American Academy of Actuaries Recognizes Volunteers' Efforts

WASHINGTON -- Oct. 24, 2011 -- The American Academy of Actuaries honored three of its volunteers, Steve Alpert, Arnold Dicke, and Stuart Mathewson, for their contributions to the professional association and their efforts to advance its mission. The three actuaries were presented with inaugural Outstanding Volunteerism awards during a ceremony held earlier today.

"We are fortunate to have more than 1200 Academy volunteers, and while we appreciate all their efforts, the contributions of Steve, Arnold, and Stuart stood out and captured the admiration of the Academy's leaders," said Academy President Mary Frances Miller, who presented the awards. " Their contributions were given, not in the pursuit of personal praise, but to advance the Academy's mission."

Alpert is a consulting actuary and principal in the New York Office of Mercer. He was recognized for successfully bridging differing viewpoints to enable the Academy to present timely and balanced comments to regulators and policymakers on public pension plan issues.

Dicke is a consulting actuary and the president of New World Actuaries in Studio City, Calif. Dicke was recognized for leading a six-year effort to overhaul an Academy paper on risk classification.

Mathewson is a senior pricing actuary for Swiss Re in Eden Prairie, Minn. He was recognized for leading a multiyear effort to draft and publish a monograph on the National Flood Insurance Program and his support of the education campaign supporting the paper's release.

The Academy established the Award for Outstanding Volunteerism in 2011 to honor Academy volunteers who have made a single, noteworthy volunteerism contribution that is above and beyond what is reasonably expected of an Academy volunteer.

For more information or digital photos from today's ceremony, please contact Andrew Simonelli, assistant director of communications for the American Academy of Actuaries, at 202.785.7872. For more information on the Academy, please visit: www.actuary.org.

The American Academy of Actuaries is a 17,000-member professional association whose mission is to serve the public and the U.S. actuarial profession. The Academy assists public policymakers on all levels by providing leadership, objective expertise, and actuarial advice on risk and financial security issues. The Academy also sets qualification, practice, and professionalism standards for actuaries in the United States.

SOURCE: American Academy of Actuaries

Media contact:  Andrew Simonelli, assistant director of communications for the American Academy of Actuaries, 202-785-7872, simonelli@actuary.org