100 YEARS OF KAIA
THE KANSAS BIG I SUCCESS STORY
BY : JIM WALLACE , IIAK EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR
In celebration of the Kansas Association of Insurance Agents ’ 100 years you will be able to read historic pieces from magazines , pamphlets , brochures as found in the KAIA archives . Take a walk down memory lane or discover something new from past founders , presidents , directors , and even members whose names you could recognize today ! This story was written by former KAIA executive director in June 1980 . Learn more about KAIA ’ s history at kaia . com / 100years .
Kansas independent insurance agents have come to rely on their association for an increasing num ber of services and protections . While many Big I associations have enjoyed rapid growth over the past fifteen years , Kansas has been among the leaders . Few states can match the record of accomplish ment compiled by the membership , officers , and staff of the Kansas organization . educational and member services . The association had acquired its own office building at 917 Topeka Avenue , along · with a mortgage payment .
Five years later at the end of the 1976 fiscal year , the association was reporting gross receipts of just under $ 299,000 . Over $ 90,000 of this amount was non-dues
A number of different measure ments can be applied to trade associations . In 1966 , the Kansas Big I recorded annual receipts of approximately $ 87,000 of which $ 83,000 was received in the form of dues .
Staff was essentially two persons in rented quarters . The association ’ s office equipment in those days consisted of a mimeograph , two typewriters and a wet copier . The association was even then con sidered one of the stronger Big I state organizations .
Two of the more important decisions made in 1966 were the kickoff of the association ’ s sponsorship of Rapid Rater and the hiring of Jim Wallace as its execu tive director . Both of these deci sions proved to be long-term ones for the association .
By 1971 the association ’ s gross receipts had grown to $ 170,000 . Even more significant was the fact that nondues income exceeded $ 60,000 of the total . Association staff strength had grown to three and one-half persons and the association was becoming a leader in offering
Kansas Insurance magazine , June 1980
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