MOVING ON & MOVING UP

Jennifer Baker, member of Miami Valley Insurance Women recently won the NAIW International Underwritwer of the Year award at the national convention held in Scottsdale AZ. Jennifer is a Senior Underwriting Manager and Team Leader in Commercial Lines for The Cincinnati Insurance Companies in Fairfield, Ohio. She has been an underwriter for 13 years and a team leader for 7 years. Jennifer manages a team of 17 associates, handling 42 agencies in VA and WV. She is also a general liability coverage specialist and a contractor/risk transfer specialist. Criteria for winning the award includes winning the Region IV Underwriter of the Year which Jennifer won in March at the Region IV Conference in Columbus. One winner from each of the nine regions of NAIW competed at the National level. Jennifer provided her insurance & NAIW experience, a list of classes taken/taught, and she wrote an essay which addressed questions they asked such as: 3 things I am most proud of, my goals, a current issue I feel is facing new underwriters today. Congratulations, Jennifer, you are the Best of the Best!

Margaret Wildi, member of Insurance Professionals of Columbus Ohio was elected Vice President of NAIW International at their recent Convention in Scottsdale, AZ. Margaret has served the past year as NAIW Secretary and has served as an officer or chairman at all levels of NAIW, including local, state and regional levels. Margaret is an Assistant Vice President for Grange Insurance Companies and is very active in her community.

COMMUNITY SERVICE

The Insurance Women of West Cental hosted a speaker from Adventures For Wish Kids at their April meeting. There are chapters of AFWK in Cincinnati, Columbus, & Dayton. Their website is: www.afwkids.org. This group strives to enrich the lives of children with life threatening illnesses with year-round supportive group activities at some amazing fun-filled places like Dayton Bombers Hockey, King's Island, WSU Basketball games, auto races, The Nutcracker Ballet & other entertainment programs. This program provides support, hope & lasting memories for more than 325 Dayton area children & their families after The Special Wishes have been granted. The Insurance Women of West Central made a $150 donation to AFW Kids and plan to volunteer and/or attend future outings with the Wish Kids. Together they will make life an...Adventure for Wish Kids.

The Insurance Women of Columbus Ohio recently provided dinner for approximately 60 people staying at Ronald McDonald House while their children are patients in Nationwide Childrens Hospital. At the meeting which followed the dinner they were given an update on the new Ronald McDonald house being built across the street from the hospital. Chairman Diane Felder presented a check for $1000 which was raised at their annual Holiday Bazaar. These funds will be used to purchase needed items. IWOCO has been providing monetary support, collecting personal care items, soda tabs, books & other needed items to Ronald McDonald House for many years.

The Insurance Women of Akron have selected NEADS for their annual community service project. NEADS (Dogs For Deaf and Disabled Americans), is a non-profit organization established in 1976 to train and provide rescued dogs and donated puppies to assist people who are deaf or physically disabled in leading more independent lives at work, at home and at school. NEADS trains all breeds and mixed breeds of dogs to help people who are deaf or physically disabled live more independently. Most hearing dogs are rescued from animal shelters throughout New England.

Dogs trained to be service dogs are donated as puppies by breeders throughout the country. Most service dogs are Golden or Labrador retrievers, however, many other breeds are also suitable. Any dog "with the right stuff" can partner with a person to provide independence and companionship by reducing physical and social barriers. These assistance dogs become an extension of their owners and bring security, freedom, independence and relief from social isolation to their human partners. Members of the Akron association will be donating funds for NEADS at their annual Christmas meeting. There will also be a demonstration of how these dogs assist their masters who depend on them.

The Insurance Women of Cleveland have undertaken a project to collect paperbacks, hardcover books and magazines for two area nursing homes, Greenbrier Health Care Center & Aristocrat Berea. This will be an ongoing Literacy project for the Cleveland association that will continue throughout the coming year.

Since the 1970’s, the Insurance Women of Greater Cincinnati have been playing Bingo at the Little Sisters of the Poor. Members not only play Bingo with the residents there, but also donate prizes to the winners. It is a great way to enjoy an evening out doing something worthwhile for the community.

Another project that the Cincinnati association recently contributed to is “Project Lifesaver” which is a rapid response partnership with law enforcement aiding in the location victims of Alzheimer’s, Autism & Down’s Syndrome who sometimes wander away from home or school and get lost. Tracking bracelets with a range of one and a half miles are issued to victims and the Butler County Sheriff has purchased two tracking locator receivers and are hoping to purchase two more. If a person wearing a bracelet wanders away, a family member can notify the sheriff’s department and they can use the locator receivers to quickly locate the lost person. Cost of one bracelet is $285.

The Professional Insurance Women of Stark County are supporting "Being His Hands & Heart for the Hungry" soup kitchen with food & supplies donations. Also needed are all sizes of warm clothing including hats, gloves, scarves. Items are taken to monthly meetings, and cash donations are appreciated. Members can also volunteer to help with meal set-up, serving or clean-up. This outreach program is especially appreciated by those who are in need during upcoming holiday season and the cold winter months which follow.

The Insurance Women of Toledo has chosen Rusty’s House to be their focus charity this year. This non-profit organization is dedicated to helping young people recover from addictions. The founders of Rusty's House know the pain that a young persons’s addiction can bring to the teen and their loved ones. They are working to assist families in finding the help they need. They have a wish list for the following items: postage stamps, envelopes, printer paper, beverages (pop/water), plates, napkins, cups, tickets to fun events for kids, gift cards to Kroger, Meijer, Sam's, etc; gasoline gift cards such as BP, Speedway, etc., and Office Max gift cards. Members are encouraged to bring items from the wish list to association meetings.

NEW DESIGNATIONS

Jeannine Westlock (Cleveland) recieved The Employee Healthcare Benefit Associate (EHBA) in May. The EHBA is offered by AHIP and focuses on the planning of employee benefits to employers & employees. Congratulations, Jeannine!

Congratulations to Karen Lawson of Insurance Women of Columbus Ohio. Karen recently recieved her CISR desigination.

Jennifer Baker of the Miami Valley Insurance Women and Penny Duer, Tamre Hileman, Michelle Mills and Melissa Hilvers of the Buckeye Association of Insurance Women recently earned their CPCU Designation. Congratulations, Ladies. We know the amount of hard work, long hours of study, and dedication it takes to earn this coveted designation!

Lorali Todd, member of the Buckeye Association of Insurance Women recently earned an Associate in Management. Congratulations on achieving this new designation.

NEW OFFICERS

New officers for the 2008-09 term elected at the November 3, 2007 Ohio Council Meeting are:

Ohio Council Director-Elect - Betsy Adams - Scioto Valley Association

Delegate to Region IV Nominating Committee – Penny Duer - Buckeye Association

Alternate to Region IV Nominating Committee – Irita Lauerman - Scioto Valley Association

Public Relations/Program Committee Chair – Susan Necessary - Greater Cincinnati Association

Council Membership Development Committee Chair – Phyllis Sapp - Miami Valley Association

Council Awards Committee Chair – Vikki Angelo - Columbus Association

Funds Custodian - Shari Middaugh - Stark County Association

SAFETY

Beginning in 1969, the Insurance Women of Columbus Ohio has given Safety Awards to Columbus police officers and firefighters. Each year, five police officer awards and five firefighter awards are given to men & women who are nominated and selected by their superior officers & peers. Criteria for selection is not based solely on bravery but also includes overall excellence in job performance, service, cooperation, and dependability...basically awarded to those officers who do an all-around superior job.

Each year for the past 37 years, beginning in September and alternating between the Police Department and the Fire Department, the award recipient is given a recognition certificate along with a certificate of recognition to their personal support person, who are invited to the recognition of their family member. This support person can be spouse, parents, children or significant other. In April at the IWOCO Safety Banquet, the Columbus Police and Fire Chiefs (or their representatives) are given a donation in honor for the current year's award recipients. These funds are used to buy safety activity coloring books for police officers to present to children during school visits. The donation to the Columbus Fire Department is used for Fire Prevention education materials which are distributed to children and other members of the community.