Steve may not have an "in" with those clubs,
Several firms sell "Stipulated Value" policies, it is NOT a new or unique product.I bet at least 100 long-time members sell insurance, and even own their own firms. ACR Steve Katz comes to mind. Great Guy, recommend w/ confidence. Lee Walters in CALIF comes to mind too. The "appearance" of a conflict arises when a block of business is simply "HANDED" lock-stock & barrel to a club officer, without even the semblance of an RFP-Bid, or a clear-cut "Value-Added" benefit. ie "Buy from This Guy and get Zero deductible for Members!!" That would be great! Did I miss seeing a member benefit? Does the club treasury get a commision on sales? That would be a member benefit. We have all heard of "Where All The Profit Goes To The Club" in a certain other program......but not one penny did. Janni, you were vocal on this point: Anytime a for-profit opportunity arose in past several years, to whom was it simply HANDED ? Gifted? It was a Grant-process. Please note: I have always advocated a Business-to-Business network of "Good Guys" who have proved up. And this insurance guy may be a good one! I suspect he is. I would listen to his offers. But calling his product a 'Member Benefit', and providing his commercial message to members, and making it look like a sponsor-deal? Especially after repeated, vocal and aggresive endorsements of the grantors by the insurance guy in question? Remember: The very first post here by fake-person JBFY was from a german IP. It posted the 'endorsement letter' headed by the very same insurance guy praising the 2012 incumbents, and using at least 2 sigs without permission! Now the same endorser gets a return endorsement of his insurance offerings by those he endorsed. Quid-Pro-Quo.
Steve is not an officer. No VCA funds are being expended (at least as far as we know) for this "benefit"..........
Not currently an officer, but Steve IS the head of the recently-created Financial Oversight Committee!! Please re-read the 'quid-pro-quo' paragraph 4 posts prior ? Even if the sales company [might be?] a paid advertisor-sponsor of the club, there is still the "appearance" of a conflict. Any "others" who have been so endorsed or referred, and for whom materials have been distributed have to pay for that commercial advertisement. Open mind at work: This MAY simply be an innocent FYI of insurance products from an insurance seller who has done his homework.And again, for "apperances" sake: He heads the new "Financial Oversight Committee." 'Nuff Said.
But- I can see the potential issue in the case of Steve's company and the position he currently holds on the FOC. Got it.
....maybe you know steve better than anyone here. some of us could be wrong in our perceptions. but was he not part of the group of directors that started the vpa? was he on the board with you when the vpa was started? do you know what his involvement in the vpa was/is?