Suffolk Big Eye Jan/Feb Publication

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SUFFOLK Big Eye INDEPENDENT INSURANCE AGENTS & BROKERS OF SUFFOLK COUNTY

IIABSC SCHOLARSHIP ENDOWMENT PROGRAM BEGINS AT STONY BROOK UNIVERSITY INSIDE: • Presidents Message - Scholarship News • Holiday Party Pictures • March 19th Meeting on “Duty to Report”

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President’s Message President

Joanne Bentivegna nnn

In 2013, a task was given to our scholarship committee to investigate & create a Scholarship Program for “The Suffolk Chapter of the Independent Agents & Brokers of New York”. When this began as an “IDEA” , we had no understanding where we would wind up. We had strived for years to establish a scholarship fund that would benefit our local organization and our industry over time - whether it be through recognition with the public and/or enhancing our role in the mind of the recipients. As a past chair of the scholarship committee I will tell you it is not easy to keep the momentum and ideas fresh.

So what did we do? - We formed a committee and started by asking the following questions: • “WHY” do we as an association need a Scholarship ?

• “WHAT” benefits can we collectively gain?

• To answer the WHY / WHAT we asked ourselves several questions : • How did we get into the Insurance Industry?

• Why did we choose Insurance as a career?

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STRENGTH ! INTEGRITY ! COMMITMENT

We are so proud to celebrate 100 years of doing business. Times change, people change but our relationships with brokers continues to thrive. We truly look forward to the next 100 years!

• Homeowners & New Expanded Multi-Tier HO Product • Multi-Tier Personal Auto • Personal & Commercial Assigned Risk

155 Mineola Boulevard Mineola, NY 11501 www.IAOins.com 516 248-1100

THE COMPANY YOU CAN TRUST...SINCE 1914 3

the President’s Message cont’d • What first prompted us to consider insurance as a Profession?

• Was there any information or programs available when we were in school that directed us to the insurance industry?

• Were there any workshops or intern programs in schools that provided a path to a career in Insurance?

All of these questions led us to teaming up with an organization that we could help and they could help us in return. Interestingly, The answer to ‘how did you get into the Insurance Industry” was answered by either: “Through my family” “I fell into it “ “By Accident”

It is a rare occasion where I meet someone in our industry that said - “I went to

college to go into the insurance business”.

We felt it was time to do something “BIG” and ‘LONG TERM” for Suffolk.

We took the lead from our Tri-County Association friends and began researching how can we team up with an Educational Institution in Suffolk County. After much research and conversations, we came to find that there are no Educational Institutions in Suffolk that offer a focus in Insurance/Risk Management. So we set out to partner with one that could and would in the future.

As a result of this effort the the Board of Directors are very excited to announce the establishment of the Independent Insurance Agents & Brokers of Suffolk County Scholarship Endowment Fund with the State University at Stony Brook School of Business.

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IIABSC MEETING NOTICE THURSDAY MARCH 19, 2015 Your client’s son got his driver’s permit 6 weeks ago.

Another client’s girlfriend moved in 3 months ago.

Another client got divorced and decided to rent a room in their house to a good friend.

Did they call you, their agent, to inform you of these changes?

Why is it important?

Well*Progressive*has*recently*revised*the*“Duty*to*Report”*sec8on*of*their*policy*to*require*repor8ng*of*certain* circumstances*within*30*days.*Other*changes*impacts*loss*payees*and*strengthens*denial*of*claims*language*for* misrepresenta8on*or*concealment.

What%does%this%mean%for%agents?%Join%us%to: •

MODERATOR: PANELISTS:

PLACE:

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Understand*how*it*impacts*you,*your*business,*and*your* customers.

Discuss*the*best*prac8ces*that*an*agency*should*follow.

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Learn*what*you*should*tell*your*clients*about*the*changes.

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Hear*fellow*agents*discuss*their*issues*and*concerns.

Richard Poppa - IIABNY President & CEO Patrick O’Malley - Progressive NY Product Manager Jim Keidel Esq. - Keidel, Weldon & Cunningham, LLP. Joanne Bentivegna - IIABSC President Frank Elorza - TriCounty President Trento 1058 Broad Hollow Road, Farmingdale, NY 11735

TIME:

12:00 pm ‘Check In’ 12:30 pm Lunch & Start of Program

COST:

$60.00 per person for IIAB Suffolk, TriCounty & NextGen members. $65.00 per person for all other guests. All are welcome.

Use a credit card and REGISTER ON-LINE AT www.suffolkagents.com or complete and return the following form before March 12th.

Questions Contact Jeanne Abatelli 516-681-6265 –injeanious1@mac.com

the President’s Message cont’d

We have committed to contribute to this endowment with the School of Business at Stony Brook University over the next 5 years. We are planning for and hoping that we can obtain additional funding from other Insurance organizations that can assist us in this effort . We are taking a very big step for our Association and look at this as a way to give back and to enhance the value of the Independent Agency system with future generations for years to come.

We started by meeting with the team at Stony Brook University which included Joseph Barry who is the Director of Development for the School of Business and Manual London who is the Dean of the College of Business. They gave access to the peoples who could help us!

Our committee created three directives: • Establish a Clear Path to engage our young minds and introduce them to our industry • Educate our young people to our Industry locally by providing them with information about job opportunities, internship and the different skills that make up our Industry •Deliver the information about the value of an “Independent Agent” and Trusted Choice Brand by promoting public awareness locally

As a result of these three directives and our meetings with the Stony Brook Team, we were successful in joining with Stony Brook University School of Business in establishing a perpetual scholarship fund that will provide tuition assistance to School of Business students who are Suffolk County Residents , who have graduated from a Suffolk County High School and are interested in starting a career in the Insurance Industry. In return, we have joined with a medium where we are able to 7

the President’s Message cont’d promote the Independent Agency system. Our Association members will have access to a pool of trained and skilled potential employees, we will be able to offer internships which are encouraged to be posted with the Stony Brook Job Center and this also provides us , as an Association, access to the facilities at Stony Brook for training and conferences in the future.

As in every business it takes money to move an Idea forward. In addition to establishing our initial endowment, we plan to continue contributing for years to come to establish a School of Business Program Chair to head an Insurance/Risk Management Program at Stony Brook in the future. The cost to have this established is over $300,000 – This isa stretch goal , but maybe through our company partners and other insurance organizations we could meet this goal in the years to come.

We ask that all of our members assist our association in funding our new

endowment, whether through a monthly tax deductible automatic contribution, which can be as little as $10/month, or by leaving a legacy contribution through gift giving and estate planning or by making your continuous generous contributions at our association events.

If you would like more information about this new program please feel free to contact your Association.

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IIABSC is Proud to Announce the Recipients of the Camilla G. Belser Memorial Insurance Company Person of The Year Award

The Independent Insurance Agents & Brokers of Suffolk County, Inc. is

proud to announce that this year there were three recipients of the Camilla G. Belser Memorial Insurance Company of the Year Award.

Maria Thomas, Mary Mondrick, and Gloria Gargano received the

award on December 4, 2014 at the IIABSC Holiday Party at Villa Lombardi’s in Holbrook. The award is for the dedication and commitment to the association and the Big “I” members and for furthering the cause of the American Agency System. All three co-chair the work at the Long Island Insurance Community (LIIC).

The Long Island Insurance Community (LIIC) began in 1995 when a

dozen LI insurance industry leaders got together to create a vehicle to give back to the community and to those less fortunate. Today more than 500 insurance industry executives and business leaders gather together to raise funds at its annual gala.

The LIIC has raised more than $4 million at its annual galas, for Long

Island charities.

It is through their hard work and dedication that the insurance

community comes together to change the lives of Long Islanders in need. The gala annually honors industry and business leaders who have demonstrated a

commitment to the community that has improved the quality of life for their neighbors.

We felt it was time to honor these three women for doing just

that ...demonstrating a commitment to the community and improving the quality of life for their neighbors.

left to right: Mary Mondrick - Travelers Select Accounts, Gloria Gargano - CNA Insurance, & Maria Thomas - Friedlander Group, Inc.

Beneficiaries of their efforts for 2014 were United Way of Long Island, Brother of Mine, The INN, MLT Foundation, LIAM Foundation & SIBS Place

Our Annual Installation Dinner ********************************** will be held on Tuesday May 19th 2015 at The East Wind 5720 New York 25A, Wading River, NY 11792 Details to Follow

Pryor Personnel Agency Inc. The Insurance Specialist since 1970 local, National and International Recruitment www.ppryor.com ppryor1578@aol.com

Baskets & Magic & Toys, Oh My!!!!

by Laura Senn

What a wonderful turnout for our annual

Holiday Party on December 4th at Villa Lombardi’s in Holbrook.

There was definitely a theme to our party

and it was “A Magical Evening of Networking”.

Thanks to the generosity of the attendees, we

were able to give the Marines, plenty of toys for the “Toys for Tots” program. We have brought smiles Laura Senn nnn

to the faces of many children.

Our sponsors were also in the Holiday spirit: •Adirondack Ins./National General Ins. •Complex Coverage •Interboro Insurance Group •Kingstone Insurance Company •MAPFRE •Merchants Insurance Group Progressive •Pryor Personnel Agency

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Baskets & Magic & Toys, Oh My!!!! con’t •Quaker Special Risk •Servpro Port Jefferson •Travelers •Total Restoration

Their support is what helps to make our events so special.

It was a great way to start the Holiday season with the obvious Good

Cheer, Good Wishes and Good Company. We hope you had a Happy and Healthy Holiday and are enjoying the New Year.

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Holiday Party Pictures

Lois Grant, Dave Thomas, Gloria Gargano & Maris Thomas

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Eric Feit, Eric Keiffert & Kim Lyons

Bill White - Magician David H. Borg

Jim O’Neill, John Farese & Steve Sternberg

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Serina & Risa of Servpro of Port Jefferson

Linda Fazzio & Nelson Gochez 16

Ted Mageau & Joanne Bentivegna Frank Siringo

James Burger, Bruce Hurley & Joe Gundermann

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Jim Grace & Joanne Bentivegna Joanne Bentivegna & Maria Thomas winner of the 50/50 who graciously donated half back to our scholarship fund

There were a lot of toys collected for Toys for Tots 21

Chinese Auction Prizes

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The Vincent A Alba Lifetime Achievement Award

The Vinny Alba Lifetime Achievement Award was given to James N. Grace of JN

Grace Group Inc., Commack, NY. The award was present at the IIABSC annual Holiday Party on December 4, 2014 at Villa Lombardi’s.

The award reads:

To an outstanding individual who, through many years of dedication and hard

work, has left an irrefutable mark within our Big “I” associations and the American agency system as a whole. Your valued service to our industry for the betterment of fellow agents and their clients is now and will continue to be recognized by those who have had the pleasure and privilege of working with you.

The Vincent A Alba Lifetime Achievement Award con’t

Jim Grace opened his business in 1965 and joined the IIABSC Board in 1994.

During his term as president during the 2002 - 2003 year the following were accomplished: •Referred to the insurance department a Suffolk County Broker who was issuing unauthorized ID cards.

•Held a well attended legislative breakfast and presented Suffolk’s legislative agenda.

•Contributed to LI Insurance Community.

•Had Jeff Rehm’s dream team go out and visit the legislators one on one.

•Aaron Stein succeeded in signing up the most Trusted Choice Agents in the entire state during his presidency.

•6 agency member employees were given cash awards and recognition for achieving CPCU or ACSR designations.

•He had senator Dean Skelos speak at a joint meeting with TriCounty.

•Had 26 members go to Albany for L day.

•6 people went to Washington to lobby members of Congress.

•Had kielbasa & steak at the Polish Hall, something we always hear about when we speak of the good old days.

•Gave away 5 - $1,000 scholarships.

Sponsors

Holiday Party Sponsors Adirondack Insurance Complex Coverage Interboro / AutoOne / Maidstone Insurance Co. Kingstone Insurance Company MAPFRE Merchants Insurance Group Progressive Pryor Personnel Agency, Inc. Quaker Special Risk Servpro of Port Jefferson Travelers Total Restoration

Please remember these companies support our association, please help support them whenever possible!

Visit our sponsor’s website by clicking their name above.

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Board of Directors VICE PRESIDENT

TREASURER

SECRETARY

RICHARD DE LA SOTA, CPCU

PAULETTE KATZ, CIC

ERIC KEIFFERT, CPCU

Directors

IMMEDIATE PAST PRESIDENT DAVID M. BORG, CPCU, CIC, ARA, CRM

CHRISTOPHER G ALLENGER Chris@Bayharbourgroup.com

DAVID H. BORG, CISR dhborg@borgborg.com JOHN J. GLENNON john@glennoninsurance.com JOSEPH A. GUNDERMANN, AAI jgundermann@gundermann.com

LAURA SENN, CIC laura.senn@peoples.com

Aaron Stein, CPCU, CFP aaron@nortonandsiegel.com STEPHEN H. TESTA, CPCU, ARM stesta@testabrothers.net

Publication Staff EDITOR: Don Hester PRODUCER: Jeanne Abatelli COMMUNICATIONS COMMITTEE: Aaron Stein, David H. Borg, John Glennon, Eric Keiffert , Laura Senn, and Jeanne Abatelli.

AD SALES/SPONSORSHIPS: Jeanne Abatelli - info@suffolkagents.com

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QSR

Quaker Special Risk EXCLUSIVELY SERVING RETAIL AGENTS SINCE 1960

Quaker Special Risk is the appointed Program Administrator for an ‘A’ XV rated carrier

Program for Luxury Homebuilders and Remodeling/Renovating GC’s Qualification Requirements: Residential General Contractors involved in the construction of single family or two family homes or Remodeling/Renovation General Contractors performing commercial or residential work that subcontract most of their work. Maximum 15 new starts per policy year for home builders.

Coverage Outline: Commercial General Liability Policy Form: CG0001 (07/98) Per Project Aggregate Blanket Additional Insured (including completed operations) Blanket Waiver of Subrogation Primary Non Contributory Employee Benefits Liability Competitive Rating Structure Limited Pollution Coverage Extension

Excess Limits Minimum AvailablePremiums for Qualifying Recently Reduced for allRisks Programs

Two New QSR Contractor Programs Now Available ManagersProgram Professional/GL * Specialty Solar Contractor Program * Construction Artisan Contractor Trade Contractors Submission Requirements: 4 years of currently valued loss runs Minimum 3 years in business or 6 years of construction experience Acord Application & Supplemental Application (see our Web Site) Copy of Subcontractor Agreement Number of new home starts and average sales price per home Direct Payroll, cost of subcontractors & gross annual revenues *Other markets are available for risks not fitting this profile For more information call Frank Walsh at 800-447-4180 ext. 2232, fwalsh@qsr-insurance.com

Quaker Special Risk P.O. Box 1350 Eatontown, NJ 07724 800-447-4180 • Fax 732-223-9072 www.QSR-insurance.com

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IIABNY Troubled by Changes to Progressive NY Auto Policy

Jan. 12, 2015 — Last week, Progressive Insurance informed its agents that it

is making significant changes to its New York personal auto policy. IIABNY believes that one of the changes is not in the best interests of either Progressive's customers or their agents. We are evaluating potential courses of action.

The change in question is to a policy condition titled "Duty to Report

Changes." The prior edition of the policy required named insureds to "promptly" notify the company of changes in policy information. The new edition adds to that language a 30-day deadline, from the date of the change, for the named insured to report seven specific changes. They include changes to: •Mailing or residence address •Principal garaging address of a covered auto •Household residents •Household residents who are of legal driving age •People who regularly operate a covered auto •An operator's marital status •Driver's license or operator's permit of the named insured, relative or rated resident

Significantly, the policy warns that the named insured's failure to report these

changes, "where material to the risk of loss," may result in Progressive denying

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IIABNY Troubled by Changes to Progressive NY Auto Policy con’t coverage for a claim. It also specifies that the provision does not apply to claims of third parties under Liability Coverage.

The new policy applies to new business with effective dates on and after Feb.

4, 2015. Notice of the new policy will go out with renewals starting on Feb. 4, but the changes will take effect as policies renew.

Here is what you should know about this situation: •The New York State Department of Financial Services approved Progressive's filing of this policy form last October. The public record shows written correspondence between the department and the company on this issue; the language excluding this provision from Liability Coverage was a response to the department's objections.

•We are reviewing the filing and the policy wording with an eye toward discussing it with both Progressive and the DFS very soon.

In the meantime, IIABNY members who represent Progressive should clearly

explain the changes to their personal lines clients. To defend against possible errors and omissions actions, it is advisable to document any conversations with clients about this. Watch the IIABNY website for future developments regarding this situation.

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the Advertisers INSURANCE COMPANIES & MARKETS Interboro Insurance Group Peter Resnick 155 Mineola Blvd Mineola, NY 11501 Phone: 516-248-1100 Fax: 516-746-1884 Email:presnick@interboroinsurance.com Magna Carta Companies Wanda Napolitano 1 Park Avenue New York, NY 10016 Toll Free: 1-888-ONE PARK Phone: 212-591-9500 Fax: 212-591-9621 NIF Group Michael Orlando, 30 Park Avenue Manhasset, NY 11030 Phone: 516-365-7440 Fax: 516-496-7356 Email: nwilliams@nifgroup.com www.nifgroup.com

Quaker Special Risk Camille Windler 226 5th Avenue, 4th Flr. New York, NY 10001 Phone: 516 428 0716.

Fax: 732-223-9072 Email: salesattkr@aol.com

INSURANCE SERVICES Pryor Personnel Agency Patricia Pryor Bonica 147 Old Country Road Hicksville, NY 11801 Phone: 516-935-0100 Fax: 516-931-7842 Email: ppryor1578@aol.com

RESTORATION SERVICES Belfor Property Restoration Gary J. Alexander 60 Raynor Ave. Ronkonkoma, NY 11779 Phones: 631-471-3131 x121 Fax: 631-471-2905

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SUFFOLK Big Eye INDEPENDENT INSURANCE AGENTS & BROKERS OF SUFFOLK COUNTY

IIABSC 150 Dartmouth Dr. Hicksville, NY 11801

Contact Us: info@suffolkagents.com

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