NAII Annual Meeting to Convene in New Orleans

Carrying on with business after the tragic terrorist attacks on Sept. 11, the National Association of Independent Insurers (NAII) will hold its 56th annual meeting in New Orleans Nov. 4-7 as scheduled.

More than 500 NAII member company CEOs and 800 reinsurance executives, intermediaries and brokers are expected to attend the meeting, to be held at the Sheraton New Orleans Hotel.

The NAII was formed after passage of the McCarran-Ferguson Act in 1945, when a group of insurance companies got together to create a voice for the industry. This group, representing some 39 mostly small regional companies, also wanted to be independent of the rating bureaus, a desire that helped shape the name of the organization they founded.

Much has changed about the insurance industry during the ensuing 56 years, but NAII’s founding principles remain firm. NAII is first and foremost an advocate for its members, particularly in the political and regulatory arenas. The organization continues to believe that state regulation is the best form of regulation for the industry.

NAII, now comprised of both large and smaller companies, represents more than 690 members.

“The proverbial adage ‘strength in numbers’ rings true at NAII, for no insurance company can solely create the type of influence, wealth of information and networking opportunities that the NAII provides,” said Jeffrey Brewer, NAII Public Affairs. “Our greatest value to members is the ability to save companies time and money by creating individual and collective victories through a healthier legislative and regulatory environment.”

NAII advocates its members’ public policy through a network of staff lobbyists as well as local retained counsel in every state. Media strategists are assigned to each state, working to mold opinion with the press, policymakers and the public through thousands of press clippings and hours of broadcast time.

Ideas and strategies for advocacy work are developed in NAII’s suburban Chicago headquarters and regional offices in Atlanta, Austin, Sacramento, Seattle and Washington D.C. The NAII Political Action Committeethe first and largest insurance trade association PAC-and EM:POWER-NAII’s computerized grassroots network-are other advocacy tools.

NAII members receive targeted information and analysis through a variety of formats, including the association’s website.

In particular, the Legislative Reporting Service tracks thousands of bills and regulations each year, reporting on their entire life cycle from proposals to court tests to enactment. This service analyzes and interprets effects of bills and regulations on insurers—saving members the cost of noncompliance. Besides publications, knowledge is transferred through seminars, where industry experts editorialize and clarify issues, and committee meetings that facilitate information sharing among members.

NAII also creates a peer-to-peer information exchange through its 30 standing committees and 11 annual seminars, covering insurance specific and general business topics. Statistical data is offered for 17 property-casualty lines through NAII’s Independent Statistical Service agent, enabling subscribers to develop their own competitive pricing and easily satisfy statutory reporting requirements.

NAII member companies account for 33.8 percent of the industry’s total premium volume and dominate the industry’s total personal lines market at 43.9 percent. As a group, NAII members write every line of insurance for a combined total of $98 billion in annual premiums. Companies range in size from billion-dollar national corporations to multi-line regional groups to single-state and niche writers.

In October 2000, Steve Milne became chairman of the NAII Board of Governors. Milne is president and CEO of Erie Insurance Group, the 17th largest property and casualty insurance group in the nation, based in Erie, Pa. In addition to his affiliation with Erie Insurance since 1973, Milne has served the insurance industry as vice chairperson of the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety Board of Directors, as well as numerous committee leadership positions at NAII. Milne will relinquish his chairmanship at the annual meeting in New Orleans.

NAII has a 35-member board of governors elected by the full membership. NAII policy is developed primarily by member involvement in through committees. Member companies meet in committees and in regular or special state or regional meetings to discuss issues and develop a consensus.

Topics Legislation