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More FeedbackThere was some significant feedback on the dual-branding issue between the IIABA and the PIA in our last issue. Please feel free to continue this thread of thought by e-mailing your comments to jackburke@programbusiness.com . Here’s one that came in after the postings in our last newsletter: After reading the comments posted on this subject it is obvious that the rank & file agents only want one organization. Any reason to have two disappeared a long time ago. It seems this issue will have to be resolved from the bottom up by the agent members since the people at the top have too many interests that are not commensurate with a merger. I also believe that the Trusted Choice branding effort is beginning to bear fruit. In the past 2 months I have had 3 clients recognize the name. We still need a broader base to support this effort. Lewis Ambler,Jr DeSoto Insurance Agency, Inc Arcadia, Fla lew@desotoinsurance.com -------------------------------------------------------------- Prior feedback included: I am in Missouri. We have Trusted Choice and MAIA/IIA. I see no need in double-branding. Why don't they just change names if that's what we need. I also feel it's just another way to tap my financial resources twice for membership and advertising. I can't believe that agents have been dooped into this double branding business when neither one has the resources to make it work. As far as I can tell, it is not working! Wayne Walker Fayette, MO wwalker@socket.net It is silly to have two national associations doing the same thing on the agents behalf. Same lobbying, education and public awareness of our industry. We need a strong voice that makes it abundantly clear that independent agents offer true professionalism to our clients and will be their trusted advisor. The Big I has a strong presence in SC and for that reason our agency dropped our membership in the PIA a long time ago as it was a waste of money. The two associations should have merged years ago. J Grier Bomar, CIC, AAI George Johnson Insurance, Inc Spartanburg, SC 29304-6160 gbomar@georgejohnsonins.com Jack, The PIA advertising offer is not a brand! It is a compilation of some print ads that were thrown together. There is no Pledge of Performance that agents must sign, there is no national TV or print advertising, there is no agency locator for branded agencies, there is no financial fee or membership dues to promote the brand, there is no brand education, there is no staff to support promotion of the brand, there is no education information for agents and companies to use to promote the brand. It appears to me that this PIA initiative is just a bunch of print ads that agents are supposed to run. This is not a consumer brand. Big I members spend over $30 million a year on local advertising and agents are now co-branding their agencies with Trusted Choice. Trusted Choice is running ads nationwide on CNN, FOX, Weather Channel, Travel Channel, Food Channel and many other cable TV networks. We are approaching 10,000 Trusted Choice agencies members. There are 45 Trusted Choice company partners. Trusted Choice did extensive consumer research before launching the brand with a national branding firm. It is "the" brand for independent agents. Hope this helps! Michael Rydbom, CIC Associated Independent Agencies, Inc. Phone: 509-332-3535 mrydbom@aiains.com I have always felt that we did not have a need for two organizations that were basically the same. Oklahoma has gone to a single organization and it is a good strong vehicle to promote our industry and to lobby on our behalf. You asked what I thought. Dora Lee Sullins CIC CPIW V.P./Marketing and SBU Manager Direct: 405-290-5772 dsullins@clfrates.comClick for the whole story...