As The ERIE grows with more policyholders and more agents, I realize that it may be difficult to think of us all as members of the ERIE family because we’re getting so big.  We’re certainly bigger than the days Bill just spoke about.  And you’ve heard some of the plans, like our expansion into Wisconsin, that have us getting bigger yet in the years to come.  But it’s times like today, when we can get together and mark our history and our accomplishments with a celebration, that it seems to me the ERIE family is stronger than ever.  We just happen to be a very large family.

As president and CEO, it heartens me to see the pride in your faces as we mark 75 years in business.  I know the ERIE family still exists – we are all experiencing it today.

As members of this family, we have a common purpose.  That is to serve our customers – both policyholders and inside customers.  Hearing the stories of The ERIE’s beginnings you may think – that was then, this is now.  How can I provide good service today?  Well, although times change, good service does not.

Even though our Policyholder base has grown, and the number of ERIE Agents has grown, our commitment to service has stayed the same. It’s just that now we face more opportunities to provide that service – to show that we still have the same values as H.O. Hirt, Sam Black and the others who have built this company through the years.

Ralph Waldo Emerson once said, “An institution is the lengthened shadow of one man.” I agree with that.

H.O. Hirt dedicated his life to this company and its ideals of fair service and treating others as he would want to be treated.  His shadow – this institution that he created – is cast on all of us.

The impression that one man made has lived on and endured for 75 years – and it is sure to continue.  It will continue through the good work our employees do for Erie Insurance.  It’s your work that has lengthened H.O.’s shadow through the years.  I would like Erie Insurance’s shadow to be long – as long as we can make it.  The more of you who participate in our mission of service, the longer the shadow we will cast into the future.

Providing service starts with every employee at every desk on every day.  It starts with every agent every day. In some respects we are working together as a group to keep The ERIE above all in service.  And in other respects, each one of us, individually, is responsible for keeping The ERIE above all in service.

The good service [INDICATE DIFFERENT EMPLOYEES] you provide…you provide…and you provide…is the service the customers will remember.

No matter how big we grow or how many agents or employees or policyholders we have, it comes down to that one moment when someone comes in the door.  It comes down to the instant when the phone rings with a customer on the other end.  That’s the moment of truth that determines whether or not The ERIE remains above all in service.

Being here today, seeing this celebration of 75 years of business, I know you take that moment of truth seriously.  I know you answer the challenge and keep the personal service this company was built on in your mind every day.  I know this because I am president of an insurance company that has an impressive and growing number of satisfied policyholders.  All that surrounds us is thanks to you – the employees of Erie Insurance.

Never think your good service is taken for granted – rest assured, it is not.

Whether you’re a claims representative in the field…an actuary analyzing statistics…a customer service representative answering policyholder questions…or any one of the other thousands of employees doing one of a thousand jobs here at The ERIE, I thank you.  The only reason we can have such a celebration for our 75^th anniversary is because of your work.  Thank you for providing service the way H.O. Hirt intended The ERIE to provide service.

As all of you know, I hold meetings with small groups of employees on a regular basis.  One of the things that comes up at almost every meeting is the topic of our 401 (k) plan.  While employees aren’t asking for the company to contribute more, they are saying that they’d like to contribute more.

In the past, there have been some problems associated with making this happen.  But, I am extremely pleased to tell you today – on our 75^th anniversary – that we have cleared the way to enable employees to contribute up to 15 percent of their base salary.  This is up from the 8 percent that you can currently contribute.

This change will be effective January 1, 2001.  It is necessary to wait until then in order to prepare our administrative system for the change.  I hope you agree that this is an exciting addition to our 401(k) plan.

[APPLAUSE]

And, there is more!  And this I couldn’t be more pleased to announce.

Beginning in January, The ERIE will change the maximum 401(k) match contribution from 3 percent to 4 percent of your base salary.  On average, this change will mean an additional $400 of annual matching contributions to an employee’s 401(k) plan.

[APPLAUSE]

Now, I’ve heard through many different channels that a number of employees would have liked to receive a $75 gift to commemorate this anniversary.  Well, I thought you just might like this $400 change a bit better than a one-time gift of $75.  I hope I’m right!

[APPLAUSE]

It’s through you that The ERIE’s way of service lives on today and we are able to celebrate this great anniversary.

Thomas Watson, an American business executive, said, “You can organize a business; you can give it an attractive name; you can give it a good product, but if the right sort of men and women are not behind it, the business will get no where.”  I’m happy to say that Erie Insurance has the right sort of men and women behind it – and, I think you’ll agree, our business has definitely gotten somewhere!

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Donna Kozik
(619) 297-1749
Donna@DonnaKozik.com