Minneapolis, Minn.-based Professional Liability UnderwritingSociety (PLUS) and Kansas City, Mo.-based National Association ofProfessional Surplus Lines Offices (NAPSLO) said they are joiningforces to make benefits of each organization available to membersof both.

PLUS, a nonprofit organization, said it was established tosupport and enrich the careers of people involved in professionalliability insurance underwriting. NAPSLO is a national tradeassociation representing the surplus lines industry and thewholesale insurance marketing system.

Mike Ardis, NAPSLO director of communications and technology,told National Underwriter that the two groups are "joiningforces to offer existing programs to members," but that the twogroups would remain separate entities. He added that thecollaboration would not affect staff of either group. He also saidattendance to the conferences would be opened up to bothgroups.

Mr. Ardis said the goal of the initiative was to offer theeducational programs each association currently offers to membersof the other group. Also under the agreement, he said "NAPSLOmembers and their employees can take advantage of membership offersto join PLUS."

Through the partnership, NAPSLO member companies and theiremployees will gain access to the PLUS Curriculum, a 23-modulecollection of professional liability training modules designed foradult learners, and other education opportunities at its conferenceand seminars.

Concurrently, PLUS will gain the benefit of NAPSLO's surpluslines expertise through shared presentations, regulatoryinformation and access to NAPSLO's educational schools. The 2009PLUS Annual International Conference, to take place Nov. 11-13 inChicago, will host a panel presentation featuring a number ofexperts in the excess and surplus lines industry.

PLUS said it has more than 6,000 members. NAPSLO said it has 800regular members and a total of 1,600, including branch offices.

"PLUS and NAPSLO are two of the most highly respectedassociations in the insurance industry--both with unique missionsand membership--and we have a common interest in providingeducation and information to our members," PLUS's president, DavidBell, chief operating and administrative officer of Allied WorldAssurance Company, Ltd., said in a statement. "This new initiativeis designed to enhance both organizations and the value we bring toour members. It once again demonstrates how our industry respondsto challenges with the type of innovation that leads to a brighter,more successful future."

NAPSLO's president, John F. Wood III, president of SpecialtyRisk Associates, said, "NAPSLO is known as the authoritative voiceof the surplus lines industry. We are always looking forrelationships with other segments of the insurance industry,particularly when it comes to providing educational information,promoting the professionalism of our members, and sharinginformation about the vital role of the excess and surplus linesinsurance industry."

He added, "Our partnership with PLUS will allow for new ways toaccomplish our mission and provide value to our members."

Visit www.plusweb.org or www.napslo.org for more informationabout efforts to better each organization's sector of the insuranceindustry.