24 HќќѠіђџȱ юћјђџ ѢљѦȱ2014 GR SPOTLIGHT Government relations is the cornerstone of the Indiana Bankers Association, as shown in our mission statement: “To advocate for and sustain an environment in which ȱȱǯȄȱ ȱȱȱĴȱ that the biggest obstacle to success in our banks in recent years has been governmental overreach. The hasty implementation of the DoddFrank Act has greatly compromised the ability of banks to serve their customers well. Yet we know this is true: The banking industry is resilient, and bankers are resilient. Today’s industry is regaining health and, once again, playing the primary role in U.S. economic recovery. As we move forward and begin to chip away at the onerous provisions of Dodd-Frank, we can come to but one conclusion: Our government does not fully understand how a bank operates. This is why grassroots involvement is so crucial to the legislative and rulemaking process. Industry knowledge rests within you, and legislators need your expertise. When they don’t hear from you on any given issue, they can only assume ȱ¢ȱȱěǰȱȱȱ their vote can go either way. To take a quote from Congressman Marlin ĵȱȱȱȂȱHoosier Banker cover story, “When you’re out of sight, you’re out of mind.” You can be assured that your IBA Government Relation Team is working to keep banking issues front and center through regular contact with our delegates. This contact includes tweeting to legislators, as recommended by both the American Bankers Association and the Independent Community Bankers ȱ ǯȱ ǰȱěȱȱ change must include grassroots contact by our members. +RZ WR %HFRPH ,QYROYHG Weigh in on issues. The IBA, the American Bankers Association and the Independent Community Bankers of America all utilize grassroots interactive Web services. When an important issue arises, IBA will send you an alert to ask you to email your legislator. Please don’t dismiss these requests. Utilizing the Web service takes only two to three minutes, and your input ȱȱȱȱěȱȱȱ outcome of the issue. We choose our grassroots pushes carefully to ensure that our delegation does not tire of hearing from IBA members. Join us in D.C. There is nothing more impactful, both for you and the legislator, than having you sit ȱȱȱȱĜȱȱ ǰȱ D.C., to tell your story. Your reallife examples about how potential ȱ¢ȱěȱ¢ȱǰȱ customers and community will have ȱȱěǯ This year we will be heading to the nation’s capitol Sept. 7-9 for the 2014 IBA Annual Washington Trip. Because we believe that this trip is so ȱȱ¢ȱȱĴǰȱȱ ȱ does not charge a registration fee, and we will cover all of your meal and transportation costs while you ȱȱ ǯȱ ȱȱDzȱ¢ȱ can register through the IBA website at www.indianabankers.org. Ĵȱ ȱȬȱ . The IBA hosts eight regional meetings around the state each summer to provide you with an opportunity to get to know your legislators on a personal level, in ȱ¡ȱĴȱȱȱȱȱ home. This year’s meeting schedule continues into August and is available on the IBA website. Additionally we invite you to join us for the IBA annual legislative ęȱȱǰȱȱȱ the session of the General Assembly. Our event is one of the most popular legislative receptions in Indiana, and many legislators ask for their local ȱ¢ȱȱ ȱ¢ȱĴǯ ȱȱ. Bankers understand that strategic ȱ ȱȱ ȱ яќѢѡȱѡѕђȱ Ѣѡѕќџ ȱ ǯȱ ȱ ǰȱ , is senior vice president-government relations of the ȱ . She can be reached at 317-917-8047, email: avantil@indianabankers.org.
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