Published: October 15, 2007 09:43 pm            

Newsmakers: Oct. 16, 2007

The Insurance Professionals of the Wabash Valley President’s Award was created to recognized active members at the local level for mentoring, community service, membership recruitment, committee participation, educational instruction and submitting new ideas.

Linda Berry, CISR, Old National Insurance, received a President’s Award for constructing the IPWV local association Web site and publishing the monthly newsletter as Newsletter/Web site Chair. Linda is also an IPWV Board member, on the Ways & Means Committee and was a judge for the Fire Safety Art Contest.

Gail Loehmann, Old National Insurance, received a President’s Award for representing IPWV as spokesperson on behalf of the association’s community project “TIKE,” in addition to creating a letter in an attempt to inform emergency responders on the subject of the “TIKE” program. Gail has creative flair, and in addition to the “TIKE” project, she creates many documents for the organization. Later this month, Gail will be teaching an ethics class to 16 IPWV members, which will lead to an additional insurance designation for several members.

Tish Scott, Center Insurance Inc., received a President’s Award for mentoring the current president and the entire membership. Communicate with Confidence, a 10-week NAIW program, was conducted by Tish for 10 members to improve their speaking skills and confidence levels, which will lead to an additional designation for several members. Tish is currently the IN Council Director and she chairs and participates on many committees at the local level.



Jennifer Wallace, Customer Service Representative of Forrest Sherer Insurance of Terre Haute and a member of IPWV (Insurance Professionals of the Wabash Valley), recently passed her IACSR (Indiana Accredited Customer Service Representative) Commercial Auto/Garage/Truckers exam.

Attainment of the designation offers tangible evidence of high professional standards, a commitment to continuing education and awareness of insurance industry issues. In order to achieve the designation, each designee must complete six modules: Commercial Property, Commercial Liability, Commercial Auto, Commercial Lines Related Coverages, Errors & Omissions/Loss Control, and Professional Development & Account Management, which increases product knowledge, enhances productivity and confidence, in addition to achieving higher levels of professionalism and customer service.

Jennifer currently holds the office of treasurer for the Insurance Professionals of the Wabash Valley; furthermore, she has served on the Social, Ways & Means and Awards committees in the organization and has served on the IPWV Board and has 13 years of experience in the insurance industry.

For additional information on Insurance Professionals of the Wabash Valley, please contact Debra Craig, ACSR at Debbie.craig@oldnationalins.com or go to www.insurewabashvalley.com.



Norris Electric Cooperative directors have achieved credentials in today’s electric utility competencies.

On Sept. 11 and 21 locally-elected directors from electric cooperatives in Illinois received either the Board Leadership certificate or the Credentialed Cooperative Director certificate from the National Rural Electric Cooperative Association.

Russell C. Scherer of Sumner, secretary of the board, and Larry D. Seals, vice president of the board of Norris Electric Cooperative, received the Board Leadership certificate. Both were recognized at NRECA’s Region V meeting for their commitment to education and attainment of this certificate before an audience of more than 1,000 electric cooperative officials from 14 states, including Illinois.

Today’s electric utility environment imposes new demands on electric cooperative directors, particularly increased knowledge of changes in the electric utility business, new governance skills and a working knowledge of the cooperative principles. Norris Electric Cooperative has a commitment to work through the Association of Illinois Electric Cooperatives and NRECA to sharpen this body of knowledge for the benefit of their electric cooperative consumer-owners.

The NRECA Credentialed Cooperative Director, or CCD, program requires attendance and demonstrated understanding of the basic competencies contained in five core courses:

• Director Duties and Liabilities

• Understanding the Electric Business

• Board Roles and Relationships

• Strategic Planning

• Financial Decision Making

The NRECA Board Leadership certificate recognizes individuals who continue their professional development after becoming a credentialed cooperative director. Directors who have attained the Board Leadership certificate have completed 10 credits in advanced, issues-oriented courses.

The NRECA Region V meeting is the second in a series of seven 2007 Regional Meetings convened by the National Rural Electric Cooperative Association. The Regionals continue the association’s grassroots policymaking process, which begins at the local co-op level and culminates at NRECA’s Annual Meeting, to be on Feb. 25 through Feb. 27 in Anaheim, Calif.

NRECA represents the nation’s more than 900 private, consumer-owned electric cooperatives, which provide electric service to more than 40 million people in 47 states. Norris Electric Cooperative serves more than 18,675 members over 4,014 miles of line in parts of Clark, Crawford, Cumberland, Effingham, Jasper, Lawrence, Richland and Wabash counties. Represented at the meeting were electric co-ops from Wisconsin, Iowa and Illinois.

        

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