Woman's Life Insurance Society Hold Annual Convention - Outlines Goals For The Future, Elects Officers
Insurance Advocate
October 1998

MINNEAPOLIS, Minn. – Helping women to overcome illiteracy is one of the primary goals of the Woman’s Life Insurance Society, announced national president and CEO Janice Whipple, in an address to the organization’s 29^th national convention held recently in Minneapolis.

More than 350 members and official delegates from across the United States and Canada attended the three-day event, during which Whipple addressed the organization, stressing that: "Our mission is to excel at enabling women to become financially empowered and independent. Woman’s Life cannot overlook its compelling obligations to address illiteracy. The basic ability to read, write and speak is fundamental to our ability to help women take control of their financial futures … to understand their problems and discover solutions."

Woman’s Life, a not-for-profit fraternal benefit society, was created more than 100 years ago to help women protect themselves and their families from the unexpected by providing affordable family life insurance protection and annuity products. Other membership benefits include scholarships and cancer and disaster benefits, service projects and social events through local chapters, and educational and leadership programs.

Addressing the Woman’s Life convention attendees, Whipple announced new initiatives for the organization, including:

• establishment of a Woman’s Life Internet site by the end of 1998;
• creating a Woman’s Life Resource Center by 1999;
• conducting an active campaign to gain the affiliation and endorsement of women's groups which share the Society’s passion to help women help themselves and others; and,
• introducing a new marketing campaign designed to increase awareness of the Society and its dedication to helping women take control of their financial futures. Called "Intuitions," the campaign is designed to offer those products and fraternal programs that fit a woman’s total needs at various stages within her and her family’s lifetime.

In her address, Whipple also reported that Woman’s Life introduced four new life and annuity products: a new universal life plan, a 10-year term plan, a tax-sheltered annuity and a Roth IRA. Additionally, the Society established a new conservation department dedicated to keeping current members’ insurance or annuity certificates in force. In its first year alone, noted Whipple, the department decreased the Society’s certificate surrender rate by more than 18 percent.

Whipple likewise reported on successful grass roots efforts to combat illiteracy, including garage and book sales and volunteer reading programs in senior homes and schools.

Additionally, Whipple presented member donations totaling $20,000 to Barbara Bush for the Barbara Bush Foundation for Family Literacy. An additional $9,000 was raised in only three days at the convention through a basket raffle – half from sales and the other half matched by the Society coffers.

Also addressing the convention was former first lady Barbara Bush who called Woman’s Lofe a "very special organization. You are not only about business and the bottom line – you believe in all the things that I hold most dear – family, community and literacy. Woman’s Life is not only changing the face of business, but it is also improving our communities and families," she added.

In a related development, delegates of the 29^th National Convention reelected Whipple to her third term as national president and CEO. Diane E. Lofquist, who had been appointed national secretary-treasurer upon the retirement of Joseph Haselmayer, won her first election to office. Patricia Sterbenk was elected national vice president.