2017 IFAPAC

I know nothing about art or artists. My wife is unhappy with me when the best compliment to escape my lips on one of her mandatory tours of a gallery are, "that's purdy." Imagine my surprise when I came across the following comment attributed to Pablo Picasso: 

 “Our goals can only be reached through a vehicle of a plan, in which we must fervently believe, and upon which we must vigorously act. There is no other route to success.”

My wife tells me that to really understand art or an artist, I need to look for the meaning of the picture (I’m not even sure if what Picasso produced were pictures). Or, in this case, apply the words of the artist to your own life and see if there is an application that means something to you.  Thus, I sat down on the banks of the Susquehanna River and contemplated the quote. We had just visited Gettysburg a few days earlier and were touched by the bravery, loyalty and sacrifice made by the men and women that fought a brutal and costly war to change the course of this country. I recalled the trips to Washington, DC with Richard Miller, John Scott, Jim Mitchell and others to tell the NAIFA story to legislators (see Richard Miller’s article).  Sometimes you feel powerless against the political machines that often steamroll our profession. But at the same time, NAIFA and IFAPAC continue to work the system on our behalf. And all of us, all professional insurance men and women, benefit by those efforts. Success is within reach when we have a plan, put our shoulder to the wheel and push toward the goal. Thank you, again, to all who contribute regularly to the Political Action Committee that works to ensure that we have a business, that we have options to perform our financial magic with the people in our community. We encourage you  to act vigorously, contribute monthly to conserve this great business and keep the doors of opportunity open to your protégé. You have one, don’t you?


Richard Ek

Co-Chair IFAPAC