 
By Elaine Watson, LUTCF
Imagine you have been in our type of business
for three years, self-employed of course, and trying to scrape out
a decent living. You’re already working long days, with extra
hours on the weekends and even on holidays. Time is a serious commodity
in your life and work.
The challenge
Then, suddenly and unexpectedly, you are asked to take over the
organization and coordination of an important business luncheon
that has been a successful event for over 25 years! This luncheon
is the only event that spouses or significant others are invited
to attend so the entire membership is expecting more than an average
monthly gathering.
Dropped into your hands is a job with which you
have no real experience, the individuals who previously handled
the arrangements are no longer available and you have fewer than
90 days to pull it off. There’s location choice and menu planning,
decorations to acquire and assemble and gifts and door prizes to
solicit, pick up, wrap, and tag for presentation. Also, you have
to find a good (no, make that an excellent) speaker and address
the myriad details that have to be handled.
|
| With
a great speaker, more than 65 gifts, door prizes and a well-run
meeting, they achieved exceptional results. |
|
YAT to the rescue
Where do you turn to for help? Fortunately, for those of us in Jackson,
Miss., Jackson Association of Insurance and Financial Advisors (JAIFA)
membership includes many excellent young advisors with reasonable
experience, fresh ideas, lots of energy and a willingness to participate.
And they have already demonstrated that there is no call reluctance
in their ranks.
YAT members Michael Green and Robin Covington
received and immediately accepted the challenge and commitment.
With the assistance of JAIFA secretary Misty Harrell, these young
professionals organized and executed one of the most successful
events ever. With a great speaker, more than 65 gifts, door prizes
ranging from fine jewelry to dinners at exclusive restaurants, and
a well-run meeting, they achieved exceptional results.
What is the lesson from this exercise? Get your
young members involved and give them the opportunity—they
can and will deliver great results.
Elaine Watson, LUTCF, is with Southern Farm
Bureau, LIC, in Jackson, Miss. She is vice president of Jackson
(MS) Association of Insurance and Financial Advisors and a YAT coordinator.
March 2005
Funding
Higher Education
Find the Time
Influential
Advisors: Your Key to Consistent Referrals
|
|
