All Florida Public Adjusters Need to Attend FAPIA's Annual Meeting held July 7-9
“Any fool can criticize, condemn and complain, and most fools do.”
--Benjamin Franklin
I thought of Benjamin Franklin this morning while responding to a comment raised by a public adjuster to recent Florida legislation. A number of comments were posed to Florida Legislative Update for Public Adjusters, and the last was:
Chip,
One last question.
What is to prevent every insurer in the state bellying up to the Legislature and asking for the same rights and privileges as Citizens?
Is there any talk from other companies?
Also, you say this will be fought in court. Is there a time-frame and who is lining up to challenge the legislation?
I replied:
You asked three questions, not one.
Here are the answers:
1. Nothing.
2. Yes.
3. I cannot tell you because of attorney client confidentiality. However, many public adjusting firms are losing money and policyholders are as well because of this legislation. I expect there will be many challenges to this aspect of the law.Finally, all public adjusters should go to the FAPIA annual convention this summer. This will be a major topic of conversation and united opposition is needed. (emphasis added)
There has been far too much bellyaching about FAPIA by public adjusters--- members and non-members. Not all the criticism is unwarranted. I know those toiling in FAPIA’s leadership have an impossible task because people have significantly different opinions about ethics and what “good policy” should be reflected in law and insurance regulation.
While thinking about the problems we face, I instantly thought of Franklin’s quote above. Many speak and complain but give little time or money to fight the good fight. They are foolishly undermining the “good” and inviting the “bad” to make some “ugly” legislation which will negatively impact everybody.
In Florida Association of Public Insurance Adjusters Urges Policyholders to be Prepared for Hurricane Season 2011, Nicole Vinson briefly wrote about FAPIA and the upcoming Convention July 7-9, in Ft. Lauderdale. She provided the registration form. FAPIA has further information available here.
I urge all public adjusters to join FAPIA and constructively become involved with raising the standards and competency of public adjusting. Another of Benjamin Franklin’s famous statements, made at the time of signing the Declaration of Independence, inspired me to emphasize this point:
“We must all hang together, or assuredly we shall all hang separately.”
We must learn to live together as brothers or perish together as fools.
Martin Luther King Jr.
Geez Chip,
Let's not forget about public adjusters that are just starting out and are doing the best they can w/the resources at hand. Indeed, maybe they're not "just starting out" but still can't afford to attend the conference, have other obligations, etc.
Please keep in mind that not all Public Adjusters enjoy the benefit of riding financial coattails within a major organization footing the bill of an all expense paid Conference....similar to Attorney(s) enjoying the same "ride."
Regarding your quotes above:
Many speak and complain but give little time
or money to fight the good fight....
....Finally, all public adjusters should go to
the FAPIA annual convention this summer..."
All I'm saying is that not EVERYONE has MONEY to give to a cause...doesn't mean that they don't have valid and good recommendations and/or points regarding their cause. Also, not EVERYONE has the MONEY to attend a 2 day conference...DOES THAT MEAN THAT THEY DO NOT CARE ABOUT FAPIA AND/OR THE RAMIFICATIONS AFFECTING THEIR LIVELIHOOD? Of course not.
What I see here is the "have" vs. the "have nots." Believe it or not, some of the "have nots" possess valid thoughts and recommendations (often BETTER thoughts and recommendations) than the "HAVE" members.
If FAPIA is truly concerned about its members attending its conferences, maybe it should consider helping the members who have not yet "HIT THE BIG TIME W/A BIG CLAIM" and/or are sole proprietors and don't have financial coattails to pay the expenses of attending the conference(s). Further, not all P.A.'s were born into a family-owned, thriving and profitable Public Adjusting business....some struggle and work for every cent they earn.
By the way - to readers unaware - I am not a Public Adjuster...just one with a view.
SHIRLEY HEFLIN
Sean,
Great quote by a great man.
Shirley,
I did not mean to disenfranchise the less affluent public adjusters. I appreciate your view and reminder about the costs of business.
My impression is that most public adjusters can afford to attend a two day learning conference. If you think about it, if public ajdusters cannot afford to do so, maybe those are the ones that should be required to go for two days so they can learn what to do.
Again, thank you for your point and view.
You're right, Chip.....if they can't afford to attend the conference they should go to learn how to make $.....guess i got carried away w/that one. :)
SHIRLEY HEFLIN