What's in it for Me?

Raffle Ticket Time

Support GAHU's Raffle and the People who donate their time away from making money to make this association work! Raffle tickets are $25.  For more details contact [email protected].

Local Legislative Efforts Made for You

As you know, there have been a lot of things going on in Washington.  We've had some activity here is Georgia, too! 

As we speak, there are a few bills being introduced that would allow cross state line selling. Lisa Wetherton has been working hard to keep us up to date on these and other bills and I would like to recognize the hard work she has been putting in down at the Capitol.  Make yourself available, when possible, to help GAHU's legislative efforts.

Thank you for your support,

Matt Holcomb

Holcomb Insurance Services

Back to top

Calendar of Events

Back to top

President's Report

 I'm not printing breaking news and I'm not going to re-hash what you (should) have already seen from our CEO, Janet Trautwien. 

Health Reform has passed.  

Health Reform now a reality that we and our clients must deal with.  There are two things I want us, as GAHU members, to focus on:

• 1. Read Janet Trautwein's update from March 22nd. In it, there is a link that will take you to a site showing you how YOUR representative voted. I want us to thank those that stood with us (thank those who voted "no"). They deserve to know that their constituents will make every effort to reward them in November. I also want us to remember those who voted in favor of the bill. If your representative voted in favor of the bill, it is incumbent on you to ensure that your voice is heard this November. 
• 2. While there is still much that is undecided in this process, it is clear that the landscape has been repainted on a global scale. You need to figure out how you are going to continue being a resource to your clients. You need to begin preparing yourself for the coming changes, whatever they are.

That's it.  Read Janet's email and figure out how you are going to respond.  Your clients need your guidance now more than ever.  If you're not giving it to them, someone else is.  You, as a GAHU member, are the elite.  And we all know what elites do when things get tough; elites take their game to the next level.

Are you ready?

Blake Watts

2009-2010 GAHU President

[email protected]

Back to top

Job Openings/Classifieds

Back to top

Welcome New Members

Back to top

Reflections and Projections

2009 GAHU Annual Summary

Report of Chapter Activities & Accomplishments

  

Award(s)	Member
NAHU Presidential Citation	Shan Ricketts for Georgia AHU
Public Service Award	Georgia AHU
William R. Flood Award	Georgia AHU
Website Award	Georgia AHU
NAHU Presidential Citation	Kevin W. Smith for Atlanta AHU
Education Award	Robert W. Osler for Atlanta AHU
Kathy Cruce Award (GAHU's highest honor)	Rick Bailey
Patty Murphy Award (Atlanta's highest honor)	Al Schiebel
Leading Producer Roundtable (LPRT) Qualifiers & Status
Daniel J. Boaz, MBA, CBC	President's Council
Victoria J. Braden	Golden Eagle and Agency Golden Eagle
Christine F Burns	Lifetime
Russell B. Childers, Jr.,CLU, ChFC	Eagle
David Combs CLU, ChFC, CFP	Golden Eagle
Melinda A Cull	Golden Eagle - Carrier Representative
Ronald Deterding	Golden Eagle
Jeffery R. Fishback, CHC	Golden Eagle - Agency
Charles S. Green, JD, RHU, HIA	Golden Eagle
Donna D. Hill, FLMI	President's Council
Matthew B. Holcomb	President's Council
David S. Johnson LUTCF, RHU, CSA	Eagle
Linda Mackey, LUTCF	Eagle
M. Danny Martin, LUTCF	President's Council
Mark S. Mixer, LUTCF	Golden Eagle
Shan Ricketts, RHU, FMLI, ACS	Golden Eagle - Agency
David M. Rubnitz, LUTCF	Golden Eagle
Raymer M. Sales, Jr., CLU	Golden Eagle
Kevin W. Smith, CLU, RHU	Eagle
James R Stephens Jr., LUTCF, RHU	Golden Eagle - Carrier Management
Julia A Teplis, CFP, RHU, CLU, ChCF	Lifetime & Qualifying - Eagle
Daniel R. Tompkins, III, JD, CFC	Golden Eagle - Agency
Andrew M. Windham	Eagle
Triple Crown Members
Alfonso C. Schiebel
Carol T. Hayes, RHU, LUTCF
David M Rubnitz, LUTCF
Kevin W. Smith, CLU, RHU,
Rick D. Bailey, CFP, REBC, RHU, CSA
Shan Ricketts, RHU, FLMI, ACS
Russell B. Childers, Jr., CLU, ChCF
Cathy Rainwater
Al Hombroek, CLU, ChFC, LTCP
James R Stephens Jr., RHU, LUTCF
Jodie Braner
Silver Seal Certification
Georgia AHU
Atlanta AHU
CSRA AHU (Augusta)
Community/Charity
GAHU's annual "Insure the Cure" Gala and Silent Auction raised $30,000 for the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation.
Atlanta AHU supported the Dream House for Medically Fragile Children and answered phones for Georgia Public Television's Telethon.
CSRA AHU (Augusta) supported a run/walk for Cystic Fibrosis.
Northeast Georgia AHU supported the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation.
South Atlanta AHU supported Freshen Up Ministries and Community Welcome House.
Education
GAHU's Annual State Convention at the Waverly Hotel in Atlanta offered more than 300 attendees 12 hours of CE.
Atlanta AHU provided members with 12 meetings offering 26 hours of CE.
Coastal Empire AHU provided members with 10 meetings offering 20 hours of CE.
CSR AHU provided members with 12 meetings offering 16 hours of CE.
Middle Georgia AHU provided members with 12 meetings offering 24 hours of CE.
Northeast Georgia AHU provided members with 10 meetings offering 20 hours of CE.
Northwest Georgia AHU provided members with 6 meetings offering 13 hours of CE.
South Atlanta AHU provided members with 9 meetings offering 20 hours of CE.
South Georgia AHU provided members with 2 meetings offering 8 hours of CE.
Legislative
Contributed over $39,000 to candidates via our GAHU Political Action Committee (PAC).
100% of the candidates supported by the GAHU PAC won their elections!
Voter turnout was the highest in our state's history immediately after we made a heavy push for our members to get out the vote. (Sure, we didn't make all of it happen but we did make a difference!)

Back to top

Industry Trends

Know your Business Associate Agreement

Dear Member,

As you know several insurance carriers are revising their agreements to comply with the new Business Associate requirements.   It has come to our attention that some carriers are taking this opportunity to change other language in producer contracts, including the terms for termination of agents "without cause."       One such example indicates that the Company can terminate the contract, without cause, with no less than 90 days notice.  Any commissions would cease upon effective date of the termination.

 Obviously, this constitutes a definite alteration in how producers are currently contracted with the carriers using this language.  Your GAHU Board is concerned that Members might unknowingly renew their producer agreements without knowledge of this language.  Therefore, please make sure you thoroughly review the termination clause of any Producer Agreement you receive from any insurance carrier.  While GAHU has no official stance on the matter (in fact, we recognize that all insurance carriers are free to do as they see fit in a free market!) we do want to ensure that our Members are aware that there are sometimes changes in producer contracting.

As always, we wish you much success and we thank you for your membership in GAHU!

Best Regards,

Your GAHU Board

2010 GAHU Convention

GAHU's convention will be held at the Ritz Carlton Reynolds Plantation on June 16^th - 18^th, 2010.     Click Here for Registration Brochure

More than 50% of the rooms block and golf players space is taken. 

Want to reserve your room?

GAHU's block room rate is $ 149 per night. Click here for the hotel website.

• Go to the reservations column on the right hand side of the page.
• Select the dates (June 16-18).
• Select the 'RMHRMHA' Group Code box under the optional information drop down box.

Make your reservations for your room space and sign up for golf ASAP to ensure your spot! 

Keynote Speaker

Neal Boortz

General Sessions:

• Russell B. Childers, CLU, RHU, NAHU President presents "Shape of the New America." 
• Mel Schlesinger, RHU, REBC, NAHU Vice President presents "Creating Value as a Benefit Professional."
• Neal Boortz presents "Myths of Health Insurance Reform - Why Government needs to stay out of the Health Insurance Business." 

GAHU Healthcare Summit:

Gain an understanding of the "Georgia Response" to Health Care regulations from all perspectives:

• Regulatory & Legislative Panel
• Business & Consumers Panel
• Providers Panel

Attendees & Sponsors/Exhibitors:

The vendor space for this year's event is fast selling out.  We now only have 13 total spaces available.  Platinum or platinum plus sponsorships are still available.  If you want to attend with your company, we ask you to please hurry.  Click here for Sponsor Package.

Last Call - 2010 LPRT Submission Deadline March 31^st, 2010

GAHU - Last Call for submitting your 2010 LPRT submission - Dead Line is 3/31/10 received by NAHU.  For more details go to:  click here.

Back to top

Local News

Dear AAHU Member, Attendee & Guest: We would appreciate your feedback in our online survey. All responses will remain confidential and secure. Thank you in advance for your valuable insights. Your input will be used to ensure that we continue to meet your needs. We appreciate your trust and look forward to serving you in the future. We have contracted with QuestionPro, an independent research firm, to field your confidential survey responses. Please click on this link to complete the survey: Start Survey Please contact Cathy Ford at [email protected] with any questions.

Back to top