News

Build a Member-Focused Pool Culture

Pooling Academy’s Member Services Learning Path gives pooling professionals in any role practical guidance they can apply in their day-to-day work . Strong member service helps pools stay connected and respond to changing needs. Courses in the learning path include: Demonstrating Value — Learn how pools identify member needs, address emerging issues and demonstrate value. L everaging Partnerships — Examine how partnerships, marketing and outreach support member engagement . Everyone at a Pool Works in Member Services — Understand how every ...
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Best Practices Resources for AI in Pooling

Your pool’s service providers are likely already using AI to support your operations, which introduces risks related to data privacy, security, transparency and accountability. It’s important to understand how service providers use AI and place safeguards to protect pool (and member) data. Our Service Prov ider AI Checklist is a practical method to look at AI use across contract relationships. Use the checklist during provider selection, contract negotiations, compliance reviews, and ongoing service management to support stronger oversight and more informed decision-making . The checklist includes : ...
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Staff Institute 2026 Offers Two Learning Paths

Staff Institute 2026, Oct. 4–6 in Minneapolis, features two distinct learning options : The Residency Experience is a 2.5-day immersive program for pool executives and senior staff, similar to our historical CEO Institute. AGRiP Resident Juliet Funt facilitates the program, teaching a reductive mindset, letting go of legacy systems and practices, and creating more efficient ways of working for your entire team. Participants explore their own leadership priorities and exchange ideas with peers facing similar organizational challenges. Space is limited to 130 attendees. Open Sessions are for pooling professionals to ...
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(NEW!) Staff Institute is Oct. 4–6 in Minneapolis

Our new Staff Institute is Oct. 4–6 in Minneapolis. This reimagined conference combines elements of two historical AGRiP conferences into one dynamic event. The Residency Experience is a 2.5-day immersive program for pool executives and senior staff, similar to our traditional CEO Institute , that offers deep learning and professional development . This year’s content focuses on making decisions with a reductive mindset, letting go of legacy systems and practices, and building more efficient ways of working across pool teams. Open Sessions are similar to our traditional Staff Forum. This flexible, concurrent ...
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Dustin Hill Appointed to the AGRiP Board of Directors

AGRiP is pleased to welcome Dustin Hill to the Board of Directors . Dustin is executive director of Deep East Texas Self Insurance Fund (DETSIF) . He was appointed to fill a Board vacancy following a retirement, with a term that expires Dec. 31, 2027.
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A Minute to Think Course Will Improve Work Habits

Enrollment is now open for A Minute to Think , a 14-week digital course for pools to address everyday habits that get in the way of serving members — meeting overload , constant email checking and unclear priorities . The course is structured around practical topics, including: Identifying and controlling common time drains at work Focusing on high-impact work and reducing or eliminating low-value tasks Knowing how and when to say “no” to simplify and reduce unnecessary demands Rethinking meetings — when to attend, decline or adjust participation ...
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Notice: Activity on LinkedIn

A n individual unaffiliated with AGRiP or its members has recently been posting inappropriate content on LinkedIn while tagging AGRiP and, in some cases, others in our community. This individual is not connected to AGRiP, and the content being shared does not reflect the association or our values. We have temporarily turned off comments on our posts and reported the behavior to LinkedIn . We encourage all LinkedIn users (including individuals and organizations) to monitor their pages and posts for inappropriate comments or tags. If Y ou E xperience an I nappropriate or ...
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Start a Pool Internship or Scholarship

Recruiting talent is important for pools as hiring competition increases, work expectations shift and staff turnover remains high. Our internship and scholarship resources help pools take a more intentional approach to attracting and developing new staff . Learn about: Benefits of an Internship or Scholarship Program Building Your Pool’s Relationships with Post-Secondary Institutions Developing an Internship Program Creating a Scholarship Program Whether you’re starting from scratch or building on existing programs , these resources ...
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To Improve Your Pool Team’s Outcomes, Start with Real Data

In a member-service environment, time is limited, and where it goes matters. Pools participating in our workplace efficiency survey gain a n accurate picture of how time is spent across administrative tasks and where it can be applied more strategically on behalf of members . The survey measures how staff time is spent across email, meetings, messaging, reporting and administrative work. Results are specific to your pool, giving you a data-backed baseline. It gives pool executives a practical starting point to improve how work gets done and helps teams focus their time where it has the greatest ...
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Pooling Must Evolve with Intention

The future success of pools may depend o n whether they adapt to changes in their operating environments before they are forced to. Th is message about self-disrupting operations came through clearly at Governance Conference 2026 in conversations across sessions and peer discussions. External i nfluences such as artificial intelligence, workforce longevity, knowledge retention framework s and shifting engagement patterns introduc e complex, interconnected pressures for pools . T ogether , these influences may o verwhelm current pool operating ...
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Join a Peer Group to Collaborate, Contribute and Stay Connected

Looking for a practical way to connect with peers who understand the challenges your pool is facing? Our peer groups bring members together to exchange ideas, tackle key issues and advance important industry work that strengthens the entire pooling community. Through regular conversations and collaboration, members gain insight into trends, test approaches with trusted colleagues and bring back ideas they can apply in their own organizations. The AGRiP Health Pool Resource Group (AHPRG) discusses trending loss issues, cost containment strategies, enrollment and plan design developments, ...
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Time Management Strategies for Member-Focused Work

People in pooling often say yes, take on new tasks and go the extra mile to support member s . But without time to reflect and plan, even the most capable teams will be overstretched. Our 2026 residency help s teams organize work, refine p rocesses and unlock capacity for deeper member impact. Pool s p articipat ing in our short w orkplace e fficiency s urvey will better understand how time is used across operations and identify where it could be applied more strategically. Pool executives can e mail us to request ...
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Reclaim Focus, Deliver Stronger Results

From the speed of our responses to how meetings are scheduled and urgency is defined, small patterns can quietly steal focus and limit your team’s ability to think ahead. The latest issue of Intelligence explores how habitual ways of working shape the quality of outcomes over time. AGRiP Resident Juliet Funt shares practical strategies for reducing friction and reclaiming time in daily work, including: Creating white space to support planning and thoughtful follow-through Right-sizing meetings so time and attention are used intentionally Reducing communication drag through clearer norms ...
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Honoring Service and Leadership in Pooling

AGRiP is pleased to announce the recipients of its 2026 Awards for Excellence — two outstanding individuals who exemplify the best of the public entity pooling community and embody the awards’ spirit of practical innovation, steady leadership , and a commitment to developing talent and expertise . Marinda Griese , Board President of the California Association of Joint Powers Authorities (CAJPA) and claims administrator of the California Joint Powers Risk Management Authority (CJPRMA) , is the 2026 recipient of the Award for Excellence in Service. This award recognizes someone who notably promotes and ...
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Marinda Griese Receives 2026 Award for Excellence in Service

Marinda Griese, b oard p resident of the California Association of Joint Powers Authorities (CAJPA) and claims administrator of the California Joint Powers Risk Management Authority (CJPRMA), is the recipient of AGRiP’s Award for Excellence in Service, recognizing her measurable contributions to public entity pooling and her service-driven leadership within the pooling community. The Award for Excellence in Service honors an individual who actively promotes and strengthens public entity pooling through contributions of special merit, demonstrate s improvements to services provided by or to AGRiP ...
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Mike Rhyner Receives 2026 Award for Excellence in Leadership

Mike Rhyner, recently retired executive director of the Michigan Municipal Risk Management Authority (MMRMA), has been named the 2026 recipient of AGRiP’s Award for Excellence in Leadership, recognizing a career marked by sustained impact, innovatio n and a commitment to professional development within the industry. The Award for Excellence in Leadership recognizes individual contributions to pooling by those who have demonstrated transformative leadership, exceptional support for the professional development and mentorship of others , and a pivotal role in addressing significant ...
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Four Pools Receive Internship and Scholarship Reimbursements

We’re pleased to announce the four recipients of our 2025 internship and scholarship reimbursements: Housing Authorities Risk Retention Pool (HARRP) Ohio Transit Risk Pool (OTRP) Oklahoma Municipal Assurance Group (OMAG) Public Risk Innovation, Solutions, and Management (PRISM) AGRiP supports scholarship and internship programs to help pools build strong talent pipelines, stand out in a competitive hiring market, and introduce students and emerging professionals to mission-driven careers in pooling. Reimbursements are funded through a donation from QEI Patron Alliant Insurance Services. For the 2025 reimbursement ...
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12 Member Pools Earned AGRiP Recognition in 2025

Twelve member pools earned AGRiP Recognition in 2025 and will be acknowledged at Governance Conference for their achievement: Arizona School Alliance for Workers' Compensation Arizona School Risk Retention Trust California Intergovernmental Risk Authority Missouri Intergovernmental Risk Management Association Property & Casualty Coverage for Education (Oregon) Schools Insurance Group (California) Special Districts Insurance Services Trust (Oregon) Texas Association of School Boards Risk Management Fund Texas Council Risk Management Fund Washington Cities Insurance Authority Washington ...
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Register for Governance Conference by Feb. 6

The deadline to register for Governance Conference 2026 is Friday, Feb. 6. Join your pooling peers in Nashville, March 1–4, for fresh perspectives, practical takeaways and meaningful conversations . Two days of concurrent sessions cover timely , real-world challenges and opportunities. In addition, five high-impact keynote sessions set the tone and connect the dots across pooling experience s . Plan to attend from start to finish to maximize learn ing from our expert resources . The keynote s explain : How ...
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Join the Membership Practices Committee to Support Advisory Standards for Recognition

The Membership Practices Committee (MPC) plays a key role in supporting the Advisory Standards for Recognition by reviewing and implementing new standards, developing sample materials and conducting peer reviews of Recognition applications. This engaged group brings real-world perspectives that enhance consistency and quality across pools, while offering valuable professional development and a deeper understanding of the full scope of public entity pooling. The MPC meets two to three times a year via Zoom and provides a collaborative forum for discussion and shared learning. The committee is composed of a mix of top ...
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