Summary of CPCU Leadership Phone Conference February 26, 2004

							          Summary of CPCU Leadership Phone Conference
                       February 26, 2004

A total of 14 CPCU past Presidents were invited to attend a special phone conference focusing
on the issue of chapter leadership development.

David Blakesley (Golden Gate Chapter-San Francisco) opened the session with a brief review of
the issues contributing to the lack of leaders in the Golden Gate Chapter. Some of the issues
impacting CPCU members outlined at the start of the meeting were:

        Company mergers
        Company consolidation/downsizing
        Company moves to areas outside the city of San Francisco moving members further away
         from chapter meeting locations and contact with other members
        CPCU’s under time pressure as they are assigned more responsibility through promotions
         or absorbing other responsibilities

The session opened with each member outlining how they successfully develop chapter leaders
for Secretary, Treasurer, VP/President Elect, and President officer positions. The following
information represents my summary of the key issues presented by the 9-10 individuals attending
this phone conference. Some of my notes may not be as accurate as the presenter noted during
the session; so, if there was a glaring error please contact me and I’ll update my summary along
with my apologies.

It’s important to note that most of the chapters have an active board of directors that serve as
committee chairs; accordingly, most chapter board members have micro and macro management
responsibility regarding chapter management duties.

(The Golden Gate Chapter uses an executive committee that serves the president…the president appoints the
executive committee chairs after approaching CPCU chapter members during the one year president elect period.
The President serves a two year term: president elect and then president. This gives the president one full year to
identify and organize her/his executive committee. Most committee chairs help identify new committee chairs if
they are moving to another position in the chapter.)



Boston Chapter (Bob):
The chapter has 18 board of director members. Six board members are elected to a three year
term. Board members serve as committee chairs as they manage the various chapter committees
for the benefit of their 600 member chapter. From the board members the chapter selects
CPCU’s to serve as Secretary, Treasurer, VP or President Elect (not sure about these positions or
perhaps they move directly to the president position after serving as treasurer), then President.
The time commitment is eight years, so the leaders appear to come from those completing their
three year term as board member then serve in each officer position for an additional four years.

An officer who is unable to continue through the officer positions will be filled via a special
board or committee meeting.

The chapter reports this system has worked very well for their chapter and provides a steady flow
of leaders to choose from.
Central Illinois (Lori):
The chapter has 12 Board members plus five officers serving on the board. Additionally they
have 12 committee chairs that also attend board meetings. I noted in my notes the stronger
committee member(s) move into board of director roles (I assume they are asked to serve as
board members by the board of directors). New board of director members appear to be the ones
taped for future officer positions because of their successful contribution as a committee chair.
These new board members are then groomed for chapter leadership positions.
Remember…chapter leaders rising from the 12 committees and move into board positions. The
success of this process focuses on the chapter’s success in constantly moving new designees and
other less active members into chapter committees (my assumption).

There is an attempt to be sure new board members come from two key employers and the
University of Illinois so there’s balanced representation on the board and officer positions. With
this balance in board representation they are successfully able to draw leaders from these three
employers.

The chapter’s link to the CPCU member’s employer is interesting. Some companies provide
credit for CPCU employees that serve in leadership positions, this service loops back into the
CPCU’s job review. The employer has a “professional development” library which I assume
provides the employee with access to educational material that supports the employee with credit
toward fulfilling a category titled “professional development” on their job reviews. CPCU
involvement meets the professional development category on their job performance review
report.


Alamo Chapter (Steve):
Officers move through the “chairs” secretary to president. Board members serve a two year term
and can be re-elected to serve future board terms. Officers can be drawn from board members at
any time, although the normal process is to serve as a board member then mover to an officer’s
position. The membership approves the board’s nominations annually.


Texas (Heart of Texas Chapter) Ann:
 The chapter elects three officers to positions each year. They have a membership of about 25
members. It issues are the same, you still have to bring in new members into the chapter and
direct them to leadership positions. They direct their new designees toward chapter
activities/projects and officer positions.


Pikes Peak Chapter, Colorado (Gary):
The chapter moves individuals through a chair system; however, that is undergoing a change.
They have a president and five officer positions (assume treasurer, secretary, vice president, and
perhaps a president elect). Each of the five officers manage five annual events (i.e. event to
honor the past presidents, big I day event, ethics meeting, family outing, legislative update) vs.
having monthly luncheons. The membership meets at these five events. The president’s role is to
over see the other officers as they manage the various events.
Los Angeles Chapter (Jim):
The chapter has ten board of director members that serve a two year term; accordingly, each year
five board member positions are up for election. My notes are a little sketchy here; however, I
think five individuals from the board serve as committee chairs each year. So I assume the
second year board members take over the committee from the retiring board member (sorry Jim
if I’m in error here). In addition to the board members they have a president and secretary who
serve a one year term and a treasurer who serves a two year term. I understand the secretary
position is held by an individual who continues to serve in that capacity because of a personal
enjoyment to serve the chapter in that capacity.

Officers basically come from those serving in board positions. I assume CPCU’s serving in
various committees will take on greater responsibility and agree to serve as a committee chair
which bring them to the board of director’s level of service/responsibility.


Brandywine Valley Chapter (Jon):
New Designees are really focused on in this chapter. They are “wined and dinned” by the chapter
leaders and moved into increasing areas of responsibility. They appear to move the new
designees to board positions where they become responsible for chapter activities/functions at
the committee level. This leads to officer positions as they demonstrate their leadership skills.
The chapter president manages the “big I day” event and other chapter functions are distributed
to other officers and I assume board members.


End of summary report…


David Blakesley CPCU, CIC, ARM
Curriculum Director
IEA (Insurance Educational Association)
100 California St., Suite 650
San Francisco, CA 94111
(Direct: 415-445-7187)
www.ieatraining.com