At the September luncheon, I talked about the recent annual meeting held in Hawaii and my encounters with many new designees as I marshaled the New Designee Open House. Many of them wondered what the ribbons, “Continuing Professional Development” and “Circle of Excellence” represented. Some of them were concerned about placing those ribbons underneath their name badges as they felt that did not earn them nor deserve them. At the luncheon, I explained what “Continuing Professional Development” meant and that we would have more information on CPD at this year’s I-Day on November 8, 2007.

The Circle of Excellence Recognition Program recognizes all chapters for their efforts to achieve specific benchmarks in chapter performance.  Chapters can earn Bronze, Silver or Gold recognition by undertaking activities divided among the key initiatives of the Society’s Strategic plan.

The Circle of Excellence Recognition Program provides chapter leaders and committee and task force chairmen with structure and guidance to achieve strategic, chapter and member goals. 

1. Make CPCU the most widely recognized, valued, and highly respected professional designation/brand in the property and casualty insurance industry by CPCU employers, industry practitioners, and other important audiences.
2. All Society members have access to continually increasing number of programs and services that position them for success.
3. Stewardship.

I am proud to report the Society’s Loss Control Section (along with the Claims Section) was awarded the Gold with Distinction Circle of Excellence – this is the first time the Society has granted this level.  In our Society’s President-Elect’s words, “the panel of reviewers felt that each of your submissions went above and beyond the normal standards of qualification for the gold award.”

Cindy asked if I could share what it took to achieve this level and in the words of one of the speakers at the National Leadership Institute, “it takes just a little bit”.  Let me explain further.

The Loss Control Section went from over 12 members to 3 in a period of two years due to term limitations.  I reached out to Betsy Brewer who was the in-coming President at that time and Betsy “did a little bit” by pursuing every option available to her to fill the gap.  I am proud to say that we now have 10 members. 

Interestingly, only half of our members are technical experts in the Loss Control field.  Those that aren’t (as well as those that are) have done “just a little bit” to improve the value to our members by:

1. Committed – actively participate in meetings and conference calls.
2. Innovative – provide new ideas and creativity by applying what they have learned to the Loss Control Section.
3. Accountable – we all have “real jobs” so while we may have to create more general deadlines (sometime this week, month, etc.) we made sure to meet those deadlines.
4. Passion – about personal development, the industry, and “paying it forward” to others.

In addition, each committee member did “just a little bit” – one member, with no experience I might add, took a half-day training offered by the Society on designing websites; another sent out letters to recruit new members; others contributed articles to our newsletter, set up the ability to do blast emails to our members, and researched the tools to make us more efficient.

Approximately 10% of our membership was involved in achieving the Gold with Distinction  award – just imagine what we could do if we increased that to percentage to 15%.  We are fortunate that the typical Loss Control professional has a lot of face-to-face time with the general public.  For us that meant a lot of training, learning, and teaching others how to reduce their losses.  I know many of you have similar opportunities.  Did you know that your Chapter can earn points towards its Circle of Excellence award for just about anything you do with the general public or other industry groups – just be sure to reference your CPCU designation and most importantly, report that activity to the current Chapter President.  Then you too, can be doing “just a little bit”.

Debbie Dettmer, CPCU

Loss Control Section Chair