Health Insurance Underwriter

Bulletin Board

be a tradeoff between location/ amenities and cost. We do appreciate this feedback and want to know what is important to you. We know that everyone enjoyed San Diego, and we always solicit multiple hotel bids when we consider any city.

Several of you made comments such as:

There was a day in the middle of the event with nothing important going on.

and

I would preferred to have had the meetings closer together on the days that there was “dead” time to allow for more free time.”

Each day was jam-packed with events, so I’m not certain when members thought there was downtime. Attendees will have differing ideas as to what is important and which sessions and events they want to attend. On a related topic, there were many varying opinions on the length and structure of the convention:

You do not make any provision in the schedule for attendees to do any sightseeing. If we are going to continue to have these meetings in great vacation locations, make some plans for us to enjoy it

—or cut the convention short and let us stay over or come early.

I think the convention is too long. In my opinion, it could be condensed into two and a half days.

It was great, just too long.

I just think it is too long. I’d rather get the business over and get home. Those who want to “vacation” can stay extra days, which I have done before.

I personally would have liked a little more time to see the sights. I liked the early-morning meeting start times and wish that there would have been an earlier end times.

The vast majority (76%) of those who responded to the evaluation survey indicated that the length of the convention is appropriate. However, twenty-three percent felt that the convention lasts too many days.

We have convention locations and dates contracted through 2011, and are currently working on future years. This month marks my 14th anniversary with NAHU. I can’t tell you how many discussions we have had over the years regarding changing the format/length of the convention. The most recent task force on this subject was just

in the 2006-2007 fiscal year. When we sent a convention survey to all members in 2006, we had just 574 responses (213 who had attended a convention and 361 who never had attended.) We are in the process of securing locations for future years —2012, 2013 and 2014. Once we sign contracts, we will be locked in to the convention format.

If you think the convention should be shortened or changed in any way, let us know. It’s your convention! If you think the convention should be shortened, which sessions or events should be cut? Should we eliminate education entirely and just focus on chapter leadership? Should we lower the registration fee, but eliminate refreshment breaks and charge a la carte prices for those who want to attend the Awards Breakfast and Gordon Memorial Award Dinner? Contact your regional vice presidents—they are your advocate in board meetings where convention decisions are made. Feel free to e-mail me ( kcochran@nahu.org) with any comments or suggestions. We value your opinion and look forward to hearing from you! ■

See You at the Water Cooler

by Terence Duckworth, RHU

Northern Virginia AHU terryd42@comcast.net

How often have you had a question regarding our industry but not known who to ask? Do you ever need unbiased advice on hardware or software for your agency? Do you ever need to contact a broker in another state to help a client? If you answered “yes” to any of these questions, you need to join NAHU’s Broker to Broker online discussion groups.

Exclusively for NAHU members, the B2B network offers a focused networking resource comprised of NAHU members across the country. You will be able to discuss business

issues and ask relevant questions, as well as build your business, much like the folks at big corporations do in the lunchroom and around the proverbial water cooler.

Because most of us work in small offices, we don’t often have the opportunity to interact with our peers and colleagues—thus, we long for it. NAHU B2B offers members the opportunity for the interactive exchange of ideas, questions and learning. It can be a forum to gather information, help other members and share tips.

Only active NAHU members with a current e-mail address listed on NAHU’s national membership database can access the content within the new B2B e-groups. (If you need to check your NAHU membership contact information, please visit www.nahu.org and click on the “My NAHU” link to the left of the page.) Limiting access protects the postings and identities of registered e-group members and prevents the harvesting of e-mail addresses.