Wow! What an exciting time to be a member of the FLMI Society of Waterloo. As an amateur wine maker I like to think, as many in my wine club do, that we are not growing older but that the complexities of our lives are growing smoother and more flavorful with maturity.

We should celebrate our rich history and reflect on the many changes that we have all seen. Undoubtedly there will be some not as good as others, but all of our experiences shape who we are.

This past year we have had a couple of great meetings. Last spring, Trevor Matthews of Manulife was a very informative and interesting speaker on Taking Stock: Life after Demutualization. In the fall, Richard Gardner entertained us with a view on keeping your sense of humour as we proceed with Successful Living.

In the fall of 1961 a group from Mutual Life (now Clarica) had the first meeting of the FLMI Society of Waterloo. These pioneers of our Society are Don Post, President, Ed Stevens, Secretary-treasurer, Jack Clarke and Don Goodwin, Program Committee. Their first speaker was in November of 1961, Dunc Winhold, FSA, Assistant Actuary and his topic was "Universal Group Annuities".

Or, how about the meeting in 1981 when Dave Marven of Equitable Life brought in home computers for the membership to try out some of this new technology.

Manulife and Lutheran Life joined the Society in 1974. We have had many different companies represented over the years that have been absorbed into the companies that today make up our main membership base.

Twenty years after our first President, Don Post, helped with the organization, Marg Price of Equitable Life marked a new chapter as the first female President of the Board’s history.

I have had a wonderful time working on the Board. I have met some great people from all of the companies. Working on the Golf Tournament was great fun and seeing it be so successful despite the weather was very rewarding. The LOMA Conference that I attended was held in San Diego, California. The speakers and workshops were informative and we had a lot of fun too. I had a chance to meet members from around North America. I would strongly encourage this experience for all of our membership. Any member of our Board would be happy to let you know what is involved. Please ask.

I look forward to the upcoming year serving as your President. We are having a speaker visit us from LOMA headquarters in Atlanta to help us celebrate our history and seeing our way into the future. I wish that all your endeavors in the year 2001 be rich in bouquet and flavor. Let us all toast, "To Our Success", Cheers!

Here is a summary of the feedback collected at the annual dinner:

Non-insurance topics – Police and Fire Dept.
Future directions in health care-lifestyle counseling in relationship to home and work – the balance!
Local MPs or MPPs
Industry-related topics of general appeal
Jim Clemmer
Contact Toastmaster’s clubs for speakers
John Wolfe – on relationships…through the study of psycho-geometrics

Murder Mystery night
"Sell" some of the benefits of being on the FLMI executive. What are the details in terms of time, duties, etc

Put Food Bank boxes on tables
Mix tables so we can meet new people from the different companies
More meetings during the year on various topics i.e. e-business, today’s business challenges.
Include a washroom break between dinner and the speaker
Send out the survey right after the dinner – while it’s fresh in people’s minds
Encourage those graduating to come out

Congratulations to Guenther Mohr of Manulife, winner of the rosewood pen.

Clarica, 227 King Street South, Waterloo, Ontario N2J 4C5

Equitable Life, 1 Westmount Road North, Waterloo, Ontario N2J 4C7

Lutheran Life, 470 Weber Street North, Waterloo, Ontario N2J 4G4

Manulife Financial, 500 King Street North, Waterloo, Ontario N2J 4C6