A Special Message from the Southern Loss Association:
In lieu of our regular technical article, the Board of Directors wished to take this opportunity to highlight one of our functions that has quietly been ongoing, but for which we have not before "drawn a big picture". Let me begin by stating that you can relax; this is not a request for a monetary donation, but merely to share with everyone just how large our footprint has grown over time - to toot your horn so to speak, because it is through you, our membership, that this has been possible.
Here at the Southern Loss Association our mission continues to serve as a forum and medium for the discussion, study and consideration of loss adjustment problems, coverage questions, policy forms, laws and statutes common to all insurance companies. The dynamic, ever-changing environment in which we live and operate cries out for such an organization, and will continue to do so for the foreseeable future. However, as we fulfill this role as a non-profit organization and as good corporate citizens, our organizational activities also include charitable giving as well.
As everyone knows, in addition to our monthly lunch meetings with our fellow loss professionals and vendors, we also host several annual functions that provide some entertainment and significant learning/continuing education opportunities. But they also accomplish more than that; more than I suspect most people realize.
This time of year we often hear the innumerable calls to give toward many worthy causes in the spirit of the holiday season. As we each ponder our response to these, know that one of the "giving bonuses" with the Southern Loss Association is that our charitable fundraising is an adjunct to our functions throughout the year, and is never limited to any one season. Most of us probably do not even realize that it is occurring, or at least not to any meaningful degree. Over time it really adds up.
Concluding our current year at our December luncheon, for just the ten-year period of 2006-2015, through the generous support of you, our members (and guests), and from our sponsors, the Southern Loss Association has given over $130,000.00 in charitable donations and scholarship grants. That's significant! And it is touching and making a lasting, positive impact in the lives the people being helped.
Of the amounts given over this ten-year period, we will have donated a total of $49,000.00 toward college tuition expenses. Below is what one of our scholarship recipients had to say about the impact it has made for her:
Receiving the Southern Loss Association scholarship assisted me in accomplishing my many goals at UGA. The SLA scholarship provided me with more than just a monetary donation. It provided the backing, support, and encouragement of many wonderful people and developed a drive in me to reach those goals that I had set, not just for myself, but for the others who had assisted me along the way. Of course having assistance to pay for books, housing, and those never ending university fees also helps! Southern Loss Association makes the scholarship memorable in the way in which you receive it. The winners are invited to the holiday party, where they are presented with the scholarship. Every year I looked forward to attending the holiday party because the great food, the sock and tie contest, and the quality time with my mother. I enjoyed meeting everyone, and I greatly treasure all the unsolicited advice on the industry, which has helped me excel as a Risk Management and Insurance major. I wouldn't be where I am today without the support of the Southern Loss Association.
With warmest regards,
Megan Grizzard
CNA - Underwriter
We have donated to Shriner's Hospitals for Children, the Salvation Army, CHRIS Kids (for at-risk children), Lighthouse Lymphedema Network, Susan G Komen Foundation, and so many more.
The vast majority of us could alone never achieve such an indelible impact on the lives of so many, but together we can, and we are. And we will continue to do so. Simply by becoming a part of our organization you help sustain and enlarge the impact that we are making. If you want to help further enlarge this, encourage your colleagues and fellow property claims professionals to visit one of our functions and consider joining.
Our membership attendance and participation drives our organization. The larger and more robust our membership, the more support and involvement we receive from our sponsors. Together we learn new things, discuss the ins-and-outs of real life "war stories", and acquire the resources that help us better perform in our careers. And we get to do this with fellow claims professionals, making new friends and visiting with old, and all while having some fun along the way.
We encourage you to continue your involvement in the SLA, and in so doing help continue the good work that we are accomplishing. If your involvement has lagged lately we invite you to check us out again, and bring a friend or colleague.
So this year feel free to don that Santa hat and raise a glass to toast our members, and what we accomplish together!
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