It’s hard to believe that my year as President is almost over.  Looking back it’s been a great year for our association.  We hosted a successful State Meeting, all of our members made the National Winner’s Circle, Keri and Ruthie did us proud in the awards department as well as in education by adding some new designations to their lists, and we finally won the Region III Pinnacle Award!

Deborah, Keri, Ruthie and I are ready for Pittsburgh and the National Convention on June 2-5.  Congratulations again to Ruthie for winning the Past Officer’s Council Award and a free registration to National.

I know we’ll all have a great time at our June meeting with Helen coming down to install the new officers.  It’s been a pleasure serving as President this year and working with such nice people.  I look forward to passing the gavel on to Bea and hope her year as President runs as smoothly.

JUNE

National NAIW NEW Address: 1847 E. 15th St. Tulsa, OK 74104-4610.  Send all standard mail to this address.
Send check or payments to National NAIW: Dept. 1400 P.O. Box 21820 Tulsa, OK 74101-1820

June 1 begins the traditional hurricane season that runs through the end of November.

The 2004 Atlantic hurricane season outlook indicates a 50% probability of an above-normal hurricane season, a 40% probability of a near-normal season, and a 10% chance of a below-normal season, according to a consensus of scientists

The outlook calls for 12-15 tropical storms, with 6-8 becoming hurricanes, and 2-4 of these becoming major hurricanes. These numbers reflect a predicted ACE index in the range of 100%-160% of the median, and indicate a likely continuation of above-normal activity that began in 1995.  Most of these storms are predicted to occur after September.

The key to surviving a hurricane is to be prepared.

"Preventing the loss of life and minimizing the damage to property from hurricanes are responsibilities that are shared by all." - Joe M. Allbaugh, FEMA Director

Disaster prevention includes modifying your home to strengthen it against storms so that you can be as safe as possible. It also includes having the supplies on hand to weather the storm. The suggestions provided here are only guides. You should use common sense in your disaster prevention.

· Develop a Family Plan- Your family's plan should be based on your vulnerability to the Hurricane Hazards. You should keep a written plan and share your plan with other friends or family.

· Create a Disaster Supply Kit- There are certain items you need to have regardless of where you ride out a hurricane. The disaster supply kit is a useful tool when you evacuate as well as making you as safe as possible in your home.
 

· Secure Your Home- There are things that you can do to make your home more secure and able to withstand stronger storms.

Well, Region III has done it again!  As of May 27, 2004, Region III has 97 names in the Winner’s Circle.
Way to go Region III!

The totals for all the Regions are:

Region I  75
 Region II  69
  Region III  97
  Region IV  81
 Region V  44
  Region VI  34
   Region VII  15
    Region VIII  14
 Region IX  36

Congratulations to all the outstanding members of Region III who made it to the Winner’s Circle.  An extra special “Way to Go!” goes out to the Insurance Women of Southwest Mississippi who has all its members in the Winner’s Circle!

Don’t forget to bring your dishes to the annual fish fry!  In case you need a reminder here is the list:

Keri -  Fish
     Virginia - Salad
   Mary - Beans
                                   Deborah - Pickles, Cups, & Plates
                                         Ruthie -  Fries, Bread, & Hushpuppies
                          Brittany - Cold Drinks & Ice
    Bea - Dessert

Be ready to eat, have lots of fun, and fellowship.  Besides fishing there is some exciting entertainment planned.

Virginia Zeigler has been riding the roads again performing grandmother duty.  She has been traveling to Hattiesburg to watch Hayden play baseball.

Deborah Ledford was awarded the “Insurance Professional of the Year” at the Industry Appreciation Banquet in May for the Insurance Women of Baton Rouge.

Brittany Powers is steadily preparing for her wedding in September.

Keri Morrell is on her way to earning yet another designation.  She passed the first test for her Associate in Surplus Lines Insurance (ASLI) designation.  She has one more test to take, which she has scheduled for June 12, 2004.  Besides studying, she is excited to attend Kris’s wedding in Pascagoula, MS.  She will be leaving the National Convention early on Friday to attend the wedding on Saturday.

Ruthie Phillips has been on the road.  Over the Memorial Day weekend she attended a Women’s Retreat in Pineville, LA.  She returned Sunday.  Just in time to empty one suitcase and pack another!  Tuesday she is leaving with Keri to go to the National Convention.  She is truly excited to attend the convention as she wasn’t planning on going.  It is an honor to win the Past Officer’s Council Award.

We want to send a special thank you to Claude and Keri Morrell for once again hosting the annual fish fry.  We really appreciate all the hard work that Claude puts into the fish fry, from getting the camp ready before we get there to all the cooking.  His food is always wonderful and we have a great time out there!