THE PINECONE

Monthly newsletter for area insurance professionals To inform members and associates of industry news, educational opportunities And association activities of the

RALEIGH ASSOCIATION OF INSURANCE PROFESSIONALS

Officers
President Katy Willett, CIC, AAI, CISR, CPIW, CBIA kwillett@bagwellandbagwellins.com President Elect & Membership Janet Davis, CISR, CPIW, AAI jdavis@triangleinsurancegroup.com Vice-President & Programs Jeanne Hess, CISR, CPIW, DAE, AAI, AIS jhess@iianc.com Secretary Shirley Hudson, ARM, AAI, CISR, CPIW, DAE shudson@iianc.com Treasurer Barb Hutchinson bhutchinson@bmico.com Parliamentarian Wanda Manning, CPCU, CPIW, CIC, DAE w.manning@sau-inc.com Committee Chairmen: Bylaws & Immediate Past President Beth Blackwell, AAI, CPIW bethbwell@nc.rr.com Employment Jeanne Hess, CISR, CPIW, DAE, AAI, AIS jhess@iianc.com Public Relations Co-Chairs Jeanne Hess, CISR, CPIW, DAE, AAI, AIS jhess@iianc.com Pat Norton, API, CPSR, CPIW pat.norton@us.qbe.com Education Pam Grimes, CPIW, CIC, CISR, DAE Pagdreamer18@aol.com Safety Debbie Pass-Soles, CPIW, CISR, CIC Debbie.Soles@mmicnc.com Legislative Shirley Hudson, ARM, AAI, CISR, CPIW, DAE shudson@iianc.com

SCHOLARSHIPS:

www.inssfa.org

Inside this Newsletter

1. April Meeting 4/10/12 CWC Speakoff! Come support our class participants!

Pinecone Editor
Jeanne Hess, CISR, CPIW, DAE, AAI, AIS

jhess@iianc.com

2. May Meeting 5/15/12 NOTE DATE CHANGE!

Program on Long Term Care! 3. June is Associates Night with Officer Installation! Make plans now June 12, 2012.

April 2012
The April Meeting of the Raleigh Association of Insurance Professionals will meet on Tuesday, April 10, 2012 at IIANC office in Cary, NC at 6:00 pm. Our program will be our CWC Speakoff for our CWC Class members. The Durham Association will be joining us and we will serve light refreshments. Bring a guest!

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I CAN Long Term Care Class

May meeting on 5/15/12, will be an IAIP I-CAN 30-minute class on Long Term Care with Jeanne Hess as facilitator of the class. Members that want credit for the class with IAIP should let Jeanne know by our meeting on 4/10/12 so that books can be ordered. Books are $12.50, CE credit is NOT available. Members and guests not needing IAIP credit are welcome to attend the class at no charge.

Happy Easter!
Thanks for making IAIP YOUR Association of Choice
Represented by Diversified Professionals

April 2012

NEW WEBSITE: www.raip.org

NCAIP LINK: www.ncaiw.org NEW IAIP link: http://www.internationalinsuranceprofessio nals.org/

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ TECHNOLOGY UPDATE

Are you connected in LinkedIn? Go to www.Linkedin.com. This is a great professional

networking website to connect with other business professionals. If you are new

to Linkedin, you can connect to IAIP members as well as other groups.

PRESIDENTS MESSAGE: Spring is here! Hope to see some you at our April 10th meeting for our Speak Off! Four CWC contestants will be competing for the opportunity to represent us at the State level. Durham plans to join us and we are hoping to have a chance for everyone to meet our newest members. Dont forget the NCAIP Board meeting will be held in Cary at the IIANC building on May 12th at 9:30am - it is a Saturday. Feel free to come out and see what is planned for this year.

Katy Willett, CIC, AAI, CISR, CPIW, CBIA RAIP President, 2011-2012

MINUTES RALEIGH ASSOCIATION OF INSURANCE PROFESSIONALS March 13, 2012 @ 6:00 PM

The meeting was called to order by President Katy Willett. Members in attendance were President Willett, Jeanne Hess, Shirley McLamb-Hudson, Jan Davis, Beth Blackwell and Debbie Pass-Soles. We had one guest in attendance, Samala Ireland, with Dupree & Webb Insurance Agency. Jeanne Hess, Program Chairperson introduced our guest speaker for the meeting, George Robertson, who is with IIANC as a Technology Consultant. George spoke on Social Networking such as Twitter, Facebook, Linked-In, Blogs and You Tube. President Willett advised the minutes for the last meeting were printed in the Pine Cone and asked for any corrections. There being no corrections a motion was made by Debbie Pass-Soles to accept the minutes as printed in the Pine Cone. Jan Davis seconded and the minutes were approved. There was no treasurers report due to the absence of the Treasurer, Barbara Hutchinson. Committee Reports:

Programs - Jeanne Hess reported that the April10th meeting will be a joint meeting with the Durham Association and will be the CWC speak-off. The May meeting will consist of the class I CAN on Long Term Care. The June meeting will be Associates Night at 18 Seaboard Restaurant. Public Relations Jeanne Hess reported that the CWC is coming to an end and the speak-off will include Durham Association in a joint meeting with RAIP. Employment Jeanne Hess reported that everything is in the Pine Cone. Legislative Shirley Hudson no report Safety Debbie Pass-Soles advised information in the Pine Cone. Bylaws- Beth Blackwell - no report Parliamentarian Wanda Manning no report Membership - Janet Davis reported that we have a new member, Tracey Gergis with Frankenmuth Insurance Company. Education Pam Grimes - report New Business President Willett passed around a brochure for a new fundraiser called Thats My Pan and asked everyone to go on their website to see if it is something we want to sell. President Willett advised that Robin Bennington with the Durham Association is going to get tickets for a joint outing with RAIP to the Durham Bulls. The date is Friday May 4, 2012 and the tickets are $10.00 each. You must let Robin know if you want to attend and she needs your money by April 2. Jeanne Hess advised that Cathy Bowling taught the CWC course for RAIP and DAIP and drove to our office every week and she thinks we need to compensate her in some way. Jeanne Hess made a motion to give Cathy Bowling a $50.00 gas card. Debbie Pass-Soles seconded and the motion passed. Old Business Beth Blackwell, Chairperson of the 2012 RAIP Nominating Committee presented the following slate of officers: President Jan Davis President Elect Jeanne Hess Vice President Beth Blackwell Secretary Debbie Pass-Soles Treasurer Barbara Hutchinson Past President Katy Willett

Shirley McLamb-Hudson made a motion to accept the slate of officers from the 2012 Nominating Committee. Since this recommendation came from the Nominating Committee, no second was needed and the motion passed. President Willett reported on Region II Conference in Dover, Delaware, March 8-11, 2012. Those from RAIP that attended were President Willett, Jeanne Hess and Wanda Manning. President Willett advised that there was no money left over from Regional this year to pass on to the next host and the consensus was that each state should host the Regional Conference rather than a local association. North Carolina will host Region II in 2013 in Asheville, NC. The discussion was that we have money left from our last Regional Conference and that we should have our Region II Fund account along with RAIP account audited. Members are to check into finding someone to audit both books at a reasonable fee and report back at the April meeting. President Willett advised the National Convention will be in Dallas, Texas, June 6-9, 2012. There being no further business, President Willett adjourned the meeting at 7:30 PM. Respectfully submitted, Shirley W. McLamb-Hudson, ARM, AAI, CPIW, CISR, DAE RAIP Secretary

Upcoming Events!
RAIP Meeting April 10th CWC Speak-Off! Come support the class participants! RAIP Meeting NOTE DATE CHANGE: May 15th IAIP class, I-Can Series, Long Term Care RAIP Associations Night Banquet June 12th 18 Seaboard Restaurant DURHAM BULLS GAME May 4th starts at 7:05pm Tickets $10 IAIP National Conference Dallas, TX June 6-9, 2012 NCAIP State Conference High Point, NC, October 25 27, 2012 IAIP Region II Conference Asheville, NC, March 20-24, 2013 ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITIES:
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1 Insurance Professional looking. Experienced in customer service, marketing and inside sales,
management and training. Experienced with all sizes of commercial accounts, however special in small business. Experienced in most in house rating systems. Have worked on Applied, AMS Afw, 360 and Sagitta. Can wear many hats at the same time. (added Sept. 2010) 2 Capstone Search Group Commercial Lines Account Manager Raleigh This is a terrific opportunity for a client of mine that is looking to hire a new commercial lines account manager. This client offers a terrific work life balance and a wonderful benefits package. They are seeking a strong commercial lines account manager that can handle working with large accounts with duties including working with experience mods, marketing and heavy client interaction Employee Benefits Account Manager Raleigh I'm working on a great opportunity for a employee benefits account manager. My client is a well respected consulting firm that focused on 10 - 500 life groups and larger. They are looking for someone with a strong self funded background that can be the quarterback for a good book of business. Client facing skills are very important and exposure to wellness, marketing and daily administration are a plus. . Commercial Lines Account Manager and Employee Benefits Account Manager - Greensboro (Updated January 2012)

3- System Search out of Charlotte is looking for an account manager in the Raleigh area. Account
manager should have experience handling very large commercial accounts. (This is not with Scott Insurance.) Should be used to handling only 5 to 10 accounts (risk management type accounts). If interested, please contact Bertha at System Search at 866-831-4473. Also looking for a group benefits person. Person should be used to handling 200+ lives. Contact Bertha at System Search if interested Please contact Jeanne Hess jhess@iianc.com or 863-6524, if you would like more information.

EDUCATION OPPORTUNITIES PAM GRIMES, CPIW, CIC, CISR, DAE, Education Chair

Register Now!

6 hrs - Free Continuing Education

Jackson Sumner & Associates is pleased to announce that we will be offering 6 hours of FREE CE taught by Chris McLeod at 8 different locations in NC this Spring: April 16 - Wilmington April 17 - Kinston April 18 - Raleigh April 19 - Greensboro April 20 - Greensboro Courses: Claims, Claims & More Claims (3 hrs)
- # C09658 - # C96260

April 24 - Concord April 25 - Hickory April 26 - Asheville April 27 - Boone

Umbrella vs. Excess - Are they the Same? (3 hrs)

Click here to Register now!

Class Schedule and Location Details are also available online: https://www.jsausa.com/education/ *Questions? Contact Mimi Dobbins: mimi@jsausa.com or 800-342-5572!

Tax Time is Also Scammer Time

Scammers like to use recurring events, such as tax season, as a hook to catch you with your guard down. One common tax-time scam involves masquerading as an Internal Revenue Service agent. Scammers know that simply saying Im with the IRS will get peoples attention and possibly get them to share personal information. Someone claiming to be with the IRS recently called a North Carolina business seeking to verify information about one of the businesss employees. Fortunately the business did not provide any of their employees private information, like a Social Security Number, to the scammer. Remember, IRS agents rarely pick up the phone to call you or your employer. The agency prefers to communicate by letter, which provides a paper trail that is helpful in documenting its work. Phone calls from someone claiming to be with the IRS are usually phony. Dont let a scammer use the fear of tax collectors to pressure you into divulging private information. Read our recent column for more tax time tips. If you spot a scam, report it to the Attorney Generals Consumer Protection Division by calling 1-877-5NO-SCAM or filing a complaint online at www.ncdoj.gov.
This message brought to you on behalf of North Carolina Attorney General Roy Cooper.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
From: U.S. Dept. of Health & Human Services <subscriptions@hhs.gov> Date: 04/02/2012 Subject: StopBullying.gov Relaunches

StopBullying.gov Relaunches HHS and the Department of Education have unveiled an enhanced StopBullying.gov. The site encourages children, parents, educators, and communities to take action to prevent and respond to bullying. Visit StopBullying.gov now.

Also, if you go to www.hhs.gov, you can see the updates and articles for the healthcare reform changes. Lots to see on this website.

Tuesday , April 3, 2012

In This Issue: Diabetes and Vision Problems Blood Sugar Testing Explained 'What Do You Eat for Breakfast?'

Least-Healthy Restaurant Meals

They're so tempting and there's no denying they taste great. But these plates are full of fats and calories. Also See: Calculate Your BMI in Seconds A Healthy Type 2 Diabetes Diet How to Think Like a Dietitian

Health News & Features

Diabetes and Vision Problems Diabetes is a leading cause of blindness in people under 50. Take steps to protect your vision for the years ahead. Also See: Eye Disease Linked to Memory Decline How to Cope With Reduced Vision Blood Sugar Testing Explained It's a pain, but it's also necessary to help track and manage daily ups and downs and make dietary adjustments when needed. Also See: What's Your Type 2 Diabetes Score? Insulin Treatment Overview

From the WebMD Network

Caring for Your Diabetes at Special Times Quiz: Diabetes Defined

From the Diabetes Community

'What Do You Eat for Breakfast?' At a loss for what to eat for breakfast? See how others start their days and join the conversation with your tips. Ask your questions on the Diabetes message board.

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Thursday, March 29, 2012

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In This Issue: Chicken and Wild Rice Casserole 5 Common Diet Saboteurs 'How Can I Control Binge Eating?'

Foods That Can Boost Brain Power

You can improve memory, brain function, and concentration just by adding certain foods to your diet. What you should be eating. Also See: Eat Chocolate, Weigh Less? 10 Foods for Healthy Hair Healthy Passover Recipes

From The Recipe Box

Chicken and Wild Rice Casserole This creamy one-dish dinner tastes like pure comfort, but it's much lighter than the version your mom served when you were a kid. Also See: Easy Green Beans Amandine Creamy Broccoli and Feta Salad

Healthy Cooking & Diet Tips

5 Common Diet Saboteurs Even the best-laid diet plans can get derailed by little things like stress or poor sleep. A dietitian shares strategies for coping. Also See: 'Pink Slime' Maker Cuts Down Production Can Supplements Help ADHD Symptoms? 'How Can I Control Binge Eating?' She's trying to lose weight, but she binge eats whenever she's stressed, bored, or sad. Any suggestions for breaking the cycle? Also See: Which Candy Is the Worst for Your Teeth? Popcorn Packed With Antioxidants

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Friday, March 30, 2012

Surprising Reasons for Bad Breath

Do you know which foods are the worst offenders, and what helps you get rid of it? Take the quiz -- you'll breathe easier. Also See: How You Brush Your Teeth Matters Most Are You Going Gray Too Early? How Often Should You Shampoo?

Health News Headlines

Treating Clogged Veins Improves MS, Study Says Depression After Stroke Too Often Goes Untreated Autism Hits 1 in 88 U.S. Kids, 1 in 54 Boys Health Benefits of Chocolate Growing

In the Spotlight
See Where Dangerous Mold Hides Surprising Person Who May Be Making You Fat Top 4 Reasons Why You Aren't Cooking

From the WebMD Network

Top Reasons Why Your Child Can't Sleep What Do Swollen Lymph Nodes Signal? Quiz: Panic and Anxiety Disorder

Thank you Debbie! Always good articles on health!

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HAVE A BLESSED EASTER EVERYONE!

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