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Northeast Indiana Association of Health Underwriters Newsletter

March 2017
President's Message
March Madness is Here and the Luck of the Irish is in the air!

Our chapter is on the hunt to capture another Pacesetter Award again at this year's NAHU Annual Convention in June.  Sabine Barrett, Awards Chair, and fellow members are busy collecting all the documentation needed to showcase our successes and activity for the past 12 months.  But the deadline is fast approaching - April 5, 2017.  I know the team could use a four-leaf clover about now.   Hang in there Team!

In addition to the Awards committee working on the Pacesetter, our Chapter did receive the Gold Certification from NAHU.  Congratulations to our board and committee chairs for their contribution and hard work.  A special shout out to Sue Jones and Amber Frey for pulling it all together to make this year's submission happen.  Our sights are set on next year - we missed Platinum by just a sliver.  My challenge for next year's leadership team is to dig deep and Go for Platinum!!  I know you can do it!

Other things happening in IN Northeast AHU:

1)       Chapter members participated in the Annual State Day on the Hill.  It was a great day of networking with our State legislators and NAIFA friends. A big Thanks goes to Dwight Hall for coordinating and ISAHU chapter for hosting.

2)       March 20th General Meeting- CE Program, Matt Isbell, COBRA Resources, will be speaking on the topic of COBRA, 1 CE 

3)       Our Professional Development Event - Super CE Day 2017 is scheduled for April 27, 2017.  We have great speakers including our own NAHU VP of Governmental Affairs, Marcy Buckner will be on hand to kick off our day.  There will be 11 classes including breakout sessions.  If you need 3 hours of Ethics - we have that too.  Register Now: www.superCEday.com

4)       Nominations for next year's Board -
The search for great nominees to serve next year is under way.   Bill Hartman, (Chair and Incoming President) is looking to chat with folks wiling to learn more about our chapter and association.  If your interested in having that conversation, please reach out to Bill Hartman, Jeff Fabini, or Kathy Goffer. 

5)       NEW ISAHUPAC Committee - Sabine Barrett, PHPNI, will be serving on the State HUPAC committee as IN Northeast AHU representative.  Thanks Sabine for stepping up.

6)       March Madness Membership Contest - looking to get our newest members signed up during the month of March so they can take advantage of the NAHU savings.  I encourage everyone to reach out to your colleagues who are not a part of the NAHU team and ask them to jump on board - there's no reason to swim alone.   It's easy. Visit   www.nahu.org/join.cfm 

7)       Leading Producer Round Table (LPRT) - Applications for LPRT are due  March 31, 2017.  To avoid a late fee, get your submission in by end of the month.  Go to www.NAHU.org for details.

We are looking forward to seeing everyone at Hotel Fort Wayne (name change to:  Ramada Plaza Hotel & Conference Center) for our Professional Day - Super CE Day 2017!  Should you have questions regarding this event or Sponsorship information, please feel free to contact Bill Hartman at bill@hartmaninsuranceservices.com or via phone at 260-483-2305.

P.S. Check out our team at The Rescue Mission - 2017 Volunteer Service Project.  If you are interested in participating in our next service project, contact Ava Lillmars or Tami Meeks.     

Happy St. Patrick's Day!

Kathy Goffer
 

LPRT - The Time is Now
The best of the best. That is what the Leading Producers Round Table (LPRT) is for America's benefit specialists. It's where the nation's best performers in our business get recognized for their leadership and rewarded for their accomplishments, with tools and benefits that will help keep them at the top of their game.

Your time is running out!  LPRT applications are due March 31, or are subject to a $50 late fee!!  Apply NOW!
 
Featured Committee: Public Service
The Public Service Committee is actively involved in and responsible for getting NEIAHU involved in community activities to accomplish the following purposes:  
  • Contributes to the well-being of the community
  • Generates favorable recognition and appreciation in the community for the chapter, its members and the profession
  • Strengthens the chapter by providing a common bond of interest that knits members together
  • Types of projects fall into two categories utilizing chapter's:  Time, Talent and Treasures
  • Fundraising:  Soliciting funds or items for a charitable purpose
  • Direct involvement:  Active volunteer participation in a particular community event
  • The list of not for profits will be used as the pool of viable candidates voted by the membership for the Chapter's charitable contributions
  • Organizations Making a Difference Campaign - reach out to local not for profits to come to a membership meeting to showcase their program, services, mission, vision, values.  Solicit suggestions from the membership. 
Ava Lillmars currently chairs the Public Service Committee.  She would love to hear from you regarding nonprofit suggestions or to volunteer on the committee.  She can be reached by clicking on this link.

Greater Northern AHU Hosts Town Hall Event
Greater Northen has assembled NAHU leadership from the National, Region, State, and local levels, and is hosting a Town Hall meeting on the state of NAHU and the industry.  Speakers include Janet Trautwein, Jim Stenger, Denise Van Putten, Jennifer Revell, and Don Griffey.  The information is available here, and registration is open here.   

 
Compliance Corner Live Webinar
Did you miss it?  If so, don't worry!  A benefit of being a NAHU member is access to this, and other webinars, even after they happen.  Go to www.nahu.org, then click on Members, and finally Webcasts.  From there, you will see archived webcasts, including the most recent, entitled Be Ready for HR Challenges in 2017.  
 
Committee Updates

Awards Committee
Once again, Northeast Indiana Association Health Underwriters (NEIAHU) is shooting for the Pacesetter Award.  This award is given to local associations for outstanding achievements in serving their members, the industry and the public.  The NEIAHU chapter is in the midst of finalizing our submission for the 2016-2017 term.  This is, personally, my second year for gathering this information.  While I was piecing together all of our documentation, I began to wonder how many of our members really know what the Pacesetter Award really entails and what it means to the NEIAHU chapter.
 
In order to qualify for the award we must submit proof of our chapter's activities including Events, Chapter Management, Local Meetings/Events, Local Communication, Public Service Projects, Membership, Professional Development/Awards, and Media Relations.  Each category requires extensive tracking of events, meeting agendas, minutes when applicable, invitations, media, and may other pieces of documentation.
 
When the awards are achieved, there are a few benefits that come along with the designation of a Pacesetter.  Chapters that win this award have been shown to experience chapter growth, improved member satisfaction and to those of us coordinating the events and meetings, a great sense of personal achievement.  This year, for the first time, we are attempting to receive the Pacesetter Award in chapter sizes of 100 to 175 members.   The award will only be given to the top 50% of the chapters within each size category.
 
Last month, you may have seen a brief note about what the Awards Committee does.  Although there is one chair today, and I have a team of four individuals willing to work with me to ensure I have what is necessary for our submission, I can assure you this is an effort by all members of the NEIAHU Board.   As we gain recognition as a leader in our region, we will continue to look at other avenues to becoming the best of the best.  Beyond the Pacesetter, there are 13 other awards we will begin looking into as the new year begins for the Board Members.  If you are a interesting in helping me to lead our chapter onto areas not yet embarked upon, please let me know.  I would love to help anyone interested in learning how to get involved in our chapter, industry and community.
 
Thank you - Sabine Barrett, Awards Chair 2016-2017 (and beyond)

Legislative Committee
As I write this, we are about 24 hours from when the Republicans in the House released their initial ACA repeal and replace bill. Realize that this is just a starting point and that much discussion, debate and posturing will probably take place over the next few weeks and this debate might even go nuclear in the media and court of public opinion before the Congress gets to vote on any actual bill. It is critical that you remain informed of breaking developments as they are communicated by NAHU staff in Washington. I also anticipate NAHU will be issuing operation shouts over the next several weeks as this legislation takes shape, so it is very important that you take action ASAP when you receive an operation shout e-mail. When NAHU issues an operation shout, the timing is normally strategic to coincide with markup hearings, critical votes, etc., so when you receive an operation shout, it is very important that you respond ASAP to get the maximum impact. When we met with Senator Donnelly a few weeks ago he mention that they are hearing from constituents at a record level, so your efforts at communicating with members of Congress are heard, tracked, and in many instances, responded too. 

NAHU's message of market stability reached more than 500 members of Congress, and was well received by legislators and staffers alike.  Capitol Conference, and the ripple of energy from the event  have reverberated through Capitol Hill, the possibility of positive changes to the health insurance industry is real, and NAHU is at the forefront of these changes. We still have much work to do.  The employer exclusion cap is still concerning, and your HUPAC dollars, as well as your responsiveness to Operation Shouts helps educate legislators and protect the priorities of our industry.  Remember, to donate to HUPAC, please visit this link, and if you missed an Operation Shout, you can respond here.  We encourage you to stay active, and stay educated. 
 
Last month, we added a few tools to track legislation to our website.  Click here to track how often every member of congress votes with or against the president.  To access the Indiana state weekly updates, click here.  And to see what HUPAC has been up to this week, click HERE to find the weekly update from Anthony Perez, the Manager of HUPAC. 

Denny Wright and Nancy Blake, Legislative Chairs, 2016-17 


Membership Committee
In honor of March Madness, any NEW MEMBER who joins NAHU Between March 14, 2017 and March 28, 2017 will receive $50 off their national dues.  If you've been hesitating, now is the time! Click  HERE  to join!!

Nominating Committee
Slating of Officers for 2017-2018
President - Bill Hartman
Vice President - Jeff Fabini
Secretary - Brietta Williams
Treasurer - Sue Jones

Anyone wanting to run for office can be nominated.  We are in need of the following chairs:

Legislative
HUPAC
Membership 
Retention
Programs
Hospitality
Media Relations

Please contact Bill Hartman if you're interested in chairing a committee for the 2017-2018 Board.

Public Service Committee
The NEIAHU team visited the Rescue Mission on February 22nd and served the luncheon meal for approximately 100 residents/community individuals in need and supported by this organization.  NEIAHU Team, Kathy Goffer, Jeff Fabini, Tami Meeks, Brietta Williams, Amber Frey, Crystal Michel, Cindy Trahin and Ava Lillmars all  enjoyed serving the residents and community visitors.  This is a small service step toward a larger opportunity.  May we all be reminded to reach out and share our time with our community families.

Come join us at our March monthly meeting and hear Diana Yngstrom-Bugge, Executive Director, Fort Wayne Center for Learning speak about their mission and vision on successful learners.

Ava Lillmars, 2016-17 Public Service Chair



Featured Nonprofit: Fort Wayne Center for Learning
At our March Membership Meeting, we'll be hearing from Diane Yngstrom-Bugge, the Executive Director of the Fort Wayne Center for Learning.  Their mission is to help children develop a positive self-image through the critical learning skills necessary to be successful learners.  

Their vision:  To be an essential part of a community that values and encourages all children and their unique abilities to learn.  

To learn more about them, check out their website.  
Mark Your Calendar - Region 3 Leadership Conference
Region 3 Leadership Training will be August 14 and 15th, 2017 at the Amway Grand Plaza Hotel in Grand Rapids, MI.  It's being hosted by the state of Michigan. The event will take place from 12:30pm Monday - 12:30pm Tuesday.  More information to come, but save the date!

Upcoming Events
March 20, 2017
Matt Isbell, Your COBRA Connection (1 CE)

April 27, 2017
Hotel Fort Wayne 

Greater Northern AHU Town Hall Meeting
Morris Park Country Club
South Bend, IN
Friday, May 12, 2017
More Information HERE
,

Region 3 Leadership Training 
August 14 & 15th, 2017
Amway Grand Plaza Hotel, Grand Rapids, MI
More details coming soon!

Wanna know what's going on in Fort Wayne?  Check out Greater Fort Wayne's CALENDAR OF EVENTS and get involved in the exciting changes happening in the city you love!


In This Issue
President's Message
Committee Highlights: Public Service
Committee Updates
What's Next?
2016-2017
NEIAHU Board
                   
President
Kathy Goffer
 
Vice President
Bill Hartman
 
Past President
Cindy Trahin
cktrahin@gmail.com

Secretary
Jeff Fabini
 
Treasurer
Sue Jones
sjones@bostbenefits.com

Awards Chair
Sabine Barrett

Communications Chair
Amber Frey

HUPAC Chair
Denny Wright
Denny.Wright@oldnationalins.com

Hospitality Chair
Jessica Clayton

Legislative Chair
Denny Wright
Denny.Wright@oldnationalins.com

Media Relations
Edward Judkins
 
Membership Chair
Justin Finton

Retention Chair
Dawn Fair
 
Professional Dev. Chair
Cindy Trahin
cktrahin@gmail.com

Public Service Chair
Ava Lillmars
alillmars@phpni.com
 
Technology/Webmaster
Bill Hartman
  

 
Super CE Day 2017
If you haven't registered yet for Super CE Day, it isn't too late!  The committee is working hard to make sure the event is every bit as spectacular as you anticipate.  Don't hesitate!  Earn up to 7 hours of CE.

  



CONGRATULATIONS!
  
NEIAHU has met the NAHU criteria to be designated as a Gold level Chapter for 2017 in the Annual Chapter Certification program.  
NEIAHU has achieved certification every year since 2007 when the Chapter Certification program was first introduced!

NAHU's Mission Statement
 
NAHU will improve its member's ability to meet the health, financial and retirement security needs to all Americans through education, advocacy
and professional development.
   
NAHU's Vision Statement
 
Every American will have access to private sector solutions for health, financial and retirement security and the services of the insurance professional.  

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