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REVIEW OF ALIC ANNUAL MEETING

HELD MAY 21 – 23, 2006

2006 Annual meeting:  The Association’s 2006 Annual Meeting was held May 21 – 23 at the beautiful Greenbrier resort in White Sulphur Springs, West Virginia, which has been home to most of the Association’s Annual Meetings since 1962. While enjoying the graciousness of The Greenbrier, the fellowship of the members and the absolutely gorgeous weather, the members of the Association fulfilled the purpose of the Association --- learning from and with others and furthering the professionalism of the life insurance bar. 

President  Deborah J. Long welcomed the approximately 250 attendees to the traditional opening reception on Sunday night, where she introduced several new members of the Association and their spouses.  Immediately prior to the welcoming reception, Billy Shands, President, 1987-88, was also honored at a smaller reception for new members, where he spoke of the Association and the role that it had played in his career.  No one embodies the characteristics that the Association seeks to further better than Billy Shands, and having Billy and his lovely wife, Lynneth, share the meeting was not only a reminder of the role that the Association plays in fostering relationships and good will among members, but was one of the highlights of the meeting. 

On Monday, the General Session portion of the meeting was gaveled to order by President Long and began with the keynote address from Chief Justice Drayton Nabers, Jr. of the Supreme Court of Alabama, who offered perspectives on the judicial landscape.  This theme of “Changing Times, Enduring Principles,” set the tone for the remainder of the program. Virtually every General Session presentation which followed and most of the Breakout Session presentations later in the morning dealt in some fashion with these issues.  

On Monday afternoon, the traditional sports events were held, and members enjoyed the often-time fierce, but always friendly, competitions.  

The Association enjoyed its traditional dinner dance on Monday evening.  A highlight of the evening was the presentation of the Association’s Buist M. Anderson Distinguished Service Award to C. Bowman (Bow) Strome, Jr., former Senior Vice President and Senior Deputy General Counsel of The Equitable and former President of the Association.  Tom Englishrecounted for attendees the many accomplishments of Mr. Strome’s career, and Mr. Strome then regaled attendees with reminiscences of his long career and his involvement in the Association.   

The Buist M. Anderson Distinguished Service Award, named after its first recipient, Buist M. Anderson, is bestowed from time to time by the Board of Governors on members of long-standing who have provided outstanding service to the Association and to the life insurance bar, the insurance industry, or colleagues in the life insurance bar.

Tuesday’s General Session kicked off with the annual Business Meeting and reports from Phillip E. Stano, Secretary/Treasurer of the Association.  Past-President J. Michael Keefer then presented the report of the Nominating Committee, following which the members elected Robert J. Berdan as President-Elect, and Mr. Stano was re-elected as Secretary/Treasurer.  In accordance with the Constitution of the Association and by virtue of her office as President-Elect, Karen E. Shaff  succeeded to the office of President and became the 78^th President of the Association.  Newly elected members of the Board of Governors are:  Tom English, Robert-John Sands, and Carol Watson.  President Long also thanked two outgoing Board members, Woody Eno and Cynthia Toles, for their many contributions to the Board and to the Association. 

The Business Meeting was then followed by several presentations in keeping with the theme of Monday’s General Session, at the conclusion of which the Association’s Delegate to the American Bar Association, Anthony H. Pelle, made his report to the membership.  After Mr. Pelle’s report, President Long reminded attendees the 2007 Annual Meeting would be held at the Hotel del Coronado in San Diego, California , and the 2008 Annual Meeting would be held at The Greenbrier.  The meeting was then adjourned and all speakers were invited to attend a reception in their honor hosted by the officers and governors of the Association.

Attendees were indeed fortunate to have as presenters some of the most knowledgeable practitioners in their fields, and their insights and prepared materials provided attendees both excellent scholarship and sound, practical advice.  

On Sunday afternoon a new tradition was born with the introduction of Scottish Golf at the Oakhurst Links, the oldest golf club in the. 

In keeping with the Association’s unique blending of scholarship and fellowship, the remainder of the day Monday was given over to social and athletic activities.  The Association sponsored its traditional golf, tennis, and croquet tournaments under the warm West Virginia sun, and hosted Hospitality venues to allow attendees, regardless of their afternoon plans, to enjoy refreshments and fellowship with other attendees. 

On Monday evening, the Association hosted its traditional dinner-dance, accompanied by the mellow sounds of the Scott Logsdon Quartet.   After the dinner, members and their guests migrated to the dance floor until the wee hours.