Societally speaking…
We are surrounded by it. Trending, polling and inference taken from it. If a poll says that x number of New Yorkers favor unlimited abortion rights, legal marijuana, assisted suicide and all the rest of the so-called Millenials’ agenda, it is treated as evidence and provides an assumed mandate to some legislators and some social engineers. We are beyond twitterings here. There is – thankfully – such an entity in New York as the New York Alliance Against Assisted Suicide – among many sane associations and societies aiming to preserve what’s left of civilized behavior and morals. The group opposes physician-assisted suicide. They are waging a PR battle in the state that brings their wholly-sane message to lawmakers and regulators using a terminal brain cancer patient and representatives from the disability, aging, and hospice communities. Their arguments outline:
• Risks of coercion and abuse of elderly and vulnerable populations
• Discrimination against people with disabilities
• Possibility of misdiagnoses
• The role of depression and hopelessness
• Fracturing of doctor-patient relationship
• Suicide contagion
• Absence of safeguards and lack of accountability
• Need to promote “aid-in-living”: hospice and palliative care
As an industry, there is much that commends a commitment to preventing the legalization of assisted suicide in the state. And there’s the matter of permitting ultimate fighting or whatever exciting name is given to all-out fighting – versus boxing, judo or karate – for the blood lust of spectators. We are beyond entertainment here and we are well beyond sports. These social trends will change insuring dramatically over the decades ahead…and not for the best. … Congratulations are in order. Preferred Mutual Insurance Company based in New Berlin, NY has received a national Best Practice Company of the Year Award from the Independent Insurance Agents and Brokers of America (IIABA), “in recognition of its innovative efforts to support and disseminate the evolving best business practices of highly successful agencies.” Preferred Mutual will be presented with the award at IIABA’s Legislative Conference on April 15, 2016 in Washington, D.C. According to IIABA, the Best Practices Award is being given to Preferred Mutual for “imaginative, outstanding and unique contributions in advocating Best Practice philosophies that enhance the independent agency system.” Launched in January 2016, Preferred Mutual’s New Agent Support Program aims to dedicate company resources to address a growing challenge faced by many agencies – the success and longevity of newly hired agents. Big I quotes Fred Schneider, Vice President of Sales and Distribution at Preferred: “At Preferred, we have a proud tradition of using our resources to help our partners better serve their communities. Our New Agent Support Program further demonstrates that tradition and underscores our commitment to support the best practices of highly successful agents.” Among those resources dedicated by Preferred is its newly created Mutual Marketing Center (MMC), which has been designed to support a joint agent/company prospecting effort. The MMC is an exclusive online portal providing Preferred’s agent partners with the knowledge, social media and brand-building collateral they need to convey their expertise in auto, home and small business insurance. Preferred Mutual has 230,000 individual and business customers, 270 staff, more than 480 independent agents throughout New York, New Jersey, Massachusetts and New Hampshire, and has been in business since 1896. The company is rated “A” for excellent through A.M. Best. And now has some added bragging rights.
