By Brenda McDermott, CPCU, CLP, SCLA, CIIP, SCLA, ARM, AIDA, AIC
Long time Region V member Margaret “Maggie” O’Toole believed if you ever attended an IAIP regional conference you’d be hooked. She believed it so much that for years she paid for a first timer’s registration out of her own pocket. Region V RVP Thelma Cunningham started the Maggie O’Toole Mentors and Proteges (MAP) award in honor of Maggie, to carry on her legacy to send first timers to regional conferences. Now with the Hub model, we send a first timer not only to a regional conference – but to the International Convention!
I have paid my own way for most of the International Conventions I have attended over the years. A couple of the International Conventions I was lucky enough to receive a Legacy Foundation Scholarship to help with registration. Since 2001, I have only missed three International Conventions. And for each of those three conventions I suffered from not FOMO (Fear Of Missing Out), but just plain missing out! Missing out on education, networking, fun and those memories of when this person won that or did that.
So, you may ask yourself why should I attend IAIP’s annual convention? I get it – you’re looking for the WIIFM (What’s In It For Me) factor.
W: Wisdom. Do you have a hunger for continuous learning like I do? I attend to feed that hunger. It may be to start on a new designation like this year’s Associate in Client Relations (ACR) or to learn more about AI or how to insure a Cannabis Business. Maybe I want to learn a little about a lot of different things like you get from attending the Community Cafés. Or maybe it’s an opportunity to pick up some CE credits for your license. What ever option I choose I always return home with new Wisdom.
I: Information. Listening to a great panel of industry leaders at the Ignite Luncheon panel discussion and getting their thoughts on the challenges faced by insurance and risk management professionals always provides me with new information I can share and use when I return to work.
I: Inspiration. How about one of our great Keynote speakers? From us all becoming Rockstars in Louisville to this year’s fabulous Erin O’Malley giving us the roadmap and inspiring us to provide a memorable customer service experience with Deflate- Relate- Elevate. These wonderful speakers make common sense answers not only inspirational but entertaining.
F: Some of my favorite F words that I can use as an insurance professional: Friends and Fun. I think we must put the two together like that as friends, old and new, are what make the convention fun to attend. I mean, in this virtual age we can get education from webinars, on-demand learning systems or via zoom. What makes getting that education at the convention even better is friends. I have friends from Maine to Hawaii. I know if I need information, they are there for me – helping me find answers; cheering me on; lifting me up; celebrating or mourning with me. Oh, and like I said –creating the fun; by exploring the local area or just relaxing by the fire pit or pool and having a good laugh.
M: Memories. I always leave with new memories from misadventures and celebrations. I love reminiscing and catching up with old friends while making new memories to reminisce about next year and in the years to come. The memory could be about anything from an award win (or loss) to singing karaoke to exploring the area using the Waymo Autonomous Taxi to get there (one of the memories I missed out on). But don’t feel too bad for me, I came home with stories to share and a camera full of memories.
So, why do I attend? It’s all about WIIFM.
Brenda McDermott, CPCU, CLP, SCLA, CIIP, SCLA, ARM, AIDA, AIC is a workers’ compensation claims specialist in The Hartford’s Major Case Unit. She is a past International Rookie, Claims Professional of the Year, Risk Management Professional of the Year and International CWC Speak-Off winner. She was the 2022 Region V Insurance Professional of the Year. She has been a long-time member of IAIP and served in multiple offices at the local, state, and regional levels. A past Region V RVP, she is currently serving as the Region V Marketing Director and Assistant to the RVP. She is co-chair of the International Marketing and Today’s Insurance Professional committee. She is an MAL in Region V from Missouri.