2011 Chapter Activities
2011 Chapter Activities
The Alamo Chapter created an ethics tab on their Alamo Chapter web page with ethics information, a news feed, links to the Society's ethics page, and a message board. They sent an e-mail to all members encouraging them to participate in our activities, the Society's activities, and to promote ethical awareness. A few ethical dilemma questions generated some feedback on their message board. They also discussed ethics at I-day and had an ethical dilemma question with a yes/no member vote-the results were shared at the I-Day lunch. They encouraged ethical awareness on their social media page and sent a daily ethics quote via Twitter.
The CPCU Society Alamo Chapter Ethics Awareness Campaign
Chapter members, please help:
March is ethics awareness month and the CPCU Society is sponsoring its annual Ethics Awareness Contest. The chapter with the most unique idea to promote and celebrate ethics will receive a monetary prize and recognition from other chapters at the Society's 2011 Leadership Summit.
The Alamo chapter has planned some activities to promote ethical awareness.
We have created an ethics awareness tab on our web page. You will find a link to the Society's ethics awareness discussion board-some neat prizes to entice participation will be awarded so please check it out. Just for fun, we have added a message board to our page to post ethics issues seen in the media. We plan to post discussions here and on our social media sites. We also plan to tweet ethical quotes throughout the month of March on our Twitter page.
Here is how you can help: We encourage you to participate in these activities. Please comment on our posts or add you own discussions, either on our web page or via our social networks. You can add your cell phone number to receive our tweets as a text message-we promise we don't post much. If you are not a follower on twitter or member of our social networks, please join.
Our goal is to promote ethical ideas and we think this is a resourceful way to spread the word. We'd like some recognition for the best idea but if other chapters do well then all the better.
CANON 5
Insurance professionals should aspire to raise the professional and ethical standards of the insurance and risk management profession.
Blue Ridge Chapter
The chapter plans to observe Ethics Awareness month with a special meeting free to all members, CPCU candidates and special guests (e.g., your manager, co-worker, spouse, etc.). They reserved over 25 places for lunch for their March meeting to promote ethics beyond their current membership. They had Judge Philip Trompeter of the Roanoke County District Court as a guest speaker.
MARCH ETHICS AWARENESS MONTH - Additional Activities
As during the past 2 years, Weekly chapter newsletters reflecting the history, importance, and practical adherence to ethical conduct were sent to their membership.
Cedar Valley Chapter
The chapter had their President-elect do a presentation on Ethics during their monthly meeting.
Central Jersey
The Central Jersey Chapter partnered with the CPCU Society to offer the workshop, Ethical Decisions - Tough Choices.
They also had Mike Leinenbach speak about International Insurance Ethics at their monthly meeting.
Central Illinois
Incorporated ethics materials into their monthly meeting.
Central Texas Chapter
The Central Texas CPCU Chapter celebrated Ethics Awareness Month by having an Ethics Mixer Happy Hour. The group discussed a variety of real life ethical situations in a speed networking format. Each participant was given a playing card that listed what table they would go to for each round. During each round, the participants shared an "icebreaker" question and then discussed the ethical case scenario. The "icebreaker" questions included fun topics like favorite sports teams, favorite vacations and favorite sports teams. The ethical scenarios were taken from the "Street Level Ethics" publication by Chris Amrhein found on the CPCU Society website. After each round, the players moved to a new table with a new set of fellow CPCU's at each table. Of course, drinks and appetizers were enjoyed by all as well. Overall, the event was a fun and engaging way to celebrate ethics and a wonderful way to get to know more members of the chapter!
Connecticut Chapter
The chapter celebrated Ethics Awareness month by providing a 3 CE credit course in the morning on Ethics followed by their monthly chapter meeting. Bill O'Connor, CPCU taught the Ethics course. Bill Traester, CPCU, ARM of the Society Ethics Committee was the keynote speaker. He spoke about his experience on the Committee and how cases are discussed and decided upon as many CPCUs forget that their designation can be revoked.
Dayton-Miami Valley Chapter
The chapter invited a plaintiff's attorney to be their speaker at their March meeting. Mr. Gary J. Leppla, J.D., presented a very interesting and compelling comparison of the CPCU Society's Code of Ethics to that of the American Bar Association, finding them to be nearly the same. The point of his presentation was that there are many similarities between insurance professionals and plaintiff attorneys. We all want what is fair to the individual and true to the contractual agreement. We all need to work together for a fair resolution to claim disagreements. This can be done if everyone behaves according to a code of professional conduct and maintains a high ethical standard.
Houston
At their March Chapter luncheon, they had sheets on every table of the overview and canons of the CPCU Professional Code of Conduct, and two sheets of ethics quotes.
They announced to the joint CPCU/RIMS attendees (100 in all) that March is CPCU's Ethics Awareness Month, and read a dictionary definition of ethics. They pointed out the sheets on the tables, and urged all to read the complete Code of Conduct on the CPCU website.
They took about 15 minutes to select a person from each table to pick an ethics quote (such as winning at all costs is not winning at all), and briefly state what it means to him or her, either personally or professionally.
They had fun, and people enjoyed participating and hearing from each other rather than having a presentation read to them.
Japan Chapter — 2011 Chapter Ethics Award Winner
Jointly with Non-Life Insurance Institute of Japan, the Japan Chapter held Ethics Awareness Month Open Session at a conference room in the Japan General Insurance Association Building. The guest speaker was Mr. Katsuo Matsushita, Special Advisor of the Geneva Association. Around 50 people joined the session from various non-life insurance companies, brokers, agents, etc.
The guest speaker, Mr. Matsushita began his career at Tokio Marine Insurance Co., Ltd., after holding the various important positions at TMNF, he was appointed as the head of the International Dept. of the General Insurance Association of Japan and is now the Special Advisor of the Geneva Association. Under the theme of "What is the role of Ethics? to avoid another financial crisis and to achieve the ultimate goal of general insurance." He shared his views and insights regarding the global financial crisis commenced in 2008 and enlightened the audiences on the importance of the professional ethics.
After Mr. Matsushita's key speech and Q&A session, Mr. Yoshida, a recently designated Japan Chapter member, explained the outline of CPCU exams and also introduced the AICPCU Professional Ethical Codes. Then Mr. Kihohara, also a recently designated chapter member, shared his experience of taking CPCU exams with the audiences.
They posted the news and photos of the event on their chapter website and also published it in all the industrial papers in Japan, such as Hoken Mainichi Shinbun (something like "Insurance Dairy"), Hoken Ginko Nippou ("Insurance & Bank Industry Paper"), etc.
Memphis Chapter
The chapter used several of the ethics case studies available on the website during their chapter meeting.
Mid-Michigan Chapter
The chapter selected a member of the Thomas M. Cooley Law School's Ethics Speaker Bureau to present at their March Meeting.
Ms. Lisa DeMoss was recently hired to lead Cooley's new Master of Laws in Insurance Program. The program is a partnership with Olivet College's Risk Management and Insurance Program, creating only the second master of law's insurance program in the nation.
Ms. DeMoss has served as senior vice president, general counsel and corporate compliance officer for Blue Cross Blue Shield of Michigan, and previously served as vice president and deputy general counsel in litigation, and as principal counsel for the Auto-National Division of Blue Cross Blue Shield of Michigan.
Ms. DeMoss' presentation was on the ethical responsibility and collaboration required between insurers and legal practitioners.
Mid-Tennessee Chapter
The chapter had Randall Bechtel, CFE, Supervisory Special Agent, White Collar Crime Supervisor for the FBI Memphis - Nashville Residence Agency and Charles Jackson, CPCU, CLU, ChFC, a Special Investigative Unit Analyst in State Farm's Multi-Claim Investigative Unit speak about what staged accidents, fire fraud, fraud ring activities, and white collar crime all have in common. They spoke about why it is important to insurance practitioners and how it impacts us all.
Middle Georgia Chapter
Mike Lawrence, CPCU spoke to the chapter about ethics awareness month and provided them with an ethics activity. He used a case study from the CPCU Society's website and asked everyone to take the case study with them, put on their ethics caps, and email him their best creative answer to the case. He provided the "winner" with a restaurant gift card.
Minnesota Chapter
The Minnesota Chapter's ethics activity featured Paul A. Jaeb, CEO of Heartland Investigative Group. He gave a presentation on "Leadership Lessons Learned as a Private Investigator - 10,000 Cases - 10 Universal Truths."
Paul is the co-founder of the Minnesota Ethics Initiative - and program that organizes more than 200 civic, business, religious and educational leaders to forge community-based ways to promote ethical leadership. Paul is also a fellow at the Holloran Center for Ethical Leadership at the University of St. Thomas Law School.
Thirty-five of the Chapter's members attended the lunch program. They promoted the program on their Chapter's website, through Email blast distribution to the membership, and also to the Chapter's Champions.
New York Chapter
The chapter posted the following statement on their LinkedIn page which stimulated some discussion.
What are your thoughts on producers using bullying tactics to get the terms/conditions/pricing they want on a deal?
North Alabama Chapter
The chapter met at the local Comedy Club and titled their program, "Ethics and Humor in the Workplace". A local business executive who has been a guest on a local radio talk show and a BBC reality show talked to attendees about ethics and moral principles. He mixed in humor with a serious focus on ethics and made the program very informative and fun at the same time. They had a good turnout and the members really enjoyed the program at the Comedy Club.
North Central Florida Chapter
March was an active month for the North Central Florida Chapter. They decided to have an ethics theme, but also wanted to add in a spread-the-word component. Their guest speaker was an HR executive from a large Florida Homeowners writer. Topics were 'Ethics in insurance, and the role of the CPCU' and 'The CPCU Advantage: what sets a CPCU apart in job selection and career development'.
The speaker drew from ethics material on the CPCU website, but added his own personal experience with CPCUs, and how they add value to an organization - both professionally and ethically. Of particular interest was his observation of how companies look to CPCUs to provide ethical leadership within their organizations, and how we set a great example in the area of professionalism.
He also drew from the CPCU Brochure 'Why choose a CPCU' to make a point about the dedication required to become certified. Brochures were shared with all attendees.
CPCU members also traveled to a local High School that features an entrepreneurial business program. Five board members addressed students and shared their career experiences, emphasizing the variety of opportunities in the insurance profession. They distributed the pamphlets 'There is a career for you in insurance' which were well received. This is also the second year the chapter is offering scholarships to graduating seniors in the program, so they distributed applications and explained that they look for those that are pursuing a business education and who have been actively involved in their school's entrepreneurial ventures. They also discussed the CPCU certification, emphasizing both the educational and ethical aspects.
Finally, in preparation for their Spring charity golf outing, they were able to secure several sponsorships to benefit a regional charity providing foster care with an emphasis on keeping siblings together. It is their third annual event, and anticipate making a record contribution.
Pacific Northwest Chapter
At their March chapter meeting, the chapter Vice President held an ethics discussion with members attending the lunch. They broke into groups (by table) and discussed ethical case studies so that each member had a chance to contribute. They awarded Starbucks gift cards as prizes to encourage participation.
Presque Isle Chapter
Karen Miller, CPCU spoke to the chapter about social media and ethics.
Rhode Island
The chapter hosted a joint session with the NAIW and had Ethics as their theme. Tony Bucci, CPCU, of Bucci Insurance Group, was the keynote speaker that evening and discussed Ethics in the workplace. Tony is a past president of the chapter.
Wichita Chapter
The Wichita Chapter had 2 morning speakers, Sonya Alseike, on Emotional Intelligence and Captain Stuart Bevis with the arson dog "Sporty" on Arson Investigation at their All Industry Day. Their afternoon and lunchtime keynote speaker was Jerome Mayne. Jerome is a convicted white collar criminal, who spent time in prison. His presentation, "All That Ethical Jazz", was dynamic and highly recommend by the chapter. Mayne went through the events of his life, points where he made an ethical decision and the results of those decisions. It was entertaining, yet very thought provoking regarding one's ethics and that gut feeling when it's not quite right. The chapter purchased one of his books and will be giving it away through a drawing at a later meeting. Both morning speakers were approved for one CE General Credit and Mayne's presentation for two Ethics - both in Kansas and Oklahoma.