Bill Johnson

Simpson Investment Company
President, WSIA

As I reflect back on this past year, I think about the accomplishments that your Association has achieved.  And while I can give you a laundry list of those accomplishments, I’d much rather acknowledge the more important aspect that stands out to me, and the reason we continue to achieve – it’s the level of commitment on the part of our members.

We are successful, as most organizations are, because we are a volunteer-driven entity.  We have people committed to the idea of a sound system of self-insurance for workers’ compensation in the state of Washington.  Our volunteer Board of Directors spends countless hours making certain our Association is headed in the right direction, and is providing the services you have told us you want.  Our training programs are taught by volunteers – knowledgeable and highly regarded people who know our industry in and out.  Our legislative agenda and its progress, while ably aided by a lobbyist and association staff, is developed and driven by volunteers – people who can see the potential for positive change, yet try and guide our proposals through treacherous political waters by testifying, meeting and communicating with legislators.  Our Association is seen by both the members and non-members as THE resource to get answers because of the efforts of the Membership & Marketing Committee – a committee that, since its beginning, has been populated with talented, fun, creative and marketing-oriented volunteers.  The same holds true for each of our committees, task forces, liaisons, and representatives both inside and external to the Association.

What does this mean to the future of WSIA?  It means that, as long as you continue to make the commitment of your time and energy, the Washington Self-Insurers Association will be successful over the long-run.

WSIA Executive Director Dave Kaplan is fond of reminding us that both self-insurance, and our Association’s successes, is a result of long-term commitments.  He’s noted that we achieved the writing of wage orders, continuing education as an alternative to retesting for certification, and getting the Department of Labor & Industries to collect our data as examples of issues that our Association never let go of.  In all of those cases it took nearly a decade for each to get what we wanted, but we did it.  This demonstrates the commitment of WSIA’s members to achieve the changes we seek in Washington’s workers’ compensation system, and the amazing ability and talent of the individuals representing our member organizations who make it happen.

If there is one thing I can leave you with, it is this … GET INVOLVED!  Associations are only as strong as those who participate.  Your participation has made WSIA a great resource for our community, and your continued, new, or renewed participation will make that resource even more valuable in the future.

It has been an honor to serve as your President over the past year.  Thank you for that opportunity.

Updated 12 June 2009

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