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momentumFeatured Inside
Media blitz this
holiday season
3Q earnings snapshot
Field trips make for great
service effort
Brand Center goes live
LTC quiz: see how you score
Celebrating Colleagues
Alzheimer’s Memory Walk
becomes a family affair
Diversity at MetLife
Safe Return Program
Volume 5, Issue 10
N o v e m b e r 2 0 0 4
1
Vision Talk with Bob
< Be sure to visit Momentum Online at mww.metlife.com >
My story begins several years ago at my parents’ home.
My grandparents were visiting at the time. I was new
to financial services and began telling them about the value
and benefits of long-term care coverage. This piqued my
grandfather’s interest, so I ran a quick quote for him.
Immediately, my grandfather said that it was too expensive —
not an unlikely response. With little experience, I said that’s
fine and didn’t push any further. I now wish I had. My grand-
mother is in the mid-stages of Alzheimer’s disease. She can’t
be left alone and will need full-time care. I’m sad to say that
my grandparents are depleting their savings and may need
government aid.
Recently, as a manager, I went on a joint call with one of
my newer reps to visit a man who was retiring from a
pharmaceutical company. The purpose of the call was to
close a life sale. We closed the sale as well as added the
disability waiver of premium option to the policy. I brought
up the long-term care coverage and, as you might guess, the
client was reluctant — until I shared my personal experience.
I told them what happened and the situation that faced
my grandparents and my family. Fortunately, the client was
convinced. Shortly afterward, he was diagnosed with a
brain tumor. He and his family are using the long-term care
coverage as well as the waiver of premium option to keep
their life insurance in force.
I want to make sure my clients are absolutely covered for the
things that are really important. That’s
the first step; the rest can come later.
Brian Brandt
New England Financial ■
As Baby Boomers — all 77 million of
them — age, many will face new
challenges such as having enough
income to last through life, planning
for the possibility of needing long-term
care, and fulfilling their desire to
remain independent and vital well into
later life. This presents important
opportunities for MetLife as we deliver
solutions and best-in-class research to
help our customers secure an income
they can’t outlive or access elder care
and long-term care services.
MetLife has long been a thought leader
on issues related to aging through the
studies we support and fund, our
participation in policy discussions, and
our corporate citizenship. Nowhere is
that more true than MetLife
Foundation’s commitment to
combating Alzheimer’s disease. I am
always astounded by the statistics —
4.5 million Americans have Alzheimer’s;
one in three people know someone
who does; millions more will be
affected in the years ahead. The toll
on caregivers, mostly family members,
is especially hard.
Continued on Page 2
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stories of significanceWhat if you could make a difference — help a family send their children to college, or save someone’s business? Help
aging parents get the care they need without depleting their life savings? Assure a widower he’ll be able to make more
than ends meet? That's what we do every day. Though we don’t all have face-to-face contact with clients, the support we
provide to those that do, means we all play an important role in helping our customers secure a legacy and achieve peace
of mind, independence and dignity through all life stages. Recently, Momentum discussed Living a Life of Significance, an
Individual Business focus that reaffirms the impact that our reps have by being advocates for those who cannot speak for
themselves — a customer’s beneficiaries, families and employees. From time to time, we’ll publish personal stories from
associates on how each of us leads a life of significance. The emotional connection we make with our customers, the
financial freedom we make possible, is something to feel good about every day.
Keep an eye out this holiday season
for a media blitz of MetLife consumer
advertising. During November and December, MetLife
will prominently run our “have you met life today® ” cam-
paign during the Thanksgiving season, celebrating family
and life significance. Through the “have you met life today?”
campaign, launched in April 2001, MetLife has used a
combination of hope, humor, humanity — and Snoopy® —
to position MetLife as offering a breadth of financial
solutions as well as to convey a celebration of life,
beginnings and financial freedom.
TV spots are appearing on several network programs such as
NFL football, the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade and a
variety of Prime-time specials and holiday programming.
The spots are also appearing on Cable, including A&E, CNN,
Discovery and FOX Sports. Print ads are appearing in such
publications as Business Week, Forbes, Money, Black
Enterprise, Smart Money, Time, Newsweek, U.S. News &
World Report, and Sports Illustrated.
Using themes like “create your own pension plan” and
“guaranteed income for life,” the print ads identify
specifically with the financial concerns of baby boomers who
may be concerned about outliving their savings and planning
for the future. These ads address the issues faced by many
of our clients — such as whether they have sufficient life
insurance, enough money to fund their retirement or pay
for long-term care.
N o v e m b e r 2 0 0 4
2
Media blitz this holiday season
Cont’d from Page 1
Vision Talk with Bob
In recognition of National Alzheimer’s
Disease Awareness Month, I want to
share with you some of the things that
MetLife and MetLife Foundation are
doing to fight Alzheimer’s and draw
attention to key issues associated with
it. Thanks to this support, much is being
done to advance research, increase
understanding of the disease, help
caregivers, and promote protection-
planning solutions, such as long-term
care insurance.
Each year, through the MetLife
Foundation Awards for Medical
Research Program, we honor scientists
who are on the frontlines in the battle
against Alzheimer’s and who have made
significant contributions to the
understanding and treatment of the
disease. The Foundation has also
supported the Alzheimer’s Association
for many years, including funding for
videos for use by caregivers and
families of persons with Alzheimer’s as
well as education resources for the
Hispanic community. And, this year,
MetLife Foundation was the sponsor of
the Emmy-winning PBS documentary
and outreach program, The Forgetting:
A Portrait of Alzheimer’s. New
initiatives also are in the works. In this
issue, you’ll read about one of them —
a nationwide identification program,
Safe Return, that helps return
individuals with Alzheimer’s who
wander and become lost.
The company is also doing important
work on other age-related issues
through our Long-term Care business
and the MetLife Mature Market
Institute. The recent national
Long-Term Care IQ Test study [see p. 5]
is a good example, as is the annual
MetLife Market Survey of Nursing Home
and Home Care Costs and Ten Tips for
Talking to your Aging Parents, resources
promoted widely in the media and
shared with advocacy organizations.
MetLife and MetLife Foundation, in
these and so many ways, play a
transformative role in people’s lives.
Through our efforts, people day in and
day out are being touched in a positive
way — and that’s a great story to
celebrate with each other, and with
our customers, friends and family not
just this month, but all year round. ■
Highlights of Network Coverage
NETWORK PROGRAM DATE
Thanksgiving Day festivities
NBC Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade
CBS Detroit Lions v. Indianapolis Colts
Regional Thanksgiving Day Parades
Specials
NBC Tim McGraw Special
Seinfeld (DVD Release) Special
Miracle on 34th Street
Tom Brokaw Special
It’s a Wonderful Life
Shrek Broadcast Premiere
A Christmas Carol Original Movie
ABC How the Grinch Stole Christmas
(Jim Carey version)
Charlie Brown Christmas
Primetime airing
CBS CSI Miami
NCIS
CSI NY
Without a Trace
Joan of Arcadia
60 Minutes
Cold Case
Christmas Ornaments
Cable Highlights
*Schedule subject to change
Five consumer TV ads will rotate during the media blitz.
The 30-second spots follow similar themes as the print ads,
portraying the issues MetLife helps our clients manage every
day in order to build financial freedom. ■
MetLife ads have great visibility this holiday season. As
reported in MetLife NewsWeekly earlier, here are highlights
of network and cable coverage.
3
momentum
Here is a sampling of what
analysts had to say about
MetLife 3Q earnings results
Strong Earnings Power Headed
into 2005
Solid Results; Aggressive Capital
Redeployment Ahead
Generally Another Solid Quarter
Solid 3Q Results
More of the Same: Another
Uneven Quarter
Making the Grade; Results
Ahead of Expectations
High Quality Upside Surprise
Strong Results, Valuation
Discount Unwarranted
Good Clean Quarter
Total Revenues
($ millions) Three months ended September 30Actual 2004 Actual 2003 % Change
(2003/2004)Premium & Fees $6,474 $5,702 14%
Net Investment Income 3,108 2,914 7%
Other Revenue 341 335 2%
Operating Revenues 9,923 8,951 11%
Net Investment Gains/(Losses) 178 (151) 217%
Total Revenues $10,101 $8,800 15%
* Includes results of SSRM Holdings Inc.
Sometimes, it takes a field trip
3Q Earnings at a glance
How better to understand the
needs, challenges and daily pace
of our Individual Business (IB) agencies
and firms than by actually spending
time there?
That’s the concept behind an innovative
program in pilot phase in IB Operations
and Services to deliver even higher
levels of service to the Field. The SOAR
Program, which stands for Sales &
Operations Associate Rotation,
provides associates with an opportunity
to participate in a three-day sales
office visit.
This program is one of the Five-Point
Plan initiatives outlined by IB
Operations and Services to give its
associates the tools, resources and
perspective they need to deliver ease
of doing business and outstanding
service to our Field customers.
The objectives are simple — gain a
clearer understanding of what it’s
like to work in the Field; understand
areas for improved support; and
build partnerships.
Two teams, made up of three associates
each, participated in the pilot. Members
of Life Administration, the eSERVICE
team and IT Application Development
staff visited MetLife Financial Services
57J Aequitas Agency in Texas; and
members of the Field Segmented
Service team, Remittance Service Center
and Life New Business visited NEF 007
Boston Noland Firm.
The visits had a structured agenda,
exposing the teams to all facets of
agency life. And, by all accounts, they
were a huge success.
“This was a big eye-opener,” says Janet
Arnold, Field Service Strategy and
Support, who visited the Boston Noland
firm. “I was impressed by the commit-
ment of everyone. The managing
partner spoke to us for two hours! We
met with just about everybody: the
marketing director, office manager, and
experienced and newly hired
producers to get their perspectives.”
“We all benefit when we operate
together for success,” says VP Tricia
McCreary, a member of the team who
managed the pilot. “The best way to
support our Field partners is to learn
about their operations close-up by first-
hand observation and share this
information with other members of
the service organization so that many
individuals benefit from the insights
gained by the participants.”
The benefits of the SOAR program
extend to the agencies and firms
as well.
“This program helps open up the
two-way communication” says Dale
Brennan, Life Administration, who
visited the Aequitas Agency. While
we’re getting a clearer sense of agency
life, field offices are learning firsthand
about how partnering with IB
Operations and Services can help them
be more productive.”
Said Gary Simpson, managing director,
Aequitas Agency, “It was great to have
the team with us for a few days. They
were informed and very helpful; they
answered a lot of questions and even
helped resolve some issues while they
were here; others they took back with
them to address. Their visit was a major
step toward increased communication
and awareness so we can work
together on the vital issues. The first
step is a common understanding.”
Continued on Page 8
Overall business results
Net income of $695 million, a 21 percent increase,
compared with the prior year. Top-line revenue growth
in all of MetLife’s business segments, strong interest
spreads and an improvement in net investment gains all
contributed to this increase.
Earned total premiums, fees and other revenues of $6.8
billion, a 13% increase over the prior year period.
Operating earnings for the third quarter of 2004 were
$621 million, or $0.82 per diluted share, compared with
$616 million, or $0.81 per diluted share, for the prior
year period.
Line of business results
Institutional Business operating earnings for the third
quarter of 2004 were up 11 percent, at $294 million,
compared with $264 million in the prior year period.
Growth in the segment was due to strong interest spreads
and continued growth in the asset base for Retirement
and Savings.
Individual Business operating earnings were up 18 percent,
at $201 million in the third quarter of 2004, compared with
$171 million in the prior year period. Results in Individual
Business were driven by higher earnings in the annuity
product line due to overall growth in this product
segment, as well as strong interest spreads.
Auto & Home operating earnings were $34 million in the
third quarter of 2004, compared with $42 million in the
prior year period. Auto & Home results were negatively
impacted by an increase of $58 million, net of income
taxes, in catastrophe losses, due primarily to hurricanes in
the southeast.
International operating earnings were up 22 percent, at
$45 million in the third quarter of 2004, compared with
$37 million in the prior year period. International’s results
were driven by unusually strong earnings from the
company’s operations in Mexico and solid earnings
growth in South Korea. ■
On October 28 MetLife issued third-quarter earnings results. Below are select highlights; to review full
earnings visit the Investor Relations page on www.metlife.com
“It was energizing to see what we
do every day put into action in
the Field. Producers told us what
was working and what got in
their way. We were able to deal
with real issues on the spot. The
agencies have an expanded
support network now. Real
people behind the names to help
them be more successful.”
Julie Kellerman
Life New Business Operations
Operating Earnings by Line of Business
($ millions) Three months ended September 30Actual 2004 Actual 2003 % Change
(2003/2004)
Institutional $294 $264 11%
Individual 201 171 18%
Auto & Home 34 42 (19%)
International 45 37 22%
Reinsurance 14 18 (22%)
Asset Management 7 4 75%
Corporate & Other 26 80 (68%)
Total Company $621 $616 1%
Sheri Lassiter, Jennifer Watkins, and DaleBrennan visiting with Aequitas Agency’s Tom Van Fossen and Gary Simpson.
Here’s a guide to the features of the Brand Center.
Under Brand Essentials you’ll find a wealth of practical
information about some of the new usage rules for the
MetLife logo, marks you should and shouldn’t use for
affiliates and subsidiaries, as well as access to various
approved MetLife logos you can use for marketing
purposes or to share with vendors.
Go to the Learn section and print your own personal copy
of MetLife’s brand story. This narrative includes the history
of our brand, the elements of our brand strategy, and
how we can manage the brand most effectively to
leverage the strong MetLife brand identity.
In the Create section of the Web site, you’ll find
guidelines on using Snoopy® and the rest of the PEANUTS®
gang. You’ll also find guidelines on color, typography and
other elements of the brand management program,
including information on writing in “the Voice of
MetLife.” The section also contains an overview of
brand-related legal concepts, such as trademarks and
registration and the naming of products and services.
The Gallery is a special pictorial of how advertising
supported the growth of the MetLife brand in the
20th century. Through “themes throughout the years,”
and the “brand story timeline,” you’ll see how we’ve
communicated MetLife's core attributes to our
customers over the years to create the strong identity
we enjoy today.
Answers to your most frequently asked questions can be
found on the Brand Forum section of the Web site.
A Presentation Primer is also available on the Brand
Center to help you not only manage the brand, but create
effective and compelling presentations for clients,
colleagues and other business partners.
As the brand management program grows, the online
Brand Center will grow with it. Planned additions include
more detailed guidelines — for Web sites, for example,
as well as more templates and guidelines to help bring
consistency to the way we communicate our brand and its
messages, both inside and outside of MetLife. ■
N o v e m b e r 2 0 0 4
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Have you been tothe Brand Center?
Site offers something for everyone in
“living” the brand
MetLife’s new online Brand
Center is now available for all
associates through the Internet at
brandcenter.metlife.com. This resource
has been developed to give associates
the tools they need to continue to
protect and enhance the MetLife brand
on an ongoing basis.
Developed in partnership between
Corporate Communications and
Corporate eBusiness, with input from
representatives from across the
company, the Brand Center is your
one-stop shop for learning about the
history, strategy and principles that lay
at the core of the MetLife brand. The
site also provides easy access to a host
of resources, including logos, guidelines
and templates, that can help you put
the principles of brand management
into action.
“The Brand Center is housed on the
Internet so it can be utilized by our
international affiliates, as well as
external partners and vendors,” says
Jeffrey Damon of Corporate Creative
Services, who played a key role in
developing the site. “At the same time,
it provides a wealth of information
associates can use on a daily basis — for
example, guidelines on key phrases to
use in talking or writing about the
company or visual identity guidelines
for newsletters and presentations.
“Using the same principles for the
Brand Center as we’ve applied for other
Web sites such as MetLife.com, the
Brand Center features easy navigation
and intuitive design,” says Dorothy
Kelly, vice president, Corporate
eBusiness. “Ongoing partnership with
the Brand Steering Committee and
business users was key to developing
this site. Building on the technical
solution from our eBusiness IT partner
to customize the Brand Center
navigation, we leveraged the Vignette
web content management that supports
MetLife.com. This resulted in an
enhanced ROI and enables real-time
content changes for the Brand Center.”
Corporate eBusiness will continue to
support the brand project, partnering
with Corporate Communications to
create a detailed enterprise Web style
guide, as well as through ongoing
enhancements to the Brand Center.
In the first of a multi-part
series, last month Momentum
introduced to you MetLife’s
new global brand management
program. Promoting consistency
in how MetLife communicates,
this program provides all
associates with the structure and
guidelines to manage the
brand as one of the company’s
most important assets. This
month’s installment in the
series focuses on the program’s
primary “toolbox” — the
online Brand Center.
How’s the media doing on LTC coverage?
The LTC IQ Test was conducted alongside an analysis of
long-term care coverage in the media since most Americans
learn about financial planning and insurance needs in this
way. Concern has arisen within the insurance industry that
much of the reporting on long-term care and long-term care
insurance has been inadequate in providing the depth and
accuracy of information that’s needed to make informed
choices when considering this purchase.
Here’s a sampling of what the Media Reality Check revealed:
Six in every seven articles on long-term
care insurance have gaps that need to
be filled. These gaps could be
misstatements, or the omission of a
basic piece of information on long-term
care insurance.
Qualifications for long-term care
and costs are the most common
categories where misstatements
about long-term care insurance
occurred.
While definitions of long-term
care and long-term care insurance
are the categories with the most
omissions, the most common
individual omissions were that
long-term care insurance helps
protect financial assets and that long-term
care insurance can help pay for long-term care services.
You can review the full findings of the Media Reality Check
and The Long-Term Care IQ Test by visiting the MetLife
Mature Market Institute page on www.metlife.com. ■
5
Far too many Americans still lack some of the information they need to help them make decisions about long-term care
planning. This is why MetLife’s Mature Market Institute, in cooperation with Long-Term Care, Marketing, Public
Relations and GAIRD, commissioned a national Long-Term Care IQ Test study, designed to assess Americans’ understanding
of long-term care and long-term care insurance.
Results from the IQ Test, a poll of almost 1,500 people, revealed that most Americans lack some basic knowledge of long-term
care. In fact, only about one in three people passed the IQ test, with only two percent of individuals receiving a grade of “B”
or better. “We find that many Americans have misconceptions about long-term care,” said Sandy Timmermann, director,
MetLife Mature Market Institute. “Some associate it only with nursing homes, not realizing that most care is provided at
home. Others mistakenly believe that long-term care services are paid for through a government entitlement program like
Medicare. The results of the IQ Test show that baby boomers need more education about long-term care so they can better
plan for their future.”
Long-Term Care: How much do you know?
Can you do better? Below are questions
from the Long-Term Care IQ Test. See
for yourself . . . then do something
about it. See www.metlife.com for
more information, studies and resources
about long-term care and aging.
1. Long-term care refers to a situation
when a person needs:
A Medical treatment in a hospital
B Medical treatment at home
C Chemotherapy
D Ongoing assistance with
day-to-day activities such as
bathing, dressing or eating.
2. How many households are
providing care to an adult family
member or other loved one?
A One out of 2
B One out of 5
C One out of 10
D One out of 15
3. What percentage of Americans
aged 85 years, or older, need some
help with ordinary activities of
daily living?
A 20 percent
B 40 percent
C 50 percent
D 80 percent
4. The cost of receiving long-term care
can vary a lot, depending on where
in the country you live. What is the
current national average annual
cost of receiving long-term care in a
private room in a nursing home?
A $40,000 – $49,999
B $50,000 – $59,999
C $60,000 – $69,999
D $70,000 – $79,999
5. Which of the statements below is
true of long-term care insurance?
A Replaces lost income when
someone is out of work because
of a disability
B Covers the cost of someone who
needs supervision because of
Alzheimer’s disease
C Pays for visits to the doctor
D Pays for a hospital stay
6. When they reach traditional
retirement age, all U.S. citizens are
entitled to receive basic coverage
from the government for:
A Dental care
B Health care
C Long-term care
D Both B and C
7. Where do most people receive
long-term care services?
A In their own home
B Assisted living facility
C Nursing home
D Hospital
8. What are the chances that an
individual who reaches age 65
will live at least 18 more years?
A 25 percent
B 35 percent
C 50 percent
D 75 percent
Here are some key findings:
Fewer than 4 in 10 understood
their likely longevity rate.
Three out of 4 underestimated
how many people over age 85
need assistance with activities
of daily living.
Only 1 in 5 correctly identified
that most long-term care
takes place in the home.
Nearly half underestimated
the cost of care in a
nursing home.
Four in 10 mistakenly believe
that they are entitled to
basic coverage for LTC from
the government.
More than 6 out of 10 did
not correctly estimate the
cost of waiting to buy LTC
insurance until an older age. Answers: D, B, C, C, B, B, A, C
momentum
N o v e m b e r 2 0 0 4
6
When she donated her bone marrow
in November 2002 to a woman with
leukemia, Chrissy Krauss never dreamed
she would be identified again as another
match. But in April, she learned that she
was — this time, for a seven-year-old boy,
also with leukemia.
The systems analyst from MetLife’s Convent
Station, NJ, office says there was no
question she would donate again.
Chrissy first became involved in the
National Marrow Donor Program through
a recruitment program here at MetLife.
”I had never really thought about marrow
donation until MetLife set up a booth in
our office to talk about this.“
Since 1998, our company has worked
actively to recruit employees, such as
Chrissy, as potential marrow donors by
having them join the National Registry.
Today, about 4,000 associates have done so.
MetLife Foundation provided funding to
the Marrow Foundation to begin the
program. MetLife also has supported
the registry effort beyond MetLife by
developing an educational corporate
donor video for the Bone Marrow
Foundation to use on a national basis.
“How can you balance a couple of days of
discomfort with what this boy is going
through,” says Chrissy, speaking about the
recipient of her second donation. “The
idea that I could help save a life — that I
had something very unique to give — is
what led me to donate then, and now.”
The need for marrow donors is great, even
more so in certain minority populations,
according to Deanna Sainten, who
manages the Corporate Blood and Marrow
Program. Every year, 30,000 children and
adults are diagnosed with leukemia or
other forms of cancer for which a marrow
or blood stem cell transplant could be the
cure. About 30 percent will find a
matching donor within their family; the
remaining 70 percent will need to search
for an unrelated donor.
“Chrissy is such an outstanding example of
what our MetLife recruitment program can
accomplish, bringing together real heroes
with people in desperate need,” says Lee
Launer, executive vice president and Blood
Program executive sponsor.
“I was afraid to join the Registry at first
truth be told,” admits Chrissy. “But there is
so much good that can be done, and you
really get the support, information and
medical care you need to make the
decision that’s right for you. It’s a
personal choice, but for my part, I could
only say yes.” ■
Want to registeror learn more?
Help save a life; consider
joining the National
Marrow Donor Program's
national Registry of
unrelated marrow and
blood stem cell donors.
Registration is easy
and can be done at a
MetLife-sponsored blood
drive or at a local Red
Cross office. For more
information about
marrow donation, contact
Deanna Sainten of
Human Resources at
(212) 578-3786 or
visit www.themarrow-
foundation.org.
Celebrating Colleagues
“Chrissy is such an outstanding
example of what our MetLife
recruitment program
can accomplish, bringing
together real heroes with people
in desperate need.”
Lee LaunerExecutive Vice President
Blood Program Executive Sponsor
Alzheimer’s MemoryWalk calls associates
and their families to action
Six-year old Asia Chandler
joined her Mom, Lakisha
Halback, a financial analyst
in Retirement & Savings,
and many other associates
and their families, in the
Memory Walk held this
October in New York. The
event raises awareness
about Alzheimer’s disease
(AD) and builds support for
services to affected
individuals, their families
and caregivers. MetLife
team members included
family and friends. The walk
raises funds for education,
programs and services.
Asia took the time to write
us about her experiences
walking for AD awareness,
and we couldn’t help but
share her terrific letter.
Thank you, Asia, and all
who gave up part of their
weekend to support the
fight against AD. ■
The Corporate Blood and Marrow Program isstrongly supported by our company’s leadership.
Featured with Chrissy Krauss is EVP Lee Launerand Chairman and CEO Bob Benmosche.
7
Office of Diversityholds secondDiversity Summit
For almost 80 years, MetLife has
provided General Motors with
valuable employee benefits for its
corporate employees around the world.
What you may not know is that MetLife
also has been working with GM
dealerships for over 40 years.
This relationship, which involves
marketing employee benefits to over
7,000 dealerships nationwide, is
managed through Strategic
Partnerships, a group within MetLife’s
Institutional Business. So when GM
minority dealers formed the Minority
Dealers Association (GMMDA), it creat-
ed a natural partnership opportunity
for us, according to Liz Brisson, account
manager, Strategic Partnerships.
“The GMMDA is always looking to
partner with companies who offer
products designed to positively affect
the bottom lines of our members,”
says GMMDA President and GM dealer
Gregory Jackson. “We also look for
companies who share our commitment
to diversity. We are happy to say that
we have found both in MetLife.”
According to Liz, MetLife’s sponsorship
of the GMMDA goes beyond financial
support and attendance at their annual
conferences. With over 400 dealerships
within the GM minority dealer
network, MetLife provides educational
workshops at the GMMDA-sponsored
events on topics like “The Need for Life
Insurance,” and we recently introduced
MetLife Advice to its members.
For all of these efforts, MetLife was
named GMMDA’s Preferred Vendor
in October.
“We have always been very pleased
with our partnership with MetLife,”
adds GMMDA Executive Director
Marjorie Staten. “MetLife’s history
of providing quality products and
services to GM dealerships instilled in
us a sense of confidence from the
very beginning.”
Throughout October, MetLife’s products
and services were marketed to GMMDA
members. It was perfect timing because
October was GM Awareness Month
at MetLife, an effort to focus our sales
associates on all GM Dealership
prospecting opportunities.
For more information, contact Liz
Brisson or view GMMDA’s Web site:
www.GMMDA.org. ■
MetLife namedGMMDA “PreferredVendor” for October
diversity at MetLife
New program to safeguard peoplewith Alzheimer’s
As many as 60 percent of the 4.5 million Americans with Alzheimer’s disease (AD) will wander at some time, often leaving
home and unable to find their way back.
To address the wandering problem, MetLife Foundation is working with the Alzheimer’s Association on a new outreach
initiative to enhance the Alzheimer’s Association’s Safe Return Program — a nationwide identification program that helps
return individuals with AD who wander and become lost. Funded by the Department of Justice, Safe Return is the only
nationwide identification, support and registration program working at the community level. The program provides
assistance whether a person becomes lost locally or far from home.
Safe Return is implemented through a nationwide network of Association chapters, coordination with law enforcement, and
a national call center organized around identification products, including a bracelet or necklace, iron-on clothing labels, key
chain, identification card, etc. Contact information, used to help reunite lost memory-impaired adults with their caregivers, is
contained in a national, computerized database.
Thanks to MetLife Foundation funding, the Alzheimer’s Association will award grants to chapters across the country to draw
attention to and increase utilization of this program. This includes promoting the Safe Return Program in communities
through the use of local media, including print and/or radio, educational conferences, and town hall meetings as well as
other innovative ways to build awareness. ■
momentum
On September 20 and 21, the Office of Diversity held its
second Diversity Summit. The theme for the Summit,
which was kicked off by Bob Benmosche, was “Diversity:
The Way We Do Business,” and focused on the many ways
diversity is embedded in MetLife’s business practices, and
workplace. Attendees at the Summit included members of
MetLife’s enterprise diversity council, representatives from
line of business diversity committees, representatives of local
diversity councils and representatives from MetLife’s affinity
groups (Multicultural Resources Network [MRN], Professional
Women at MetLife [PWAM] and Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual, and
Transgendered [GLBT] Group).
During the two-day summit, attendees discussed the progress
we have made as a company in the area of diversity, one
example of which was the rollout of a new diversity
operating guidelines toolkit. The toolkit will be used to assist
the various councils, committees and groups involved in
diversity efforts throughout the company to better align
themselves with the overall MetLife diversity strategy. Also
showcased at the meeting was a brand new CD, which
highlights our commitment and successes in the area of
diversity. Demonstrating that diversity is indeed a business
case, Jim Gemus, senior vice president of Business Strategy
and Planning, discussed how diversity is tied to the company’s
vision of growth and innovation.
“This Summit was a great forum for sharing successes,
opportunities and challenges related to diversity,” said
Denise Singleton, head of MetLife’s Diversity Office.
“Bringing together people from all backgrounds and
businesses is a valuable — and extremely energizing —
way to accelerate our progress.” ■
N o v e m b e r 2 0 0 4
14th Annual Make A Difference Day
with Soaringwords
MetLife associates inBoston help with
Project Hope
IndependentDistribution Group
celebrates hardwork; successes
More than 75 associates in Long Island City and Scranton
partnered with Soaringwords, a national nonprofit
organization inspiring ill children and their families to
“never give up!”
Volunteers decorated SoaringQuilts® and SoaringPillows®,
which will be donated and delivered to hospitalized children
in the New York City and Scranton communities. The premise
behind Soaringwords is that uplifting words and art have
positive and healing impact in the lives of sick children and
their families.
MetLife has been working with Soaringwords for several
years, and through its volunteer program, enables associates
to make a difference. This latest project with Soaringwords
was the first time two MetLife sites took part in the same
activity simultaneously. This weekend project was also unique
in that it enabled associates’ family and friends to participate
in the project. Soaringwords quilts and pillows were
completed over a weekend and returned for distribution
on Monday. ■
Momentum is published by MetLife Corporate Communications for associates enterprise-wide. We encourage your
questions and comments. Send submissions to momentum@metlife.com or in Lotus Notes, simply type in “Momentum.”
Editor: Caroline Campanelli
Contributing Writers: Toby Axelrod, Gillian Rosheuvel
0411-6506 (1104)
Printed in USA
PEANUTS © United Feature Syndicate, Inc., www.snoopy.com
8
On September 30 associates from MetLife in Boston participated in the United Way’s Community Care Day. Community
Care Day is one of many events that take place as part of the annual United Way Campaign.
The team spent the day at Project Hope, a community-based, multi-service center agency that shelters families and
operates programs that help move the families from crisis mode to economic stability. MetLife volunteers did some light
cleaning, painted, and gardened, and even participated in career exploration activities with women in Project Hope’s
Women’s Adult Learner Program.
Both New England Financial and MetLife have supported and participated in this event for many years and it is a great way
to give back to the community, according to Community Care Day coordinator Roxane Romulus. In fact, in connection with
their volunteerism, MetLife Foundation made a $1,500 grant to the organization. ■
St. Louis-based Life Independent Distribution Group associates and their service partners gathered October 7 for a picnic
at MetLife’s Tesson Ferry Road location. Mike Farrell, senior vice president (l.), who oversees MetLife’s Independent
Distribution businesses, and members of his senior management team, thanked the more then 375 associates who attended
for their hard work. Special guest Michael Weisman, GenAmerica Advisory Council chairman, also attended. Associates had
the opportunity to view the MetLife Traveling Exhibit, brought to St. Louis by MetLife Company Archivist Dan May; meet
Snoopy; and hear Houseband, a local jazz band headed up by one of MetLife’s associates, Ed Hamilton. ■
roundup
Cont’d from Page 3
Sometimes, it takes a field trip
Given the great success of this pilot,
more agency visits are being planned
for 2005, according to IB Operations &
Services Senior Vice President Peggy
Fechtmann. “This is really such a win
all around,” she says. “Their feedback
and partnering put us in an excellent
position to deliver on our commitment
to world class service.” ■
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