Dear Friends,
As many of you are now sadly aware, we were unsuccessful in finding Courtney Hayes last week. Courtney was my friend’s niece and in Haiti at the Montana Hotel. Courtney was a 20-year old missionary and PA student. She is now presumed dead. Please keep Courtney and her family in your thoughts and prayers. The trip was successful in other areas, however. I was able to supply needed orthopedic surgical supplies to a doctor friend’s Dominican boarder clinic using another friend’s Bell 206 (made me appreciate my EC120) and one rental R44. Before I left Griffin, Georgia, in the PC12, I called my life-long friend, Dr. Tommy Hopkins, for help. Tommy was performing a hip replacement at the time. Within 45 minutes of calling, Tommy responded with hundreds of pounds of surgical supplies. Additionally, a local pharmacist, David Clements, on very short notice, unloaded a pickup truck of orthopedic supplies into my PC12. Both men attend the Men’s Bible class with me at First Methodist Church here in Griffin. Tommy, like me, is a real reprobate and needs to be in Bible class every day. David, however, is a genuine good guy.I spent a brief amount of time in the border clinic assisting alongside medical school and veterinarian students. I met surgeons who made me realize how desperate their needs are. With that realization, I knew I had to do more. I made a number of calls to CEOs and corporate aircraft owners I know who turned their corporate flight departments over to me to get needed surgical supplies, critical antibiotics and doctors into Haiti. I am excited to tell you that dozens of flights (we lost count) have been flown into Haiti carrying those desperately needed supplies and doctors. Those flights are from the same group of operators who were vilified in the news media just a few months ago. Please help me get this information out to everyone—every television, radio, newspaper, blog, etc.—who will listen! The initial US response was dismal. From my first hand observation, Hillary Clinton’s visit impeded everything. FYI John Travolta is sending his 707 to assist in the rescue and relocation effort. A Gulfstream GV belonging to Jason Johnson is also in route to Haiti.
Got in late from LAX with Pat Epps and Henry Lowe, ( Lowe Aviation Macon Ga.) last night. We had a good trip as well. I am whipped! Today will truly be a day of rest.
Thanks to all of you who receive this email and participated.
Lance P. Toland
Lance Toland Associates, LLC
In the wake of the recent investigation brought forth by NY’s attorney general Elliott Spitzer involving four insurance brokerage houses, AON, Marsh, Gallagher, and Wlliis (PDF) for price fixing and other anti trust violations charges, would leave many clients with the impression that all insurance brokers are up to the same crooked deeds. This is far from being the case at Lance Toland Associates, where clients always come first. Over the years, our commitment has been centered on providing the best possible service as well as competent representation in the aviation marketplace. Affording the broadest coverage at the lowest possible price is a commitment that will endure as long as I am responsible with gaining and maintaining the trust of our clients. Lance Toland Associates maintains the same agency contracts with our underwriting companies as those we started out with over 25 years ago; there are no bonus contingencies paid for higher production. Simply put, our underwriters understand that when sitting at the bargaining table with us, we expect from them the absolute best offering and not a market test of how much can they get. They understand that I represent my clients' best interest. They understand that without giving a better offer than other competing markets we represent, we may stand to lose your trust, and thus your valued business, to other firms.
I agree with the current investigations and feel that any firm engaged in fraud to better their profit picture should be prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law. Representing trust should never be taken lightly, and those who abuse it must be punished and driven from the industry.
