Diversity: Is It Worth It? | December 2001 ViewPoint

ViewPoint: Diversity: Is It Worth It?

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By Robert M. Nelson, CLU, LUTCF, NAIFA President

During the NAIFA convention in Salt Lake City, I closed my speech with the admonition, "Let's let go of the baggage of the past. Let's get everyone on board and let's take this organization to the next level!" Now let's look at how we're going to accomplish these goals.

We have spent the last three to five years re-engineering NAIFA-a top-to-bottom makeover. Our constant vision has been a more focused, more pro-active and more inclusive federation.

We changed our bylaws in Salt Lake City to allow seven new board members. Three new trustees will be the senior leaders from each of our three conferences, along with four, one-year appointments designed to reach segments of our society that are rapidly becoming more diverse. As you know, the four, one-year appointments have already been announced. They are Sonya Mau (Ill.), Ray Hunt (S.C.), Karen Braddock-Harrison (Colo.) and Leonard McNairy (Ky.). Each is already a role model and will further define diversity at our federation's highest policy-making level.

Becoming more diverse

Much of the success in aggressively pursuing our diversity objectives is due to the work of a task force, chaired by trustee Elaine Fremling (N.D.). It is said that leaders "tear down barriers." More than anyone, Elaine has done an exceptional job in tearing down barriers so that our federation can be truly more inclusive.

We have also benefited greatly by the breakthrough efforts of two special task forces: Multiline, chaired by trustee Marvin Keys (Ala.) and Financial Institutions, chaired by Ron Wheeler (Mo.). Both task forces are made up of tireless workers who have laid the groundwork for reaching out to those segments of our industry that we have not fully accessed. This work is being continued and coordinated by our Membership Committee.

As we begin to see the fruits of our labor, there is a serious challenge we must face. Our members must feel welcome at our local meetings and our meetings must be relevant. Ask yourself these questions: Have I reached out to the newest members or guests at my local meeting? Have I followed our Member Involvement Process (MIP)? Have I thought how useful "Programs in a Box" is? Maybe now you are starting to see how our vision is pulling all the pieces together.

Diversity is the very essence of America.

Now, visualize the impact of the invocation at your next meeting. Will it be appropriate? If you have any doubt, check out the pamphlet, When You Are Asked to Give a Public Prayer in a Diverse Society, by the National Conference for Community and Justice. Imagine the feelings of a meeting attendee, new or old, who hears a prayer directed at a religion other than his own. Would you feel excluded? We know we have lost members at renewal time because of this specific reason. We must be sensitive to this issue. Let's not lose that which we have worked so hard to gain.

It has been a long process repositioning and re-energizing our federation. We have always known we would succeed or lose at the local level.

As we strengthen our local associations, we will truly be the association of choice within the financial services industry. I hope the vision has now become more focused, and how the pieces fit, more obvious.

President George W. Bush recently asked us to reach out, to be more tolerant and to be our very best. This has always been good advice and it is even more meaningful today. Diversity ... it is not only "worth it;" it is the very essence of America.

Bob Nelson, CLU, LUTCF, is vice president of the life and estate planning division at Grace-Mayer Insurance in Omaha, Neb. He was elected president of the National Association of Insurance and Financial Advisors in September 2001.

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