President’s Message
By Freda Bacon
Coming Year Will Bring Changes
t is my pleasure to be selected to serve as your president Government Relations Committee, which offers vital lead-
I
for the 2010 year. SIIA will be celebrating its 30th year, ership in our legislative efforts. As our industry has
and the challenges the membership will face both leg- changed, SIIA has stepped up to the plate with the forma-
islatively and globally only reinforces the importance of par- tion of an International Committee, as exciting opportuni-
ticipation in the country’s most ties are evolving in the global self-
effective trade association represent- insurance arena. The strength of
ing the self-insurance and alterna-
The strength of SIIA is
SIIA is with its members, and the
tive risk transfer industry.
with its members, and the
expertise of leadership and participa-
tion in the committee process will
I became a member of SIIA about
expertise of leadership and
carry the organization through our
15 years ago. As administrator of a
participation in the
challenges.
large group self-insured fund in
committee process will
Alabama, I received notice of a In the next year we will see a health
Worker’s Compensation Forum
carry the organization
care reform package by congress that
being held by a national association through our challenges. will most certainly affect all of our
(SIIA). The worker’s compensation membership. Changes and attitudes
industry as a whole is regulated by in the global community towards self-
individual states’ rules and legislation, and quite frankly I insurance will be an opportunity for growth. Regulations and
couldn’t imagine what I could benefit from a conference or changes in the worker’s compensation and alternative risk
membership in such a group. After attending the confer- and captive market will be closely monitored by their respec-
ence I came away excited not only with the content of tive committees. And, as always, educational and networking
material I had received, but with an opportunity to meet conferences will provide the SIIA membership the necessary
and discuss issues with worker’s compensation industry tools for insight and up to date information.
participants.
As North Carolina State Coach Jim Valvano has been quot-
I became more involved with SIIA, first as a committee ed, “No matter what business you’re in, you can’t run in
member of the Work Comp Committee, and then as Chair place or someone will pass you by.” It is the objective of the
of that committee. For the past few years I have had the SIIA board, volunteer committee members, and staff to
opportunity to serve on SIIA’s board of directors and as past make sure we are in the race.
financial officer of the board.
In the past couple of years, SIIA has expanded its volunteer Most humbly,
committee structure. Over 80 members are now partici- Freda Bacon
pating in the four standing committees in addition to the
In the next year we will see a health care reform package by
“
congress that will most certainly affect all of our membership.
”
Changes and attitudes in the global community towards
self-insurance will be an opportunity for growth.
The Self-Insurer
©
/ January 2010
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