Who We Are

                                                IPOSP is a nonprofit organization for professionals in the Insurance Industry.  The organization provides a network of opportunity for individuals at varying skill levels to meet and connect with one another as well as  providing an outlet to alternate career paths within the industry.

Mission Statement

The Insurance Professionals of St Petersburg is an organization dedicated to providing it's membership with the opportunity to achieve personal and professional development in the Insurance Industry

History of

Insurance Women of St. Petersburg, Florida

On November 11, 2009 our Charter President, Marguerite (Mastry) Dawson advised, “I was in Tampa at an Agents meeting and met some insurance folks.  A woman came over to me and asked if I would organize this group and offered to come over and help.  It was difficult at first because there was a group previously that had disbanded as some employers thought we were forming a Union and would end up wanting more wages”.

Fortunately for us, Marguerite and several members purservered.  On August 28, 1948, the Officers of this organization applied for membership in the National Association of Insurance Women.  Those officers were:

          President                                 Marguerite Mastry (Charter President)

          Vice-President                       Wilma Lee (2^nd President 1949-50)

          Recording Secretary            Peggy Goeway (4^th President 1951-52)

          Corresponding Secretary    Norma Morris

          Treasurer                               Arvilla Pease

          Employment Chairman       Bernice Holmes

Their application for membership was approved by the organization committee of the National Association of Insurance Women, consisted of:

          Gladys M. Hobson                 Approved 9 September 1948

          Mary Gambill                         Approved 19 October 1948

          Mary D. Stephens                 Approved 22 October 1948

The Insurance Women of St. Petersburg , Florida received their charter into the National Association of Insurance Women when the last member of the organization committee signed the approval form on October 22, 1948.

The charter membership was 39.  The meetings were held at the historic Detroit Hotel at Central Avenue and 2^nd St. in the evenings on the first Tuesday of each month and included dinner.   The membership fee of this organization was $5.00 per year.  In September of 1959 the fee was amended to read “$1.00 of which shall be the fee for membership in the National Association of Insurance Women”.

Marguerite recalls “my first Regional meeting was in Columbia, SC in April 1949.  I was the only one from “IWOSP” attending.  I think it was the next year that we had 7 or more that attended the National Convention in Miami.  Most bosses were very good about paying dues for their employees.  Our colors were blue and gold and we had dresses made of blue material and wore a gold sunburst pin which I still have.  For me, the organization was filled with stepping stones which helped me grow in the business world.  My memory is not clear as to where or when I attended Regional meetings.  I was in love and got married on 8/06/1950”.  

This organization had two governing documents.  The first was known as “The Constitution of the Insurance Women of St. Petersburg, Florida ”.  Today we know it as the “Standing Rules”.  The second was and still is known as “By-Laws”.  The “words” for both have changed quite dramatically over the years however the concept on which these governing documents were based, remain constant.

In 1986, Marguerite made a cash donation of funds to be specifically ear-marked for Education.  The Association set up a committee to decide how to best utilize these funds.  It was decided that a permanent scholarship would be started.  It would be sustained by donations and from the earnings from workshops, seminars and classes put on by the Insurance Professionals of St. Petersburg.

In 2006, the members voted to change the name of our association from Insurance Women of St. Petersburg to Insurance Professionals of St. Petersburg.  Our meetings remain evening meetings and are normally held on the 2^nd Tuesday of each month.  Our dues have increased to $86.50 for National and $30 for Local.

The Insurance Professionals of St. Petersburg graciously thanks, Marguerite (Mastry) Dawson for her leadership and willingness in starting this 61 years old organization.

Ginger K. Hayes ACSR, CPIW, DAE, PIAM

November 2009

Immediate Past Region III Vice-President

Insurance Professionals of St. Petersburg, FL

Information provided by Marguerite (Mastry) Dawson, Charter President and John McCullough, Director of Member Services (NAIW International)