Congratulations to Ann Carlin, Nicole Miller, and Debbie Piotrowski on passing their final exams and becoming members of CPCU's Class of 2009.   It is their dedication, commitment, and passion for excellence that have helped them to fulfill this goal.   As new designees, they will join their fellow CPCUs from chapters across the country at this year’s Annual Meeting and Seminars held in Denver Colorado, August 29 - September 1, 2009.

In today’s business environment, does it pay for companies to be good corporate citizens?  Are socially responsible companies more profitable? Are such companies more admired by consumers?  Are consumers more loyal in their purchase behaviors to socially responsible companies?  Research has been mixed, with some studies seeming to link corporate social responsibility with improved corporate financial performance, while yet other studies found no such direct correlation. The following study, completed by Jim Paskert, D.M., CPCU as a dissertation for his Doctorate, found little evidence that consumers value and reward (through loyalty) corporate social and ethical behavior.  What this study did conclude was that time-honored consumer expectations of product quality, brand awareness, suitability of use, convenience, etc. remain the qualities consumers’ value most in the companies with whom they patronize. This held true regardless of how socially responsible or “good” the company was or how “unethical” a company might have been perceived by consumers and the media. 

Click on The Impact of Corporate Social Responsibility Practices on Corporate Financial Performance and Consumer Loyalty to read Jim’s entire study. 

Simply log into your record, and bring up the CPD application. You can scroll down and see the various categories and points awarded for each activity. Follow the prompts and fill in your activity information.

The convenience of this application is that you can fill it in, online, as you complete the various activities. Once you have acquired 60 CPD points, and it is within 30 days of your date of expiration, you simply click the “Submit” button, and your application is automatically sent to the American Institute for CPCU, where it will be processed. You will still receive a congratulatory letter from the American Institute after you have been CPD qualified. If you would like a copy of your application for your records, be sure to print it out prior to submission. You will also be informed of your new expiration date, which is approximately two years after your qualified date. Please read the specific directions prior to filling out your online CPD application.

You can also download a copy of the CPD Application (pdf) to complete and return by mail.

For information regarding qualifying activities or questions about point values, or to check the status of your submitted application, e-mail Chris Quay at the American Institute for CPCU, or call (610) 644-2100, ext. 7667.

Each month, the “Visibility Spotlight” recognizes a CPCU Society member for his or her dedication to “Spreading the Word!” about the value of the CPCU designation.  The February winner was chapter member and Candidate Recruitment & Development chairperson Kim Caravaglia.  Check out how Kim and the other volunteers of the Presque Isle chapter provided a sweet treat to Erie Insurance Employees interested in learning more about the CPCU designation: Erie Insurance Supervisor ‘Spreads the Word’ at Cookie Break.

If you are interested in hosting a similar event at your workplace to help ‘spread the word’ about CPCU, email kimberly.caravaglia@erieinsurance.com or call Kim at 870-4866. To learn more about CPCU, check out the Web site, www.aicpcu.org.

It’s time to “Spread the Word!” about your CPCU designation!

These tips will help you increase awareness of your designation and launch your participation in the “Spread the Word!” campaign. Don’t forget—by “Spreading the Word!” you are increasing awareness of the attributes of your CPCU designation—commitment to ethics, relevant insurance experience, and practical insurance knowledge. Being a CPCU sets you apart in the P/C insurance industry!  

TIP Include “CPCU” after your name. Use your CPCU letters after your name in all business correspondence—it is an official part of your name! This is a simple way to let others know you are a CPCU.

TIP Write a message about CPCU in your e-mail signature. Update your e-mail signature with a quick note about your CPCU designation. Consider listing one of the following messages after your contact information, or create your own:

·         Ask me about my CPCU designation!

·         I just earned my CPCU designation—visit www.cpcusociety.org to learn more about it!

·         Want to learn more about my CPCU designation? Visit www.cpcusociety.org.

·         What’s a CPCU? Visit www.cpcusociety.org to find out!

·         CPCU—delivering insurance excellence: ethics, experience, and education

TIP Talk About CPCU. There is no easier way to “Spread the Word!” than to talk about the value of the CPCU designation. Educate people in your professional world—your employer, clients, and co-workers. In addition, talk to friends, neighbors, and family members. Everyone can benefit from knowing what your CPCU designation is all about: education, ethics, and experience. 

TIP Take advantage of CPCU Visibility Tools. The “Spread the Word!” campaign encourages all CPCUs to talk about the value of the CPCU designation. Here are some additional Visibility Tools that will help you create your own plan for “Spreading the Word!”   

The Presque Isle Chapter of the CPCU Society, under the leadership of Past President Pat Murphy, has been recognized with the 2008 CPCU Society Circle of Excellence Award. The Chapter qualified for the Gold Level, the highest category of achievement in the Society's comprehensive recognition program.

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 participating in activities related to key initiatives of the Society's Strategic Plan. This program helps chapters to better align their efforts with national activities. It also allows chapters to provide better value and service to members and recognizes chapter members for their contributions.

The Chapter was recognized for its' achievement on September 9, 2008 at the Society's 2008 Annual Meeting and Seminars in Philadelphia, PA.