1st             CISR Commercial Property, Tupelo

2nd             CISR Commercial Property, Jackson

3-5th           CIC Commercial Property, Jackson

4th               PIA Advanced Personal Lines, McComb

9th              PIA Commercial General Liability and Workers Comp, Jackson

11th             Legislative Day, Jackson

15th             Deadline to Apply for Region III Conference for Early Bird
                    Registration

16th             PIA Insuring Commercial Property, Hattiesburg

17th              St. Patrick’s Day

18th              IIABA ACSR Module #1, Jackson

                     IW of SW MS Monthly Business Meeting
 

Insurance departments keep studying insurers’ use of credit information in underwriting and whether it adversely affects certain segments of the population more than others, but solid conclusions have been elusive – in large part because the researchers often ask insurers for data the companies do not collect.

With the distinction between career and independent agents blurring, many career or exclusive agents have been able to skirt their carriers’ contractual restrictions by establishing their own independent agencies fronted by family members or associates, according to BestWeek.

The nation’s largest disability insurer, UnumProvident Corp., said it has agreed to a $100,000 settlement with its former medical director who made public allegations on television news programs that he was fired after he refused to comply with UnumProvident’s policy of denying disability claims.

State Farm Fire & Casualty Company said it would increase its homeowners insurance rates and average of 9.4% in Alabama, where the company is the largest writer of the coverage.
 

Compare yourself with a focus group of 30 drivers from Boston who have collectively been involved in 84 accidents over the past three years and received 49 speeding tickets, 39 moving violations and 92 parking tickets. Take a look at these questions to find out if you fit the profile.

When you reach a stop sign and no one is coming from another direction, do you roll through instead of stopping?

Do you talk on the cell phone while driving instead of pulling over and stopping to talk?

Do you take your coffee and muffin or other food and drink on the road with you, driving with one hand while using the other to eat?

If you're out shopping in a crowded area and are looking for a parking space, do you become so focused on your search that you lose sight of the cars and pedestrians around you?

Do you hate driving behind SUVs or other large vehicles that obstruct your view?

Does your driving change when you go into areas with higher police presence?

Does listening to music while you drive sometimes leave you oblivious to all but the music?

Do you find yourself in confrontations on the road, either through verbal arguments or hand gestures, because of either your own driving habits or the habits of others?

Does your "work hard, play hard" lifestyle leave you sleepy behind the wheel at times?

When you're driving with passengers, do you turn around to talk, taking your eyes and mind off the road?

The focus group answered all of these questions with “yes” answers. If you found most of your answers to be “yes” you might want to take a closer look at the way you are driving.  Practice driving safe!  Your life depends on it.

A leader who Micro Manages can cause the members to feel resentful.  A good leader knows how to lead without being a micro manager.  If you find yourself meddling with your association members here are five strategies to break the micro-management habit:

1. Understand why you're doing it.  Do you trust your association members?  Are you insecure as a leader?

2. Redefine your role.  As a leader, you need to lead your association members, not do the work that you delegate to them.

3. Remember the micro-manager from Hades.  Remember when that past president would not leave you alone with your committee.  Don’t nag your committee chairs!

4. Experience is everything.  The leadership team of your association has gotten where it is today through hard work and dedication.  Trust in them to get the job done!

5. Understand the distinction between helpful and meddlesome.  As a leader you need to stay informed and offer help, as it is needed.  Your association members should know that they can call on you to help when they need your advice.

Virginia Zeigler is going to be spending some time in Hattiesburg.  Her grandson, Hayden will be turning 6 on March 2  and is having several birthday events.  She has also been to New Orleans to see Egypt: The Quest for Immortality at the New Orleans Museum of Art, and the Baroque Dresden exhibit is next on her list.

Bea Jones is planning on taking a CE class in March.  Her husband, Norman, is home and on the mend!

Keri Morrell and Ruth Phillips rode in the South Pike Chamber of Commerce Mardi Gras parade.  The Morrell Agency had a truck entered in the parade and was awarded 1st place for “Most Creative Truck.”

Ruthie Phillips has been busy practicing her CWC speech.  With less than 45 days to Regional, the pressure is on!

Keri enjoyed having a visit with her grandson’s who were in town for the Mardi Gars Parade and Festival.  The boys enjoyed trying to make their “Pops” sick on the rides.