OKLAHOMA

Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the Government for a redress of grievances. 
NOTICE TO: Okla. State & District Offices: The first Thursday of each month has been dedicated by Oklahoma UFAA Chapters 12 & 15 as OUR day to peacefully assemble and meet. Not even Congress can prohibit such peaceful actions. We would request that State and District meetings NOT be held on the first Thursday of any month between the hours of 10:30AM and 2:30PM to avoid violation of this law. 
Please mark your calendars accordingly. Thanks in advance. -Chapters 12 &15.

                                     

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signed up for the first time 0%

renewed for another year  32%

dropped out of the program 21%

avoided it for another year  47%

 

It is no secret what UFAA has been doing for many years. We have attempted on many occasions to salvage the Farmers Agents' business. It has been difficult and expensive and our history goes back to the mid- 1960's, before many of you were born. Yet, we are still here.
The seasoned agents remember the computer UFAA lawsuit of 1992 where agents could only lease an IBM computer from Farmers and purchase computer access via Farmers through AT&T. UFAA challenged that ultimatum in a multi-year lawsuit against Farmers. According to a Farmers Field Bulletin, UFAA lost. Or, did we?

Following the lawsuit, the $235/month charge for the dedicated AT&T phone line to access Farmers system was eliminated from agent folios. Later, Farmers joined the Internet and delivered every agent a free Dell desktop PC. As a result of the conversion to the Internet, Agents dumped the old green screen System 36 and eliminated another $350 folio deduction for the computer lease. (Many agents saved even more depending on how many CSRs had slave terminals, each with additional charge).

More recently, in 2000, UFAA filed another lawsuit challenging the interpretation of the Agent contract written by Farmers. The suit was over definitions within the contract where Farmers was forcing production requirements on agents, including additional requirements to the Agent Guidelines and enforcing them as agent contract obligations, expanding definitions of conflicts of interest, including a spouse or family members could not be an insurance agent with Farmer's competition. And, the list grew. That lawsuit continued until 2010 when UFAA was granted Associational Standing to represent its UFAA Members in suits against the company. But, a technical violation occurred ending the suit.
Today, UFAA once again is in litigation with Farmers over similar issues. This time Farmers has disguised many of the previous issues under names like AGM, Take 5, Edge and AMP, while issuing new agent contracts that include many of the litigated issues into a binding contract with the agents. Such rubber contracts are dangerous as the meanings and definitions can be molded, changed, stretched and reconfigured at the SOLE DISCRETION OF THE COMPANIES! What you understand, sign and agree to today may not be what you understand and can accomplish tomorrow.

However, there are not agents standing in line at any courthouse in America filing suits against Farmers. Or, even having attorney letters sent to Farmers protesting the non-contract issues that agents are facing. No, it's just not happening. Agents are either keeping a low profile, hiding in their bunker or waiting for someone else to take the lead. Perhaps, you have stinkin' thinkin' that you can just wait a while and it will get better.

Why should it? Farmers knows the agents are running scared. Keep the pressure on just may be their motto to conform all agencies into robotic offices doing meaningless tasks that fill the day, but not the bank account. It hasn't got much better over the last 6 years, why will it be better tomorrow?
Think about it... the last Farmers CEO that grew up in Farmers was Paul Hopkins, who had close family members within the Farmers Agency Force. Following Hopkins was an outsider, Bob Woodstra, past CEO of Foremost who traditionally dealt with Independent Agents. Following Woodstra, is Jeff Daily, past CEO of Bristol West another traditional Independent service company. So, who is next?  The current CEO of 21st Century who use to service Independents and now are totally direct sales to consumers? Will it get better in your office? It just appears the exclusive agent supporters in management are gone and the new leaders will establish non-traditional guidelines for all.

So just who is going to take the lead?  It's been said that you should lead, follow or just get the hell out of the way and many agents are doing just that - leaving the agency. Is that what you want? To leave you're hard earned years of business back to the companies? Likely not, but who can lead us out of this disaster? 

Well, you can through many actions. That is, stay in your hidy hole and send a supporting donation to the AGM DRA lawsuit. Keep a low profile, but send a supporting donation. Attend a UFAA Chapter Meeting and bring a check of support. Or, join UFAA as a member to help us make it better for all.

The bottom line is this. If UFAA runs out of money for this important lawsuit and can't afford to continue to send attorney letters to the company, it's over, folks. And so goes the lawsuit, so goes your business. It's time to decide, act and support those who are supporting you. We can no longer wait on the hold-outs as the actions already taken by UFAA could just dry up and go away. So, where will you get your FREE info and legal decisions then?

GIVE TO THE UFAA AGM DRA LAWSUIT TODAY!
(Each quantity # on the donation page = $5. So a quantity of 10 = $50)

Signed a concerned agent

Chapter 15 April Lawsuit Contributions Contest-

A Success!

A national contest by UFAA requested All 33 UFAA Chapters to support the AGM Lawsuit by sending in $500 from the chapter treasuries and an additional $200 donation for the Convention AGM Raffle in Las Vegas. Hundreds of tickets are purchased by UFAA Convention Delegates for chances to win great prizes. The money collected far exceeds the value of the prizes and places more funds into the AGM Lawsuit Fund.

The Chapter 15 Board expanded on the contest by matching dollar-4-dollar funds donated by both Oklahoma Members and non-member agents to the lawsuit during the first two weeks of April. By April 12, agents had donated a total of $500 and was matched by Chapter 15. On April 16, the chapter presented a check to the UFAA National Office in the amount of $1,000. This was $300 over the $700 requested. Thanks to all who responded for this legal cause that is all about you- the agents.

 

 

 

 Komando Info Center: By Kim Komando

Kim Komando Cyber News