CAS to Meet in Atlanta for 2001 Annual Meeting

by Martin T. King

Come join us at the world-class Marriott Marquis in Atlanta, Georgia for the CAS 2001 Annual Meeting. Mark your calendars for November 11-14, and prepare yourself for the elegance of Atlanta and the beauty of this 50-story atrium, Atlanta's largest and most architecturally intriguing hotel.

The general sessions will offer something for everyone. The first general session, "A View from the Top," showcases a panel of insurance executives who will share their views on the challenges facing the industry today. A second general session "CAS—Approaching 100," will discuss the evolving role of the actuary and the profession as a whole as we poise ourselves for our first centennial milestone. "Can We Talk" will feature a fun, and sometimes satirical, look at the "communications challenged" actuary. Finally, a panel of automobile safety experts will discuss recent advances in the auto manufacturing industry and their impact on insurance in "Safer Vehicles: What Should We Know as an Insurance Industry?"

The featured speaker will be James Mapes, author of the critically acclaimed Quantum Leap Thinking. With the speed of today's business environment, creativity and flexibility are no longer optional. Possibilities are limited only by our ability to see the world with "new eyes" and seize opportunities quickly. Mapes's charismatic style and presentations on the topics of change, creativity, and innovation are interactive, powerful, and fun.

Some concurrent session topics being planned include insurance data mining; developments in umbrella liability; catastrophe reserving issues; update of asbestos liability issues; fraud detection advances in workers compensation, auto, and health care; rating agencies' perspective on capital allocation; asset liability management; supply and demand of actuarial talent; ASOP 36 and materiality; D&O insurance issues; and many others.

On Tuesday evening, members and guests are invited to join us for a buffet dinner and entertainment at the Historic Fox Theater.

The American Academy of Actuaries (AAA) will be holding its Annual Meeting in conjunction with the CAS Annual Meeting. The featured speaker at the Tuesday afternoon luncheon will be attorney Ralph Levy, a leading expert in professional responsibility litigation. The Academy's Casualty Practice Council and Professionalism Council will also be holding sessions at the conference.

More detailed information on the CAS 2001 Annual Meeting will be mailed to members soon. From all indications, this meeting looks like a real peach!