THE PINECONE

Monthly newsletter for area insurance professionals To inform members and associates of industry news, educational opportunities And association activities of the

RALEIGH ASSOCIATION OF INSURANCE PROFESSIONALS

Officers
President Katy Willett, CIC, CISR kwillett@bagwellandbagwellins.com President Elect & Membership Janet Davis, CISR, CPIW, AAI jdavis@triangleinsurancegroup.com Vice-President & Programs Jeanne Hess, CISR, CPIW, DAE, AAI, AIS jhess@iianc.com Secretary Shirley Hudson, ARM, AAI, CISR, CPIW, DAE shudson@iianc.com Treasurer Barb Hutchinson bhutchinson@bmico.com Parliamentarian Wanda Manning, CPCU, CPIW, CIC, DAE w.manning@sau-inc.com Committee Chairmen: Bylaws & Immediate Past President Beth Blackwell, AAI, CPIW bethbwell@nc.rr.com Employment Jeanne Hess, CISR, CPIW, DAE, AAI, AIS jhess@iianc.com Public Relations Co-Chairs Jeanne Hess, CISR, CPIW, DAE, AAI, AIS jhess@iianc.com Pat Norton, API, CPSR, CPIW pat.norton@us.qbe.com Education Pam Grimes, CPIW, CIC, CISR, DAE Pagdreamer18@aol.com Safety Debbie Pass-Soles, CPIW, CISR, CIC Debbie.Soles@mmicnc.com Legislative Shirley Hudson, ARM, AAI, CISR, CPIW, DAE shudson@iianc.com

Inside this Newsletter

1. December Meeting12/13/11 18 Seaboard Restaurant

nals.org/ SCHOLARSHIPS:

www.inssfa.org

Pinecone Editor
Jeanne Hess, CISR, CPIW, DAE, AAI, AIS

863-6524 - jhess@iianc.com

2. January Meeting 1/10/12

TBA on Legislative Issues 3. CWC Poll below to see who is interested.

December 2011
The December Meeting of the Raleigh Association of Insurance Professionals will meet on December 13, 2011 at 18 Seaboard Restaurant, 18 Seaboard Ave. # 100, Raleigh at 6:00 pm. Lots of fun planned so bring a wrapped gift of $10 to play the White Elephant game. Also bring canned or non-perishable foods for the Food Bank and samplesized (hotel size) toiletries for the shelter. Well share some of our Blessings with those in need. It is not too late to RSVP!! So I hope everyone will come, enjoy the fellowship of our group and bring a guest or two! RSVP to Jeanne ASAP if you have not already.

Have a Joyous Christmas! And very Happy New Year!

Thanks for making NAIW dba IAIP YOUR Association of Choice
Represented by Diversified Professionals

December 2011

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ PEANUTS FOR PAWS!!

RAIP Fundraiser also supports DEAR, Down East Animal Rescue! This has been a fun and very popular project. The folks at Down East Peanuts have been a pleasure to work with!! Those who purchased peanuts can pick them up at the Christmas Party or make arrangements with me (Jeanne) to pick them up.

NEW WEBSITE: www.raip.org

NCAIW LINK: www.ncaiw.org NEW IAIP link: http://www.internationalinsuranceprofessio

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NEW MEMBER!!! Please welcome our newest member, Tammy Ramsdell with Philadelphia Insurance!

PRESIDENTS MESSAGE:

MERRY CHRISTMAS to you all. Safe Travels during the holidays if you are visiting family. Look forward to seeing all of you on Tuesday, December 13th. Bring a friend! Katy Willett, CIC, AAI, CISR, CPIW RAIP President, 2011-2012
EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITIES: 1 Insurance Professional looking. Experienced in customer service, marketing and inside sales,
management and training. Experienced with all sizes of commercial accounts, however special in small business. Experienced in most in house rating systems. Have worked on Applied, AMS Afw, 360 and Sagitta. Can wear many hats at the same time. (added Sept. 2010) 2 Capstone Search Group Commercial Lines Account Manager Charlotte - $45K - $55K Our client is looking for someone with a strong marketing and client service background. Exposure to commercial construction is a plus. Employee Benefits Account Manager Charlotte - $50K - $60K Our client here is looking for someone with experience working in the 100 1,000 life arena and significant exposure to self funded accounts. Commercial Lines Account Manager Raleigh - $45K - $55K Our client here is seeking someone with a strong middle market commercial lines background working with accounts ranging in size from $15K - $30K in revenue with exposure to a variety of industries. (added June 2011)

3. Commercial Lines Account Manager... Eastern Wake and Western Johnston county, Applied experience a must. Excellent benefits. (added Nov. 2011)
Please contact Jeanne Hess jhess@iianc.com or 863-6524, if you would like more information.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ NCAIP - Public Relations Info As I mentioned during the Public Relations report at convention, President Joi Wilson has advised that our national project will be The Military Working Dogs Memorial. Donations made to the legacy foundation for this worthwhile project will be forwarded to the Military Working Dogs Memorial in Washington, DC In order to learn more about how our local associations can contribute, please click on the following link:

www.jbmf.us Hope you all have a fabulous day! Haley H Everett CIC NCAIP Public Relations Chair

CWC CLASS!
We would like to begin a Confidence While Communicating Class in late January. It is open to members and non-members. Cost and location will be advised later but if you are interested, please let me know. It is a great way to feel more confident speaking to groups, meetings or clients. Cathy Bowling has agreed to conduct the class and it is a joint venture with the Durham Association so that both of our small associations can offer this class. It also is a class that would be a CPIW or DAE qualifier. Please let Jeanne Hess at jhess@iianc.com know if you are interested and well send you more details when available.

Why, Why, Why

Why do we press harder on a remote control when we know the batteries are getting weak? Why do banks charge a fee due to insufficient funds when they already know you're broke? Why is it that when someone tells you that there are one billion stars in the universe, you believe them but, if they tell you there is wet paint, you have to touch it to check? Why do they use sterilized needles for lethal injections? Why doesn't Tarzan have a beard? Why does Superman stop bullets with his chest, but ducks when you throw a revolver at him? Why did Kamikaze pilots wear helmets?

Whose cruel idea was it to put an "s" in the word "lisp"? If people evolved from apes, why are there still apes? Why is it that, no matter what color bubble bath you use, the bubbles are always white? Is there ever a day that mattresses are not on sale? Why do people constantly return to the refrigerator with hopes that something new to eat will have materialized? Why do people run over a string a dozen times with their vacuum cleaner, then reach down, pick it up, examine it, then put it down to give the vacuum one more chance? Why is it that no plastic bag will open from the first end you try? How do those dead bugs get into enclosed light fixtures? When we are in the supermarket and someone rams our ankle with a shopping cart, then apologizes for doing so, why do we say, "It's all right"? Well, it isn't all right, so why don't we say, "That really hurt, why don't you watch where you're going?" Why is it that whenever you attempt to catch something that's falling off the table you always manage to knock something else over? Why, in winter, do we try to keep the house as warm as it was in summer when we complained about the heat? How come you never hear father-in-law jokes?

And my FAVORITE: The statistics on sanity say that one out of every four persons is suffering from some sort of mental illness. Think of your three best friends. If they're OK, then it's you. **A day without a smile is like a day without sunshine! And a day without sunshine is, like, night.**

You are invited!

Come celebrate the Spirit of Christmas with the Raleigh Association of Insurance Professionals
Tuesday, December 13, 2011 at 18 Seaboard Restaurant, 18 Seaboard Ave. # 100. Time is 6:00 pm and there is no set price as you can order from the menu. So come enjoy fellowship with RAIP friends. Bring a White Elephant Gift Exchange, a wrapped gift to trade (limit of $10). Please R.S.V.P. to Jeanne Hess - ASAP! Jhess@iianc.com or 919-863-6524

Shop smarter during the holidays

You can make the holidays even more enjoyable by avoiding potential headaches, shopping smart and spending wisely. Heres how.

Buy from stores you know to improve the odds that youll be able to return or exchange a purchase if needed. To check out a companys track record, call the Attorney Generals Consumer Protection Division at 1-877-5-NO-SCAM or contact your local Better Business Bureau. Shop safely online, too. Stick to buying from well-established companies with secure web sites (look for a lock icon on the site and a web address that starts with https). Get the companys street address and telephone number and verify them before you order. Learn about refund and return policies. Stores arent required by law to accept returned merchandise, so ask about refunds and return policies before you buy. Consider paying by credit card to improve your chances of getting a refund if the retailer goes out of business. If you order a gift that never arrives, you may be able to dispute the charge. If your credit card is lost or stolen, federal law limits your liability to $50. Giving gift cards or certificates? If you buy a gift certificate and the store or restaurant closes before the certificate can be used, you may be able to contest the charge if you paid by credit card. Under North Carolina law, retailers cant charge a maintenance fee on their gift cards within the first year and must clearly disclose any fees theyll deduct after that. Give wisely. Planning to make a donation as part of your holiday gift giving? Learn where your money will go and how it will be used. Research charities with the BBBs Wise Giving Alliance and the NC Secretary of States Office. Give to causes that you choose rather than being swayed by high-pressure telemarketers or text messages and emails that may be scams. Criminals and scammers dont take a holiday. Always be aware of your surroundings and protect your wallet and access to your credit or debit cards when in public. Avoid carrying large amounts of cash. And never share personal information with telemarketers who call you or respons to emails or text messages that ask you for personal information.

If you spot a scam or need to complain about a business, call the Attorney Generals Consumer Protection Division by calling 1-877-5-NO-SCAM or file a complaint online at www.ncdoj.gov.

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This message brought to you on behalf of North Carolina Attorney General Roy Cooper.

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EDUCATION OPPORTUNITIES PAM GRIMES, CPIW, CIC, CISR, DAE, Education Chair

Long Term Care Partnership Training

December 14 and January 12 , 8:00am-5:00pm

Raleigh - Holiday Inn Crabtree

January 19, 8:00am-5:00pm

Concord Wingate at Wyndham Concord

**We will train at your location upon request**
NC became a Patnership state in March. LTC Partnership policies are rolling out this year. To sell a Partnership approved LTC insurance plan, you must have the required 8 hours of Partnership Continuing Education.

The course is open to anyone who wants to learn more about the Partnership law and LTCi The 8 hrs of Part nership CE will also be credited toward the 24 hours of CE required bi-annually in NC for your L&H licenses. This course also earns you 8 CFP Credits if needed! This course is ClearCert approved and requires no test in class!

Certified Instructor: Michael Paulk

Provider #S16551

Cost is $54.95(includes State Reporting fee)

*** RSVP to

www.adbanker.com/nc or 919.662.3828
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We are not a FMO/IMO - We are a pre-licensing/CE Provider

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