November 30, 2005

WEB SEMINAR SCHEDULED  
TO REVIEW TERRORISM SCENARIOS

AAIS will hold a Web-based seminar on Friday, Dec. 16, to review the status of the federal terrorism reinsurance program and AAIS plans for addressing different scenarios that may arise from federal action.

The Web seminar will begin at 10:30 a.m. Central time (11:30 Eastern) and last 30-45 minutes. Attendance is restricted to companies affiliated with AAIS for lines of insurance directly affected by the Terrorism Risk Insurance Program (TRIP). The principal speakers will be:

• Deborah Summerlin, AAIS vice president for insurance lines, who will discuss potential changes to endorsements; and

• Kim Ward, AAIS chief actuary, who will address potential changes to rating information.

To register,

As of this Advisory, TRIP is scheduled to expire on Dec. 31. AAIS has developed endorsements and notices for use by its affected affiliates in the event the program does expire.

To date, the U.S. Senate has passed a bill to extend TRIP with some modifications. A U.S. House committee has approved an extension bill of its own, but the full House has yet to act on the matter. The Dec. 16 Web seminar will review the latest action by Congress. 

LEADING BUSINESS AUTHOR
TO ADDRESS ANNUAL CONFERENCE

Edward "Jay" Russo, co-author of two important studies on executive decision-making, will lead a session on that topic at the AAIS Annual Conference, April 9-11, 2006, at The Ritz-Carlton in Sarasota, Fla.

Russo, a professor of marketing and behavioral science at Cornell University, is co-author of Decision Traps, a study of flaws in group behavior that impedes decision-making, and the subsequent Winning Decisions, a work that demonstrates how decision traps can be avoided. (The other co-author is Paul Schoemaker of the Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania.)

Russo will lead a 2-3 hour interactive session designed for CEOs and their senior managers to attend together. For more information, or to suggest other topics, contact Joseph Harrington, director of corporate communications, at joeh@AAISonline.com or by calling 800-564-AAIS.

WEB DEMONSTRATION SET ON e2VALUE'S  
'FARM AND RANCH ESTIMATOR' SERVICE

AAIS farm affiliates can sign up for a Web-based demonstration of the "Farm and Ranch Estimator," a farm property valuation service developed by e2Value, Inc. The service is now available through AAISdirect to companies that write primary policies using the AAIS Farmowners and Farm Properties programs.

The demonstration is scheduled for 1 p.m. Central time (2 p.m. Eastern) on Thursday, Dec. 1. The session will last approximately 45-60 minutes and feature comments by:

• Joyce Tignino, AAIS vice president of marketing and industry relations; and 

• Debbie Wagner, e2Value's vice president of marketing for personal lines and farm & ranch.

Wagner will present a hypothetical valuation, demonstrating how the system can estimate values for farm dwellings, outbuildings, and fixtures. To register, 

For information on affiliating with AAIS for use of its Farmowners or Farm Properties programs, or to add AAISdirect service to an existing affiliation, contact Rick Maka, director of marketing, at rickm@AAISonline.com, or by calling 800/564-AAIS.

FUEL OIL ENDORSEMENT 
APPROVED IN NEW JERSEY

An AAIS personal lines exclusion endorsement and rating information related to coverage for fuel oil leaks and spills have been approved in New Jersey, effective March 1, 2006.

Filed in response to a New Jersey Supreme Court ruling restricting the application of standard pollution exclusions, the new Homeowners and Mobile-Homeowners endorsement allows insurers to exclude liability coverage for fuel oil leaks and spills. The exclusion allows for a "buyback" of coverage for bodily injury and property damage arising out of leaks and spills at specified locations; rating information is now approved for the buyback coverage.

AAIS Homeowners and Mobile-Homeowners affiliates will be provided with more information by bulletin in December.

FREE AAISdirect TRIAL OFFERED
THROUGH THE END OF 2005

AAIS affiliates that do not currently  use the AAISdirect Internet service can sign up for a free trial through the end of 2005.

AAISdirect provides direct online access to all the forms, manuals, bulletins, and other information for which a company is affiliated with AAIS. The service is continually expanded and updated; the latest enhancement is the access provided to a farm valuation application (see above).

About 75% of the companies that use AAIS programs subscribe to AAISdirect, giving them complete, up-to-date product information available around the clock to staff members in multiple locations.

To start your trial immediately, print and sign the trial agreement and fax it to 630-681-8356. If you have questions, contact Rick Maka, director of marketing, at rickm@AAISonline.com or by calling 800/564-AAIS.

23 OF THE 'WARD'S 50' P/C COMPANIES
USE ONE OR MORE AAIS PROGRAMS

Of the 50 property/casualty companies and groups chosen earlier this year to be among the "Ward's 50" in performance, at least 23 have use one or more AAIS programs or have a member company that uses AAIS. Those organizations include: 

Of those organizations, at least 11 use programs beyond the inland marine and output programs for which AAIS is best known in the industry. In addition to the Inland Marine Guide and Commercial Output Program, AAIS programs used by companies in the Ward's 50 include:

Each year, the Ward Group, Cincinnati, Ohio, selects 50 P/C and 50 life/health companies that perform best on its benchmarking studies of expense control and financial performance.

Wheaton, IL 60187.