Annual Conference 2004

2004 Convention is a Tremendous Success!
IBC DID IT RIGHT IN WONDERLAND!

How are you going to top this convention? Outstanding. You did it again! Can’t wait until next year. All the speakers were amazing. We had a great time! The entertainment was great. How did Ward Lucas do that? The spouse programs were wonderful. We’re still laughing! Bring all the speakers back next year.

Our 31st anniversary celebration was a success! Bankers loaded up the car and let their imagination run as we headed off to Wonderland. Tweedlefer (Jennifer) and Tweedlelynn (Maelynn) greeted more than 110 anxious golfers on Thursday morning at the Breckenridge Golf Course. It was a perfect day for golf. Thursday evening debuted our once again sold out exhibit hall. Fifty-nine exhibitors filled our exhibit hall and hallways.

Friday started bright and early with breakfast and Internet Liability program presented by Craig Collins, National Director of Community Banks, St. Paul Travelers. Whether your journey is through Wonderland or via the Internet you and your bank need to be protected from the perils that may lurk ahead. Ed Krei, Managing Director, The Baker Group, continued our journey down the rabbit hole. Ed’s keynote presentation on Realistic Expectations for Community Banks had everyone laughing and thinking about how to apply the information back at the bank. Mr. Krei’s presentation drove home the tactics that must be followed and he stressed that we need actually complete the tactics in order to be successful. Talk is cheap – but we need action.

We finally made it through the keyhole and swam to safety at our Annual Legislative Awards and Annual Meeting. The IBC recognized the following legislators for their “Spirit of Independence” during the 2004 legislative session: Representative Pam Rhodes, Representative Carl Miller, Representative Rosemary Marshall and Representative Tambor Williams. In addition, the IBC presented two Legislators of the Year awards to Representative Al White and Senator Ken Kester. During the annual meeting IBC members unanimously elected our new slate of Board Members and officers for the 2004-2005 term and adopted the annual resolutions. Fred Bauer, President, Farmers Bank, Ault and Mike Harvey, President, Valley State Bank, Lamar, were successfully re-elected to serve an additional three year term as Directors in District B and District C respectfully. Jim Davis, President, FirstBank Evergreen, Evergreen and Slim McWilliams, President, Citizens State Bank, Cortez were successfully elected to serve three year terms to fill vacancies in District A and District D. Under IBC’s By-Laws, President-Elect Mike Bass, President, First National Bank of Hugo, succeeds IBC’s President Dave Wade, President, Front Range Bank, Lakewood, as the IBC’s President for the 2004-2005 term and Dave becomes Chairman. The Board unanimously nominated for the position of President-Elect Jim Sower, Chairman, Pine River Valley Bank, Bayfield. The IBC bids a fond farewell to IBC Chairman Bill Mitchell, President, Heritage Bank and District A Director Hereford Percy, President, FirstBank North as they leave the board after serving for a number of years. It was a pleasure to have Rusty Cloutier, President and CEO, MidSouth Bank, Lafayette, Louisiana, with us to present information about how the Independent Community Bankers of America (ICBA) is working, fighting and lobbying diligently on behalf of America’s community banks. Rusty was thrilled to receive the covenanted silver spur that is presented to the ICBA representative each year.

Lunch was absolutely delicious. When you think of Ward Lucas you think television news anchor or investigative reporter. Well, Mr. Lucas has a hidden talent that had everyone “buzzing” after lunch. Ward’s Mind Games and Gypsy Mysteries presentation was amazing! He was able to “read” people’s minds in the audience and even long distance. Ward was able to tell the audience whom Barbara Walker’s first kiss was from. How amazing is that? And to top things off – he plays the fiddle. People were talking about his presentation during the remainder of the convention. One participant told Mr. Lucas he is in her living room every weekend and that he even looks better in person than on television! On a side note - Mr. Lucas donates his honorarium to Alzheimer’s Research.

Top-notch presenters made their presentations during our standing room only breakout sessions on Friday afternoon. They had difficult competition as the golf course and shopping were calling attendees names. At the request of our members, the IBC presented a couple breakout sessions pertinent to bank directors. Larry Martin’s, Executive Vice President, Bankers’ Bank of the West, presentation on Evaluating Your Bank Directors Performance and Ed Krei’s Understanding Your Bank’s Financial Reports were very well received. Bob McGoffin, Vice Chairman, Home National Bank, presented two standing room only sessions on Pricing Strategies. Bankers are still calling to get Bob’s phone number. Bankers received valuable information in Lesley Van Doorne’s, Assistant Vice President, Bankcard Product Management, Fifth Third Bank, presentation on Investing in Your Bottomline – Debit Card Programs and it is always a delight to have Mary Thorson, Principal and Director of Bank Compliance Services, Fortner, Bayens and Levkulich & Co. presenting compliance information.

No one was late for their very important date with IBC’s exhibitors on Friday evening. The exhibit hall was full of activity as bankers were learning about new products and services. Immediately following the cocktail reception, attendees proceeded to dinner where they entered through the magical mirror and the Hatter, March Hare and Dormouse had been busy decorating the dining room. Dinner was divine and the Kool Cats had everyone dancing until late into the night. Chuck Johnston, President, North Valley Bank and District A Director played the drums and sang for the audience. The band’s drummer was a little hesitant to let Chuck take over in fear Chuck might take his job!

Saturday morning’s district meetings are always well attended and provide a venue for members to express their concerns and discuss issues in their area of the state. Five breakout sessions followed the district meetings. Our speakers were surprised at how many bankers attended our Saturday morning sessions. Bob Wells, President, World Humor Organization, presented two standing room only sessions on Laughing as Though Your Life Depended On It. Connie West, Direct Marketing Consultant, Harland, had stiff competition and did a great job with her breakout session on Making Direct Marketing Work at your Bank. It was great to have Ted Rosen, Owner, Expert Business Development, back again this year. Ted’s presentation on Why Hating One’s Bank Has Replaced Baseball as the National Pastime brought to light issues you might not have thought about addressing. Tammie Lowrie, Partner, BKD, LLP, did an outstanding job presenting information on Bank Director Compliance Issues. Tony Hernandez, Director of Fannie Mae’s Colorado State Partnership Office and Walt Patton, Senior Business Manager for Rural Housing, Fannie Mae presented information on how Fannie Mae and banks can work together to make an impact in providing housing options for their customers.

We didn’t forget about the spouses, guests and children. Jeni Jankowski presented a hands-on demonstration on the ins and outs of scrapbooking, Creative Memories on Friday morning. Everyone had a great time and enjoyed receiving some scrapbooking necessities. On Saturday guests enjoyed a casual tea party. This gave participants an opportunity to chat and to get to know each other a little better.

No Wonderland adventure would be complete without the Queen of Hearts, Cheshire Cat, White Rabbit, pink flamingoes and a game of croquet, would it? Saturday night’s grand prize giveaways and dinner brought back all the characters of the wonderful Lewis Carroll book. A number of attendees received prizes from exhibitors, the IBC awarded the winners of its exhibit hall quiz and prize drawing tickets. A special thank you to Alecia McCallister for assisting with the prize drawings. The evening concluded with the humor of Dr. Kevin Fitzgerald. As some of you know, Dr. Fitzgerald is a well-known, board-certified veterinarian and is perhaps best known for his regular role on Discovery Channels hit series "Emergency Vets." Kevin made stomachs hurt and brought tears to eyes from laughter. What a great way to bring an end to this year’s convention.