CAIIA

2001 Mid-Term Meeting

On February 8 & 9, 2001, the CAIIA hosted it's 54th Annual Mid-Term Convention at the beautiful Mission Inn in Riverside, CA.  

The Association started its convention with a get together reception followed by a wonderful dinner prepared by the staff of the Mission Inn Hotel.  Bright and early the next morning, educational seminars  were held involving a wonderful presentation by Thomas Claxton and Thomas Underwood of Gateway Country who demonstrated the latest in digital cameras and scanners.  They also abandoned the use of their digital camera software and used the Digital Adjuster software that the CAIIA recently discovered.  This software, provided by Adjustable Software out of Canada, is one of the easiest to use programs to collect, identify, and print digital pictures...and is specifically developed for insurance adjusters! They concluded their program by discussing the latest voice recognition software.   We commend David Cates on his great program and his desire to make a program that will assist each and every adjuster

The final seminar was presented by Daniel P. Garoutte, President of Premier Imaging.  Mr. Garoutte gave the audience a complete story of the document imaging industry and what we, as the customer, should expect and demand.

Rounding out the seminars was an address by luncheon speaker Douglas Jackson, RPA of Southwest Claims Service, Inc.  Mr. Jackson pulled together the technology issues discussed earlier in the day and gave his prediction of what the future claims adjuster might expect to see.  He indicated that given the different programs used by the industry, the obvious choice for transmittal of claim reports (including estimates and pictures) would be the use of web-based publishing.  In essence, each of us will become webmasters in that we will publish our reports to either our own website or a central depository.  Using email as a notification to the client that reports are ready, the client would go to a specific website location, enter their name and password, and immediately have access to only their claims and reports.  At that point, they could view, download, or copy whatever they wanted.  Being that the file information was posted on the website, that information could be viewed on basically any computer in the world using their browser (which all computers have nowadays).   

Attending the seminars were supporters of the association including NAIIA and RPA members.  Registered Professional Adjusters should remember to submit your seminar time to the RPA for continuing education credits.   We also thank those insurance company personnel who recognize the value of education and the betterment of our industry.  Everyone who desires to learn is a hero to us.  We know that your committment to education means you don't just think of claims as "just a job".

Following the seminar, the CAIIA members held their business meeting.  One of the smoothest meetings of recent time was no easy task given the sensitive and serious topics.  Thanks go out to our president, Lorrie Ware, RPA of Southland Claims Service, Inc. who professionally lead the organization on this great convention.  With the loss of Gene Riggs, AIC, RPA as our executive director, it was uplifting to see how many members rose to the occasion to fill the duties of this unexpected vacancy.  Special thanks go to Steve Tilghman, RPA of AIMS, Lee Collins, RPA of Greggory Bragg & Associates, Elaine Jackson, RPA of Southwest Claims Service, Inc., and Dan Price, RPA of Pacific Claims Service for all their hard work in putting on the convention.  It was announced that Steve Wakefield, of Ronald Bolt & Associates, will be our new "Status Report" editor.  Thank you Steve for what you are soon to find out is one of the hardest jobs of the association.  Members should feel free to email Steve any information or articles that they feel would be worthy to the CAIIA membership.

And don't forget, all members are encouraged to attend our Annual convention  October,  3-5, 2001...to be held at the Crowne Plaza Hotel, Pleasanton, CA

For More Information Contact:

California Association of Independent Insurance Adjusters
PO Box 3159, Napa, CA 94558
Tel: (707) 258-2530
FAX: (707) 258-2538
Internet: [email protected]

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