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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 session-, 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
whlcit 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 with 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. It Was just
six years ago that The Southern States
Life Insurance Company was organ
ized, and during that time has won and
retained the confidence and approbation
of the insuring public.
PRESIDENT'S ADDRESS.
Wilmer L. Moore, 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 his 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 has followed 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 is of vital con
cern to the company itself. 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 is unique in that its mem
bership is not appointed, but must he
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 not updn
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.
Tn .each state whose entile agency
M. B. SMITH.
Vice President From South Carolina.
force has written over a half million
dollars is 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 b> 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 year. It was born of this rivalry
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 CLUB FOR 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. .1. T. Weems. T. J. Cottingham. G.
•I. McDowell. Bottom row. Robert F. Moore, secretary; .1. ('. Walden, Sr., vice president; .Joe W. Vinson, president; Burton B. Murray, state vice president for
Florida. Absent: \\ . L. Meador, state vice president for Georgia; M. B. Smith, state vice president for South Carolina, and Thomas Peters, 4r.
cess the office of secretary of the An
niversary i.'lub, was unanimously ap
pointed to the office he has held since
the club was first organized.
This is the fifth year of the club, and
out of the members of it there ate three
who have never failed to secure mem
bership. They are H. N McAfee. G. J.
McDowell and J. T. \A eems.
Fred Hines, W. L. Meador and Joe AV. i
Vinson have been members of the club
for the past four years in succession,
and I>, A. Leon and B. B. Murray have
been trteinbers for the last three years,
and H. Willis Hogg and Al B. Smith,
for two years. T. .1. Cottingham, S. J.
McCall, Thomas Peters. Jr., jwid J. C.
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. J. McDowell ami J. T. Weems,
all of whom continued their membership
this year. Thete 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 1
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 agecn.v force during the months of '
May and June based on the production
of a stated amount of paid-for busi- 1
ness.
R. N. Berrien, L. E. Black, Jr., W. N.
THE ATLANTA GEORGIAN AND NEWS.
Bradley. William Dooley, C. H. Jackson,
Rev. W. R. Lambert, ETank Leigh. J. L.
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 nvas opened, when the
annual address of President Wilmer L.
Moore was delivered to the convention.
President Moore’s 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, persona! 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 ready 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
this wonderful co-operation between
the officers at home and the men on
the field. f
President Moore inducted the various
officers of the chib 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
the officers of the club the monetary
prizes won by them, and also those se
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 titis year, H. Willis Hogg
and Joe W. Vinson wen* successful in
having secured positions in five out of
the six months, and Thomas Peters. Jr.,
and J. P. Walden.-Sr., whose names
bad appeared four times during the pe
riod.
in the state honor rolls, T. J. Cotting
ham won the prize as leader in South
Carolina. While 3. I, Met'all 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, lie having been on the
honor roll for that state for five months
in the same period.
The three supervisors of agencies of
the company—Frank E. Brodnax, of
Florida and southern Alabama; J. E.
Norment, of South Carolina, and W. S.
McLeod, of Georgia and northern Ala
bama—were also present at the meet
ing.
l'’rank E. Brodnax read the opening
paper on the first day's session, entitled
"The General Agent Making Good—His
Opportunity.” Mr. Brodnax is a force
ful speaker and his papers are always
hoard with Interest He 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 anil
showed how very helpful was printer’s
ink in ail 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 Expert "me of the
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BURTON E3. MURRAY.
I Vice President From Florida,
Last Six months—What It Means to
the Agent, to the Company and the
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 game
DINNER AT CLUB.
An elaborate dinner was served at
the new Capital City club, after which
the members attended the vaudeville
bill at the Forsyth theater.
The concluding business session of
the club was held 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
rea d.
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.
BANQUET MENU. 3.
Canape .Aneovies Bruxelloise •!*
4- Belgium Hothouse Grapes
•F Almandes Sales Stuffed Mangoes
Me 4 (’<•!. »
•F Tomalo Royale •>
Jumbo Bqll FYog Sauce Tartare
i Punch aux lb • ed..-tine <’i;cur. hors -J-
Breast of Long Island buckling v
(T’arfsienne I
!4* Wild Ric.e Baked \f?ple Meringue -L
I French Artichoke. Delmonico »L
Frozen Figs Fakes Garnis
1 Demi Tasse -j.
La Apollinarts A
-•< (’igars
A distinguishing feature of the deu<j
t.t ions and the menu'is the uni<iu«-’ use
of the famous Keystone Arch, which is
always identified with the literature of
the company.
President Wilmer T.. Mooi*e will pre
side as toastmaster and introduce in
happy speeches the speakers of the
evening, who will make the proper re
sponse to the various toasts assigned.
President J. \\ Vinson, of the Anni
versary club, in honor of which th»*
banquet is tendered, will respond to the
toast. “The Anniversary Club -the Tie
That Binds” Mr. Vinson, in point of
s< i v ice. is one of the oldest agents
■connected witii the company and this
yeai is the most prominent through
volume of business, for by his efforts
he lias won the presidency of the club.
Ho is a splendid speaker and his re-
sponse is looked forward to with keen
anticipation.
"The Southern States Life—a Good
Name Is Rather to be Chosen Than
Great Riches.” is the subject of the
toast to which Mr. J. C. Walden. Sr.,
vice president of the Anniversary club,
"Hl respond. Mr. Vinson was run a
close second by T1 r 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 lias 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 1s 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 Boys-
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, indue 1
’ fortunate.
, Ai tlie close of the banquet the con
. vent ion of the Anniversary club of 1912
» was brought to a close.
’ . ihe business of The Southern States
Lite Insurance Company for the first half
, of the year has been most satisfactory, as
. I from the half-yearly statement filed with
’I Gie governor of the state in accordance
j with the law, shows the assets of the
, I'ompanx to be $1,045,268. while the re
. serV" o s",I, on i | l( . business in force
’ as required by law htis in, leased to $829,-
It,-, ill addition to winch tile Htatement
, shows a surplus-over all other liabilities,
, for the fqrther protect! the policy-
holders of $180,635. The total amount of
insurance in force on the coniuanx's bool<-
is $15,813.,,20 ;t nd the premium income
; for the last twelve months has been $547,-
■ 237. Such a showing as this can not fail
but bring increase,! 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 of men who were gathered together
representing the general bodt of th<>
. agency force which, throughout the four
stales of Georgia. Alabama. South Caro
lina and Florida, ar,* carrying the mes
sage from The Southern States Life In
surance Company to the people j,f the
. South Several of these present have been
, with the company almost from its organi
! zation .1 I. Weems holds the record
. having already entered his seventh tear'
' while C J. .McDowell, Frank E. Brodnax
and Fred Hines are within a few weeks
of completing their sixth .year, thus glv-
Social Features Are
Proving Most En
joyable-Brilliant
Banquet at the
Driving Club To
night
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ROBERT F. MOORE.
Secretary the Anniversary Ctub.
ing evidence that It pays the good pro
ducer to connect himself permanently
with the company. Joe W. Vinson, the
president of the club, 1s another who
found It to his interest to associate him
self with the 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
president, J. 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 jto 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
find the prestige of the company and the
; esteem in which its officers and directors
i 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, H. Willis Hogg and T.
Peters, Jr., tell the same Htorv. Both of
them have waged the battle of insurance
for other comtranies for many rears in
their respective territories and with suc
cess. but the firm belief of the Southern
people In their own institutions and- the
Icyal manner in which they rally to the
support of Hams, 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 Mt B.
Smith who, up to less 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
whjgh he has been associated, and T. J
Cottingham, from the same state, has
found t!’« time, although largely occupied
as an officer tn his local bank, to develop
himself into one of the company's most
successful solicitors.
Florida tells the same story, and Its
representatives at the convention. Burton
B. Murray, David A. Leon and Sam J.
McCall, are all converts to Southern com
panies. the two former were for serveral
years active and successful representa
tives of one of the giants of the East, but
their success for that company is as 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
company is exceptionally fortunate
Frank E. Brodnax, in Florida and south
ern Alabama, received his promotion from
the ranks. J. E. Norment has been with
the company something over two years
ns its chief representative in South Caro
lina. He, too, has found the difference
between representing Eastern and South
ern companies. While W. 3. McLeod, in
Georgia and northern Alabama, has
proven to himself that ins present com
pany is the best he lias ever represented
ami as a natural consequence has made a
success of his position to the satisfaction
of liis 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 the position of Secretary of the Anni
versary Club. Robert S’. Moore. or
“Uncle Bob,” as he is affectionately
termed by his “Boys in the S'leld," has
h«d a wide experience, not only in the
management of agents, but also in the
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. whin l 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 L. Moore, not only in agenev
work, but also in home 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,