The 2015 KFBIAA Convention was dedicated to the Memory of Jack Allen.
President’s Speech:
TONIGHT WE REMEMBER JACK ALLEN, A FOUNDING MEMBER OF THIS ORGANIZATION. WHAT A LEGACY HE LEFT, HIS LIFE, HIS WORK, HIS FAMILY. JACK AND OTHERS LIKE HIM PAVED THE WAY … THEY BUILT THIS COMPANY ONE MEMBER AT A TIME.
TONIGHT WE CELEBRATE JACK, BUT WE CELEBRATE THE AGENT. THE SECRET INGREDIENT THAT MAKES KENTUCKY FARM BUREAU INSURANCE WHAT IS HAS BEEN … IS… AND WILL BE.
HOW MANY OF YOU COULD NAME A MENTOR, A FRIEND, A FATHER, MOTHER, UNCLE OR BROTHER THAT CONVINCED YOU TO BECOME AN AGENT? BECAUSE THEY KNEW IT WAS A GOOD FIT FOR YOU. THEY NURTURED YOU THROUGH VALIDATION, BUT MADE YOU EARN IT. BUT WHAT YOU REALLY EARNED … THE THINGS THAT MAKE YOU A SOLID AGENT … TRUTH, HONESTY, CHARACTER AND HARD WORK.
TONIGHT IS REALLY DEDICATED TO ALL THE JACK ALLENS OF KFB, AND THERE ARE MANY. MOST HAD NO DEGREES, VERY LITTLE PROFESSIONAL EDUCATION, BUT ALL POSSESSED THE TRAITS OF PEOPLE WITH INTEGRITY AND CHARACTER. THEY SIGNED THE REAL CONTRACT WITH A HANDSHAKE. THEY LAUGHED, CRIED, AND SOMETIMES FUSSED WITH MEMBERS … BECAUSE THEY REALLY CARED. THEY ALWAYS DID THE RIGHT THING.
BEING AN AGENT WAS MORE THAN A JOB WITH KFB … FOR MANY IT WAS A LIFE’S CALLING. THAT LEGACY … BUILT MANY YEARS AGO CARRIES ON TODAY. WE ASKED YOU FOR INFORMATION ABOUT WHAT YOU DO … YOU’RE INVOLVED WITH YOUR CHURCH, LITTLE LEAGUE, CHAMBER … YOU DONATE HOURS AND MONEY TO SCHOOLS, RELAYS FOR LIFE ETC… WHILE SERVING AS AGENT OR AGENCY MANAGER, MANAGING CSR’S … WORKING WITH YOUR COUNTY BOARDS AND TAKING CARE OF YOUR FAMILIES.
IT’S A BIG JOB … BUT WE ALL HAD GREAT TEACHERS …. THAT GREAT LEGACY LIVES ON …. THANK YOU FOR WHAT YOU DO EVERYDAY!
I was sad to not see Jack this year. As a staple of our association and our agency force, he will be missed. Roger’s comments were very well said and glad that they can be shared with those who could not attend.
We were not aware the convention would be dedicated to our dad. I had signed up to come…just in my own mind, because it’s what he would want me to do. I thought if I attended, it would be a step forward in finding my “new normal”. As time got closer, I realized I was not ready to be in a large crowd…especially one that he had been so committed to. We were over whelmed by the dedication and reference to him in Roger’s speech. As friends do, those who were there, sent Jay and I pictures of the dedication and word of the speech. Roger so kindly emailed it to us so we could share it with our family. I cannot possibly explain how KFB is intertwined with our family. Dad’s work was “part of” our family day to day activity. Our family, including Nelson County Farm Bureau, all grew up together. I suppose, I’m a little surprised, when other people express their understanding of what my dads work meant to him, and all of us, as a family. We are so very proud when you so lovingly express the importance of his contribution back to the company, and yourselves personally. The realization that this relationship is NOT unique, and has been played out among many families…and will be, over and over again, in the future, says much about the special DNA of the company we all work for. Kentucky Farm Bureau, truly is a large family. One I am most thankful for. I have been allowed to grow up here, had career disappointments and successes here, married and had children here, battled cancer here and lost loved ones here. I can only say “thank you”, again, from the Allen family. This grand gesture is certainly balm to aching hearts. God bless…