This year has been a good year for the LOMA Society of Waterloo. We achieve 50 years with much success. We have 351 FLMIs in the area, of which we see over 80 come to our meetings. We have also been able to offer 2 LOMA courses both spring and fall for future FLMIs which is excellent.

During this year, we had probably three times as many meetings, getting ready for the 50th anniversary party. Excellent door prizes, appetizers, punch, mingling and just hearing the buzz of people talking and the music of laughter was all worth it... but it was work.

Bev Davies, Faith Life Financial was our lead this year on the party. She led in many discussions on what should we do, how we should do it, and kept a check list until it all came together. We had messages from the CEOs of the insurance companies, laminated archived minutes and interesting information, picture boards, picture power points and wonderful donated door prizes from our local insurance companies and independents. We even had an AVON rep provide a gift basket!

• AVON Rep, Kelley Reid – AVON Gift Basket
• Equitable Life – Cheese Board Set
• Faith Life Financial – Rosewood Wine Box
• Jodi Hall, Board Member – Partylite Gift Basket
• Manulife Financial – Computer Mouse Set
• Manulife Financial, Dave Shepley, Group Life & Disability – 2 Gift Cards
• Sun Life – Gift Basket

And tonight, for our anniversary party, as always I found the meal and service at Golf’s excellent. You know they give us a great meal and quote us prices and try to keep the costs down for us as the LOMA society meetings have been held there for many years.

Tonight, there were many retirees that came out and joined us for the evening. It was interesting to talk to people and learn different things. Tonight I asked the teachers, the previous board members and current, to stand up, for recognition. They are the ones that have kept us going. All of us have all been part of the 50 year history. I had a gentleman come up to me afterwards, his name was Gordon Kennedy and he told me that he helped make up the LOMA exams years ago and made sure that Canadian questions were put into it. He did this for many many years. I also found out that Rhoda Reimer was the very first woman at Dominion Life to get her FLMI.

In looking back in the archives also, I saw that at a lot of the meetings while there were learning more and more about many things that impacted the insurance industry, their meetings were very social and they had a lot of fun. This is something that I think we achieved tonight with our ice breaker activity. We need to continue to do things like this at LOMA meetings.

In total there were 106 people that showed up. It was very nice to see a few extra retirees come to dinner. I hope they continue to come. We had over 26 people complete the game. These people definitely must be over achievers (just kidding). Brian Bobak told me he talked to many people but just forgot to get them to complete his card…maybe next time Brian.

I truly felt that tonight we had a blast. And yes, some of it was a blast from the past. We are insurance people. We live 37.5 hours / week, living and breathing it. If you are lucky, only 37.5 hours. Many people have worked at more than two insurance companies. We each know so many people. We know each other. And if you work with someone, you really spend more time with them than you do with your families. I do love seeing people twice a year that don’t work with me that I don’t get to see daily. I love hearing what they are up to, where they are at, and sharing information.

I am stepping down as President for 2012. Handing this honour over to Bev Davies is a pleasure. I will certainly remain on the board, but with a 14 year old in hockey 4 times a week, 2 in university, 1 of which is getting married next year…I am happy to remain on the board but in a lesser role. This team is a great team.

And your 2012 president, Bev Davies, is perfect for the role. She works hard on the board and I think you could say she loves being part of it. It shows in her enthusiasm and it shows in helpfulness though out the year. I have had an excellent team through out the year, with everyone doing their part, nothing seems too big.

I hope that that Waterloo Chapter of LOMA continues to be one of strongest throughout the next 50 years.

Janice Beam, FLMI, ACS
President, LOMA Society of Waterloo