Nov/Dec -By Stu Durland 
Submit your top reason on our comment box below.
These days, everyone has a “Top Ten” list: The top ten movies of the year, the top ten sports teams, David Letterman’s Top Ten Reasons for just about anything. Top Ten lists are popular because they’re a great way to quickly describe the subject’s outstanding attributes. So it is only fitting to list the top ten advantages of user groups within ASCnet.
Having been involved with ASCnet for 19 years, and having served on several committees, the board of directors, and the executive committee, I feel fairly well qualified to determine a top ten list. I’ve been able to take advantage of them all, and they have directly benefited my agency.
10. Advocacy. ASCnet works with other organizations, such as ACT (Agents Council for Technology), ACORD and AUGIE (ACORD-User Groups Information Exchange) to help advance our objectives. By working together we can help advance the technological needs of independent agents.
9. Agency. Knowledge Exchange Through Newsgroups. There are times when I don’t know how to use a feature of my agency management system. With newsgroups, I have the opportunity to communicate with other agents, ask questions and get
suggestions. I can usually find the answers I need while developing stronger relationships with other agents.
8. Conferences and Summits. It’s great to exchange e-mails and phone calls, but there’s nothing like face-to-face interaction with other agents and experts. Having just attended the latest TENCon in Kansas City, I was impressed with the large number and variety of classes available, as well as the expertise of the instructors and presenters. I also appreciated the opportunity to meet many new agents and industry professionals who attended. Each year I learn something new.
7. Local Chapters. Local agents can work together to solve issues unique to our area and share knowledge and experience. Our concerns in New York’s Hudson Valley may be different than those for agents in North Dakota, so these local groups can tackle their unique concerns head-on.
6. Taking Advantage of the Best of the Applied Agency Management Systems. The agent committees work hard to identify the applications and tools available through Applied that are the most beneficial to an agency. The work they do allows agencies like mine to “cut to the heart of the matter” and begin to implement procedures that take advantage of these tools while increasing production and streamlining workflow.
5. Education. Besides the conferences and summits, the group offers a variety of educational opportunities—from how to use TAM applications to disaster recovery to an introduction to Word. The classes and webinars are great, not just for agency principals but for all levels of agency personnel.
4. New Marketing Opportunities. Marketing has changed drastically in the past few years, and now the focus is on the Internet. Our user groups offer classes, webinars and discussions on how to take advantage of these new marketing vehicles, from search engine optimization to pay-per-click ads, blogging and social media. Without the resources ASCnet makes available, we’d be lost in this new “virtual” world.
3. Networking. Nothing beats talking with other agents and industry professionals about what’s going on in our world. The conferences, webinars, committees and discussion forums available through ASCnet allow us to seek and give advice, vent our frustrations, get tips on operations and address all sorts of other issues. We are able to support each other in bad times and good, and that’s a keystone to success.
2. The Big Picture. ASCnet doesn’t just focus on how to better use the Applied systems. It provides guidance, expert advice, information and education on how to become a better agency. The committees spend the time to research and develop systems and programs to help agencies in all areas. By taking advantage of all the group has to offer, we can move our agency forward faster and with less effort. Bottom line: It contributes to our ongoing success and profitability.
1. What! No Number One? Au contraire; each and every one of us has a number one reason for being an active member of ASCnet. Tell us yours in the comment box below. We’ll compile the tallies and let you know next issue what the real number one reason is.
Stuart Durland is Principal, Seely & Durland Agency, Warwick, New York. www.seely-durland.com