American Academy of Actuaries

Dear Academy member:

One measure of a professional association's success is the extent to which its volunteers participate in its activities and events.

Volunteer participation is essential to the conduct and successful completion of the Academy's myriad activities. But more importantly, the involvement of our members in these activities assures that the direction and focus of the Academy will remain compatible with the interests and needs of Academy members, and that the Academy will progress and evolve in directions that contribute to the ongoing success of the profession and its members.

Likewise, the continual introduction of new volunteers to rounding out committees, staffing task forces, and authoring publications is one of the best ways to bring new ideas and perspectives to the Academy's work, and to fulfillment of the Academy's mission. One of the best ways for the Academy to begin identifying and encouraging the future leaders of the actuarial profession.

Whether you are a first-time volunteer at the Academy, or one of our seasoned veterans, I encourage you to respond to this year's volunteer questionnaire. Let us know about your interest in serving as a volunteer, and in what area. Let us know about your skills and experience that can help make a difference on one of the Academy committees or projects.

Completing the volunteer questionnaire is quick and easy. Log into the Academy website, then click on the “Take the volunteer questionnaire” link near the top of the page. On the questionnaire form, you will see an expandable list of Academy committees and task forces that are seeking volunteers and you will find places to indicate where your interests lie. Over the next few months, Academy officers and chairs will work with your responses, supplemented with direct dialog with individual members, to align as many Members as we can with the current or future committee needs and projects that match the Members' interests.

We look forward to your active participation in the Academy's volunteer program. I strongly believe that your participation on Academy committees and projects is not only vital to the profession, but provides advantages to you including professional growth, developing personal relationships and becoming more knowledgeable about public policy and professionalism issues.

As always, you are welcome to contact me. I would be pleased to hear from you.

Sincerely,

Bill

William F. Bluhm
President
American Academy of Actuaries
president@actuary.org