YOUNG AGENTS & BROKERS CAN GET SCHOLARSHIPS TO ATTEND BIG “I” NATIONAL LEGISLATIVE CONFERENCE
Special Events Planned for Young Agents
WASHINGTON, D.C., Feb. 5 - A number of scholarships are available to help young agents and brokers attend the Independent Insurance Agents & Brokers of America's (IIABA) National Legislative Conference - taking place April 21 through 23 at The Capital Hilton in downtown Washington, D.C.
First-time young agent attendees can apply for a $1,000 scholarship to help them attend the Big
”I” National Legislative Conference. Only one, $1,000 scholarship will be awarded by the Big “I” National Young Agents Committee. This new scholarship memorializes the late Maurice G. Herndon. Herndon was known as “Mr. Washington” by independent agents and brokers across America while directing the Big “I” Washington, D.C. office from 1949 to 1976. As a tribute to Herndon’s work in building the formidable government affairs and grassroots operations at the Big “I,” the Herndon scholarship enables a young agent or broker to experience their first exposure to the legislative process that is so vital to the insurance industry.
To be eligible for this scholarship, applicants must be a young agent or broker member (40 years old or younger); attending the National Legislative Conference for the first time; complete an application form; and submit a maximum 500-word essay describing why they should receive the scholarship. Application forms should be submitted to the Big “I,” Attention: Leslie Mularski via fax at (703) 683-7556 or email to leslie.mularski@iiaba.net. The recipient of the Herndon Scholarship will be selected by March 15.
Additionally, the National Young Agents Committee is providing a $300 scholarship to each state association to award to first-time young agent and broker attendees. Interested young agents and brokers should fax scholarship application forms directly to their state association.
Maurice G. Herndon Scholarship applications and state scholarship application forms are available on the IIABA Web site at www.independentagent.com under the “Events and Conferences” tab.
The submission deadline for each scholarship is March 1.
Young agents and brokers can register for the conference online and download the hotel registration form at the “Events and Conferences” tab at www.independentagent.com.
The National Legislative Conference is the insurance industry’s largest and most effective legislative gathering. The event is vital to exposing young agents to the political and legislative processes, continuing the successful legislative advancement of the independent agency system and developing the next generation of agent and broker leadership, says IIABA CEO Robert A. Rusbuldt.
“For young agents and brokers, the future is now,” Rusbuldt says. “They have the most to gain or lose from today’s legislative issues. Their active participation in the political and legislative processes is critical to the future of the agency system, so young agents and brokers must make their voices heard in the halls of Congress if they are going to secure their livelihoods for the rest of their careers.”
Young agents and brokers will be treated to a special luncheon on April 21 featuring a prominent national legislator. An announcement will be made about the speaker when arrangements are finalized
On April 22 and 23, up-and-coming producers will join hundreds of agents and brokers meeting with their congressional representatives on Capitol Hill.
IIABA provides young agents a special registration rate of $100.
Young agents and brokers should contact Lesile Mularski with questions about the scholarships and luncheon, and Tabitha Gass with general questions regarding the National Legislative Conference. Both can be reached at (800) 221-7917.
Founded in 1896, IIABA is the nation’s oldest and largest national association of independent insurance agents and brokers, representing a network of more than 300,000 agents, brokers and their employees nationally. Its members are businesses that offer customers a choice of policies from a variety of insurance companies. Independent agents and brokers offer all lines of insurance - property, casualty, life and health - as well as employee benefit plans and retirement products. Web address: www.independentagent.com.
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