The Gulf Spill has been one of those inertia producing eruptions in social history that winds up spilling into business, creating a demoralizing effect on entrepreneurs who thrive on enthusiasm. Thank God this seems to be over, but the effects will be far reaching, as our feature article in this issue states. …One of the most interesting notices we have received recently is from a friend in Ohio who reports that an insurance carrier is suing A.M. Best for lowering its ratings. We are researching the matter presently and will come back to our readers in the next issue with a report on this interesting development… Perhaps it was Harry Leff, a long-standing volunteer in insurance agents’ associations, who coined the phrase “Kosher Nostra” to describe the mix of ethnic groups in the downstate area, an expanding phenomenon as we reported last month with the launch of LABA. Look for a new ethnic agents group to be organized soon in Queens.… We are pleased to salute the UJA honorees this year; they are Don Gabay and Lane Rubin, who were feted at an event held a few weeks back in Long Island to raise money for the United Jewish Appeal. The organizers of the event did a good job and united many agents and brokers and company leaders in this endeavor… Independent Insurance Agents Association of Suffolk County installed its officers and directors and gave awards for service to its longtime leaders. Richard A. Poppa, CAE/AAI, President and CEO of the IIABNY and Thomas Crowley, CPCU, CIC, IIABNY secretary/treasurer, performed the installation ceremony. Installed officers included: Russell C. Vollmer, of Vollmer-Adair Agency in Greenlawn who is now the organization’s president while Earl Eaton, CPCU, CLU, of the Eaton Agency in Amityville will serve as vice president. Paulette Katz, CIC, Maurice B. Cunningham, Inc. in Southampton will remain the association’s treasurer and David M. Borg, CPCU, CIC, of Borg & Borg, Inc. in Huntington will assume the position of secretary. IIABSC also installed the following directors:

• Joanne Bentivegna, CIC, CRM, Bank of Smithtown Insurance Agents & Brokers Inc. in Hauppauge;

• David H. Borg, CISR, Borg & Borg, Inc. in Huntington;

• Richard de la Sota, CPCU, MRW Group, Inc., Huntington;

• Joseph Gundermann, AAI, Gundermann & Gundermann, Inc., Huntington;

• Eric Keiffert, CPCU, Hometown Insurance Agency, Bohemia;

• Lawrence Liquori, CIC, Jacka-Liquori Agency, Inc., in Kings Park;

• Virginia McGrath, Three Village Bennett Agency, Port Jefferson;

• Aaron Stein, CPCU, CFP, Norton & Siegel, Inc., in Babylon.

George H. Brooks, the immediate past president of the association, received the distinguished Ferdinand Coste Award in recognition of his unselfish dedication to the Big “I” associations and for furthering the ideals of fellow independent insurance agents. Since 2005, the Vincent A. Alba Lifetime Achievement Award recognizes those individuals who for many years have demonstrated their commitment through exceptional service to the association. This award was once again presented by Vincent Alba and this year the recipient was John K. Mulvey. From the Member/Employee Scholarship program, two $500.00 gift certificates were presented to Rose Massa and Meetu Mehrotra to be used towards furthering education of classes designed for industry designations and/or licensing.