NASBP Fall Meetings Are a Big Hit!

After a month-long hiatus from in-person meetings, the NASBP Fall Meetings were a fantastic way to reconnect and engage with other NASBP members, affiliates, and associates. The locations were specifically chosen for their ease in access, places of interest, and geographic rotation. The move from the traditional Regional Meetings was made to encourage attendance without territorial restriction and offer flexibility in scheduling, as well as provide a greater value to the sponsorship dollars committed by our generous sponsors.

It had been years since NASBP had visited Boston, location of our East Meeting; and the venue was perfectly located in the Seaport area, within walking distance of many restaurants, bars, and points of interest. The energy of the attendees was palpable–passion and purpose were on full display at the morning sessions and the attendance for both mornings was proof that we delivered content of interest to our attendees. I was very pleased with the both the quality and the variety found in the session content. The open afternoons provided ample opportunities for networking, as did the various affiliate entertainment options and our open and closing receptions.

For our West Meeting, San Antonio’s River Walk offered another fantastic location and value for our attendees to engage in informative sessions, inspiring motivational speech, and numerous affiliate dinners/cocktail hours and our receptions. We accomplished our goal of consistency in the offerings between the two meetings while providing enough differing content to make attendance at one or both worthwhile. The motivational speech by our Keynote John Kriesel was unforgettable, and the location provided an abundance of off-site entertainment location options for our many surety carrier attendees. On behalf of NASBP, I want, once again, to thank all of our sponsors who helped make these meetings a huge success and extend a heartfelt appreciation to those members who attended. The satisfaction survey results prove that you found great value in attending.

While contemplating all of this, it made me think of those who, by not attending, missed out on so much and ponder why the member numbers weren’t larger at these meetings. I feel the need to promote FOMO–Fear Of Missing Out–and the value proposition of the time and expense to attend. As member organizations watch their expenditures, perhaps meetings such as this don’t survive the cut. I humbly suggest a re-evaluation of the cost/benefit analysis. Remember, it’s not just the session content. It’s not just the potential to interact with your individual underwriters. It’s not just the receptions and dinners and entertainment. Attendance at a NASBP meeting is a real-world example of the whole experience being greater than the sum of its parts. The opportunity to spend a few days with and the benefits gained from being surrounded by industry peers, whether with members from other parts of the country or affiliate underwriters and executives, is immeasurable. To continue my use of football analogies, watching your favorite team on TV has many benefits; but there’s nothing like going to the game itself. The experience is magnified. I think of saying “Yes, I watched the Minneapolis Miracle game on TV” versus “I WAS AT THE MINNEAPOLIS MIRACLE GAME–IT WAS AMAZING!!!” The in-person experience is always greater.

As I reflect on my time as a member of NASBP, I have always gained much more from attending these meetings than what is assumedly evident from the schedule. I have truly gained and grown as a surety professional by taking advantage of every opportunity to interact and engage with my peers. If you have not attended a NASBP meeting or event in a while, or are in a position to approve attendance by subordinates, I strongly encourage you to consider making it a priority in the future–whether it be at next year’s NASBP Fall meetings in Nashville and Las Vegas, or of our upcoming opportunities–the NASBP Mid-Year Board Meeting in Colorado Springs, the Legislative Fly-in in Washington, DC, or my Annual Meeting in Marco Island, FL. Our affiliates are attending and looking for opportunities to connect with our members. We need more members to attend. Everyone wins when that happens.

Speaking of Marco Island, I am pleased to report that our 2023 Annual Meeting site experienced minimal damage from Hurricane Ian. We are in constant contact with the JW Marriott, and its beach and pool clean-up efforts are well underway. The hotel itself was untouched by flooding or storm damage. It will be an amazing time for all–I hope you can join us then.

Nick Newton is President of Newton Bonding, an AssuredPartners Agency in St. Paul, MN. He can be reached at nick@newtonbonding.com or 651.369.9946.