NAMIC Annual Convention Cancelled in Face

The National Association of Mutual Insurance Companies (NAMIC) Board of Directors voted to cancel its 106th annual convention in the wake of Tuesday’s tragic events in New York City and Washington, D.C. The event was originally scheduled for Sept. 23-26, at the Hilton Hotel and Towers, Washington, D.C.

“We did not make this decision lightly,” stated James A. Blum, NAMIC chairman and CEO of Brotherhood Mutual Insurance Company, Fort Wayne, Ind. “Since 1895, NAMIC has suspended its annual convention only once–in 1943–in the middle of World War II. That underscores how very seriously we take this assault on innocent people. Our thoughts and prayers are for the victims of this cowardly attack, as well as with their families and friends. We are not merely canceling our convention, but rather are redirecting our efforts toward support in this time of national tragedy.”

The NAMIC Convention annually brings together nearly 2,000 insurance company professionals and guests. Related activities also cancelled include the Insurance Education Foundation dinner honoring U.S. Secretary of Education Rod Paige, a breakfast honoring Sen. Kit Bond, R-Mo.; Crop Insurance Research Bureau sessions featuring Senators Richard Lugar, R-Ind., and Tom Harkin, D-Iowa; and NAMIC sessions featuring Rep. Mike Oxley, R-Ohio, Jack Kemp, Marlin Fitzwater and Joe Lockhart.

Further information will be made available at NAMIC Online, www.namic.org.