But as new terms of office for many of us begin, there is one major difference that separates us from previous board members and officers. We will be the first to begin our service after a major legal victory against State Farm.

As part of that victory, an impartial judge heard evidence from both sides and found that State Farm had violated the terms of the various Agent’s Agreements through the administration of its Partner Agent and Select Agent programs.

The impact of those victories would be significant enough if they applied only to NASFA members. But they did not apply only to NASFA members. The rulings by Judge Braman apply to each and every State Farm agent.

When that lawsuit was filed, the possibility that a successful outcome would affect all agents, placed a huge burden on NASFA to get it right. We believe that we did. But as important as those two victories are, the potential impact of the looming cases that will decide whether or not the businesses owned by State Farm agents meet the legal definition of a franchise will dwarf their significance.

Since the outcome of the new franchise cases could eventually redefine the relationship between State Farm and every one of its agents, not just members of NASFA, it once again places a tremendous responsibility on NASFA to get it right. We are continuing to get it right, and every one of the changes in the relationship between State Farm and its agents will be for the better.

Our lead attorney in these cases will be Michael Garner (www.dadygarner.com). In the Summer 2006 issue of The Mirror, we asked Michael to explain how a victory in our franchise case might redefine our relationship with the company. Once you have read Michael’s comments, we hope you will agree that each potential change will help strengthen our independent contractor relationship with State Farm.

Since the outcome of these cases could affect every State Farm agent, NASFA has a responsibility to keep every agent informed of their progress and provide some awareness of how franchise laws may impact their relationship with State Farm. Therefore, over the course of the next 12 months, all State Farm agents will receive at least a "mini" version of every issue of The Mirror that we publish. The smaller versions of The Mirror sent to non-members won’t be nearly as comprehensive as the version that NASFA members will receive.