CIRCLE OF EXCELLENCE RECOGNITION PROGRAM FOR INTEREST GROUPS MISSION STATEMENT: The Circle of Excellence Recognition Program is a tool that interest group leaders can use to encourage innovation in adding value to interest group membership, to recognize contributions to the CPCU Society, and to offer education to the insurance industry. A. INTEREST GROUP RECOGNITION Interest group recognition is awarded in levels of Platinum, Gold, Silver, and Bronze based on a point system. Points are awarded based on activities conducted by the interest groups and their subsequent results. The results will aligned to the annual strategic goals of the CPCU Society, with an additional category called Stewardship. Awardable points are listed on the Interest Group Circle of Excellence Recognition Planning and Activity Form (Tracking Form). Those points should be based on quantitative and/or qualitative work. The Tracking Form provides a range of points that can be earned for the results in each category. Point spreads for the recognition levels as are follows: Platinum 125+ Gold 40 124 Silver 21 39 Bronze 15 20 The Platinum category represents challenging activities that achieve expected results. The recognition program is designed so that subjective points are not required to achieve Gold status, but quality of results remains critical. For example: An interest group that publishes six newsletters, conducts two symposia or workshops, prepares and conducts two Annual Meeting seminars, prepares a research project, constructs or significantly enhances a website, staffs three booths for a minimum of two hours each, and engages in two outreach activities would qualify for Gold-level Circle of Excellence Recognition, if the results of these activities are quantifiable and reach a broad audience. An interest group that publishes four newsletters, conducts two symposia or workshops, prepares and conducts one Annual Meeting seminar, constructs or significantly enhances a website, staffs three booths for a minimum of two hours each, and engages in two outreach projects would qualify for Silver-level Circle of Excellence Recognition, if the results of these activities are quantifiable and reach a broad audience.
An interest group that publishes four newsletters, conducts one symposium or workshop, constructs or significantly enhances a website, staffs one booth for a minimum of two hours each, and conducts two outreach activities would qualify for Bronze-level Circle of Excellence Recognition, if the results of these activities are quantifiable and reach a broad audience. These examples reflect the baseline suggested criteria set forth in this program. The Open category permits great latitude and creativity in submitting additional results-based actions. Activities in this category must be member focused and results-driven, and benefits should be shown. To be considered for recognition, each interest group should complete and submit both the attached Tracking Form and the Interest Group Circle of Excellence Recognition Planning and Activity Detail Form (Detail Form). The Tracking Form serves as a summary cover sheet for the submission, and it should be completed so that it clearly reflects the recognition level that is being applied for and the points requested for each activity. The Detail Form should explain the various activities that are completed as part of the overall activity that supports the related goal, as well as the results of those activities. The explanation should include why each item merits the requested score. For example, for a symposium, please include the date; place; number of attendees; rating and CE, if applicable; and who benefited from the symposium. For newsletters, please provide the number of issues and dates published. Additional item numbers and lines can be added under each activity as needed. It is not necessary to complete activities and results under each overall Goal Activity to be considered for recognition. Activities eligible for consideration should meet the general criteria of adding value to interest group membership as well as to CPCU Society membership in general, and promoting visibility of the CPCU Society. If applicable, please indicate which industry associations or groups were reached. Activities and results of all interest group members (not just Interest Group Committee members) are eligible for consideration. To assist in the quantification of activities, the Expected Results of the activity are included. Submissions should articulate how activities have helped support the Expected Result described. Activities performed by interest group members that relate directly to work activity rather than CPCU Society activity, should be included only under the Open Creative Activity category. For example, a seminar presented by an interest group member in which the CPCU Society is not acknowledged would not qualify for points under Conduct a Workshop but could qualify for points under Open Creative Activity. Remember, recognition is extended only to activities completed within the reviewing year, which is January 1 through December 31.
B. GOALS AND CORRESPONDING ACTIVITIES GOAL #1: CPCU is the most widely recognized, valued, and respected professional designation/brand in the property-casualty insurance industry among employers, industry practitioners, and other important audiences. EXPECTED RESULTS 1. Improve the professional and technical competency and performance of Society members and others sharing a common vocational discipline. 2. Increase positive awareness and brand strength of the CPCU Society and CPCU designation with both professional and consumer audiences. Conduct Symposia: Three to six points for each symposium and a maximum of twenty points can be earned for symposia conducted during the period considered. Consideration will be given to the audience, attendance, quality, complexity, and originality. Conduct Workshops: Three to six points can be earned for each workshop, with a maximum of fifteen points for all workshops conducted during the period under consideration. Consideration will be given to the audience, attendance, quality, complexity, and originality. Conduct Webinars: Three to six points can be earned for each webinar presented to an association or another group by the interest group. A maximum of eighteen points can be awarded in this category. These are programs that have already been developed by an interest group, are adapted to the group s needs and expectations, and are presented to a broad audience. Publish Articles (Non-CPCU Publications): One to three points will be awarded for each article published in a non-cpcu publication. A maximum of ten points can be awarded in this category. Please provide the name of the publication, length, issue date, title of the article, and audience for the article. Prepare a Research Project: Up to twenty points will be awarded for each original research project completed and submitted within the time period. The project must meet the requirements listed in the bullets that follow if it is begun after the publication of this memorandum, and it must meet the stated goal. Consideration will be given to quality, complexity, and current applicability. Length should be at least ten pages on 8 ½ x 11 paper, with a twelve-point font, double-spaced. The goal statement must be clearly indicated at the beginning of the paper. The statement should be consistent with the goal of delivering new and useful information to the members of the CPCU Society and to the insurance industry as a whole. The paper should be organized to include sections for Table of Contents, Introduction, Statement of Purpose, Body of Report, Summary/Conclusions, Bibliography and/or Suggested Readings (if needed), and Appendix (if needed). The paper should employ professional standards of style for a research paper for example, see Kate L. Turabian, A Manual for Writers of Term Papers, Theses and Dissertations (6 th ed.). The paper should be factual in nature, which means that it should be based on verifiable facts.
The research and analysis should be of a professional quality in other words, it should be logical and contain in-depth analysis and/or survey(s). The paper should be written primarily by one or more CPCUs who are members of the interest group submitting the paper. Provide the name of any publication containing the report and the title of the research project. Include a description of the target audience. Length should be at least ten pages on 8 ½ x 11 paper, with a twelve-point font, double-spaced. Open Creative Activity: One point or more may be awarded for any related activity under Goal 1 that is not program is designed to reward creativity. Please submit a description of your activities and their results for consideration. GOAL #2: All Society members have access to a continually increasing number of programs and services that position them for success. EXPECTED RESULT Attract more professionals into the specific discipline, into the CPCU program, and into CPCU Society membership. Publish Newsletter: One to three points can be awarded for each newsletter the Interest Group Committee publishes during the period being considered. A maximum of eight points can be awarded. Please submit number of newsletters to be considered. If more than the minimum number of points are requested for any newsletter published, please provide an explanation. Conduct CPCU Society Annual Meeting Seminar: Two to four points can be awarded for each seminar developed by the interest group. Consideration will be given to the quality, complexity, and originality of the seminar presented. Consideration will also be given to sole sponsorship and development. A maximum of ten points can be awarded. Please indicate whether the seminar is co-sponsored or is an individual interest group effort, as well as whether the seminar is an updated version of a previously successful seminar. Conduct CPCU Society Member Symposium: Two to four points for each symposium and a maximum of ten points can be earned for symposia conducted during the period considered. Consideration will be given to attendance, quality, complexity, and originality. Conduct CPCU Society Member Workshop: Two to four points can be earned for each workshop, with a maximum of ten points for all workshops conducted during the period under consideration. Consideration will be given to attendance, quality, complexity, and originality. Enhance Website for Member Value: Up to ten points can be awarded for maintaining a high-quality website for use by interest group members. Please explain the enhancements for the period under consideration. Open Creative Activity: One point or more may be awarded for any related activity under Goal 2 that is not program is designed to reward creativity. Please submit a description of your activities for consideration.
GOAL #3: Stewardship EXPECTED RESULT Increase the number of CPCU Society members engaged in and contributing to interest groups and their programs. Sponsorship Program Matching New Designees: Up to three points will be awarded for programs created and implemented by an interest group to match new designees to that interest group, but credit will be given only if the result is quantifiable. Outreach Program to CPCU Society Membership: Up to three points will be awarded for programs an interest group creates and implements that reach out to the CPCU Society membership. The outreach may be intended to generate interest in the interest group or in the Society, to educate, or to otherwise achieve the Society s strategic goals. The results of the outreach should be shown along with a quantifiable number. Local Chapter Outreach: Up to three points will be awarded for each program an interest group creates and implements that reach out to one or more local chapters. The outreach may be intended to generate interest in the activity should be included. Email Outreach: Up to three points will be awarded for emails prepared and distributed to promote interest in the outreach should be included. Letter Outreach: Up to three points will be awarded for letters prepared and distributed to promote interest in the activity should be included. Staff Annual Meeting Interest Group Booth: For two hours devoted to staffing the Annual Meeting booth, one point will be awarded. A total of three points are allocated to this activity. Staff Annual Meeting New-Designee Open House: For two hours devoted to staffing the New -Designee Open House, one point will be awarded. A total of three points are allocated to this activity. Staff I-Day Booths at Chapters: For two hours devoted to staffing an I-Day booth, one point will be awarded. A total of three points are allocated to this activity. Open Creative Activity: One point or more may be awarded for any related activity under Goal 3 that is not program is designed to reward creativity. Please submit a description of your activities for consideration. The results of this activity should be included.