A Lasting Impression

Whether it will serve him for life remains to be seen, but when we think back now on his youth, we wonder what impressions we made that helped carve his career path. Certainly our family visits to Washington, D. C. for the National Legislative Conference rank near the top.

I honestly can’t remember the year of our first visit, but I do remember I was serving as your national Farm Agri-Business Committee Chair. The work of the association had concluded and, as was often the case, I had arranged for family members to join me for a visit to our nation’s capital. Dan was around 8 years old and had been watching and listening intently as I arrived back in Iowa following national events. What I thought at the time were merely inquiries into my week accelerated into real aspirations to learn more about our nation’s seat of government.

That particular four-day extension started off with the usual sites—the District’s memorials. I’ve always thought, “once you’ve seen them…you’ve seen them!” My son goes back each time he travels to the shores of the Potomac. He seems mesmerized by the attractions and the true historical value Washington provides. He became a student of government—is it any wonder a political science degree was on the horizon?

We did many other things on that trip but my fondest memory was the blue chair! We were on the east side of the Capitol treading the long and wide halls of the House office buildings. We had just finished a visit with Congressman Jim Leach of Iowa’s 1st District, one of my all-time favorite congressional leaders. Truth be told we were probably hunting for a restroom or maybe a bite to eat when we came upon the office of Congressman Tip O’Neil. Dan immediately became excited and announced Tip was the current “Speaker of the House!” His enthusiasm traversed the halls of Congress and filtered inside his office to the Speaker’s appointments secretary who became just about as thrilled to see Dan as he was to see the office. She immediately gave him all kinds of political propaganda to bring back home for show and tell but most of the time he was eyeing the Speaker’s private office and a big blue office chair. What followed was a huge photo opportunity—we still look at son Dan seated in the Speaker’s big blue chair!

Dan will be back in Washington in just a few short weeks to attend our National Legislative Conference, now in concert with our National Convention and Trade Show. Tip O’Neill has passed away and his chair disappeared when he left office, but those memories remain. This year’s event will bring new memories to the Fulwider family. We would love for each of you to be a part of those memories. There’s still time. Of course, it is your efforts to educate your congressional delegation about what independent agents do for our customers that make you so important. When we all advocate, our businesses become stronger and our customers benefit.

Last month I made a strong pitch for your contributions to InsurPac, our federal PAC. So far, you’ve exceeded previous years’ records and we are well on our way to a new high. Our political involvement as agents is really like a three-legged stool. One leg represents your ability to perform at the grassroots level when we put out the call. The second is the willingness to put your dollars where they count—the PACs of your federal and state associations. The third leg is to personally get involved. Nothing we do beats the personal contact you make when you join hundreds of other independent agents storming the Hill during our National Legislative Conference. I really hope you will join us.

Don’t forget, too, our Trusted Choice^® campaign to “Live the Brand.” This month is month number six and we are encouraged to review and update our agency and contact information as well as issue seasonally appropriate press releases. Great! Even Trusted Choice^® acknowledges that spring is finally here! Enjoy it and remember the cherry blossoms are out in Washington.

Bob Fulwider
Chairman