MESSAGE From the President (December 01, 2007)

The 41st annual education seminar, best known as the Joint Seminar, co-sponsored by The Canadian Insurance Claims Managers Association and the Ontario Region of The Canadian Independent Adjusters’ Association, is set to go at the Metro Toronto Convention Centre on Jan. 29. This is a major event on the Canadian claims calendar, bringing together claims professionals from across the nation for a day of professional development and networking. Continuing education is the hallmark of professionalism and communication is critical to the success of any relationship. CIAA is very pleased to be part of this and other joint seminars held across Canada each year.

I was pleased to have the opportunity to be in Calgary on Oct. 18, to attend an all-industry education day produced by the local chapter of the Claims Managers Association. CIAA members, led by our Western Region President Greg Merrithew, assisted CICMA’s event organizer, Terry Murphy, in making that day a success. I tip my hat and extend sincere thanks to all who give freely of their time to participate in the preparation and presentation of continuing education events such as this. Gone are the days when it was acceptable to do the minimum necessary to get an adjusting licence or a seat in an insurer claims office, never to take another course or attend any continuing education classes or seminars. There is a big difference between 25 years of experience and one year of experience, 25 times. No responsible person would hire an accountant who has not kept abreast of continuing changes in tax law or a dentist who is still using ether.

Loss adjusting is every bit a profession as accounting and dentistry, but to be taken seriously and respected as such, we must, in fact, be professional in all aspects of what we do. By signing on and participating in the only nationwide body representing the profession of Loss Adjusting, members of The Canadian Independent Adjusters’ Association have made a commitment to entrenching ours as a true profession; one that contributes to our broader industry beyond the claim file.

Currently, through the tremendous effort of Miles Barber, CIAA is working with the Regulators in developing uniform adjuster licensing requirements across Canada. A key component of this will be a mandatory provision for continuing education. The better we are, the better our industry will be. Times change; wordings evolve; legislation can be complicated. We are in a business which requires constant attention to detail. No matter what your role is in the Canadian claims business I urge you to actively participate in your professional organization and to keep up-to-date through continuing education. If you are an independent loss adjuster and you are not a member of CIAA, why not? What are you doing to advance the profession of loss adjusting in Canada? If you are a member, your Association needs your active participation to succeed in our goal of achieving respect in our industry. When you are called on to give back to your profession, please reflect on what the profession has given you. What you will be asked to return will pale in comparison.

I welcome your comments and feedback — fplant@planthope.com. •