FROM THE BOARDROOM
If you haven’t attended a Winter Get-Away, please give this event a shot, this year. You’ll be hooked.
JEFF GLASS, CPIA Past President Liaison
HELLO, ALL. I’M BAAAACK! Hope you had a fantastic holiday s eason and are looking forward to a prosperous 2022. After a few years removed from the PIAW board, I was asked by President Butzke to act as the “Past President Liaison” to the board for 2021-22. The PIAW board of directors created this position a few years ago with the idea of having a former President of PIAW attend working board meetings to bridge the past with the current, working together into the future. My responsibility as the board liaison is to communicate to all the past Presidents current board actions, work with past Presidents on the “Past Presidents scholarship” and try to keep all the past Presidents active and involved with the PIAW. I look forward to this year’s challenge. NOW FOR THE REAL STORY... As an old PIAW President, I have lots of history dating back to 2008 when I was first elected to the board. I’d like to share a funny story that has turned into one of PIAW’s best events. As you may or may not know, there are a few PIAW members who love the Northwoods, myself included. It was the winter of 2009 and past President Eric Lewison and myself were sitting in the Thunderbird bar in St. Germain, WI, enjoying a few “pops.” As time passed, the subject came up on how we can get Ron Von Haden talked into doing a winter PIAW event in northern Wisconsin... It was a “been-in-the-bartoo-long” conversation, selfishly being pursued so we could get time out of the office and snowmobile! Later, when clearer heads re-formulated the idea,
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Eric and I pitched it to Ron. To our great surprise, Ron bought it. So, in January of 2010, the 1st annual PIAW “Winter Get-Away” was held. The event was held at the Lake of the Torches Resort and Casino, in Lac Du Flambeau. This first-year event was sold as CE in the morning, snowmobiling in the afternoon and fun at night. I believe we had 5O-ish PIAW members attend with 20+ bringing snowmobiles for afternoon fun. It was great that Ron was open to taking a chance on our bar-time idea. BINGO, it was a huge success. Over the years, this event has changed locations a few times, had tweaks made for the better and now the Winter GetAway is perfectly dialed-in –offering great CE, awesome afternoon activities, and fantastic nighttime fun. I’ll go on the record saying there isn’t any part of the WGA that would disappoint you. Over the past 11 years, this event has steadily grown to 130 participants – mostly agents. For those who have attended past WGA’s, you know the benefits and fun that are offered. It’s the best bang for the buck for 10 CE credits, 3 full meals and fun you can’t put a price on. Not to mention the relationships built over the years, by all involved! If you haven’t attended a WGA, please give this event a shot, this year. You’ll be hooked. This year will be the 12th annual WGA (see PIAW.ORG for details) and will be held February 2-4 at a (slightly) new location – The Point Hotel and Suites on Lake Minocqua. It’s a fantastic up-north location and trust me, THIS EVENT ROCKS! I guarantee you will not be disappointed.
