Children's Medical Center in Hartford, Connecticut.

2010—Craig Moon, Middletown, Ohio: Created, developed, and funded an adult autism community living facility in Ohio.

2009—Barbara Galgiani, Modesto, California: Helped create and raised funds for a hospice in California.

2008—D. Gaines Lanier, West Point, Georgia: Reconstructs housing for poverty-stricken areas in Georgia and Alabama.

2007—Co-Winner Mark Williamson, Little Rock, Arkansas: Provides funding for a radiation therapy institute in Arkansas.

2007—Co-Winner Markham Rollins III, Rye Brook, New York: Constructs new housing and raises funds for building houses for needy families in Nicaragua.

2006—J. Douglas Reichart, West Des Moines, Iowa: Chaired a local Iowa United Way campaign to an all-time record donation year.

2005—Jim McGovern, Belmont, California: Created and is the program organizer for a local California Leukemia & Lymphoma Society.

2004—Harry Swimmer, Charlotte, North Carolina: Founded and operates a therapeutic horseback-riding clinic for ill children and adults.

2003—Jack and Jason Rua, Fall River, Massachusetts: Chaired the fund-raising campaign and a key committee for a highly successful United Way campaign.

2002—Kenneth Felton, Vero Beach, Florida: Developed a local Boys & Girls Club in Indian River, Florida.

2001—Dick Lees, Pana, Illinois: Promoted funding for the addition of a new emergency room at a local hospital.

2000—Al Singer, Teaneck, New Jersey: Founded the People Against Starving Children program, which feeds children in New Jersey and around the country.

All of the above Rough Notes Company Community Service Award winners have a philanthropic spirit and a real need to give back within their communities. Please be sure to nominate an insurance agent, broker, or agency for our award this year.

The author

Robert N. Kretzmer, CIC, is the executive director of The Rough Notes Company Community Service Award program.

Award Conditions and Prerequisites:

Purpose: To recognize and present an award to an independent insurance broker, agent or agency that has demonstrated extraordinary community service within his, her or their local, regional or national community. To present winning agency or charity designated by the agency with a check in the amount of $5,000 to help further its special cause(s).

Criteria: Nominees will be judged on their overall contribution (funds raised, people helped, volunteerism, etc.) to their community service project and/or initiative, and positive impact (both short-term and long-term) that their efforts have made in their community.

Nomination period: Nominations will be accepted at the offices of Rough Notes magazine by U.S. mail, overnight delivery or hand-delivery up to and including December 31, 2013. No nomination forms will be accepted after December 31. Please note that no facsimiles or e-mails will be accepted.

Conditions:

1. Nominators must complete the nomination form in its entirety and provide all supporting documentation.

2. All nomination forms and supporting documentation must be received no later than December 31, 2013.

3. No facsimiles or e-mails will be accepted.

4. All nomination forms and supporting documentation become the exclusive property of The Rough Notes Company. Further, the nomination form and supporting documentation may be used at the sole discretion of Rough Notes magazine to publicize the award and award recipient, and to promote the Community Service Award program.

5. Incomplete nomination forms or nomination forms without supporting documents will not be considered.

6. Nominators may nominate themselves or their agency.

Selection: Designated individuals from The Rough Notes Company and selected others will review all nomination forms and supporting documentation and select a winner and honorable mention recipients. The winner and honorable mention recipients will be honored at Rough Notes magazine's Marketing Agency of the Year awards dinner in Indianapolis.

Awards:

1. The agent or agency will receive a check for $5,000 to be used to further its charitable endeavors.

2. The winning broker, agent or agency will be presented with a sculptured engraved eagle.

3. Rough Notes magazine will publish an article to publicize the community service project and award winner.

The awards dinner will be held in Indianapolis, Indiana, in March 2014.

Mailing: Send all nomination forms and supporting documents to:

The Rough Notes Company, Inc.

Attention: Community Service Award

11690 Technology Drive

Carmel, Indiana 46032-5600

CONTACT US | HOME