Queen City Caller - Insurance Women of Buffalo

Insurance Women of Buffalo Inc
Present
The
Queen City Caller
P.O. Box 52, Ellicott Station, Buffalo, NY 14205-0052
http://www.inswomenofbuffalo.com
Welcome to the January 2012 edition of the
Queen City Caller
January Business Meeting A Look inside this issue Date: Tuesday January 10th, 2012 Place: Protocol Restaurant 6766 Transit Road Williamsville, NY Time: 5:00 pm – 5:45 pm – Networking (cash bar) followed by dinner Menu: Chicken Parmigiana with Mariana Or Pasta with Grilled vegetables Reservations due by: 10:00 am on Friday Jan 6th ***Please see House Report for further information and how to make Reservations *** Cover Page Presidents Message Committee Reports Dinner meeting Photos Say Hello!! Officers and Committee Chairs “Check this out” Birthdays & Anniversaries NAIW News Advertisers 1
Insurance Women of Buffalo Queen City Caller – January 2012 President’s Message: Ashley Dunevitz‐Szymanski, ACSR I hope everyone enjoyed our Holiday dinner. Everyone looked so festive and excited for the Holidays. Thank you to Wendy Hart and Jackie O’Malley for putting together such a wonderful slide show of memories. It was nice to remember all of the great moments we have had together. Our monthly fundraisers have been so successful that we are continuing with a Tastefully Simple Basket Raffle. With our previous Tastefully Simple Fundraiser, Insurance Women of Buffalo has earned over $165 worth of FREE products. These items have been bundled into a great basket for one lucky winner. We will be selling tickets at the dinner meetings and will announce the winner at Associates Night in March. Good luck to everyone and thank you for helping raise money for our organization. I hope everyone has a Happy Holiday and I wish everyone a prosperous New Year! Yours in fellowship, Ashley Dunevitz – Szymanski, ACSR, CPIW PAST PRESIDENTS Sandy Patterson Good news, our Rookie of the year candidate has been sent on to our RVP along with our Claims Professional candidate. The Employer of the Year and Distinguished Service Award criteria are attached. Please be sure all submissions are received no later than February 10th, 2012. No applications will be considered after the deadline. The Past President’s committee will be judging the applications the following week so the award plaques can be ordered in time. In Fellowship, Sandy Patterson, CISR, CPIW Past President’s Chair Insurance Women of Buffalo 2
Queen City Caller – January 2012 MEMBERSHIP Liz Sheldon Happy New Year! Please add the following new members to your directories: Monica L. Kemp 421 Callodine Ave Amherst, NY 14226 Home Phone: 348‐6873 Email: mkemp@mtb.com Birth Month/Day: Sep 14 Member Since: Nov 11 Employer: M&T Bank Occupation: Account Manager Mary A. Bolo 9998 Clarksburg Rd Eden NY 14057 Cell Phone: 808‐7400 Email: marybolo@gmail.com Birth Month/Day: Jun 27 Member Since: Jan 12 Employer: Aftermath Restoration and Planned Futures Occupation: Customer Care and Financial Planning Coordinator Bulletin Delivered Via: Email Bulletin Delivered Via: Email Mail Delivered to: Home Mail Delivered to: Home PROGRAM NOMINATING Wendy Hart Hi Everyone! I hope you all had a wonderful holiday and enjoyed yourselves at our Christmas party. Thanks very much to Jackie O’Malley, for editing our Holiday video, and for all her help with the party. Be sure to come to January’s dinner meeting‐
our speaker will be Rita Markle, from Performance Management Partners. She will be speaking on Generational Differences in the Workplace. Since we have such a wide age range of people in our membership, I’m sure this will be an interesting topic for everyone. See you at the dinner meeting! Connie Smith I want to introduce the Nominating Committee; Jackie O’Malley, Nicole Light and Mary Jo Cichon. If anyone is interested in a board position, please feel free to contact one of us. There are three Board of Director positions opening, they will be a two year term. After the first of the year we will have a meeting to discuss the other positions on the board and discuss with those on the board if they wish to run again. We would like to take this time to wish everyone a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year. In Fellowship, Connie Smith, ACSR, CPIW Chairman Insurance Women of Buffalo 3
Queen City Caller – January 2012 Bulletin 2011­2012 Article Deadlines February: Due January 20th March: Due February 17th April: Due March 16th May: Due April 20th June: Due May 11th Articles are due on the Friday listed above by 4:00pm. Please be sure your articles are on time. Please send the article that is to go in the main portion of the Bulletin in a WORD Doc or email. This way I can copy and paste into your spot in the bulletin and change the font as needed. Any attachments can also be sent over and in the main body of your article please note that there is an attachment at the end of the bulletin. If you DO NOT have an article, please email me to advise this as well. This helps me to keep track of all the articles and hopefully not miss any! ***Please note that I will not always be able to send out a reminder email­ The Bulletin Deadlines are announced at the board and dinner meetings. They are also located on the IWOB Calendar. Yours in Fellowship Kim Thome Social Events January 15th 2012Colden Tubing Company at 1pm. This will be a FAMILY event. New Magic Carpet lift!!!$15 for 2‐hr "Flex" Tow Ticket. Good for 2hrs. from time of purchase. See website for more information and restrictions. We can get a group rate if we have at least 20 people. There is a warm room as well as an outside fire. You are allowed to bring refreshments. We will solidify details when we get a list of attendees. Please email me at gibsons@lovullo.com by Monday January 9th if interested. We would love for you to join us even if you’re not Tubing! .
January 27th Happy Hour at Brennan’s Bowery Bar 4401 Transit Road (and Main St) 5:30pm Insurance Women of Buffalo 4
Queen City Caller – January 2012 EDUCATION Robin Steiner‐Grzechowiak Greetings
everyone,
Just a reminder: we will be holding two NAIW Classes after the holidays. Both will be held at the offices of M&T Insurance Agency on Delaware Avenue: 1. Mentors & Protégés class. This is a 6 hour NAIW course. It will run for 3 weeks (2 hrs. each night) on 1/12, 1/19 and 1/26 from 5:30 – 7:30 each night. Deanna Filipski, Mary Jo Cichon, Connie Smith and I will be the instructors for this class. Cost for members to attend is $15.00 and $20 for non‐members. 2. Confidence While Communicating. This is a 10 hour class. Deanna Filipski agreed to teach the class and she will need helpers. Connie Smith and I will help out and we can use more volunteers if anyone wants to help with the class. The dates for this class will be 3/7, 3/14, 3/21, 4/11 and 4/18 – 5:30 – 7:30 each night. Cost for members to attend is $20 and $25 for non‐members. We need to get a count of how many are interested in attending these classes so books can be ordered. Please drop me an email at rgrz79@roadrunner.com or call me at 677‐0731 if you would like attend one or both of these classes. The 2012 Scholarship information and application is included in the bulletin. Completed applications, essays and attachments are due to the Education Committee by February 17, 2012. Please share this information with your family and insurance associates. The Scholarships will be given out at our Associates Night in March. I am also again including the applications for the CIIP/CPIW/CPIM (Certified Insurance Industry Professional/Certified Professional Insurance Woman/Certified Professional Insurance Man) and DAE(Diversified Advanced Education) Designations. The requirements and qualifications to obtain these designations are listed right on the applications and I am sure we have members who already meet the criteria. Members who already hold the CPIW or CPIM designation can transfer it to the CIIP designation by emailing your request to membership@naiw.org. Happy Holidays to everyone! Yours in fellowship, Robin Steiner‐Grzechowiak, CIC, CISR, CPIW, DAE Education Chair
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Insurance Women of Buffalo Queen City Caller – January 2012 December Holiday Dinner Photos
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Insurance Women of Buffalo Queen City Caller – January 2012 CHECK OUT OUR OWN BUFFALO JILL!!!!
Did you know that our own Secretary Kathy Hubbard is a Buffalo Jill’s Alumni? Don’t Believe me... Check these out!!! WAY TO
GO
KATHY!!!!!!!
Insurance Women of Buffalo 7
Queen City Caller – January 2012 House Roxanne Dungan & Sue Vandrei Our next dinner meeting will be at the Protocol Restaurant (6766 Transit Rd, Williamsville, NY 632-9556) on
Tuesday, January 10, 2012. Networking and cash bar will take place from 5:00 to 5:45 p.m., dinner will be served
at 5:45. The cost is $22.00. January’s dinner choices are as follows:
• REGULAR DINNER: Chicken Parmigiana w/Mariana Sauce & a side of spaghetti
•
OR ALTERNATIVE: Pasta w/Grilled Vegetables
All dinners are served with rolls, Caesar salad, dessert, and coffee or tea.
1. Reservations must be made by 10:00 a.m. Friday, January 6th. Email/telephone your reservations to
Roxanne Dungan rdungan@wjcox.com (759-5101) or Sue Vandrei svandrei@wjcox.com (759-5106). At
the time of reservation, please advise us of the name and employer of any guest you will be bringing with you,
and their dinner choice.
2. Please let us know if you are sensitive to any foods so that the staff can be alerted.
3. If you are on the “Permanent Dinner List,” we will automatically make a reservation for you for the
regular dinner. You must notify us if you prefer the alterative dinner choice. The following members
are on the Permanent Dinner List:
Paul Chisholm
Kelly Cianciola
Mary Jo Cichon
Beverly Cotter
Michelle DiMartile
Ashley Dunevitz-Szymanski
Wendy Hart
Nicole Light
Jennie Matteliano
Laura Nosbisch
Sandy Patterson
Connie Smith
Robin Steiner-Grzechowiak
Sandy Sugg
Kim Thome
Nora Webb
Jean Young
FYI: Standing Rule #10 A & #10 B apply:
10 A): Any member whose name appears on the PERMANENT DINNER LIST must advise the
House Committee of CANCELLATION BY 10 a.m. ON THE FRIDAY PRECEDING THE
REGULAR TUESDAY MEETING.
10 B): ANYONE WITH A RESERVATION FOR DINNER WHO DOES NOT CANCEL BY 10 A.M. ON
THE FRIDAY PRECEDING THE REGULAR TUESDAY MEETING MUST REIMBURSE THE
ASSOCIATION FOR THE COST OF THEIR MEAL.
PLEASE NOTE: A confirmation will be sent via email in regards to the dinner. Should you not receive a reply within
a day, please re-send the email or give us a call.
We will have nametags available at the door when you check-in. Please wear the nametags during the meeting.
Be sure to leave the nametags on your table or at the door before you leave.
Thank you! We look forward to you seeing you at the Protocol Restaurant in January!
Roxanne Dungan, House Co-Chairman rdungan@wjcox.com #759-9606 Ext 304 (Direct #759-5101)
Sue Vandrei, House Co-Chairman svandrei@wjcox.com #759-9606 Ext 306 (Direct #759-5106 8
Insurance Women of Buffalo Queen City Caller – January 2012 Employment Marlene Stallone & Linda Potwora Commercial Lines CSR ‐ Amherst Insurance Agency seeks organized, experienced insurance professionals with strong customer service skills for Commercial Lines CSR positions in convenient Village of Williamsville location. Salary is negotiable based on experience. Email your resume to John Weimer at jweimer@amherstinsurance.com LoVullo Associates, Inc. is always looking for great people who may be able to join their team. Please visit their website @ http://www.lovullo.com to learn more about the following open positions: Personal Lines Underwriter, Personal Lines Supervisor, IT Report Writer/Forms Developer, and Commercial Lines Underwriter Trainee. Customer Service Rep @ NYCM Insurance – CSR Level III position requires new employee to commit to 2 months in‐house training program from 8 am – 4 pm Monday through Friday before being moved to permanent schedule listed below. Must be able to multi‐task, think well on your feet, and be proficient on a PC. Job duties include: answering incoming underwriting and claims calls; endorsement requests; communicate effectively via phone and email with all departments. Hours: Friday, Saturday, Sunday & Monday – 1 pm to 11pm; 3 days off. Interested candidates should email their resume to Michael Schaefer at mschaefe@nycm.com or fax resume to (607)965‐6136. Please contact me with any questions regarding the above positions, or if you want to list any job openings. Thanks!! Marlene Stallone, Chair mstallone@wjcox.com 716‐759‐9606 Ext 309 Linda Potwora, Co‐Chair Linda@potwora‐agency.com 716‐947‐9587 (office) Insurance Women of Buffalo 9
Queen City Caller – January 2012 Say HELLO to a few of our newest Members Monica Kemp Monica Kemp graduated from University of Buffalo in 2008 with a Bachelors in History. Monica worked at Travelers Insurance for 4 years as a claims adjuster and was promoted to Workers Compensation Administrator after 5 months at M&T Corporate Risk and Insurance. She's the oldest of 6 children and has 2 nieces. M&T has many active members, she is happy to take part in building the future of Insurance Women of Buffalo and is excited about taking part in an organization that gives back to the community. Insurance Women of Buffalo 10
Queen City Caller – January 2012 Hey – Check this out!!! REMEMBER: Cell Phone Numbers Go Public this month. REMINDER..... All cell phone numbers are being released to telemarketing companies and you will start to receive sales calls. .... YOU WILL BE CHARGED FOR THESE CALLS To prevent this, call the following number from your cell phone: 888‐382‐1222. It is the National DO NOT CALL list it will only take a minute of your time... It blocks your number for five (5) years. You must call from the cell phone number you want to have blocked. You cannot call from a different phone number. HELP OTHERS BY PASSING THIS ON. It takes about 20 seconds! ­Thanks to Linda Potwora for the above tip!!! The Buffalo Chapter of the CPCU Society will be hosting our Annual Holiday Party on Thursday, January 5, 2012. This will serve as our Good Works project and we will again be raising money to send children with cancer to spend part of their summer at Camp Good Days. Please see attached for more information. The event will have a different feel this year. Instead of our traditional luncheon, we will be hosting a Caribbean Themed Dinner. There will be tropical decor, a sound system playing music, and Bob Schiele, CPCU you to dress in
will provide some live entertainment. We encourage
attire that will make everyone forget it is January in Buffalo. Lisa Donato, Western New York Regional Director for Camp Good Days and Special Times, will be on hand to speak about the organization and answer questions. As in previous years, we will be soliciting donations that will go toward helping one or more campers attend Camp Good Days. The Buffalo Chapter will again match all donations that are made at the event. Insurance Women of Buffalo 11
Queen City Caller – January 2012 Insurance Women of Buffalo 2010 – 2011 Officers President: Ashley Dunevitz‐Szymanski, ACSR dunevitza@lovullo.com Director: Connie Smith, ACSR, CPIW csmith@evansagencyins.com Director: Kim Thome, AIC, ASLI, AU, AIS kthome@russellbond.com Treasurer: Sandy Sugg, CPCU, API sandys@enia.com Vice President: Karen Malcolm, CIC, CPIW, ACSR, AINS kmalcolm@mtb.com Secretary: Kathy Hubbard khubbard@mandtinsurance.com President Elect: Wendy Hart hartw@lovullo.com Director: Jennie Matteliano, CPCU, CPIW Jenn2495@verizon.net Director: Marlene Stallone mstallone@wjcox.com Director: Melissa Day, ESQ mday@watsonbennett.com
Insurance Women of Buffalo 12
Queen City Caller – January 2012 2010 – 2011 Committee Chairs Automation: Melissa Day, ESQ mday@watsonbennett.com Parliamentarian: Beverly Cotter, ACSR, CPIW bcotter@kellerandco.com Safety: Linda M Potwora Linda@potwora‐agency.com Public Relations: Karen Damstetter KDamstetter@niagaranational.com
House: Roxanne Dungan rdungan@wjcox.com Bylaws: Karen Malcolm, CIC, CPIW, ACSR Karen.Malcolm@fnrm.com Employment: Marlene Stallone mstallone@wjcox.com Membership: Liz Sheldon elizabeth.sheldon@thehartford.com Education: Robin Steiner – Grzechowiak, CIC,CISR,CPIW RGRZECHOWIAK@mandtinsurance.com Bulletin: Kim Thome, AIC, ASLI, AU, AIS kthome@russellbond.com Budget & Finance Jennie Matteliano, CPCU, CPIW Jenn2495@verizon.net Legislation: Nicole Light nicolel@lovullo.com Nominating: Connie Smith, ACSR, CPIW csmith@evansagencyins.com Program: Wendy Hart hartw@lovullo.com Past Presidents: Sandy Patterson, CISR, CPIW SPatterson@IAMagency.com Insurance Women of Buffalo Immediate Past President: Michelle DiMartile, API, CPIW Mdimartile@russellbond.com 13
Queen City Caller – January 2012 BIRTHDAY WISHES
Cindy Berger
Beverly A. Cotter ACSR CPIW
Mary Dunbar
Ashley Dunevitz-Szymanski
Mary Ellen Downey
Dorothy F. Frye
Janet K. Kifner-Arnatt
Jamie Kloc
Marie A. Los
Elaine M. Stephenson
Susan M. Vandrei
Nora S. Webb
HAPPY ANNIVERSARY!
Ashley Dunevitz-Szymanski
Miriam K. Fox
Ellen Anne Greene
Susan E. Kane
Karen Morgott
Jackie O'Malley
Elizabeth Sheldon
Jessyca Riehle
Robin Steiner-Grzechowiak CISR
Jaclyn M. Smith
Margaret Suhanov
Kim Thome
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Insurance Women of Buffalo Queen City Caller – January 2012 News from our National Organization We’re half way through the association year and – WOW ‐ all members of the International Association of Insurance Professionals have been so busy! As we approach this holiday season, it’s so important to reflect on activities this past year, celebrate, and then as the New Year approaches, recommit to the goals we’re working on for 2012. It’d be interesting to hear what each member cherished most about the association this year and what the focus will be for next year. The Executive Committee celebrates · with each member their personal and professional growth within the association and their jobs! It’s a tough economy out there and our members benefit from association activities that correlate and translate into every day job performance. · with each local association for new members they’ve recruited and their plans to involve these members in activities to strengthen their ties to their association and to IAIP. · with each leader at every level of IAIP on their focus on goals that spread the word about the benefits of membership. The Executive Committee cherishes each of our staff members at Corporate Centre for the customer service and activities they perform daily for the benefit of our members. The International Association of Insurance Professionals has created new partnerships, expanded educational opportunities to members and supported educational and marketing activities at all levels of the association. Finally, we wish each and every member a wonderful holiday season and extend hopes for a fantastic new year! We’re here for you; Shooting for the Stars! Sincerely Joi, Penny, Jane and Roz Insurance Women of Buffalo 15
Queen City Caller – January 2012 Insurance Women of Buffalo 16