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ANNIVERSARY CLUB IS IN SESSION
WITH THE SOUTHERN STATES LIFE
Principal Agents of the
Company Gather at
Home Office for
Discussion and Re
wards—Four States
Represented.
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JOSEPH W. VINSON.
President the Anniversary Club.
There will be brought to a close to
night the sixth annual convention of
the Anniversary Club of The Southern
States Life Insurance Company. with
an elaborate banquet at the Piedmont
Driving Club, tendered the Anniversary
Club by the officers and directors of
The Southern States Life Insurance
Company.
The business sessions, which were
conducted today, were the most inter
esting in the history of the organiza
tion and the advanced notices indicate
that, the social gathering tonight will
be in keeping with the proceedings
which have preceded.
With the gathering of the Anniver
sary Club each year, there is attracted
to the home office, the leaders in the
agency force of this splendid company.
These annual events are eagerly antici
pated from year to year by the agents
of the company, who achieve their
membership through their own endeav
ors. These conventions mark the close
of a twelve months struggle to gain
membership and the splendid rewards
which go w ith them.
The opening session of the club was
held in the offices of the company, in
the Candler building. Thursday morn
ing. where the concluding session was
adjourned this afternoon. I; was just
six years ago that The Southern States
Life Insurance Company was organ
ised, and during that time has won and
retained the < onfldence and approbation
of the insuring public.
PRESIDENT'S ADDRESS.
Wilmer 1.. the president of
the company, has injected his wonderful
personality not only into the home of
fice. but into the agency force in the
field, which is considered the most pro
gressive and enthusiastic of any com
pany now operating in the South.
It is due to Mr. Moore and bis pains
taking. conscientious and enthusiastic
supervision that The Southern States
Life Insurance Company has taken the
leading rank which it now enjoys. The
Southern States Life is operated upon a
high, plane, with broad-minded princi
ples and with the knowledge that he
who builds slowly builds best; and this
company lias follow ed'in the steps of
other successful old-time companies,
which are now so firmly established in
business and in the confidence of the
public.
No company can obtain a sound and
successful growth except through the
efforts of its agency force in the field,
and which goes to prove that that all
important department ik of vital con
cern to the company itseif. Realizing
this fact. President Moore gathered
into his office the leading agents of the
company in June. 1907. and it was then
that the Anniversary Club was organ
ized.
This club isj unique in that its mem
bership' is not appointed, but must be
won. An agent, to become a member,
must produce personally and pay for
applications amounting to over SIOO,OOO
in order to qualify as a member, and
then no credit is given for business
written under any term plan nor upon
the lives of agents of any life insur
ance company.
The selection of officers of the club
are secured in the same way. To the
agent who, after qualifying, gets the
largest amount of business is given the
office of president, and to the one who
writes the second largest amount that
of vice president
To each state whose entire agency
'J Ik
M. B. SMITH.
Vice President From South Carolina.
force has written over a half million
dollars 4s accorded a vice presidency,
and to that agent who wrote the larg
est part of this amount is given the
title of state vice president. All of
this business, of course, must be writ
ten during the qualifying period. The
club secretary alone is appointed, and
is from the home office staff, which in
sures due attention to the business af
fairs of the club.
There has been healthy rivalry among
the agents since the organization of
the club.’ both as to membership and
office. Those who have once attained
membership use their utmost endeavors
to have their names similarly enrolled
on the club roster during each succeed
ing
that the Keystone Degrees, of which
there are three, have been established
as a reward for continuance of mem
bership. In order to qualify for the
first degree, an agent must secure
membership ’ for four consecutive
years. This done, he enters upon
the first degree of the Keystone,
which carries with it a suitable addi
tion to the Anniversary Club badge, and
besides is provided with a monetary
prize, depending in amount on the re
newal business written by such an
agent.
This year the membership of the club
consists of fourteen agents, and the list
of the members is as follows:
From Georgia—H. Willis Hogg. W. L._
Meador, H. N. McAfee. Thomas Peters,
Jr., Joe W. Vinson and J. T. Weems.
From South Carolina—T. J. Cotting
ham. Fred Hines. G. J. McDowell and
M. B. Smith.
From Florida —D A. Leon. S. J. Mc-
Call. B. B. Murray and J. C. Walden. Sr.
Agency Secretary Robert F. Moore,
who has held with such splendid suc-
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THE ANNIVERSARY (I.I’B F’OR 1912-13.
Top row. reading from left to right. Fred Hines. H. Willis Hogg. Second row. S. -I. McCall, David A. Leon. H. N. McAfee. 4. T. Weems. T. J. Cottingham G
J ; McDowell. Bottom row. Robert F. Moore, secretary :J. C. Walden. Sr., vice president: Joe W. Vinson, president; Burton B. Murray, state vice president for
Florida. Absent: W. L. Meador, state vice president for Georgia; M. B. Smith, state vice president for South Carolina, and Thuinas I’eters, Jr.
cess the office of secretary of the An
niversary Flub, was unanimously ap
pointed to .the office he has held since
the club was first organized.
This is the fifth yeai of th.' club, and
out of the members of it there are three
who have never failed to secure 'mem
bership. They are H. N. McAfee,’ G. .1.
McDowell and J. T. Weems.
Fred Hines. W. L. Meador and Joe W.
Vinson have been members of the club
for the past four sears in succession,
and D A. Leon and B. B. Murray have
been members for fne last three years,
and H. Willis Hogg and M. B. Smith,
for two years. T .). i'ottingham, S. J.
McCall. Thomas Peters, Jr., and .1. ('.
Walden, Sr., are the new members of
the club this year.
Last year was the first year of the
Keystone Degree, and the agents who
attained that honor were H. N. Mc-
Afee, G. .1. McDowell and .1. T. Weems,
all of whom continued their membership
this year. There are also three other
members who secured this further hon
or this year. viz. Fred Hines, W. L.
Meador and Joe W. Vinson, who for the
fourth consecutive year have won mem
bership in the club.
In order to give an opportunity of
joining in the convention to those who
failed to make the necessary qualifi
cations for membership and receiving
the benefits derived therefrom, a prop
osition was made by the company to
the ageeny force during the months of
May and June based on the production
of a stated amount of paid-for busi
ness.
R, N. Berrien.. L. E. Black. Jr., W. N.
THE ATLANTA GEORGIAN AND NEWS. FRIDAY. AUGUST 9. 1912.
Bradley, William Dooley, C. H. Jackson.
Rev. W. R. Lambert, Frank Leigh. J.
Newton. W. H. Powell and B. R. Strip
ling were given a trip to Atlanta to the
convention, as they succeeded in quali
fying under the offer.
On yesterday morning at 10:30 o'clock
the convention was opened, when the
annual, address of President Wilmer L.
Moore was delivered to the convention.
President Moores words of welcome
were most happily received, for the
president is always in his happiest vein
when addressing the agency force of
the company. He gave the membership
due credit for having borne the burden
of the battle and told them that the fu
ture of the company lay largely in their
hands.
SPLENDID OVATION.
The splendid ovation given his ad
dress gave due emphasis to the high re
gard in which the president is held by
the agency force. By his close atten
tion. personal co-operation with every
agent connected with the company, he
has impressed upon them the fact that
he is a personal friend of each and
every one and is willing and reads' to
lend them every assistance looking to
ward the furtherance of their mutual
interests.
It has come to be a fact that no
agent, however disheartened, after a
talk with the president, has failed to
see the silver lining to the darkest
cloud. Much of the credit for the
splendid showing which is made annu
ally by the company is ascribed to
thjs wonderful co-operation between
the%officers at home and the men on
the field.
President Moore inducted the various
officers of the club into their stations,
following which the certificates of
membership and club badges were pre
sented to the winners by Mr. Robert
F. Moore, the agency and club secre-
■ tary. Secretary Moore also presented
1 the officers of the club the monetary
prizes won by them, and also those se
i cured by frequent appearance on the
> roll of honor of the company.
The latter were as follows: On the
main monthly honor roll during the
first half of this year. H. Willis Hogg
and Joe W. Vinson were successful In
> having secured positions in five out of
, the six months, and Thomas Peters. Jr..
> and J. C. Walden. Sr„ whose names
, hail appeared four times during the pe
, riod.
In the state honor rolls, T. J. <'otting
ham won the prize as leader In South
Carolina, while S. .1. McFall secured
the leader's prize in Florida. L. E.
, Black, Jr., was on the Georgia honor
, roll four times out of six, as was T. J.
McCall In Alabama, and won prizes
while W R. Lambert was successful
, from Florida, he having been on the
■ honor roll for that state for five months
in the same period.
'I he three supervisors of agencies of
• the lompasty Frank E. Brodnax, of
Florida and southern Alabama; .1. E
Norment. of South Carolina, and W S.
Mcl.eod,. of Georgia and northern Ala
i bama—were also present at the meet
ing.
; Frank E. Brodnax read the opening
paper on the first day's session, entitled
■ "The General Agent Making Good—-His
’ Opportunlt?." Mr. Brodnax is a fori e-
i ful speaker and his papers ate always
heard with interest, lb- was followed
by W. S. McLeod, supervisor of agents,
whose paper, “The Banker's Agency
Contract." gave new food for thought
to the club membership and will doubt
less result in much good.
"Literature and Its Uses” was the
subject of the paper by J. E. Norment,
supervisor of agents, and right well he
explained the hypnotism of types and
showed how very helpful was printer’s
ink in all of its forms. The member
ship discussed at length the many good
points brought out in these papers, and
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J. C. WALDEN, SR.,
Vice President the Anniversary Club.
then heard from the home office staff
I another series of interesting papers.
■ E. M. Veatch, medical secretary, de
livered a most interesting address on
. "The Agent’s Part in Medical Selec
tion —The Rejection Experience of the
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BURTON B. MURRAY,
I Vice President From Florida,
Last Six months—What It Means to
the Agent, to the Company and th.?
Applicant." He was followed by Sam
uel Barnett, the actuary, who gave a
most interesting talk on "The Part the
Actuary Plays in the Selection of
Risks.”
These papers brought to a close the
first day’s session, which proved to be
one of the most entertaining as well as
thoroughly instructive meetings ever
held by the club.
The annual photograph of the club
membership was taken, which is pro
duced herewith, after which they ad
journed to the Transportation club for
lunch, going later to Ponce DeLeon
park to attend the ball gam**
DINNER AT CLUB.
An elaborate dinner’ was served at
the new Capital Citv club, after which
the members attended the vaudeville
bill at the Forsyth theater.
The concluding business session of
the club was hold this morning in the
Candler building, where the chief paper
read was that entitled "Selling Points
and Experience.” which opened the
convention for an experience meeting
and general discussion of the paper
read.
Adjournment was taken shortly after
noon. During the afternoon the mem
bers took an automobile tour of the
city, stopping at Federal prison for a
tour of that institution, and then at
tended dress parade at Fort McPherson.
With the banquet served in the danc
ing hall of the Driving club tonight at
7:30, this social feature will conclude
the convention. Artistic decorations In
red. white and blue, the colors of The
Southern States Life Insurance Com
pany, already bedeck the banquet hall.
These decorations are carried out in
the cut flowers on the table and In the
ices, candies and cakes.
f -i—l—J—!-*X--s--r—--
BANQUET MENU.
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< anapt \ncovies Bruxellois*- •?
’ Belgium Hoti Grapes -!•
J 4- Almandes Sales Stuffed Mangoes -I-
■ Hives I'elerv
•F ToinHii* Roy.ih
Jumbo Bull Frogs Sauce Tartare •?
I* inch aux lu-<u*<ii< tine <’ucun>l»prs
V Breast of Long Island Duckling
A (Parislenne) A
A W ild Ric- Baked \pple Abu ngue
A French \rt.chok Delmonicc •>
A Frozen I’igs <’akes Garnls
I .J. Demi Tasse A
A A poll Ina ris
A distinguishing feature of the deco
rations anil the menu is the unique use
of tile famous Keystone Arch, which is
always identified with the literature of
the compajiy.
President Wilmer L. Moore will pre
side as toastmaster and introduce in
happy speeches the speakers of the
coining, who will make the proper re
sponse to the various toasts assigned.
President .1. W. Vinson, of the Anni
versary club, in honor of which the
banquet is tende ed, will respond to the
toast, "The Anniversary chib—the Tie
That Binds." Mr. Vinson,/in point of
service, is one of trie oldest agents
connected with the company and this
IV'c is the must prominent through
I volume of business, for by his efforts
I he has won the presidency of the club.
Die is a splendid speaker and his re-
sponse is looked forward to with keen
anticipation.
"The Southern States Life—a Good
Name Is Rathe, to be Chosen Than
Great Riches,” is the subject of the
toast to which Mr. J. C. Walden, Sr.,
vice president of the Anniversary ciute
will respond. Mr. Vinson was run a
close second by Mr. Walden in the race
for honors in this club. Mr. Walden is
one of the most popular members of
the agency force and is also one of its
best producers.
One of the Keystone Degree winners,
Mr. Julian T. Weems, will respond to
the toast on behalf of the agency force.
His subject will be “The Keystone De
gree-Reward of Merit." Mr. Weems
and the Anniversary club are almost
synonymous, as he has been one of its
members so constantly. He has been
longer with the company than any
other agent and his productions are al
ways among the best.
The club has as one of its guests of
honor tonight Hon. Harvey W. Laird,
assistant commissioner of insurance of
the state of Alabama, and one of the
best known and most prominent insur
ance men in the South. He will re
spond to the toast. "Investments. Ma
terial and Otherwise.” Mr. Laird is a
speaker of note and is one of the most
profound students of insurance in the
South. A treat is in store in Mr.
Laird's address.
The concluding speaker of the even
ing will be Dr. K. G. Matheson, presi
dent of the Georgia School of Tech
nology, one of the foremost educators
in the South. His subject will be a
most apt one. "The South- —Her Roys
Their Opportunities.” Dr. Matheson al
ways shines as a speaker, whether it
be in college halls or at banquet board.
His talks are always clear, forceful and
attractive and in securing his presence
- tonight the club considers itself, indee i
' fortunate.
, At the close of the banquet the con
, ventfon of the Anniversary club of 1912
. was brought to a close.
■ I The business of The Southern States
•I Life Insurance Company for the first half
, I of the year has been most satisfactory, as
. from the half-yearly statement filed with
'he governor of the stale in accordance
j with the law. shows the assets of the
J company to be $1,045,268. while the re
. I serve set aside on the business in force
■ as required by law has increased to $8211,-
T 462. in addition to which the statement
, shows s surplus over all other liabilities,
. for the further protection of the policy-
holders of $180,635. The total amount of
insurance in force on the company's books
is $15,813,520 and the premium income
for the last twelve months has been $547,-
237. Such a showing as this can not fail
but bring increased confidence in this
company, organized in the South by
Southern capital and ably conducted by
successful Southern business men.
Any one attending any of the meetings
could not help being struck with the fine
body nt men who were ga titered together
representing the general bodv of the
agency force whiqh, throughout the four
states of Georgia. Alabama. South Caro
lina and Florida, are earuyir.g the mes-
’ sage from The Southern Stsites Life In
surance Company to tin people of the
t South Several of those i resent have been
with the company almost from its organi
zation J. T. \\ cents holds the record,
lotting already entered his seventh year,
' while C. J. McDowell, Frank E Brodnax
■ and Fred Hines are within a few weeks
■ of completing their sixth year, thus giv-
Social Features Are
Proving Most En
joyable—Brilliant
Banquet at the
Driving Club To
night.
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HBLUHRH
ROBERT F. MOORE,
Secretary the Anniversary Club.
Ing evidence that it pays the good pro
ducer to connect himself permanently
with the company. Joe W. Vinson, the
president of the club, Is another who
round it to his interest to associate him
self with tlie company some five years
ago after having had a most successful
career with one of the oldest and strong
est Western companies The club vice
presklent, .1. C. Walden, Sr., is another
one who has had considerable experience
with older companies and, although he
has not been with the company much
more than a year, has proven to himself
that he can do more representing this
company than he has ever done before.
The company’s two representatives tn At
lanta. H. N. McAfee and W. L*. Meador
are both experienced solicitors, but they
I find the prestige of the company and the
i esteem in which its officers and directors
.are held not only in the city, but through
out the state, enables them to more than
hold their own even in cases of the keen
est competition. Representatives from
central Georgia, 11. Willis Hogg and T.
Peters. Jr., tell the same story. Both nf
them have waged the battle of insurance
i for other companies for many years in
their respective territories and with suc
cess. but the firm belief of the Southern
I people in their own institutions and the
loyal manner in which they rally to the
I support of same, confirms them in their
judgment that a Southern company is
the company of the future.
FEELING IS UNIVERSAL.
It is not only in Georgia that this feel
ing prevails. From South Carolina M. B.
Smith who, up to loss than two years ago
had no thought of entering the life in
surance business, has found it infinitely
more profitable than any other line with
which he has been associated, and T. J.
Cottingham, from the same state, has
found the time, although largely occupied
as an officer in his local bank, to develop
himself into one of the company’s most
successful solicitors
Florida tells the same story, and its
rep» r’.scntatives at the convention. Burton
B. Murray. David A. beon and Sam J.
McCall, are all converts to Southern com
panies. the two former were for several
vears active and successful representa
tives of one of the giants of the East, but
their success for that company is a-s noth
ing compared with what they have been
able to do since they joined the ranks of
this company.
In its three supervisors of agencies, the
compan; Is exceptionally fortunate.
Prank E. Brodnax, in Florida and south
‘ »-rn Alabama, received his promotion from
j t lie r inks .1 E. Norment has been with
pile company something over two years
; ;'.s its chief representative in South Caro
i Ima Ilf*, too, has found the difference
[between representing Eastern and South
ern companies. While W. S. McLeod, in
; Georgia and northern Alabama, has
■ proven to himself that his present com
jpany is the best he has ever represented
Hind as natural consequence has made a
succr - I his position to the satisfaction
of his company.
In the Agency Department at the com
pany s office, the difficult position of
agency secretary is filled by Robert F.
Moore, who has each year been elected
to iho position of Secretary of the Anni
versary (’luij. Robert F. Moore, or
“Uncle Bob.” as he Is affectionately
termed by his “Boys in the Field.” has
ha<l a wide experience, not only in the
rnanagement of agents, but also in the
I work of the Home office. Entering the
life insurance business some sixteen years
ago as a solicitor in the middle West, he
I gained a knowledge of the work of the
; field man. which has stood him in good
stead in his present position. Mr. Moore
has made a study of the business of life
insurance from all standpoints and has
proven a most valuable assistant to Pres
ident Wilmer E Moore, not only in agenev
work, hut also in hnmc office organization
and in the literature of the company. As
a writer Mr. Robert F. Moore’s articles
as published in the agency organ of the
company, The Keystone, are eagerly
sought after and availed of many times
by the insurance publications as well as
by other companies which have requested
permission to use them.
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WILLIAM L. MEADOR.
_ Vice President From Georgia.
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