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About
Attending the charter convention of the newly formed NAHU in 1930 were delegates from
Boston, Chicago, Cleveland, Detroit, Kansas City, Los Angeles,
Milwaukee, Pittsburgh, Portland, San Francisco, and Seattle.
Local associations in these cities were the pioneers. Featured
as speakers at
the charter convention were six Accident and Health men who, in
the ensuing years, did much to raise the stature and prestige of
the Accident and Health business. They were Harold R. Gordon,
then Executive Secretary of the Health and Accident Underwriters
Conference and later its managing director; C. O. Pauley, then
Secretary of the Great Northern Life, Chicago, who later
succeeded Mr. Gordon as head of the Conference following the
latter’s untimely death; E. H. “Count” Mueller, who was elected
head of the association in June, 1933; Armand Sommer, who served
as its President in 1935; E. C. Budlong, then Vice President of
Federal Life of Chicago, and Sam C. Carroll, then Vice President
of Mutual Benefit Health and Accident Association, Omaha, whose
company over the years has been one of the most active
supporters of the national movement.
According to press accounts of the first meeting, the speakers
expressed courageous optimism as to the National Association’s
future. Their firm conviction was that it was destined to occupy
a place in the insurance business just as important as that of
the National Association of Life Underwriters, Health and
Accident Underwriters Conference, and American Medical
Association in the medical field. “The high ideals of these
organizations were the patterns that we sought to emulate,” said
“Count” Mueller, whose devotion is just as strong today as it
was 75 years ago.
NAHU HISTORY
And, while the Pittsburgh chapter was among the first in 1930,
there are over 200 local and state associations now chartered
across the country. Like the national association
Pittsburgh has also lead a mixed and colorful past. The
Pittsburgh chapter actually went dormant in the early 1990's and
remained dormant for a number of years. It was in 1998
that Ron Hoffman, president, and Robert Keggle, president-elect
of the Pennsylvania Association of Health Underwriters made a
few phone calls to Pittsburgh contacts and set a meeting date to
re-activate the Pittsburgh Chapter. About eighteen insurance men
and women attended that meeting and fifteen of them applied for
membership on that cold February morning. The new members
elected the following officers: President - Eric Neisholss; Vice
President - Roy Laux; Secretary - Gary Gillen; and
Treasurer - Mark Shaffer.
The chapter grew from that modest group of fifteen in 1998 to
'Large Chapter' status at over 100 members, as established by
the national association in a few short years.
Pittsburgh's consistent and rapid growth is testament to the
strong leaders who have stepped forward to support the chapter
with their commitment of both time and resources.
2005 Chapter Accomplishments
• PGH-AHU was instrumental and played a key role in launching
the Northwest Pennsylvania AHU headquartered in Erie, PA.
This was the first NAHU chapter chartered in Pennsylvania in 10
years.
• We hosted 2nd Annual Health Care Panel Discussion “Health Care
Consumerism – Sharing the Responsibility of Health Care Costs”
including panel members from insurance payors, provider
organizations, and plan sponsors. Over 80 independent agents
were in
attendance.
• We held a 5 credit CE course on Small Group Reform and Ethics
in Producer Compensation with over 100 agents in attendance.
• In 2005 11 members participated in Pennsylvania’s 2005 “State
Day on the Hill” lobbying on the legislative issues in
Harrisburg, PA.
• Eight of our members traveled to Washington D.C. to
participate in NAHU’s 2005 Capital Conference.
• Four of our members traveled to Miami, FL to attend NAHU’s
2005 National Conference.
• We held the PGH-AHU 7th Annual Golf Outing fundraiser with
over 120 golfers participating.
• And, in 2005 we hosted our Annual Holiday Party with over 40
agents attending.
2006 Goals
• Membership Growth – chapter currently has 124 members with
plans to grow to 150 by the end of 2006.
• Our continuing education initiative continues for 2006 with
the first event planned for March 21, 2006 in Cranberry, PA.
• We are striving to qualify for the following NAHU achievement
awards by National Conference 2006:
o Pacesetter Award
o Presidential Citation Award
o Robert W. Osler Education Award
o Spirit of Freedom Legislative Award
o Chapter Legislative Excellence Award
• Our 8th Annual Golf Outing will be held May 11, 2006 at Lindenwood Golf Club in McMurray PA.
• And, we are targeting 100% PGH-AHU board participation in
NAHU’s Triple Crown Award program. |
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