Dear Friends of IEI:

The first quarter of 2003 went by quickly and was marked by several visits to current donors and prospective new contributors in Arkansas, Mississippi, Louisiana, Tennessee, Illinois and Indiana. Also, presentations were made at the Kansas, Minnesota, and Indiana State Association meetings as well as to the NAMIC Public Affairs Committee and the Crop Insurance Research Bureau Annual Meeting. In addition, IEI sponsored a break at the NAMIC CEO Roundtable conference in Scottsdale, Arizona in March. The IEI board met in February to discuss upcoming projects and events, the most important of which was identifying the firm to produce the replacement for Choice-Chance-Control. The Board is on the brink of giving the go-ahead to start the process of producing IEI’s next education program on financial risk and insurance principals. Plans are also underway to celebrate the Foundation’s 15th anniversary in New Orleans on September 20, 2003. Mike Pickens, President of NAIC, will be the featured guest speaker. This is shaping up to be a great year for IEI. Your support of the Foundation is greatly appreciated. Thank you for taking an active interest in the future of the insurance industry.

Davies Entertains IEI Board
At the February Board meeting, Paul and Mary Ann Davies entertained the IEI Board and prospective contributors at their Scottsdale, Arizona home. With a picturesque setting and unbelievably beautiful weather, the IEI Board and guests were treated to a wonderful dinner and fine southwestern hospitality at the Davies’ lovely home. The event resulted in some new supporters being introduced to IEI. Paul is a member of the IEI Board of Directors, representing Aon Re Worldwide. A special IEI thank you to the Davies for their gracious hospitality.

New Officers Elected for 2003
IEI officers assumed their new roles at the February Board meeting. The new officers for 2003 are as follows: Chairman, Stephen Collesano, Vice President, American International Group, Inc.; Chairman-Elect, Rock Jenkins, Assistant Vice President Public Affairs, State Farm Insurance Companies; and Secretary/Treasurer, Jeff Harrold, Sr. Vice President, Life Operations, Auto-Owners Life Insurance Company. Our special thanks go to Bill Lebo, SAFECO, for his outstanding leadership as Chairman of the Board this past year.

Etling Shoot Big Success
Despite a savage snowstorm hitting the east coast and prohibiting several participants from making the trip to Florida, the 2003 John C. Etling Shoot was a big success. Special kudos to Bea Bologna and Tom Gross from GeneralCologne Re for their hard work in making the Etling Shoot one of the best ever and special gratitude to GeneralCologne Re for their commitment to IEI through the John C. Etling Scholarship Award program.

15th Anniversary Celebration
Mark your calendars for the special “Louisiana Saturday Night” celebration on September 20, 2003 in New Orleans, Louisiana. The 15th Anniversary Celebration is one you do not want to miss. The special day will begin with the IEI Golf Classic at the Eastover Country Club on the “Teeth of the Gator” course, which has been rated as the “Best Golf Course in New Orleans” and as one of the top five golf courses in the state by Golf Digest magazine’s Places to Play. This year’s Golf Classic promises to be one of the best tournaments ever. That evening, the exciting “Louisiana Saturday Night” reception will be held to mark 15 years of excellence in insurance education. The reception will include Cajun food, Cajun music, and Cajun fun. Mike Pickens, President of NAIC, will address the attendees and present several special Lifetime Achievement Awards to individuals who have displayed extraordinary commitment to the Foundation’s success in its first fifteen years. We will also have a live auction and will announce the winner of the Scotland golf trip raffle. Please note that the reception is not for golfers only. Everyone is invited.

President of NAIC Endorses IEI
“Our job as state insurance regulators is to protect consumers through financial solvency and market conduct regulation, and fraud prosecution and deterrence. If I may say so myself, we do that job well. But in most cases, no one is in a better position to protect insurance consumers than the consumers themselves. The better educated insurance consumers are, the less likely they are to be the victims of poor insurance practices. We need more better educated, highly informed insurance consumers. And this program is a great start towards achieving this important goal.”

Mike Pickens, President
National Association of Insurance Commissioners

New Contributors

Virgil Applequist
Armed Forces Insurance Exchange
Robert Bedell
Henry Butler
Colony Insurance Company
Decatur County Farmers Mutual Insurance Co.
Farm Mutual Insurance Company of Lincoln
Farmers Mutual Insurance Company
Grange Insurance Association
Has San Lake Mutual Insurance Company
Hay Creek Mutual Insurance Company
Rock Jenkins
Rose Mell
John C. Millen
The Motorists Ins. Group Foundation
Mutual of Enumclaw Insurance Company
Patrons’ Mutual Fire Ins. Co. of Indiana, PA
Preble Farmers Mutual Fire Insurance Company
Remington Farmers Mutual Insurance Co.
Bill Rutledge
Paul Stillman
Southern Farm Bureau Casualty Group
Southwest Mutual Ins. Co.
Stark Farmers Mutual Fire Insurance Company
Western Iowa Mutual Insurance Association
Woodville Mutual Insurance Company

Important Dates

September 20 - 14th Annual IEI Golf Classic
September 20 - IEI’s 15th Anniversary Celebration—“Louisiana Saturday Night”
November 9 - 2nd Annual NAII / IEI Golf Benefit

Sincerely,

Jack Clanton
CEO