March 30, 1999 Recap by: Jim Jones, CPCU

Our Chapter held its annual Franklin Award Luncheon on Tuesday, March 30, 1999, at the Doubletree Hotel in Philadelphia. The 1999 recipient was the Honorable Roy Reinard III. Besides being active in the insurance industry, Mr. Reinard is a member of the Pennsylvania State House of Representatives for the 178^th District, representing Bucks County.

Chapter President, Sandra L. Loebs, CPCU, presented the award to Mr. Reinard. The Franklin Award Committee Chair, Josephine Battisti, CPCU, delivered a tribute on behalf of the Chapter. The ceremony was highlighted by a Proclamations and Citations from the Pennsylvania House and Senate, and acknowledgement for Mr. Reinard by Pennsylvania’s Governor, Thomas Ridge. (The Governor, unable to be present, sent his remarks via video-tape.) In addition, Pennsylvania Lieutenant Governor Mark Schweiker, Insurance Commissioner Diane Koken and Philadelphia Mayor Edward Rendell each offered tributes. The Governor and Mayor also paid special tribute to the good works exemplified by the Philadelphia Chapter and the CPCU Society.

Accepting the award, Mr. Reinard credited his family and relatives for making all of his achievements possible. The support they have provided him over the years allowed him to grow in both his insurance and political careers. He attributed his interest in insurance to his father and uncle who started a family insurance agency, a heritage which he and his cousin have followed.

Mr. Reinard worked for Continental Insurance Company before joining the family’s agency. He also taught at Montgomery County Community College after graduating from West Chester University, where he majored in education. While teaching, he became interested in politics and was elected to the legislature, in which he has served for 17 years.

Mr. Reinard indicated he was very concerned about the welfare of the consumer, and wanted to be sure each person received the insurance products and services promised, and paid for. He was proud of his contributions in the legislature, which enabled various modern insurance laws to be enacted. These new laws have resulted in improvements in commercial, personal and health care insurance in the commonwealth.

Pennsylvania Insurance Commissioner Diane Koken, substituting for Governor Ridge, saluted Representative Reinard for his technical expertise and hard work. The reforms he promoted have helped make business more competitive in Pennsylvania, and also helped consumers. In particular, Commissioner Koken praised his efforts in reforming the workers compensation system, (resulting in businesses saving over $1.7 billion dollars in five years), improving long term care, and elimination of more than 300 pages of outdated insurance regulations which helped to streamline operations in her department.

Noting that Mr. Reinard is the only active insurance agent in the legislature, Commissioner Koken stated that being able to draw upon his knowledge of insurance has made her work as Commissioner a lot easier. Finally, Koken indicated she looked forward to continuing to work with Representative Reinard as Pennsylvania moved into the 21^st century, where technology and solvency issues will become increasingly important.