• We had a New Designee Networking Event at a popular bar in the East Village. This provided an opportunity to congratulate this group, and encourage their participation and involvement in Chapter activities;
• George Corde, our President Elect, on two business trips to Miami and Dubai, made separate presentations to corporate risk management employees on the benefits of the CPCU designation.

• We had a meeting/networking event and private tour at the BODIES exhibit at the South Street Seaport. Without sounding too morbid, the private tour played to our risk management instincts and gave us insights into how injuries and self-inflicted damage (like smoking and other unhealthy lifestyles) can wreak havoc on the body;
• We participated actively in the Annual Conference in Philadelphia, holding a New Designee reception with the Long Island Chapter and participating in the Diversity reception on behalf of AIG;
• I presented "Accountability: The Ethical Imperative" at the National African American Insurance Association's Annual Conference in Philadelphia

• We co-sponsored with the National Association of Insurance Women (NAIW) on a Speed Networking event. This event combined the best  of "speed dating" with conventional business networking in a way that allowed participants a fun way to meet new people and expand their contacts. We coordinated this with Michelle Pertesis,  President of the NAIW and a newly-minted CPCU designee and Chapter member;
• We co-sponsored a golf outing with the Long Island Chapter. The proceeds of the event went to the LI Chapter's Insurance Education Scholarship Fund and the Interfaith Nutrition Network;
• We made a Connections visit to Willis and made a presentation to associates in their Management Development program on the professional and personal benefits associated with the CPCU designation

• We held our Conferment Luncheon at the spectacular Cipriani's at 55 Wall Street. While we feared a low turnout because of the market turmoil, over 200 people attended the event. The event was especially challenging for us: Martin Sullivan was our original keynote speaker but had to excuse himself after he was deposed as CEO at AIG. Robert Willumstad, his successor graciously agreed to fill the role until the same fate befell him. Ultimately (and very fortunately), we were able to secure Kevin Kelley, then CEO of Lexington Insurance (and now at Ironsure) as keynoter. Jim Marks, EVP of the Society and Pete Miller, CEO of AICPCU/IIA sat on the dais with Pete serving as Conferring Officer;
• We issued an Excellence Award to Ernesta Procope, Chairwoman of E.G. Bowman, for her groundbreaking life work in promoting diversity and expanding opportunities for minorities in the insurance business, and to Kevin Kelley, CPCU, for being a role model in promoting the benefits of earning the CPCU designation
• We also brought in new, non-insurance company Conferment Luncheon sponsors, including Kaplan Financial and Sidley Austin, a law firm.

• We co-sponsored our annual luncheon with the Association of Professional Insurance Women. Brian Duppereult, President and CEO of Marsh & McLennan, made the keynote presentation. Prior to his keynote speech, I had an opportunity to address the audience on the benefits of the CPCU designation
• We held "Brainstorming the Next Generation of Insurance Products", an interactive, Continuing Education-accredited program led by Ty Sagalow, head of Zurich's product development unit. The program was oversubscribed and we had to turn away audience.

• We held a CPCU Society Center for Leadership course, "Climbing the Corporate Ladder: Strategies to Move Ahead During Tough Times", led by Marty Murphy, CPCU and SVP of Jacobsen Associates, an executive search firm specializing in the insurance industry;
• Frank Chiarelli, former New York Chapter president and I met with Murray Bergstrom high school students involved in an insurance company business simulation exercise and competition to provide guidance and "inside the industry" perspective to help them develop their project;
• I attended, was acknowledged from the dais, and spoke about the benefits of the CPCU at the Chinese American Insurance Association Annual Conference.

• We  held "Accountability, The Ethical Imperative" for Ethics Awareness Month

• Several of our members participated in the Murray Bergstrom High School Career Day to offer insights and perspectives on careers in the insurance industry;
• Several of our members participated in the March of Dimes walkathon;
• I had the opportunity to make a luncheon presentation on "What I Learned as Chapter President" at the CPCU Leadership Summit in Phoenix,  AZ;
• We presented "Crime Scene Investigation: How the Industry Uses Forensic Analysis" as a Continuing Education-accredited program. The presenter was a certified engineer from National Forensic Consultants

• We held a golf/networking event at Chelsea Piers. Cocktails and drinks enabled socializing and networking. We also had unlimited access to the driving range with two golf pros helping our guests improve their swing mechanics. The event was co-sponsored by the Association of Professional Insurance Women (APIW); the Insurance Brokers Association of New York (IBANY) the New York City Association of Insurance and Financial Advisors (NYCAIFA), and the Chinese American Insurance Association (CAIA).
• Michael Leinenbach, a Chapter and International Interest Group member, arranged for Lindene Patton, Zurich's Chief Climate Change officer, to be a featured speaker at the Annual Conference in Denver

• We are holding an I-Day at St.John's School of Risk Management and Insurance on June 12. The program will feature presentations by three Interest Group sections and is designed to increase awareness of and participation in CPCU Interest Groups
• We are holding our Past President's luncheon on June 23 at Bayard's At this luncheon, we will honor our Chapter's past presidents, will present a scholarship to the Murray Bergstrom High School insurance entrepreneurs class and will transfer leadership to our incoming president, George Corde. 

 I thank everyone who contributed to the year's success and wish my successor, George Corde, the very best. 

Regards,

Bart Shachnow