New! Online classes exclusively for PIA members  PIA of Nebraska is beginning 2007 with a bang for your buck and time. Members and their employees have an affordable, new opportunity to obtain information to enhance their business straight from your computer desktop. It is a benefit exclusive to PIA of Nebraska and Iowa members offered to us by PIA of New York. Have you Lunch 'n' Learned? LnL is a series of practical "brown- bag" multimedia teleconference education programs. Lunch 'n' Learn arms agency staff with valuable skills they can take straight to their desks. Topics are selected to help your staff be more productive, efficient, and gain a greater sense of mastery. Scroll down for more info on the newest installment of this popular program!
The topic is "Surety Bonds: Contract Surety," With Jack Dumpert, Wed., April 4, 2007. Contact Surety - bonds for contractors performing public work - is a vital segment of the Insurance Market. It is also one of the least understood. This program introduces the basics of contract surety bonds. Enhanced understanding of contract surety will help producers service their contractor clients - or aid producers in obtaining contractor clients.  Key learning objectives: What are surety bonds? How are they used in construction? How are they underwritten? Who should participate? Producers with contractor clients Producers seeking contractor clients. Members of the agency bond department or those who wonder what are they doing over there in the bond department. Register here: http://www.pia.org/EDU/extras/LunchNLearnCentral.shtml
Use these links for more L'n'L info: Read what participants are saying about this innovative program! About Lunch 'n' Learn: What is it? What is the purpose of Lunch 'n' Learn? What is an audio conference? How will this conference work? What do you need to participate? What materials will be received upon registration? What are the benefits of participating in this program? Cancellation Policy More programs in this series
What are participants saying about this innovative program? "It was nice that we didn't have to drive anywhere and leave the office understaffed for 1/2 of the day. I think we all got something out of the session. Would definitely participate in the future." "Overall-great job, we will be back for another session." "Everything seems easy to understand here. Good job!" "I enjoyed your series this afternoon, it was very informative and we all learned something new." "L'n'L format is good - an easy time for people to be available. Liked the audio format. Short session on specific topic was good. Ample opportunity for Q&A-all our questions were answered during the session. Our agency will be "regulars" at future sessions!" "The time frame was perfect. This subject lent itself to lunch hour training. The inclusion of participant questions was helpful and timed well in presentation. Extra materials also very helpful as a future resource." About Lunch 'n' Learn PIA’s new Lunch 'n' Learn programs bring practical, “must-know” topics right into your agency. Agency staff will learn information targeted to help them perform their jobs better—all in under an hour (starting at noon ET), without leaving the office. Register for Lunch 'n' Learn and, using a speaker phone, you can offer this learning opportunity to multiple staff at once. Just register for the program, provide the email address of the primary participant, and let PIA do the rest! Participants will need:  Internet e-mail access to receive support materials A telephone (or speakerphone if multiple participants) Participants receive via e-mail: Upon registration, the primary participant will receive an initial registration confirmation via e-mail. You are encouraged to send any questions related to this topic ahead of time to the e-mail address provided. The day before the Lunch 'n' Learn audio conference, primary participants will receive via e-mail: Information on how to access the operator-assisted teleconference (one dial-in line per registration); A link to the slide-show presentation and support materials that will be addressed during the program (you may view them on your computer screen or print them for distribution to multiple participants from your agency); An e-mail address to which you may send any questions you have before, during or after the program; and An evaluation form that we will ask each participant to complete and return to PIA (share with all participants via e-mail or print and return to PIA via fax.) Participants are encouraged to “brown-bag” their lunch and gather around a speaker phone to maximize the value your agency can receive from this program. NOTE: (Lunch 'n' Learn programs are NOT being filed for CE, so participants will NOT need to take a monitored exam on the content.) What is the purpose of Lunch 'n' Learn? PIA's Lunch 'n' Learn teleconference programs will provide member agencies and their employees with practical education/information. Subjects are selected to assist participants in running their agencies and/or serving their clients more efficiently. Programs will be less than one hour in duration and will include valuable summaries to print out, keep and share. The seminars will be conducted via operated-assisted conference call and will be open to an unlimited number of participants at your agency or company. (Fee is per phone line). Lunch 'n' Learn programs will be conducted between noon -1 p.m. ET. Participants must register in advance and will be provided with conference call access pass code and visual/pass out materials in advance via e-mail. Participants are encouraged to have multiple employees at each phone site (with speaker phone), to maximize savings and participation. What are the benefits of participating in PIA's Lunch 'n' Learn audio conference education series? No need to travel out of your office Educate multiple staff people at one time, for one low fee User-friendly formats that facilitate learning What is a teleconference? It's much like a large conference call, but in a more controlled, interesting, radio-program-like environment. Participants call in on an 800 number, answered by a live operator. Sit back and listen to the presentations and submit questions via e-mail for the Q&A follow-up. Follow along with your speaker as they guide you through the multimedia presentations. Gather your staff around your conference table's speakerphone and have everyone benefit from the advice and information shared. How will this teleconference work? The program comes to you via a teleconference. During the call, the instructor will guide participants through the presentation and support materials. Each registration entitles one phone line from your agency to access the teleconference program. You may have an unlimited number of participants in your office. After the program, participants can e-mail their questions to the speaker, which will be compiled and e-mailed after the teleconference. Cancellation Policy: If you are unable to join us for the teleconference, call to cancel at least four working days prior to the program for a full refund. Registration fees must be paid in advance, please do not fax a duplicate registration form if you are mailing in a check for payment.