has won for the second consecutive year the Excellence in Education Award given by LOMA, the Life Office Management Association.

LOMA is a trade organisation whose US and Canadian members account for more than 90 percent of the life insurance in force in North America.

The Excellence in Education Award recognises those companies that do an outstanding job of developing their staff through the Fellow, Life Management Institute insurance education programme. Just 70 companies and branches of LOMA's membership of nearly 1,000 companies earned the award.

Argus president and CEO Gerald Simons commented: "Our customers expect our staff to be well-informed and courteous. We recognise our obligation to give them the tools to do their jobs well. Our entire organisation is committed to staff development.'' The criteria for the award, established by LOMA's education council, include: LOMA membership; the enrolment of staff in a minimum of 20 examinations annually; the achievement of a pass rate in the top quartile; the achievement of a did-not-sit rate of less than 15 percent of enrolled students; and the exhibition of growth in the number of administered examinations that is greater than the industry average.

In 1997-98, 25 staff members achieved a pass rate of 91 percent, passing 50 of the 55 exams written. The pass rate was 71 percent for all companies writing some 31,000 exams worldwide in November 1997.

CUSTOMER SERVICE -- Argus Group president and CEO Gerald Simons presents Associate in Customer Service certificates, awarded by LOMA, to Esther Singh (left) of the pensions department and Beverly Cabral of the group underwriting department.

BUSINESS BUC