Let’s gather together 38 mayors; 24 health-care professionals, including veterinarians, dieticians and pharmacists; three organic farmers; three ranchers; three vintners; two former pro athletes; six scientists; five accountants; four ministers; and four sheriffs.

Throw in a mountain guide, an auto worker, coroner, shellfish specialist, tugboat captain, driving instructor, auctioneer, toll-booth collector, cosmetics salesperson and an iron worker. Fill out the roster with even more diverse occupations, and you’ve just assembled the current 111th U.S. Congress.

Not a single insurance professional among them.

A bit scary, considering the impact they have on insurance laws and regulations.

Of course, the strength of America is our diverse backgrounds, so I believe these unique perspectives can create something truly remarkable. But expanding our legislator’s understanding of insurance is incredibly important. Fortunately, The Griffith Insurance Education Foundation has long addressed the vacuum of this vital knowledge at both the national and state government levels with education programs developed specifically for public policymakers. The goal is to provide non-partisan, objective programs on the basic principles of risk management and insurance, as well as specific information on key issues under consideration by governing bodies.

Since 1993, I’ve served as a member of the North Dakota House of Representatives and have had the privilege of attending many seminars presented by the Griffith Foundation for the National Conference of Insurance Legislators (NCOIL) Institute for Insurance Policy. These seminar series aren’t simply nice lunch get-togethers—they provide relevant information that’s valued by attendees. In fact, NCOIL member legislators can earn an “Associate” (AIP) or “Chartered” (CIP) insurance-policymaker certification based on different levels of seminar completion, and since 2009, these certificates have been awarded to 43 different state legislators.

In addition to these NCOIL seminars, The Griffith Foundation offers a “Basic Principles” seminar series at the national level to help policymakers make better-informed decisions on risk and insurance issues. These programs have been developed and are conducted by noted professors in risk management and insurance from some of the most respected colleges and universities in the country. At the invitation of state-legislative leadership, the Griffith Foundation also conducts basic principles or “Insurance 101” seminars for state insurance-committee members.

Having been the primary sponsor of 29 insurance-related bills at the state level, co-sponsor of multiple others and an invested participant in NCOIL efforts with Congress, I can assure you that an insurance-educated legislator can be the industry’s biggest advocate. The impact of laws and regulations on our entire industry is ongoing. It’s not simply the hot topic of the day; it’s the hot topic of the decade.

I encourage you, as a steward of our industry, to look into the efforts of the Griffith Foundation. If you interact with legislators in any way, make them aware of these educational offerings. And remember that as a 501-3(c) organization, the Griffith Foundation relies on industry support for all of its programs—with policymakers and also with K-12 and university-level students and educators. The foundation has been at it since 1947, but if you haven’t checked out their programs yet, I encourage you to do so now, starting with a visit to www.griffithfoundation.org.

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Does Your Legislator Understand You?

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