1. Synergism. Webster's Dictionary defines Synergism: "Cooperative action of discrete agencies such that the total effect is greater than the sum of the two effects taken independently."  Together we can do more than we can as one!  The word almost appears designed to explain "how insurance agents can do more!". Synergism has to be #1, #2, and #3 as the reasons for GIAA

Membership.  In Georgia, there are over 50,000 P&C Agents (I think now over 70,000). In my opinion there are over 20,000 agents that has auto insurance as their primary source of income. If 10% of agents, that have as their primary source of income auto insurance, were to join GIAA, we would be larger than all the other State Agent Associations combined. Don't forget GIAA can have members from direct companies.

Look at what is happening to Allstate agents and you can see they need us (and we need them!). Direct writers, unfortunately, may have to come in as "John and Jane Doe's" but I have found direct writer agents more active legislatively than independents.  They just have to do their lobbying under cover. Add to the agents the people that work for these agents, insured by these agents, etc. and you have a potential force for action greater than of any other occupation.

2. Being informed. GIAA member agents are better informed agents. The FYI: Insurance Views & News is our official news organ. All new members are paid their first year's dues for FYI. Unfortunately because our dues are so low ($160), dues after the first year are paid by the members direct to FYI.  SPOKES is the official newsletter of NAAA. SPOKES comes free to all members that pays GIAA $160. Annually we have the GIAA Conference of Champions.  For years we went to Jekyll. Last year we decided to combine our conference with the FYI: Insurance Expo. GIAA did this to help its members with the increasing cost of doing business. Evidently members liked the combining so we will be going back to Atlanta in August for the Expo.

3. Legislative help. GIAA's best membership years were when Commissioner Ryles was in office. Now that times are better with Commissioner Oxendine and a Legislature that has been receptive to our interests, many feel they no longer need GIAA. While things are definitely better, please remember that they were also good prior to Ryles. Think about this: "What if we had 2,000 members?" No line of P&C insurance has more legislative issues each session (most adverse to agent's interest) than auto insurance. With 2,000 members we would be able to talk to every legislator and let our views be known. Synergism! 

4. NAAA membership. GIAA members that pay $160 a year are members of NAAA (National Auto Agents Alliance). With NAAA we have a voice nationally.  From NAAA we learn more about what is happening in other States (an old saying is: "all bad insurance legislation has its start in California". On page 4 of each SPOKES issue is: "THE NAAA ENDEAVORS TO PROVIDE SERVICE TO ITS MEMBERS BY: A. OPPOSING unjust commission reductions, which restrict agent's ability to properly serve consumers.  B. Promoting auto agent-friendly national and regional insurers to expand into all standard market areas.  C. Promoting file-and-use laws to bring more competitive companies to all states. D. Supporting agents in getting effective insurance commissioners and state laws not adverse to independent auto agents and consumers.  E. Alerting members on insurer or political actions that could help or hurt agents and consumers. F. Vigorously protecting auto/personal agent's client renewal ownership rights. G. Acting effectively with Insurance Departments against the few bad agents and companies that damage the public and reflect badly on our industry. H. Negotiating standard form contracts that better protect agents' and consumer rights.  Providing mutual aid compacts with States for legal fees on protecting individual agents' rights. J. Sponsoring regional and national meetings to promote strengthening auto  agent/Company relationships and the American Agency System. K. Providing national strength in numbers through a strong voice for auto agents, their clients and their insurers.  L.. Recruiting agent/client activists to protect their interests and to defend the industry from unwarranted attacks. 

Dean Auten
autend@bellsouth.net

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