Occasionally each of us has an experience which provides a fresh idea or insight. When this happens, we feel a glow of excitement and satisfaction as we fit the new information into the body of knowledge which is part of the mental baggage we all carry around. This has been called the "ah-hah" sensation, deriving its name from the phrase most often associated with such a moment, and it is one of the most rewarding parts of our existence. "Ah-hah," we say. "So that’s it; now I see.

It is sometimes argued that the young should have more ah-hah sensations than the more mature members of our population. After all, the theory goes, so much is new to them — there is so much they have not seen. If this is true, then it appears that some people get younger by the year. They never cease to find new ideas to delight in, and they never cease to grow intellectually.

Recently the Life Management Institute had the privilege of paying formal recognition and homage to such a person. Janice E. Greider, internationally acclaimed authority of insurance and author of many publications on the subject, was honored as the first recipient of the Institute’s Insurance Education Award. The presentation was a moving event for all of us here at LOMA, as well as for the many friends and associates who have worked with Miss Greider over the years. You will enjoy reading the details which are reported in this issue.

As the selection committee reflected on the various candidates for this award, the members wanted to recognize someone who had made a distinguished contribution to insurance education in a number of ways. Also, they felt it was important for the choice to set a standard of excellence which would guide the awards committee in the future. Janice Greider became the unanimous choice quite early in the process.

During the past two and a half decades, Miss Greider has had a memorable career as counsel for the State Farm Insurance Companies. Before that, just after graduating from law school, she served with distinction on the staff of the Illinois Insurance Department. In addition, she has given generously of her time and abilities in other forms of service. It is as an author and educator that she has made her greatest contribution to society, however, and it is specifically those talents that the award recognizes.

With Dr. William T. Beadles she has co-authored two books, Principles of Life Insurance and Law and the Life Insurance Contract. The combined sales of these books have exceeded 230,000 copies, and they have been adopted in more than 200 colleges and universities. Principles is used in Part 1 of the FLMI Insurance Education Program, and Law and the Life Insurance Contract is used in both the CLU and FLMI programs.

A large majority of Janice Greider’s pupils have never seen her. Interestingly, many of them do not seem to realize that she a woman. Despite her great fame as an author and expert, with the obvious possibilities for publicity that it opens up, she continues to perform her duties for her company in the same quiet, confident way as always — seemingly oblivious to the impact she has made on the world.

When a person displays the great intellectual depth of a Janice Greider, no one questions the fact that her mind is in a process of continuous discovery. It is evident from her list of achievements. The quality which separates her from many other intellectuals, however, and the trait which makes her a rare and valuable teacher is her ability to take difficult concepts and place them within the reach of the average person. Thus, not only is she saying ah-hah herself, but she invites you to say it too. And in this complex, highly technical world of ours, that is a welcome invitation.

Click here for a list of other FLMI Insurance Education Award recipients.