I need to begin by offering an apology to National Western Life. Through a computer error their submission for the January Carrier Forecasting Forum was inadvertently left out, as was their ad. I’ve included their contribution in this issue and urge you to read the comments of their new Senior Vice President and Chief Marketing Officer Bruce Wallace, beginning on page 30, as well as look over their ad on page 39. [SPH]
The February issue suffers from a distinct loss, as columnist Charlie Gipple has been forced by his expanding role at North American Company to abdicate his throne as this magazine’s monthly sales success guru. Charlie and I have grown a great friendship over the years as his expertise advanced his career from Genworth to Partners Advantage to his current position as resident sage at North American. I’m happy to report, however, that I underhandedly extracted from him a blood oath to continue to contribute to Broker World periodically before I “allowed” him to turn in his badge and gun. [SPH]
Working to create the visual masterpiece that is February’s continuation of photo coverage of the NAILBA Annual Meeting, I’m annually humbled and moved by the necessary reflection on the charitable donations happily given by the NAILBA family. Not only do some exhibitors use this gathering to generate donations to causes that move them—as did Foresters Financial by donating $25 for every business card received to the Ronald McDonald House chapter in Puerto Rico to aid in hurricane relief—but literally hundreds of the attendees at each NAILBA annual dig deep with smiles on their faces (or occasionally feigned scowls when I’m putting the bite on them) to buy raffle tickets, or silent auction items, or fanatically overbid during the frantic live auction—all to benefit the NAILBA Charitable Foundation and the numerous charities into which it breathes extra life and hope. And let’s not forget the generous donations of great carrier partners Legal & General America, Prudential and Mutual of Omaha, and stalwart marketing groups BRAMCO, TMA,, LifeMark Partners and NBA.
The mission of the NAILBA Charitable Foundation is to encourage volunteerism among NAILBA members and provide grant funds to worthy charitable organizations that serve to enhance the quality of life for those less fortunate, with a special emphasis on children.
In a time when competition for grant money is fierce, the NAILBA Charitable Foundation is dedicated to providing funds to small, well-run charities in the communities of members and corporate partners that may not otherwise have access to additional funding.
Through the generosity of NAILBA members and corporate partners in the past year, the NAILBA Charitable Foundation was able to distribute $230,000 in 2017 among 17 local charities and Life Happens. To make a donation to the NAILBA Charitable Foundation visit www.nailbacharitablefoundation.org/donate.
Each year during one of the general sessions NAILBA shows a video presentation of all the charities that received funds during that year’s grant cycle, and I have yet to leave that presentation with dry eyes (and this year was certainly no exception). From the bottom of my heart I thank each and every one of you who contributed to the NAILBA Charitable Foundation, and NAILBA for allowing me to be a small part of it. [SPH]
