NAILBA 30 Hailed a Success
NAILBA 30 was hailed as a success by exhibitors and attendees alike. The meeting drew 1,348 attendees, and also welcomed 97 exhibiting companies in 120 booths.

“One of NAILBA’s great strengths is relationships,” noted NAILBA Chairman Christi Daughenbaugh. She continued, “This meeting, as always, has enabled attendees to continue the 30-year tradition of learning, networking and doing business together.”

In her address at the Opening General Session on Thursday, Christi shared the association’s newly adopted statement of purpose, which is to “serve as the national association of life, health and annuity insurance distributors.”

Later in the Opening General Session, Christi named the recipient of the 2011 Chairman's Award, Melinda Meyer of ValMark Securities, saying , “I am grateful for Melinda’s tremendous efforts on NAILBA’s behalf and for our industry.” The honor came as a complete surprise to Meyer, who had taken the stage during the Opening General Session to deliver an address from the Professional Development Committee. In addition to her other volunteer commitments with NAILBA, Meyer served as the 2011 Chair of the Professional Development Committee, which is responsible for the program development for the Annual Meeting.  In presenting the award to Melinda, Christi recognized Melinda as the “driving force behind the development and launch of our new Agency Successor Networking Group,” (ASNG) a group which held their inaugural meeting at the Annual Meeting.

The ASNG, featuring 30 members, enjoyed both a reception and workshop as their inaugural activities. This group, developed by the NAILBA Professional Development Committee, will continue as a self-led study and networking group for incoming agency principals.

In addition to the ASNG, NAILBA 30 featured workshops covering a wide range of topics including a state of the industry panel, business continuity planning, agency roundtables, social media, and more. Specialized content was also developed and provided by Million Dollar Round Table (MDRT), ACORD and the Risk Appraisal Forum. Keynote addresses from nationally-recognized presenters—author and management educator Jim Collins, Zappos CEO Tony Hsieh, and former Senator Christopher Dodd—offered management and leadership insights, as well as a political perspective from one of the sponsors of the Dodd-Frank bill.

Coupled with outstanding education and exhibiting, the event featured many scheduled and informal opportunities for social interaction between exhibitors and their customers and prospects. Exhibitor feedback was extremely positive.

Questions about the meeting can be directed to NAILBA at 703.383.3081.

Mooers Award Recipient Announced at NAILBA 30
The late Col. J. William Felton, III was honored with the 2011 Douglas Mooers Award of Excellence at the Mooers Award Dinner in Phoenix, Arizona last week.  Col Felton, who died in June, 2011, spearheaded the founding of the NAILBA Charitable Foundation. He served as a Foundation Board member, ultimately as Chairman Emeritus, a position he held until his passing. In early Foundation documents, Col Felton remarked, “We have laid the foundation for growth. We are ‘Bridge Builders.’ We wear hard hats. We make life better. These are exciting times for our association; we have a date with the future. Let us keep it!”

In 2008, the NAILBA Charitable Foundation honored the Colonel and his contributions to the Foundation’s success by naming a Foundation grant in his honor. The Felton Grant will always be the largest of the NAILBA Foundation Grants, recognizing his tireless efforts to make a difference in the lives of those less fortunate.

Former NAILBA Chairman John W. Felton, IV of Tennessee Brokerage Agency accepted the award on his father’s behalf.

Membership Renewals
Membership renewal packets will be sent to agency principals in December. Please recall, renewals are not automatic - renewal applications must be completed and approved each year. Please complete and return your renewal application, as well as your updated database listing, as soon as possible to avoid a lapse in membership benefits and/or a late fee.  Renewals are due no later than March 31, 2012.

Questions about membership renewals? Contact Kathy Allison, Director of Membership and the Foundation, at kallison@nailba.org or 703.383.3072.

LIFE Foundation: realLIFEstories Client Service Awards Program
The nonprofit LIFE Foundation announced that it is once again sponsoring the realLIFEstories Client Service Awards Program, an annual effort to collect and publicize compelling examples of how insurance helped saved the day for families and businesses at times of great financial need.  LIFE is now accepting submissions and agents have until January 17, 2012 to share their life, disability or long-term care insurance success stories. The four best stories, as determined by an independent judging panel, will be featured in a special advertising section in a fall 2012 issue of O magazine.  

To enter, insurance agents must complete an application form along with an essay describing their client’s realLIFEstory. The application form is available at www.lifehappens.org/reallife. Agents can either complete the form and essay online, or download the application and mail or fax it to LIFE.  The deadline to submit an entry is January 17, 2012.

Super Committee Not Expected to Reach Deal on Deficit
The Joint Select Committee on Deficit Reduction (more commonly known as the Congressional “Supercommittee” tasked with formulating a plan to reduce the Federal deficit by $1.2 trillion over ten years) is not expected to meet a critical deadline necessary to allow a deficit deal to move forward.

The Supercommittee must submit a plan to Congress for consideration by November 23, but the plan must have been vetted by the Congressional Budget Office and made public by Monday, November 21. 

As a result, beginning in 2013 there will be $1.2 trillion in automatic cuts enacted, which would be split equally between defense and non-defense discretionary spending.

Former U.S. Senator Christopher Dodd addressed NAILBA 30 in a keynote address on Saturday, November 18 at the closing General Session in Phoenix, Arizona.  Touching on the subject in his remarks, Senator Dodd noted that—assuming the Supercommittee did reach a deal—$1.2 trillion in budget cuts over ten years would be grossly insufficient to address the nation’s $15 trillion budget deficit and that a much broader plan on par with the recommendations of the Bowles-Simpson commission would be more appropriate in addressing the nation’s fiscal woes.

Questions about NAILBA’s Advocacy efforts should be directed to Mark Valentini, MPP, Manager, Government Affairs at mvalentini@nailba.org or 703.383.3073.

Advertiser/Exhibitor/Sponsor Corner
To all of our exhibitors and sponsors, please accept our most sincere gratitude for your support of NAILBA 30. Attendee feedback has been overwhelmingly positive!

2012 Exhibit Space Priority Point Selection
Reminder: NAILBA 30 exhibitors have until November 30 to confirm their contracted booth space for NAILBA 31 in Orlando.  A 25 percent deposit MUST accompany the contract to hold space. All deposits and contracts MUST be received no later than November 30 to be considered official.  Any spaces without contracts/deposits will be released and opened to the General Public for sale on  December 5, 2011.  

 Advertising – March/April Perspectives
The print advertising deadline for the March/April issue of Perspectives is January 4 – don’t delay in submitting your advertising contract to secure the best location and/or Guaranteed Placement. The 2012 NAILBA Media Kit is available online now, along with the Advertising Order Form. 

Complete and return your insertion order now to confirm your ad purchase! To view the 2012 Editorial Calendar, click here.

REMEMBER: Advertising adds to your Priority Point totals, which allow exhibitors to select exhibit booth locations for next year’s annual meeting. Purchase advertising and add points to your total to gain a competitive advantage.

Final Attendee List
Please note, the final attendee list will be provided to exhibitors and sponsors very soon. Kindly recall that this list may be used one time for post event marketing and must be used within 45 days of receipt.  Failure to comply with established NAILBA rules (as outlined on your signed exhibitor contract) could jeopardize your booth location or participation in next year’s meeting. 

Promotional Opportunities Guide
All exhibitors and sponsors were provided with a print version of our consolidated 2012 Promotional Opportunities Guide, which features advertising, exhibits and sponsorship opportunities for the entire calendar year. As always, we are willing and eager to work with you to customize a sponsorship/ advertising/exhibit package that maximizes your brand exposure and ensures that your support of the independent wholesale brokerage community is clear and unquestionable.

Please contact Susan Haning at shaning@nailba.org or 703.383.3068 to discuss any sponsorship, advertising or exhibit questions.