President's Message
Strategic Planning helps review goals

Each year approximately 100 members of the NAPSLO Board of Directors and Committee members meet to discuss, debate and determine future programs, activities, and actions for the future.

Our committee day meeting in November in Dallas was no different as a number of issues were reviewed and action was taken. Details are available in the newsletter.

In addition, the Board of Directors had a separate meeting to review and update NAPSLOÕs Strategic Plan.

Since developing the plan in the late 1990s the Association has reviewed it every few years to ensure that the programs and actions the Association is undertaking meets the long term goals of the Association.

The Board reviewed the current status of the programs, the nature and needs of our membership and examined what we need to do in the future, whether legislatively, educationally, or for meetings.

The Board will continue this examination at the NAPSLO Mid-Year Workshop to determine any changes.

Reviewing the Strategic Plan is not the only examination NAPSLO is currently reviewing. With our annual conventions continuing to attract larger registrations each year, a special task force is currently examining the type of facilities needed for the conventions, the cities we visit, and the structure of the meeting.

We know the convention is very important to all of our members and we are working to make sure it meets the needs of our members and also supports the needs of the Association.

Attendance at our annual meetings has increased by nearly two-thirds in the past six years and we have to consider whether this increase will continue and also how to handle the increasing size of the meeting. 

Among the considerations are to examine new locations, consider utilizing convention centers in order to consider additional cities, select a set series of cities, find one good location and return there each year.

While attendance at the convention has continued to increase over the past few years, the Board must consider the possibility that attendance could level off or decrease in the future.

Meeting the needs of our members at the annual convention is the goal. The Board would welcome input from our members and I invite anyone with a comment or idea to e-mail me at wnewton@lemacassociates.com. With your help, I am hopeful that we can determine the changes we need to make in order to accommodate future growth and make the annual convention the best event possible.

In addition to examining the convention, the Membership Committee is looking at what the members want and expect from the Association. 

A survey was sent to members in early January asking for input on a number of areas. 

The results will be used to develop ways to meet those needs. I hope you complete the survey to help us find out what we need to be doing. It is a short one and will take you less than five minutes to complete

Political Action Committee
2006 was quite a year legislatively for NAPSLO and the surplus lines industry as the House of Representatives unanimously passed the Non-Admitted and Reinsurance Reform Act of 2006 (H.R. 5637). 

Unfortunately the Senate did not take up the bill during the last Congressional session so we will have to work to get the bill passed by both the House and Senate.

Assisting NAPSLO in its efforts has been the NAPSLO Political Action Committee. 

Formed in late 2005 the PAC has helped get NAPSLO in the door to meet with legislators on this issue.

While the recent election has made for a number of changes in Washington we are hopeful that the bipartisan support we saw for the bill in 2006 will continue this year.

To help us get our message out, in 2007 one of the goals of the PAC is to expand the fund-raising efforts to enable the PAC to continue its work on this issue.

Members of the Legislative Committee will be contacting members in the next few months.

Mid-Year Educational Workshop
Registration for the Mid-Year Educational Workshop continues at a fast pace and we expect to see another large turnout in early March.

Programs will examine the current state of reinsurance, with the issue examined from all perspectives, and also Dr. Will Miller will provide an examination of looking at how to balance life and work.

Attendance continues to increase each year and this year is no different. I expect to see another great meeting and I hope to see you in Palm Springs.