FOCUSSING EDUCATION

The IBAO will continue pursuing its provincial “off-site” education program, which was launched at the association’s 1998 Convention, says Rodney Hancock, education chair. And, while the program has proven “highly successful” for a first year, he adds that some fine-tuning will be made to the 1999/2000 lineup.

Hancock says the off-site education program’s 23 centres attracted many brokers living outside the Golden Horseshoe, “we are at the break-even financially, but the evaluations by participants have been consistently strong.” He also announced insurer sponsors for this year’s program, they include Pilot Insurance, Dominion of Canada, Royal & SunAlliance and Zurich.

In addition, Hancock revealed that the IBAO plans on investigating a new post-Canadian Accredited Insurance Broker Program (CAIB) to allow senior graduates to continue their professional education. The program is being developed in conjunction with the Insurance Brokers Association of Canada (IBAC). Several colleges and universities have been consulted and will assist graduating brokers to continue and specialize in various areas of study.

“Club Ed,” the IBAO program that allows brokers to pay a flat fee to attend unlimited education programs, is continuing on a pilot basis in Sault Ste. Marie and London. Being added as areas this year are North Bay and Kingston. Hancock says the program has been running with mixed results. “We’ve had 60% of brokers in Sault Ste. Marie take part but only 10% in London. We will build on this and are adding two more pilot sites this year.” Club Ed is expected to be launched across the province by Year 2001.

The organization will continue evaluation of its program allowing affiliates to buy bulk course credits redeemable by member brokers. The program, which utilizes a sliding scale to provide volume discounts for education offerings, will continue through the year for final evaluation.

Graduated insurance brokers receive awards from Mario Fiorino of IBAO (foreground), Jim Ball of IBAC, and Gil Constantini, past president of the IBAO at the Educational Luncheon.