NAIFA-Texas eNewsletter - Nov. 2008

Collectively creating value for Texas' Insurance  Agents and Finanical Advisors 

In This Issue
NAIFA-TX PAC
Membership News
Advocacy in Action
Hilliard Elected to Board of Directors
2009 LILI Class Selected
NAIFA-Texas PAC
Contribution Levels 

Century Club  $8.50/mo.       $100-$199
Ambassador  $17.00/mo      $200-$299
Statesman     $25.00/mo      $300-$499
Envoy            $42.00/mo.     $500-$999
Diplomat       $84 / mo.  $1,000-$2,499
Emissary       $210 /mo.  $2,500-$4,999 Capitol          $416.00/mo.      $5,000
 
Mail Contributions to:
 
IFAPAC
P.O. Box 759063
Baltimore, MD  21275-9063

Contributions to IFAPAC are voluntary, divided between your state association IFAPAC and IFAPAC-National, and contributed to candidates for state elective office (by your state IFAPAC) or for federal elective office (by IFAPAC-National). Your state IFAPAC is associated with IFAPAC-National through a federation of local, state and national trade associations. Corporate contributions to IFAPAC-National's political fund are prohibited. Under state and federal law, you have the right to refuse to contribute without reprisal. Contributions are not deductible as charitable contributions for federal income tax purposes.
 
________________________
 
 How can you help?
 
Click Here to view current PAC Investors.  If your name is not on this list, then you have NOT contributed for (2008).
 

Click Here to Contribute Online: Visa/MasterCard
Or American Express.

____________________________
 
Political Action Committee
Contribution Levels

T. Leslie Littleton, Chair     (Diplomat)
B. Keith Potts, Vice-Chair   (Envoy)
Des M. Taylor, Treasurer    (Envoy)
Douglas E. Aycock             
(Diplomat)
Marvin L. Spreen                (Envoy)
Roland G. Barrera               (Envoy)
H. Dan Smith                      (Capitol)
 

_____________________________ 

NAIFA-TX Board
Contribution Levels
 

 
Earl A. Thompson                (Diplomat)
Randy T. Robertson              (Envoy)
Cylinda A. Clark                   (Diplomat)
Alan B. Carl                         (Diplomat)
Ron Mullen                           (Envoy)
Des M. Taylor                        (Envoy)
Kirk H. Haworth               (Ambassador)
Don (Lane) Boozer              (Diplomat)
Douglas B. Massey              (Diplomat)
Lesley Pinckard                (Statesman)
Paul E. Eisen                     (Statesman)
Bobby N. Simpson            (Statesman)
Stephen M. Ehlers                (Diplomat)
Jason Talley                         (Envoy) 
 

                                               

Did You Know?
Membership News From
Across the State

 
NAIFA-TX New Member
Commitments
NAIFA-TX Officers vs. Directors
 
NAIFA-TX Officers:
 
Earl Thompson, President
5/0
Randy Robertson, President-Elect   4/0
Cylinda Clark, Secretary
4/1
Alan Carl, Immediate Past President 4/0
Ron Mullen, National Committeeman 
2/0
Des Taylor, CEO/CLO
2/1
 
Total to Date.............2
 
NAIFA-TX Directors:
 
Kirk Haworth, Director, Reg. 1
4/0
Lane Boozer, Director Reg. 2
3/0
Douglas Massey, Director Reg. 3
3/0
Lesley Pinckard, Director Reg. 4 
3/0
Paul Eisen, Director Reg. 6
5/0
Bobby Simpson, Director Reg. 7 
4/0
Jason Talley, Director Reg. 8 
3/0
Steve Ehlers, Director Reg. 9
4/1
 
Total to Date...............1
 
Grand Total.................3/47
 
 _____________________________
 
2008-2009 Quarterly
Membership Contest

 
Next Benchmark Dates: 
January 31st 
March 31st 
June 30th
 
NAIFA-TX New Member List
(CLICK HERE to view)
 
(Make sure your name is listed on the "referred by" section on every new member application.)
 
 
NAIFA-TX Members: 
At the end of each Membership Benchmark period, (see dates above) a member will have a chance to win $300 if they recruit a new member during the quarter.  Every time a member recruits a new member their name will go into the drawing for $300.00.  Only one member per period will win.
 
 
Local Associations:
Each Local Association that meets their NAIFA Quarterly Benchmark has a chance to win $300.00.  If more than one local association reaches their benchmark goal, one winner will be drawn from a hat.  If none of  the local associations reach their benchmark goal, the money will carry over into the following quarter.
 
Members and Local Associations will have four (4) chances to win throughout the year!
 
 

NAIFA-Texas Advocacy In Action 

 

NAIFA-Texas/BIG I Joint Legislative Day Set for January 27, 2009

With the completion of the 2008 election season, the real work of advocacy begins, including the first-ever joint legislative day, January 27, with the Independent Insurance Agents of Texas (IIAT).  The 81st Texas Legislature convenes in Austin on January 13, 2008.
 
While NAIFA-Texas leaders are preparing for a busy legislative session, each NAIFA-Texas member has a responsibility to be actively involved in the political process by cultivating a relationship with his/her lawmaker.  Grassroots involvement is key in making sure that the voice of Texas agents and financial advisors is heard when important issues arise at the Texas Capitol.
 
Each January, NAIFA-Texas members from across the state converge on the Texas Capitol to meet with lawmakers to discuss important issues and to further establish relationships with them.  This year marks the first time that IIAT and NAIFA-Texas have held a joint luncheon saluting members of the Texas Legislature as part of our respective legislative day events.  Registration is now open to all members.  Don't miss out on this opportunity to become involved in standing up for your industry.     
 
 
 
     Download Registration Form    
 
 
NAIFA Members Win Re-Election to House, Senate
Four NAIFA-Texas members were returned to the Texas Legislature in the November 4 general election.  Congratulations to:
           
            Senator Tommy Williams of The Woodlands;
            Rep. Joe Driver of Garland;
            Rep. Kirk England of Grand Prairie; and
            Rep. David Farabee of Wichita Falls.
 
With the conclusion of the election season, NAIFA-Texas now turns its eyes towards the beginning of the 81st Texas Legislative Session on Tuesday, January 13.  NAIFA-Texas members from across the state will be in Austin on Tuesday, January 27 to meet with lawmakers and to accompany them to the NAIFA-Texas Legislative Day Luncheon.  Online registration is now open for all members.

 
Pre-Filing Begins for 2009 Legislative Session
In anticipation of the 81st Texas Legislature, pre-filing of bills began Monday, November 9th.  On the first day, more than 175 bills were filed in the Texas House and 250 in the Senate. 
 
"NAIFA-Texas is monitoring bills of particular interest to Texas insurance agents and financial advisors in the upcoming legislative session," said Des Taylor, NAIFA-Texas's Chief Legislative Officer.
 
It is anticipated that measures pertaining to the Sunset Review of TDI, funding for the Texas Windstorm Insurance Association and the cap on protections of life products and annuities under the Texas Insurance Guaranty Association will be key issues in the 81st Session. 
 
A complete list of issues impacting agents and financial advisors will be provided to NAIFA-Texas members closer in time to NAIFA-Texas Legislative Day on January 27, 2009. 
 
NAIFA-Texas PAC Supports Winning Candidates
The NAIFA-Texas Political Action Committee authorized more than $40,000 in political contributions to office holders and candidates for the Texas House, Senate and statewide offices during the 2007-2008 election cycle. 
 
With election results now certified, 96% of the political contributions authorized by NAIFA-Texas PAC were given to winning candidates and officeholders. 
 
The election season officially stays open until 30 days from the beginning of the Texas Legislature on January 13, 2009.  Contributions continue to be made before the deadline.  Local leaders are encouraged to request PAC contributions for elected officials before the end of November, to be delivered before December 13th.
Hilliard Elected to Board of Directors 
Keith Hilliard of NAIFA-Tyler was elected to the position of Region 5 Director of the NAIFA-Texas Board, filling the seat left vacant following Cylinda Clark's election to the office of Secretary/Treasurer. 
 
"Region 5 has a tradition of strong leadership, and the board was confident that Keith was the right person to continue in that tradition," said NAIFA-Texas President Earl A. Thompson, RFC, LUTCF.
 
Hilliard, a past-president of NAIFA-Tyler, was unanimously approved by the Board in a called meeting on November 18.  His service on the Board begins immediately.   
2009 Leadership In Life Class Selected
The Leadership in Life Institute (LILI) selection committee has announced the selection of the 2009 class of candidates.  Ten students, selected from applicants across the state, will take part in the Institute, which is slated to begin in Austin next February. 
 
Congratulations to:
 
       Thom Hughes of NAIFA-Beaumont;
       Karolyn Chapman of NAIFA-Houston;
       Ann Baker Ronn of NAIFA-Houston;
       Doug Jackson of NAIFA-East Texas;
       Panate Griffin of NAIFA-Austin;
       Doug Richards of NAIFA-Austin;
       James Baird of NAIFA-Abilene;
       Ryan Raeke of NAIFA-Wichita Falls;
       Michael Kennedy of NAIFA-Corpus Christi; and
       Lesley Pinckard of NAIFA-Great Southwest.   
Long-Term Care Partnership Program Coming          to Texas, Carries CE Requirement

Beginning in January of 2009, Long-Term Care Partnership Programs will become available for sale in the state of Texas.  The program, enacted to offset increasing difficulty in qualifying for Medicaid paid long-term care, creates a public/private "partnership" between states and private insurance companies designed to help stabilize state's Medicaid programs by making quality long-term care insurance more affordable and useful to middle income consumers. 

 

While the partnership program is new in Texas, similar programs have been in full effect in four other states since the early 1990's. 

 

With more than 78 million Baby Boomers fast heading into retirement, long-term care is the largest unfunded liability facing families and our government today. 

 

When the programs become available in January, only those agents who have completed mandatory education requirements will be allowed to sell them.  These requirements include an eight hour long-term care partnership certification course.  The adopted rules regarding the new partnership program are available online here: http://www.tdi.state.tx.us/rules/2008/documents/19.1001-19.1023ado.pdf

 

You can find a list of CE providers by running a search for "long term care partnership" in the Texas Department of Insurance CE provider database here:

https://wwwapps.tdi.state.tx.us/inter/asproot/agent/ce/searchcex.asp

 

 

November Proclaimed Long Term Care  

Insurance Awareness Month

Texas Governor Rick Perry has proclaimed November 2008 Long Term Care Insurance Awareness Month in Texas. 

 

In his proclamation, Governor Perry cited that seniors over the age of 85 are the fastest growing demographic group in the United States and called upon data that suggests senior citizens will outnumber young people by the middle of this century. 

 

"But despite these radical shifts," Perry said, "many people plan for the future the same way their parents or grandparents did, not taking into account that they may have much longer life spans." 

 

Insurance agents and financial advisors are encouraged to sit down with their clients throughout the month of November, to discuss the tough issue of Long Term Care Insurance and its place in a sound plan for retirement. 

 

To see the governor's proclamation online, please click here: http://www.naifanet.com/480000/LTC%20awareness%20monthProclamation%20(2).pdf