ALABAMA INSURANCE UNDERWRITING ASSOCIATION 315 E Laurel Av - Suite 216D Foley, Alabama (251) or (251) Fax (251)

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1 ALABAMA INSURANCE UNDERWRITING ASSOCIATION 315 E Laurel Av - Suite 216D Foley, Alabama (251) or (251) Fax (251) HUwww.AIUA.orgU April 12, 2012 Spring 2012 Board of Directors Meeting Perdido Beach Resort, Orange Beach, Alabama BOARD MEMBER COMPANIES PRESENT: Robert W. Groves Secretary/Manager Alfa Insurance Companies Allstate Insurance Company Auto-Owners Insurance Company Baldwin County Public Sector Baldwin Mutual Insurance Company Farmers Insurance Group of Companies Liberty Mutual Insurance Mobile County Public Sector Nationwide Insurance State Farm Insurance Company Travelers Companies Wyman Cabaniss Fred Strauss Sandra McCullough Leonard Kaiser Kevin Russell Jerry Workman Jared Stuckey Jay Ison Patrick Foy Kim Robison Kevin Curry ALSO PRESENT: Alabama Department of Insurance Charles Angell Bob Groves, Secretary/Manager Ursula Jackson, Assistant Manager-Operations Ray Skinner, Assistant Manager-Claims Manager Chuck Woods, Assistant Manager- I.T. STAFF: LEGAL COUNSEL: Bert Nettles Haskell, Slaughter, Rediker, & Young OTHER GUESTS: Chris Burkhalter Deborah Smith Ken Selzer Robert Fox Bob Schurke Renee Carter Carl Schneider Dave Murzin Kathy Jumper Bickerstaff Whatley Ryan & Burkhalter Warren Averett AON Benfield AON Benfield Travelers Companies AIIS Schneider Insurance Agency Smart Home America Mobile Press Register 1

2 I. Chairperson Kim Robison called the meeting to order at 8:32am II. AIUA Legal Counsel read the AIUA Anti-trust Admonition: We are all aware that the purpose of this board meeting is to conduct the affairs of this underwriting association for the benefit of Alabamians living in the coastal areas of the state. Board members, nevertheless, are reminded of the provisions of the various federal anti-trust acts. Subjects such as boycotts, voluntary rates, market sharing and the like, are in violation of those laws and contrary to the purposes of this meeting and this association. III. Kim Robison requested Bob Groves call the roll. All board members were present. A. A quorum was present. IV. Recognition of Guests/Visitors: A. Charles Angell Alabama Department of Insurance B. Bert Nettles - Haskell, Slaughter, Rediker, & Young C. Ken Selzer AON Benfield D. Robert Fox AON Benfield E. Chris Burkhalter - Bickerstaff Whatley Ryan & Burkhalter F. Deborah Smith Warren Averett G. Renee Carter AIIS H. Carl Schneider Schneider Insurance I. Dave Murzin Smart Home America V. Adoption of Minutes from October 21, 2011 Board Meeting. Motion to waive the reading of the minutes of the October 21, 2011 meeting. Motion seconded. The motion passed unanimously. VI. Operational Reports A. Treasurer s Report Kevin Russell, Chairman (Baldwin Mutual) 1. 1st Quarter Financial Statements were presented. (Balances for Sterne Agee, First National Bank of Baldwin County, and Bryant Bank accounts were presented in the exhibits.) B. Manager s Report 1. Bob Groves, Secretary/Manager a. Presented budget reports as approved at the October 2011 Board Meeting with actual figures year to date as of February 28, b. Budget Performance Report 2011/2012 as of February 28, i. On target with Premium Budget of $45,000,000. ii. ISO dues unexpectedly increased and will come in over budget; continuing negotiations to restore dues back to what was originally budgeted for. c. Policies in Force 25,597 i. March, new business policies. 2

3 ii. Renewal retention at 89% as of February iii. Net increase in policies per month on average: 274 d. Budget i. Reviewed Budget Forecast presented at the October 2011 Board Meeting. ii. Presented revised growth forecast based on current trends. iii. Recommended no changes to operating budget. e. Changes in Operation i. Staffing a. February filled positions/ 1,226 policies per person b. Anticipate filling one Authorized Position this summer. c. 23 positions authorized f. Information Technology i. Continuity Plan Improvements a. Technology Subcommittee Report to be covered by Mr. Russell later in the meeting ii. Claims Check Project a. Working with Pilot programmers to improve the way AIUA receives and processes and prints claims payment requests. Expected completion date June 1, Claims Ray Skinner, Assistant Manager a. Open Claims report: 14 Routine, no Catastrophe b. MOU with Claims Vendors i. Pilot ii. Fountain iii. Shaffer Wood iv. Coggin v. Allied American 3. Legal Report Bert Nettles (Haskell, Slaughter, Rediker, & Young) a. No pending litigations against the association; 1 appeal. b. New membership agreements accomplished this year with help from the Department of Insurance and their attorney.. VII. Proxy Report Bob Groves, Secretary/Manager A. As of April 9, Proxy votes assigned to Chair to be cast for Board Membership 34, Votes assigned to Chair to be cast for other than Board Membership 513,296. 3

4 VIII. Standing Committee Reports: 1. Accounting and Fiscal Affairs Committee Kevin Russell, Chairman (Baldwin Mutual) a. Congratulated Bob Groves and the accounting staff AIUA as well as Warren Averett for another unqualified opinion. b. Motion to accept the Russell, Thompson, Butler, and Houston financial audit for fiscal year 2010/2011. Motion seconded. The motion passed unanimously. c. Motion to close plan years and net 2004 and Motion seconded. The motion passed unanimously. B. Appeals Committee Sandra McCullough, Chairperson (Auto-Owners) 1. 2 appeals made since October 2011 (claims for water damage denied) 1 reopened, settled, and withdrawn; 1 is pending hearing on April 25th. C. Governmental Affairs and Advisory Committee- Jerry Workman, Chairperson (Farmers) 1. Legislative update D. Loss or Claims Committee Wyman Cabaniss, Chairperson (Alfa) 1. Nothing new to report aside from what Ray reported earlier. 2. Commended Bob and Ray on handling of routine claims and on preparations for handling a catastrophic event. E. Meetings Committee Jared Stuckey, Chairperson (Liberty Mutual) 1. Fall 2012 Board Meeting is scheduled for October 24-26, 2012 at the Grand Hotel, Point Clear, AL 2. Spring 2013 Board Meeting date is April 10-12, 2013; located at Perdido Beach Resort 3. Fall 2013 Board Meeting is scheduled for October 23-25, 2013 at the Grand Hotel, Point Clear, AL. F. Reinsurance Committee Kevin Russell, Chairperson (Baldwin Mutual) 1. Thanks Aon team and the committee for all their work and help with keeping rates at a high single digit increase in the volatile market. 2. Motion made to authorize AON to place $300 million in excess of $100 million at this adjusted firm order terms. Motion seconded. The motion passed unanimously. G. Rate Committee Patrick Foy, Chairperson (Nationwide) 1. AIUA rate adequacy review currently underway. 2. Currently the Rate Committee is not in a position to make a final recommendation to the board, but will do so at a later date. H. Technology Committee Kevin Russell, Chairperson (Baldwin Mutual) 4

5 1. New committee established after the fall 2011 Board Meeting 2. March 25 conference call; review of revised AIUA Continuity Plan a. Solid product that we ll continue to improve b. Third party review by Agility c. Implement formal test prior to storm season start 3. Thanked Chuck for an outstanding job with the improvements of the mapping tool. These improvements are helping to manage the growth of the Association. I. Underwriting Committee Kim Robison (State Farm) Chair 1. Underwriting Audit Review a. Reviewed approximately100 files Very pleased with findings i. Commended the AIUA staff J. Voluntary Writings Committee Jay Ison, Chairperson (Mobile Co Public Sector) 1. Standardized Reporting of Voluntary Writings to AIUA a. Web-based mapping of AIUA Zone several Member Companies have successfully used the AIUA mapping tool; encourages more to do the same. 2. Independent, external audit of AIUA Voluntary Writings procedures/calculations still on hold J. Nominating Committee Kim Robison (State Farm) 1. Nominating Committee made nominations for Board Membership and Officers. The voting results were as follows: a. Alfa Insurance Companies 202,480 b. Allstate Insurance Companies 109,934 c. Auto-Owners Group 76,887 d. Baldwin Mutual Insurance Company, Inc e. Farmers Insurance Group of Companies 103,405 f. Liberty Mutual Insurance 101,761 g. Nationwide Insurance Group 68,803 h. State Farm Fire and Casualty Company 299,972 i. Travelers Insurance Companies 162,777 i. Commissioner of Insurance appoints: a. Baldwin County Representative: Leonard Kaiser b. Mobile County Representative: Jay Ison ii. AIUA Board Officers: a. Chairman Jerry Workman b. Vice Chairman Patrick Foy c. Treasurer Kevin Russell 5

6 d. Secretary/ Manager Bob Groves iii. Motion to accept nominations as presented. Motion seconded. The motion passed unanimously. VIIII. New Business: A. Motion to extend the operation of AIUA to October 31, Motion seconded. The motion passed unanimously. X. Questions and/or Comments: A. Charles Angell (Alabama Department of Insurance) Congratulates Bob and the AIUA Staff/ Board; the department is pleased with the proactive nature of the Association. B. Renee Carter (AIIS) Alabama Insurance Information Service is still working on the coastal issues and has been able to make some headway. Thanks the board for the opportunity to attend. C. Carl Schneider (Schneider Insurance) Introduced Dave Murzin, director of Smart Home America. 1. Working diligently to bring more markets to the state of Alabama to take up slack for insuring properties on the coast and now inland. At least six new markets are aggressively writing business on the coast; two of the carriers are actively interested in writing the entire state. More carriers are showing interest in coming into the market. 2. Smart Home America (formerly Smart Home Alabama) created a coastal supplement to match education with mitigation to encourage residents of coastal areas to builder stronger, safer homes. Expo April 23 rd and 24 th open to the public to teach the elements of the IRC 2006, 2009, 2012 to local contractors, architects, engineers, etc. 3. Working with Department of Insurance on creating uniform rating credits for IBHS/ IRC fortified structures. 4. Agent conduct Selling DP-01 instead of DP-02 policies without informing policyholders & substantially underinsuring properties; recommends AIUA to create a sign-off to notify policyholders of these conditions. 5. Homeowners Insurance Commission recommending a statute to break down policies into 3 components (non-weather losses, weather non-cat, and weathercat) to DOI. Recommends AIUA get with the DOI to review these suggested changes. 6. Smart Home America is preparing a Memorandum of Understanding to collaborate with AIUA on educating customers about fortifying their homes. IBHS is very supportive of this. 6

7 D. Dave Murzin (Smart Home America) States that the goal of Smart Home is to educate consumers on building and renovating to fortified standards. Encourages the board members to check out their website ( and contribute related information so it will be available and basic enough for consumers to understand. E. Kim Robison (State Farm) Thanks the board for all the hard work and friendship they have offered her over the years as she will be moving on in her career. XI. Motion to adjourn meeting. Motion seconded. The motion passed unanimously and the meeting was adjourned at 9:20am. 7