It's difficult to imagine where IASA would be withoutvolunteers. Thankfully there are individuals like Morty Mann, ErniePearson and Linda Paolucci—people who have dedicated themselves tothe IASA over the years to make the organization better.

Insurance veteran Mann, recipient of IASA President's Award, hasheld many roles within the IASA over 40 years and was instrumentalin the creation of several IASA textbooks.

Pearson is a 15-year volunteer and currently IT director,applications development at SECURA; he also was the 2004 IASAVolunteer of the Year.

Paolucci, manager of SEC and regulatory reporting for TIAA-CREFinNew York, is a 12-year volunteer and 2008 IASA Volunteer of theYear. Here they offer their perspectives on the importance ofvolunteerism to the organization.

How can volunteering with the IASA help insuranceprofessionals achieve greatness?

Mann: Volunteering with the IASA is an easy way to meet otherpeople who share similar concerns and who have been able to solvesimilar problems. It's also a great way to get educated, becausethe best way to learn something is to explain or teach it toothers. Being chair of the textbook committee and other committeesover time caused me to answer a lot of questions, and answeringthose questions helped me build up my own knowledge. Volunteeringis also a great way to build associations. Even after I retired in1988 from Colonial Penn, being involved with the IASA allowed me tokeep up my contacts.

Paolucci: You will never meet a finer group than the IASA staffand volunteers. By volunteering you become part of the family andestablish networking that plays a big role in helping you achievebusiness and personal goals. Your self-confidence will grow and youtruly will put yourself on the path to achieving greatness in allyou do. And as you achieve greatness in your profession, yourcompany benefits as well.

Pearson: The IASA offers a broad-based network of continuouslearning. Volunteering with the IASA helps you build a network thatyou can always call on when faced with a new challenge at work.Being involved as a volunteer also builds your teamwork skills.Speaking from my own experience, the personal rewards ofcontributing to one of our industry's most prestigious nonprofitorganizations are tremendous.

What has kept you involved in theIASA?

Pearson: Besides the networking and professional developmentopportunities, it's a great opportunity to give back to ourindustry. Also, my role with the IASA has at times been differentfrom my day job, which has forced me to stretch and grow bothpersonally and professionally. Also, you can't underestimate thevalue of new relationships and good friends that you makethroughout your involvement as a volunteer.

Mann: What has kept me involved is the sense of cooperation thatexists among members, even though we all work in companies thatcompete with each other. I remember when I was a new guy preparingmy first annual statement—I based it on GAAP and got a 19-pageletter from the chief examiner. Someone in the IASA helped me, andthat immediately showed me the kind of cooperation we have thatlasts a lifetime. That cooperation is not unique to accounting—itextends to technology and other areas as well. I've stayed involvedeven after retiring because it's a way that I can give back to anindustry that has given so much to me.

What would you say to someone who says he or shedoesn't have time to get involved?

Paolucci: Make the time. Everyone is busy, but you have torealize that the way you achieve greatness is by being involved.Your experiences on the various committees are an education initself, and the skills you will develop over time are invaluable. Ihave grown in my own job because of my various committeeresponsibilities.

Pearson: The IASA needs volunteers at both the state andnational level to thrive. The commitment that you make and the rolethat you take on can be shaped to fit the time and talents that youhave. There's no reason that anyone could not be an effectivevolunteer.

Mann: Don't cheat yourself — it's as simple as that. Theaffiliations you make, the contacts available to you, and theskills you will learn as part of your volunteer involvement areworth the investment of time that you make.