NAILBA 31 kickoff: Mooers wins Chairman's Award

2012 NAILBA Chair Dexter Umekubo, CLU, ChFC, got the association’s 31st annual meeting in Orlando off to a rousing start by showing off his talents with a B.B. King-inspired guitar solo before welcoming the brokerage industry crowd during the opening general session on Thursday morning.

Umekubo went on to make an emotional speech thanking his family, business partner and NAILBA staff for helping make his one-year term as chairman a success.

He encouraged attendees to get involved in committees and to take advantage of the opportunities presented to learn and further relationships during the meeting. Umekubo also announced that the NAILBA board authorized a $5,000 donation to the American Red Cross to assist in Superstorm Sandy relief efforts, while noting that many NAILBA members from the region were not able to attend the meeting due to ongoing recovery efforts.

Umekubo finished his remarks by announcing that the recipient of the 2012 NAILBA Chairman’s Award is Jeff Mooers, who Umekubo noted has prodded the association to take on tough subjects in the past year. Mooers, after receiving the plate commemorating the award, said to substantial laughter, “I get a plate for being a disturbance. I like that.”

2013 NAILBA Chair Elect Ray Phillips, CLU, LTCP, told the general session audience that with the fiscal cliff looming, it’s possible Congress will discuss the tax-free inside buildup and tax-free death benefits of life insurance. He reminded attendees about the industry’s value to society and reinforced the need for the industry to take that message to Capitol Hill, encouraging attendees to participate in fellow association NAIFA’s Washington “fly-in” — the NAIFA Congressional Conference, April 8-9, 2013.

Phillips urged NAILBA members to take the message about the industry’s lobbying efforts back to producers who are not involved in associations and encourage them to become involved in advocacy efforts.