AtulKumar Shah

 President – 2005 Table

 Good Morning Friends, Warm and Hearty Welcome from LIRT to all to 18^th Annual Convention, Theme “Know Thyself”, at Hotel Mughal Shereton Agra.We feel Uppermost in our mind the importance of the Theme “Know Thyself”.All our speakers will enlighten and sharpen us to know ourselves.

Master salesperson and terrific Motivator from U. K.   Tony Gordon will exhort us to uncover our potential and exploit it to the fullest extent as against present 10%. Sanjay Shah from U.K. will broaden our horizon for setting goals  to realize our true value. Legendary Super salesman Mehdi Fakharzadeh young man of 80 plus from USA will unfold his magic of knowing ourselves.  Brendan Power  past president of the Professional Speakers Association of Europe will empower us to know ourselves. Bryan Johnston will take us from our present self to our real worth with financial planning. 

I now welcome our eminent speakers from others fields for educating us to know ourselves. Mr. Kanu Doshi, an eminent Chartered Accountant and Dean of Wellingkar institute and  Mr. Arnav Pandya M.B.A., C.F.P., from Economic Times will help us to know ourselves, for ourselves and for the benefit of our policyowners by planning their finance . 

 Taking you briefly on the road L.I.R.T. has traveled since 1988 when Idea was mooted in Hotel Taj Mansingh,New Delhi . It was resolved to set up Life Insurance Round Table since all of us can’t go to United State  for attending the prestigious M.D.R.T. Conventions. Those days there was restriction by Reserve Bank of India  on number of people who could participate. VISA was then a problem and is still now a problem. Living Example is standing before you. I was denied VISA several times and after getting VISA I have attended each of the M.D.R.T. Convention since 1997. I am now  Life Member.

VISA apart, the cost of attending M.D.R.T. convention at U.S. is not every agent’s cup of tea, likewise the Journey fatigue of almost 18 to 24 hours is not easily accepted physically by our body.

 Launching of LIRT was a possible solution, the conveners and founder members thought. Every Year LIRT holds Annual Convention and many times our MDRT Speakers have addressed the participants giving them the benefit of MDRT atmosphere. The speakers in the past included Alec Bukhman, and Ray Khanna from Canada (1989). Mehdi Fakharzadeh (1990), and Mr. Rabjohns (MDRT President – 2000), Mr. Peter Pond Jones, Mr. Ken Clark, Frank Furnace, Deevan Cooray, Logan Naidu, Rizal Naidu, Bryan Johnston, Clive Gott, etc. We always have 5 to 6 speakers from overseas and even in this convention. 

Indian Speakers who have addressed the participants: Mr. Jerry Rao, Formerly Citi Bank head (India) now Chairman Mphasis BFL, Mr. Shailesh Haribhakti Past President Indian Merchant Chamber, Mr. Dossu Paymaster, Mr. A.N. Shanbaug, Murli Mehta, Surendra Gole, Hiren Vakil.  

We were only 28 participants in first LIRT. Thereafter journey was not easy. Challenges were encountered by each LIRT President. Challenges were accepted as new opportunity by LIRT Committee to inculcate professionalism in our agents.

We have crossed 300 participants but there are 1.3 Million Insurance Advisor/Agents in our country. Big Task lies ahead. We have to go every nook and corner of the country to spread professionalism among the Insurance Advisors (Agents). With this in mind we had undertaken in theLIRT year just finished; visit to Distant parts of the Country:Hyderabad, Akola, Caochin, Kanpur and Agra  1000 Advisor/Agents participated. Something new in the current LIRT Meet, 1^st time, we are able to manage simultaneous Hindi interpretation, a Land mark in LIRT history.  Your LIRT has acquired office premises of its own. With the help of the funds you have contributed all these years and runs a full fledge Independent Office after of about 15 years.  This is the result of a team work, cooperation, commitment, contribution and coordination of my committee members. P.S. Kochhar/Coordinator, Mr.Amit Shah Treasurer, Mr. Piyush Vora Secretary, Nirupama Kamdar, CEO,and others; Zone Chairs of various parts of the country without whom this exclusive meet could not been materialized;

The Theme “Know Thyself” will be spoken of and deliberated by all speakers to add value to our life knowing ourselves and achieving what we ought to.

 I am sure all participants will be benefited from presentation of speakers and interaction with the speakers, and of course interaction amongst themselves. I wish the convention Grand success and look forward to Next Year’s Convention with large no. of  Attendees and a Bigger Venue.

• * * * Good Luck * * * *

316 Participants Attended in 18th Annual Convention at Agra.