Our 2016 State Convention, chaired by new incoming State
Secretary-Treasurer Wayne Lunday ably assisted by hard working State Executive
Secretary Jenna Olson, was a smashing success, with these highpoints:
* First time ever a joint convention with the
great state of Oregon held at the fabulous Skamania Lodge on the Columbia River
Gorge.
*Over 150 attendees and guests, 19 exhibitors, and
10 sponsors. More on the financials later, but it appears
to be a profitable success as well.
*Major news from Washington D.C. in a hard hitting
address by NAIFA National President Jules Gaudreau, Jr., especially on the Dept
of Labor Fiduciary Regulation and Advisor 20/20 - our roadmap to future
success.
*Fantastic presentation by “Forbes” Columnist,
independent consultant, and Attorney Steve Parrish, JD, CLU, ChFC on how to
stay relevant in this day and age - with many new ideas for helping business
owners and executives with their planning.
*A four hour sternwheeler cruise up the Columbia
River, a guided motorcar tour of several working wineries with wine tasting,
and a joint golf tournament - the winning foursome led by our own newly
installed President Neal Kloke!
*A presentation by our National Trustees Tom Michel
(Oregon) and Aprilyn Chavez Geissler (Washington) on a proposed $6.00 per
member per month dues investment to help National provide more assistance to
states and local, to build more resources for education, to research more
non-dues reserve sources, and to continue the fight against intrusive
government regulators seeking to put you out of business.
*Last year NAIFA spent over $800,000 in outside
attorneys and consultants just in fighting the Dept of Labor Fiduciary
Regulation. While we succeeded in greatly watering it down, we can
guarantee that they will be back next year.
*We learned that as a result of this DOL Fiduciary
Rule, State Farm Insurance may drop all sales of variable and securities based
products in January 2017. They have 30,000 agents and employees with
securities licenses - many may be out of work.
*The Board of Directors, consisting of your State
officers, Regional Vice-Presidents, and local Presidents, along with the
delegate council, voted to endorse a resolution in support of the
proposed dues investment increase.
*Neal's President’s Retreat
will be held on Friday August 5th - 10am-4pm. All chairmen, officers,
RVP’s and local presidents are invited. Place TBA
*Nationwide there is keen interest in forming
“Lean Locals” or Hybrid Locals - local associations who satellite onto a larger
local or state associations, get support, but do not have to have officers on conduct board
meetings. They can meet informally to network as they wish. It is
our hope that we may be able to relieve the stress on some of our more rural
locals who have smaller membership that is more widely scattered. Stay
tuned!
*Election results for 2016-2017:
President - Neal Kloke
President Elect - Stephen Good
Secretary-Treasurer - Wayne Lunday
Immediate Past President - Scott Fowler
National Committeeman - Jeff Kyle
*Awards:
Agent/Man of the Year - Randy Kimm
Step up to the Plate Award - Lisa Kruckeberg
Rising Star - Chris Wertenberger
Rising Star - Chris Wertenberger
Lifetime Achievement Award - Alan Zalewski
YAT of the Year - Ryan
Jewell
*Most interesting Man in the World - John Nichols
FUN FACTS
*President Scott Fowler’s wife Julie is a darn good
soccer player
*His kids get room service - anything they want while Dad
is in meetings
*Lisa Kruckeberg brought her fiance Mike to the
convention. (He proposed on the 50 Yard Line of the Seahawks-Steelers
game -- Sweet!) He didn’t get scared off - you’ve got a “Keeper”, Lisa!
Best wishes to the happy couple who marry in less than 3 weeks.
*Most Interesting Man in the World, John Nichols,
continues to provide his own famous blendings of various Scotches. Good
stuff. That’s about all I remember...
Al Zalewski, CLU, ChFC
Love this Allesandro!
ReplyDelete