BIG “I” NATIONAL LEGISLATIVE CONFERENCE SCHOLARSHIPS AVAILABLE FOR YOUNG AGENTS & BROKERS
Submission deadline is March 1, 2005
WASHINGTON, D.C., Feb. 2—Young agents and brokers are encouraged to apply for scholarships available to help them attend the Independent Insurance Agents & Brokers of America’s (the Big “I”) National Legislative Conference for the first time. The event is taking place April 20 through 22 at the Grand Hyatt Washington in Washington, D.C.
“With the many concerns we now have about the future of agent compensation, this may well be the most important National Legislative Conference in Big ‘I’ history,” says Big “I” CEO Robert A. Rusbuldt. “We encourage all independent agents and brokers to attend, and particularly young agents, who could be dealing with the ramifications of this issue for many years to come. For young agents, the future is now, and we strongly encourage them to apply for these scholarships and make plans to attend this crucial event.”
First-time young agent attendees can apply for the $1,000 Maurice Herndon 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 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 the legislative process for the first time.
To be eligible for this scholarship, an applicant must be a young agent or broker member (40 years old or younger); be attending the National Legislative Conference for the first time; complete an application form; and submit a maximum 500-word essay describing why he or she should receive the scholarship. Application forms should be submitted to the Big “I,” Attention: Leslie Mularski via fax at (703) 683-7556 or email at leslie.mularski@iiaba.net. The recipient of the Herndon Scholarship will be notified by March 5.
Additionally, the National Young Agents Committee is providing two $300 scholarships to each state association to be awarded 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 hotel information 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.
On Wednesday, April 20, the National Young Agents Committee will host a First-Time Young Agent Attendee Reception, a special young agents luncheon with Big “I” InsurPAC chairs and a Young Agents Hospitality Suite. On April 21 and 22, up-and-coming producers will join hundreds of agents and brokers meeting with their congressional representatives on Capitol Hill.
Young agents and brokers should contact Leslie Mularski at (703) 683-4422 with questions about scholarships and young agent activities, and Tabitha Gass at (202) 863-7000 with general questions regarding the National Legislative Conference.
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.
###