BETHEL – The 23rd annual National Association of Insurance Women (International) Maine Council meeting was held at the Bethel Inn and Convention Center on Oct. 1, 2 and 3, with 67 members attending.

Activities included the Communicate with Confidence Public Speaking Contest, continuing education credit seminar on homeowner coverage conducted by Carol Aigner of Aigner Insurance Training, awards banquet and business meeting with election of officers and golf tournament. National officer present was Linda M. Wilson, regional vice president, and her assistant, Elena M. Ifkovits.

Award winners were:

Communicate with Confidence: Patti Gagne, member of NAIW Androscoggin Valley and principal of Patti Gagne Agency, Lewiston; runner-up, Deborah Wentworth, member of NAIW of Greater Portland, employed by Maine Employers Mutual Insurance Co., Portland.

Elizabeth M. Welch AAI, CPIW Insurance Professional of the Year: Deborah M. Hamilton, member of NAIW Central and employed by North East Insurance, Scarborough.

Rookie of the Year: Elizabeth Clark, member of NAIW of Greater Portland and employed by Clark Associates, Portland.

Claims Professional of the Year: Colleen Rioux, NAIW Androscoggin Valley, employed by HRH (Dunlap), Auburn.

Membership Retention: Insurance Professionals of Eastern Maine with 150 percent retention.

Scholarship winners: Kathy Cote, NAIW Central Maine, employed by Davis Insurance Agency of Monmouth; Brenda Foster, NAIW Central Maine, employed by Gosline-Murchie Agency, Gardiner; Rena Lagasse, NAIW Aroostook, employed by MMG Insurance Co., Presque Isle.

Officers elected were Cheryl Russell, state director, employed by HRH (Dunlap) of Bangor; Stephanie Abbott Davis, state director-elect, employed by Peerless Insurance Co., Portland; Mary E. Caswell, public relations chairwoman, employed by Hanover Insurance, Portland; Anita Altmaier, membership chairwoman, employed by Maine Department of Risk Management, Augusta.

Members were in attendance from Maine, Pennsylvania, Vermont and New Jersey.

The National Association of Insurance Women (International) serves its members by providing professional education, an environment in which to build business alliances and the opportunity to make connections with people of differing career paths and levels of experience in the insurance industry. NAIW membership is open to all in the insurance and risk management industry who strive for and practice professionalism, regardless of their career level. For more information, see www.naiw.org.