Membership | MAPIA

Dear Massachusetts Licensed Public Adjuster,

This letter is to inform you that the Massachusetts Association of Public Insurance Adjusters (MAPIA) has been rejuvenated after a period of distraction and fatigue. The events of 2015 took a toll on all of us, and the losses lasted the entire two years and beyond. It was very difficult for our volunteer directors and officers to dedicate time to sustaining the organization, but we did, and now we’re focused and determined to continue promoting and protecting our profession. I’m Tim Ball, the new President; a list of our current officers and directors is attached for your convenience. I’d like to thank our past President, Michael Creed, for his many years of service. I’d also like to thank those of you who paid your dues last September, as we can’t sustain our vital organization without your help.

I’ve been a member of MAPIA for over 25 years. I was a board member in the mid-nineties when an attempt by outside forces was made to limit our hours of solicitation, and something like that could happen again. Not only did our organization successfully fight off that attempt, but was actively involved in the discussions that resulted in an alternative bill that included many positive provisions for our profession. There was a Special Committee formed immediately, numerous meetings took place, our Executive Director became extensively involved, and lobbying efforts were made on our behalf. Acting Governor Jane Swift signed our New Massachusetts License Law on September 6, 2002, and we were proud of the result.

The most important thing MAPIA does is protect the interests of all public adjusters, who, in turn, protect the public. Can you imagine what it would be like if our profession didn’t exist? What if MAPIA didn’t exist? On a day-to-day-basis, you probably wouldn’t notice. But legislation needs to be monitored, our officers and directors need to be in place, our Executive Director needs to be ready to respond, and the website needs to be maintained. Except for the members who volunteer their time, it all costs money.

Our current directors and officers have committed to holding two Continuing Education seminars annually, slated for May and September. An announcement will follow soon about the May 8, 2019 seminar. The plan is to have each one be worth 3-4 CE credits, so our members can eventually obtain the 15 credits required every three years even if they miss an event or two. We will select local, respected, and knowledgeable speakers, and we will choose topics of local interest, always remaining open to topics suggested by our members. You could go online and pay very little money to take a course on something irrelevant; or join MAPIA, and actually learn something. We used to have seminars for our members before CE requirements were instated in the bill noted above, because serious professionals always want to improve their game. CE credits are another very good reason to join MAPIA if you want to satisfy the requirement in a meaningful way.

Organizing seminars is a lot of work, so we formed a CE Committee, and Diane Swerling has agreed to chair it, assisted by Michael Creed. We’re looking for more volunteers from our membership to help with this extremely important issue.

Having been a member for so many years, and understanding why the organization is so important, I could go on for too long about why everyone should join MAPIA. The direct benefits to any one individual member are often subtle, but, collectively, I hope everyone understands the need to present a united front in the face of outside opposition, the need to promote and protect our interests, the need to promote a Code of Ethics, improve the image of our profession, and make us all better at what we do. I was looking through a file I started when I was on the board in 1994, and found the following random note: “MAPIA is the medium through which we set our differences and competitive stances aside in order to unify and educate each other in an effort to raise the level of respect for and awareness of our industry in the eyes of the public”. Unfortunately, I don’t know the source, but they were right on the money.

In 1994, the dues were $400.00. Since then, they went up when the political efforts involved in the bill of 2002 became expensive, then dropped to $300.00, and now remain at $400.00 twenty-five years later. This is a tax-deductible expense, and a small price to pay to protect your livelihood.

You need this organization, and it needs your participation. We’re going to carry on and do what we need to do, and every PA in the state will derive a benefit from our existence. So if you want to be involved, have a voice, and pull your weight, send in your membership form today. If you don’t want to be involved, at least support the organization that’s supporting you; send in the form and we’ll leave you alone. Dues paid in September 2018 run to September 2019. Those who didn’t join last September can pay their dues for next year by May and will be welcome to attend that seminar and their dues will carry them until September, 2020.

We have also established a Membership Committee, chaired by Mike Maddaleni and assisted by Mark Petrocelli. We’re also requesting volunteers for that committee.