Page 7 - April FINAL!

PRESIDENT'S MESSAGE

Rick Sutton - IIA of Illinois President - (309) 692-8544 - ricks@was-irp.com

Six Month Review

Where have the first six months of my term gone? It seems As part of the Day of Giving, JC Restoration will be hosting
like just yesterday we had the Convention in Peoria and a Feed My Starving Children Mobile Pack event. They will
I was sworn in as President. Now at the midpoint of my gather volunteers for two hour shifts over a 12 hour period
presidential year I am happy to report that so many good to pack nonperishable food for malnourished children.
things are happening at your Association. Another event already in the planning stages is the IIA of
IL Charity Garage Sale benefitting St. Jude. We would like
The Education Committee has been busy developing as many local agents as possible to participate. This will
programs to further the professionalism of our members. be a full-fledged EVENT with many facets, so watch for
Several new webinars have been added to the schedule further details. There are unlimited ways to participate in
this year. You will want to take advantage of these great this special day. Please get involved - Plan an event in your
programs. Also, INVEST had a booth at the School Board area.
Convention in November and it was a tremendous success
with many school board members and superintendents March 28 was the State Legislative Day. The Executive
from though out the state visiting the booth. As you can Committee started off the event by meeting with the new
see, INVEST continues to grow in Illinois. Director of Insurance, Jennifer Hammer. IIA of IL and four
other associations hosted a reception at the Illinois State
The Government Relations Committee has been busy with Library where we were able to welcome and greet several
the political faces on both the State and Federal front. I members of both the House and Senate.
was fortunate enough to attend both the DuPage and Lake
County legislative events, and to meet a few of the new The following day was the second quarterly board meeting
members to the State legislature. Please reach out and of the IIA of IL Board of Directors. I asked Regional
meet your local legislators. They do want to hear from us. Directors to reach out to five members in their regions
In addition to meeting the new representatives from the to get feed-back on Legislative Day and on what the
House and Senate, the committee has been busy planning Association can do to improve Legislative Events. If you
both the State and Federal Legislative days. It is not too late were not contacted by your Regional Director please feel
to attend the Federal Legislative Conference in Washington free to contact either your Regional Director or myself.
DC May 3-5. If you attended the event, what drew you to the event? If
you did not attend the event, why not? Please let us know
The IIA of IL staff is involved in a major upgrade to the what the Association could do to improve future Legislative
website. I have seen a preview of what is happening and events.
believe me it is going to be nothing short of great. You will
hear much more on this later. These are just some of the highlights of the first six months.
I am excited for the next six. The spring and summer
Young Agents are busy planning their annual EDGE Association calendar is filling rapidly. See page 30 for a
Conference to be held in Springfield April 26 and 27. This list of upcoming events. Regional directors are challenged
is an event you will not want to miss. There will be quality to hold at least one event in their region each year. Watch
education as well as a lot of fun. You can register for the the future issues of this publication as well as e-Weekly for
event at www.IIAofIL.org. In addition to EDGE, the Young events in your region. If there is something you would like
Agents have planned a Statewide Day of Giving to be held to see happen in your region, feel free to reach out to either
June 2 (see page 20). The focus will be to get as many me or your Regional Director (listed on page 2). We would
people as possible to do something charitable on that day. love to hear from you.
Please get involved. For event information, toolkit, t-shirt
order form and more go to www.IIADayofGiving.org. “YOU HAVE TO THINK ANYWAY SO WHY NOT THINK
BIG?” - Donald Trump

april 2017 insight 7