Agent Numbers in Action

We recently completed our annual Legislative Conference & Convention. This has always been my favorite Big “I” event, not only for all of the hoopla and fanfare, but for the chance to see old friends, to catch up and most importantly to see our collective numbers in action.

In the early years of my career, I was not too politically active. It may have been my impatience, or more likely a result of trying to affect change on my own. By coming to these conferences I have learned more about the process and what the value of our collective members can mean to that process. Over the years we have made a difference. The insight that we offer our legislators as small business people from their states has often swayed their thinking on issues that could have had an adverse effect and hurt us. The informed, common sense approach that we can offer is invaluable to the process! Our numbers do make a difference.

Our legislative team, staff as well as volunteer, are second to none on Capitol Hill. The briefings that they put together for our agents the day before we make our visits are unbelievable. Going to visit a member of Congress or a Senator is pretty heady stuff! It can be kind of intimidating and even a little scary the first few times you do it, but with the help from these briefings, you often find out that you may even know more detail about a bill under consideration than the people you’re talking with. Our staff and volunteers are really engaged in our issues, and their help and guidance is invaluable in getting our concerns and opinions heard. They help by making “being part of the process” more inclusive. Nothing is cooler to me than knowing that on one afternoon each year, agents from all over the country—big agents, small agents, rural agents and agents with diverse backgrounds—are all over the Hill, trying to make things better for our members who couldn’t make the trip to do the same in person. It’s awesome!

This year’s areas of concern centered around such topics as the flood insurance extension and reform, insurance regulatory reform, agent licensing reform, health care reform (especially the detrimental MLR provisions), federal crop insurance and tax issues. All of these are really important issues to agents.

Along with all of our activity on the Hill, we also had a bunch of really interesting and engaging speakers. At the Young Agents luncheon, we heard from Rep. Aaron Shock (R-Ill.), an impressive, 30-year-old with an interesting life story, who offered up some thoughts on what is happening in Washington. We also heard from Sen. John Thune (R-S.D.), who is chairman of the Senate Republican Committee and rumored possible national vice president candidate; as well as Blue Dog co-chair Rep. John Barrow (D-Ga.). Both guys were great and offered different perspectives on the challenges that they deal with each day.

Lastly, we had a great political panel discussion moderated by our own Bob Rusbuldt that included two big-hitting journalists and political commentators, Mort Kondracke and Fred Barnes. Often opposites on the issues, they offered an interesting and often humorous look at politics today. All in all, it was a great conference.

After the sessions, I had a conversation with a guy who caught me out in the hallway. He had just attended his first conference and was extolling its value. He explained that he was just a normal old agent. He wasn’t on our board or even involved in his state, but had heard about this meeting and was interested to see what really happened at these sessions. He went on and on about our lobbyists, both democratic and republican, and how they had prepared him to make his calls, and overall just what a cool experience that had been for him. He said how impressed he was with the speakers and even with the professional way that everything was presented. This agent told me the conference was one impressive event and that he would surely be back. As a volunteer leader, this was music to my ears!

Like this agent, I hope that everyone gets a chance to experience this meeting at some time. It will draw you closer to the Big “I,” and it will hopefully make it a little easier the next time you send in your check for dues.

—Michael Donohoe, Big “I” chairman