As George S. Patton, the World War II U.S. Army General nicknamed “Old Blood and Guts,” said, “Accept challenges, so that you may feel the exhilaration of victory.” NASBP has accepted that 2010 may have challenges. Thanks to new initiatives in place because of NASBP member and affiliate efforts this year, NASBP is well prepared to address the challenges we may encounter in 2010.

Besides NASBP modernizing its Bylaws to have flexibility and expediency to address critical governance matters, NASBP has implemented the following eight new and important initiatives of which I hope you are involved.

1. To assure that members and affiliates continue to shape NASBP through their involvement with NASBP Committees, NASBP has revised its Committee appointment process. On an annual basis, the President will appoint Committee members to each NASBP Committee. In 2010, Committee members will be asked to renew annually their commitment to the initiatives of the Committee and to serve on the Committee to help it meet its objectives and goals. If you want to renew your commitment, right now, to the NASBP Committee(s) of which you belong, click here to complete the Committee Interest form.

2. NASBP has included the members of the NASBP 5-15 Leadership Circle, NASBP’s “farm team” of young industry leaders, in more NASBP activities and leadership roles. To continue as the leading voice for surety bond producers in our industry, we must help this group to continue to grow. Nelson A. Rockefeller, the 41st U.S. Vice President and 49th Governor of New York, stated, “It is essential that we enable young people to see themselves as participants in one of the most exciting eras in history, and to have a sense of purpose in relation to it.” Members, consider nominating someone in your agency to the 5-15 Leadership Circle. Click here to access the new NASBP web page that includes information about the Leadership Circle and the nomination form.

3. Also, NASBP has begun a new grassroots advocacy program to help NASBP increase and maintain the Association’s visibility and advocacy efforts on Capitol Hill. In November, NASBP created a Program, called “Every Day is Advocacy Day,” to encourage NASBP members and affiliates who travel to Washington, DC for business or for vacation to visit with their federal representatives in Congress with the help of NASBP staff. This effort is essential to continue the momentum of government relations initiatives undertaken in 2009, such as the Legislative Fly-in Day, into 2010. Plan to participate in the “Every Day is Advocacy Day” Program by contacting Larry LeClair at lleclair@nasbp.org and letting him know when you will be visiting Washington, DC.

4. NASBP has updated the contact information for each NASBP Government Affairs Representative to strengthen the NASBP grassroots network and enable NASBP to take action quickly in the 2010 Legislative Session. With this updated contact information and new Government Affairs Representatives added to this list, NASBP will be able to activate its grassroots network at a moment’s notice. Members, if you are not already an NASBP Government Affairs Representative and would like to be one, sign up by contacting Larry LeClair at lleclair@nasbp.org.

5. To assure students are informed of today’s industry practices and current regulations and legislation, the NASBP Professional Development Committee is updating and revising the industry resource guide, The Basic Bond Book. Jointly produced with the Associated General Contractors of America, this guide continues to be an integral component to educating entrants into the industry through the Level I of the NASBP William J. Angell Surety School. NASBP anticipates the revised guide will be available for use by students who attend the Level I Summer School. Keeping the School’s materials, like The Basic Bond Book, reflective of today’s surety professionals’ experiences is critical to the School’s mission. The School helps members and affiliates develop continuity in their businesses. Reward someone on your staff by registering them for the 2009 School. Click here.

6. The Association has been exploring exciting changes to NASBP membership. Based upon a recommendation from the NASBP Membership Committee at the Annual Meeting in La Quinta, California in April 2009, NASBP has begun looking at adding another membership class by creating an Associate membership category for NASBP. A tremendous amount of thought and deliberation has gone into this topic. At the Mid Year Board Meeting in Louisville, Kentucky, I formed a task force to oversee policy in relation to implementation of this category. The task force and Executive Committee will be thorough in their efforts to assure that the Associate class will not dilute the value of NASBP membership.

7. NASBP has organized more than 20 Virtual Seminars for 2010 to help members and affiliates stay on top of the issues that impact their surety businesses. NASBP selected these topics after analyzing issues that surety professionals have been grappling with and that are likely to continue to challenge them in 2010 as well as new ones that may be on their horizon. Click here to register your company for upcoming seminars. The NASBP Virtual Seminars are an excellent opportunity to educate not only surety professionals, but also your support staff and your clients.

8. Are you aware that an outstanding NASBP Annual Meeting is scheduled to be held in San Antonio, Texas April 25-28, 2010? This event will provide surety professionals substantive knowledge and guidance to become better surety advocates in 2010 as well as networking opportunities with top executives in the surety industry. The Program will include Bill Berkley, Chairman and CEO of the W.R. Berkley Corporation, who will share his unique perspective on the business environment as well as the surety industry. In addition, NASBP has organized other educational sessions for the Meeting that will address current issues related to commercial surety, claims, and surety advocacy as well as a panel of contractors providing the state of the construction industry and the surety product. Click here to register.

How will you, as a surety professional, meet the challenges of 2010 and still prosper? The answer is, “By participating in NASBP and utilizing the many tools and resources that NASBP has to offer.” What I have said earlier bears repeating, “My success in the surety industry can be directly associated with my involvement in NASBP.” I welcome the challenges of 2010. With the NASBP initiatives, tools, and resources listed above, and many more not mentioned here, I believe NASBP and its membership are well prepared. I look forward to “the exhilaration of victory” and being triumphant over the challenges of 2010! I hope you will join me.

Have a great holiday!

Todd P. Loehnert
President