April Was Volunteer Month: What are you doing for your industry?
April Was Volunteer Month: What are you doing for your industry?
I have been asked more than a few times where I get my ideas for writing this column. In fact, when I was first approached to contribute to the Insurance Advocate in 2005, a colleague of mine advised against it. He said interesting issues in our industry are finite and he predicted that eventually, I’d be stuck, searching for topics that anybody would care to read about. After nine years, you might think my muse has retired. But, nothing could be further from the truth.
That’s not to say it will never happen; but to date, I have had no problem coming up with ideas. Often, topics come from fellow agents or readers of this column. Other times, I’ve had an experience or I know of another agent who is going through something to which others can relate. Of course, being active with my association is an endless source of issues and ideas. One of the best parts of volunteering with PIA is that the association is at the forefront of change and evolution that’s always occurring in our industry: From carrier actions to policy change, I know I have up-to-date information because I hear it from experts and industry leaders.
In fact, I am writing this column after spending two days in Glenmont, just outside of Albany at PIA headquarters. This is a good time for me to write because I am particularly enthusiastic after working with the dozens of volunteers and more than 75 paid association staff on issues that are important to me and my family, having owned an agency. While I was at Glenmont, I heard about progress on important legislation; upcoming testimony and research PIA will provide the Department of Financial Services; I worked with other agents developing continuing education that offers real value to their agencies; and we identified benefits and services that professional agents need and can truly use to make their businesses run more efficiently and become more profitable.
It’s exciting to see some new faces who will be joining the PIANY board of directors and committees, including George Hernandez of Franklin Brokerage in Hempstead and Jeff Liebowitz; of the Atlantic Agency of North Babylon; two fellow Long Islanders who have stepped up. And of course, its always great to see longtime volunteers, who have become good friends and colleagues of mine.
Back home, I have sometimes had conversations with fellow agents who have thanked me for my time at PIA. “I’m so glad you are up there working on our behalf,” they say… “Because I don’t have time to do it.”
My response to these people is that they have no idea what they are talking about. I’ve always said my time at PIA has paid off tenfold, and as I looked around at meetings this week, I could see many professionals who have also benefitted in so many ways: some have made career changes from contacts they made in the industry when they were part of PIA’s Young Insurance Professionals; others have obtained markets and customers by networking with each other; there are a few of us who find huge reward in knowing we have made a difference by working directly with lawmakers and regulators to affect policy—Saying you don’t having time to participate in your association is like saying you can’t find time to invest in your livelihood. That business model will not yield long-term success.
Reading my local paper, The Herald, in Rockville Center, I’ve learned that April is Volunteer Month. Everyone is encouraged to thank a volunteer and become one this month. And so, I present this question to you: What are you contributing? Have you made sure you are an active member of a group that is going to help you become better in your business? Are you volunteering? Have you donated to your industry, or its Political Action Committee?
The Herald has listed a number of places and organizations where local community members we could lend a hand. I can provide similar listing advice for our business community. You can start small: Attend a networking event, go to a quality CE course; see if you can participate in your region’s PIA Advisory Councils; participate in the District Office Visits and meet with your legislators: See how you like the activities and outcomes—If you find your niche, grow by taking on more; mentor a young professional; talk to a fellow agent and see if he or she is a member and encourage them to join too.
PIA, like any association is not a one-person organization. For starters, there are 75 people employed the PIA building visible from the Thruway as you enter Albany, all working together to make sure professional independent agents are successful. I don’t know one person who volunteersat PIA or any other trade association in our business who doesn’t say they get more out of their work than they put into it. But, the truth of the matter is: Without the volunteers, no organization can survive. As I write this article after being in Albany, it’s refreshing to know we have so many dedicated volunteers and like every organization, we could use creative, new thinkers to keep us going.
To all the fellow agents who have said they are glad we are working on their behalf, I ask you: “What are you doing?” Regardless of what association you participate in, the important thing is that you participate.
