Craig Lowenthal has a few goals in place as he begins his 12-month term as president of IASA, but it's a second title--specifically, volunteer evangelist--that he plans to present to the membership when he addresses it this morning.
While Lowenthal, who recently joined Glatfelter Insurance Group as a social media strategist, has been involved with IASA for 20 years, it took eight years for him to begin volunteering his time for the association.
"Volunteering for IASA actually is an additional method of learning that isn't as obvious as the traditional methods," he says. "Volunteering provides skills and knowledge that help bring out each member's general skills, making him or her a better candidate for promotion. That's been a key to my career."
Lowenthal is such a proponent of volunteerism that nearly his entire morning address will be devoted to the subject. And to reinforce those words, IASA has printed special volunteer cards that will be available on each table.
Approximately half of those in attendance at the annual conference are first- or second-time visitors, claims Lowenthal, and these people are the ones who need to be sold on the value volunteerism can bring.
"I got all gung-ho when I attended my first conference," he says. "But just as quickly as those thoughts rushed into my head, they rushed out when I got back to work. It was years later when [past president] Cathy Ellwood pushed me to volunteer. That's what I want to get into people's heads. Here's a chance to try to add another dimension."
In previous years, IASA has been able to maintain a nice balance between member companies (insurance carriers) and associate members (brokers, service providers, media, and such).
Over the last four years, IASA has seen a significant increase in associate-member volunteers, which Lowenthal welcomes, but member companies have not kept pace.
"I'm trying to be an evangelist on the member side," he says. "We want balance."
Among his other goals for his term as president will be to push for growth in the use of Webinars and other distribution methods for educating IASA members.
"I personally think in-person sessions are the most effective, but given today's economy and the demands on people's time, we have to look at other methods," he says. "We have to look at it as a complementary means, not an either/or."
Lowenthal also believes IASA needs to leverage social media technology. "We have had our Knowledge Exchange product out there for several years, and it's time to leverage the social media aspect that's there and evolve the Knowledge Exchange," he says.
In addition, he believes the association also needs to be on the forefront of the evolving International Financial Reporting Standards.
Also taking their place as officers and board members for the next year are: James T. Keal, immediate past president; Ruth Estrich, president elect; Louise Ziemann, chief financial officer; Ed Kruger, chief information officer; and board members at large Michael M. Monahan, Thomas B. Ewbank, Tim Morgan, and Ernie S. Pearson.
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