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PRESIDENT'S MESSAGE
OUR CHAPTER HISTORY
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President's Message
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Who could fathom the events of the past year or the challenges our country faces today? These are unprecedented times testing our constitution, our values and the responsibility of our leaders. Now more than ever we need to implore our resilience. I encourage you to take advantage of the networking and educational opportunities offered by our chapter to keep abreast of industry news, connect with other professionals, make new friends and catch up with old acquaintances.
As I reflect on my fourteen year membership with the CPCU Society I have to admit the benefits of membership are proportionate to my participation. While I was studying to become a CPCU I had a thirst for knowledge and a desire to earn what I believe to be the most prestigious property and casualty insurance designation. With the support of employers, chapter mentors, and some very knowledgeable course instructors my eyes were opened to the expanse and depth of the industry. The more I got involved with chapter meetings, volunteer work, educational programs and social events the more I personally benefited from being a member. I am the first to admit that I get busy in this fast past, information age balancing competing work and family obligations, there just never seems to be enough time. I was asked several years ago to help collect funds for the Adopt a Family charity; it was a small act on my part and the beginning of my involvement with the Mt. Diablo Chapter. Had I not have been asked to take that job I likely would have shown up once or twice a year for a meeting of interest. On that note I encourage you to get involved by serving on a committee or volunteering to help on an event, there are lots of ways to participate.
Looking ahead our chapter continues to host luncheon meetings, we have a great line up of speakers and subjects this coming year with some continuing education credits. Once again our Chapter has committed to providing labor for the IICF Volunteer Week in October. Additionally we’re volunteering at the Devils Mountain Run and matching donations to adopt a family for the holidays. We’re looking forward to jointly hosting the NAIW, CPCU and Insurance Agents of America annual Holiday Party this December. Our famous Wine & Cheese Social promises to be a fun event just around the corner in 2010. We’ll be seeking a team of volunteers to continue our chapter’s tradition of ushering at the San Francisco Chapter All Industry Day. Last but certainly not least we are committed to sponsoring the IICF CAPP Educational Forum.
On behalf of the entire board of directors we encourage your participation and invite you, your colleagues and associates to attend our meetings and events. We welcome your feedback and ask that let us know if there is something we can do to better meet your needs.
Join me in congratulating our new chapter designees who were just confirmed at the National Convention in Denver this fall:
• Kerri Lierman, Zenith Insurance Company
• Jennifer Merlo, Travelers Companies
• Deepa Neupane, Woodruff Sawyer & Co.
• Paul Pierce, Cal State Automobile Assn.
• Gregory Premo, Liberty Mutual Insurance co.
• Sondra Siler, State Farm
Looking forward to a year of resilience,
Darcy Shears, CPCU, AAI, RPLU, CIC
2009-10 President
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"A History Lesson"
The formative years of the Mt Diablo Chapter go back to 1981. It was in this year that a group of dedicated CPCU’s realized that there was an ever increasing number of us in Central Contra Costa County. The insurance industry had seen a great deal of growth in and around Walnut Creek starting in the early 1970’s and continuing into the 1980’s. With this growth there was a corresponding increase in the number of CPCU’s in the area who were finding it more and more difficult to attend the meetings and functions of the then "Northern California Chapter" in San Francisco.
Led by Harry Lindstrom, Steve Hause, Catherine Middleton, Ann Welch, Michael Boele and several others, the idea of forming a sub-chapter of the Northern California Chapter of the Society of CPCU was incubated. Reaching out to the other CPCU’s in the area, it was determined that there was enough interest to start a sub-chapter. The plan was taken to the Northern California Chapter and was approved.
The fledgling sub-chapter started with quarterly meetings at various restaurants in Walnut Creek |
and Concord. You might recall places like the Concord Inn (which has since been torn down and replaced by a fitness center), the Concord Holiday Inn, Zio Fredo’s, and several other local eateries that have since closed down. We were a wandering tribe looking for a home. Speakers were brought in to discuss current topics that were affecting the property and casualty insurance marketplace, much as is done today. The “new” CGL forms were “hot” then. Much discussion was held on claims-made vs occurrence coverage and our meetings addressed this issue. We started topics that continue to this day, such as updates from the WCIRB every January.
Over the next five years, interest and participation increased. It was decided that the time had come to form a chapter in the East Bay. With the help of then Northern California Chapter presidents Jim Whitaker and Tom Langley, the newest chapter of the Society of Chartered Property and Casualty Underwriters, Mt Diablo California Chapter, was granted its Charter in 1987. Michael Boele was elected the Chapter's charter president . . . and the rest, as they say, is history.
Twenty years later the Mt Diablo California Chapter still thrives in the shadow of Mt Diablo. |
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