Make Your Opinion Count in this Year's Election   PAUL BRAITHWAITE—As you may already know, this coming election the CAS Board is endorsing two major changes to the CAS’s Constitution and Bylaws. These changes, which involve Career Associates’ rights and the expansion of the Board, were recommended by separate task forces: the Task Force on the ACAS Vote and the Governance Issues Task Force. All of the proposed actions were suggested for compelling reasons and I encourage you to consider them carefully.  Continued...

Special Publication on CAS Ballot Initiatives for 2006 CAS Elections    Continued...

Opinion: Vote No on ACAS Voting Rights   CLIVE KEATINGE—Two years ago, the Task Force on the ACAS Vote and the Task Force on Classes of Membership both reported to the CAS Board of Directors. At that time, the board voted to deal with ACAS voting rights and classes of membership at the same time. This was sound reasoning, and if the board had followed through on this, we might now be faced with voting on proposals to move to a single class of membership (and thus to stop granting new Associate designations) and to give existing Associates who have had their designations for five years or longer the right to vote. If this were the case, I would be an enthusiastic supporter of both proposals. However, because the board abandoned its original plan and decided to address the ACAS voting rights issue before the classes of membership issue, I oppose the current proposal to give Associates of five or more years the right to vote.  Continued...

Random Sampler: The "Continuing" Side of Education   THOMAS G. MYERS—For many years, the CAS has been focused on improving the education process for our candidates. However, continuing education for our existing members also requires significant focus, particularly in light of recent developments within the profession.
In January, the American Academy of Actuaries released a second exposure draft of revised qualification standards on continuing education that would apply to all CAS members practicing in the United States, regardless of whether the actuary is a member of the AAA.  Continued...

Nonactuarial Pursuits: Pursuing Reality   MARTY ADLER—Steve Armstrong is not shy. Five years ago this column described some of his adventures in improvisational theater. Now he is attempting to become a contestant on reality TV! Steve has always wanted to be on television, the big screen, or the stage. Apparently that is not as easy as passing actuarial exams.  Continued...