6 Hoosier Banker December 2015 FEATURE President’s Ponderings S. Joe DeHaven, President & Chief Executive Officer, Indiana Bankers Association We all enjoy coming together to celebrate birthdays and anniversaries. Often we lavish gifts on whoever is celebrating a particular occasion. Soon, Hoosiers everywhere will have reason to celebrate a milestone day. It could either be called a birthday or an anniversary but, either way, it will be a day of immense pride. This upcoming event will not require gift giving, though you may want to purchase mementos for yourself or loved ones. As members of the Indiana banking community, we will all be participating in this celebration, which starts this month and continues for an entire year. What is this momentous event? If you have not already guessed, Dec. 11, 2016, will mark 200 years since Indiana was admitted to the United States of America. For the past few years, a governor-appointed Indiana Bicentennial Commission has been planning a variety of ways for Hoosiers to take part in this important occasion. There will be a statewide torch relay through all 92 counties, a commemorative book showcasing the people and landscapes of Indiana, exciting historic re-enactments, multiple galas and celebrations, and the minting of a bicentennial medal. Events officially commence on Dec. 11, 2015, and conclude one year later, on the 200th birthday of our great state. One hundred years ago, a similar celebration marked Indiana’s first century of statehood. Like today, there were numerous ways that Hoosiers celebrated, including the minting of a centennial medal. Back then, in 1816, your Indiana Bankers Association was a fledgling 19-year-old organization, but nevertheless stepped up as presenting sponsor of the medal. In 1966, the state again had cause to celebrate, marking its 150-year anniversary, for which IBAmember banks made sesquicentennial medals available to the public. I was a senior in high school at the time, and I recall old men growing beards to celebrate the occasion. This year, I am proud to report that the IBA has again accepted the honor of serving as presenting sponsor of the bicentennial medal, with unanimous support from your board of directors. The crafting of this medal has been months in the making. Its design resulted from a competition among 50+ artists who submitted more than 100 designs. The winning design was created by Donna Weaver of Vevay, a retired sculptor-engraver of the U.S. Mint and a certified Indiana artisan. The design interweaves past and current imagery on the front side of the medal with a trompe l’oeil “peel back” effect. The upper half of the obverse highlights images of historic Indiana, including a horse and plow and the Corydon Statehouse; the lower portion of the same side shows views of Indiana today, complete with a highgrade tractor, sleek IndyCar and other modern-day sights. Anchored on the reverse side with the Indiana state seal, the bicentennial medal is a stunning keepsake sized in two options ‒ 1¾-inch and 3-inch ‒ with both sizes available in either antique bronze or limited-edition silver. The reason the board so enthusiastically approved serving as the presenting sponsor of the medal is that this sponsorship makes IBA-member banks the exclusive outlets for the official medal order forms. The only other means of placing orders for the medals is online through the state of Indiana website. The IBA will soon be packaging and sending promotional displays and medal order forms to each member bank, in ample quantity for each of your branches, upon the delivery of the printed materials to us. The packaging that we send will include clear instructions and IBA logo window clings, since the logo identifies your bank as a medal order form location. Your participation should be seamless, because your bank will only be making order forms available. There will be no medals on inventory, and no funds to collect. Instead, the state will accept the orders, collect monies and ship the medals, leaving you free to serve the banking needs of your customers. For those banks which would like to do more to promote this effort, the IBA has set up an online supply of materials for your marketing team to download as statement stuffers, posters, customizable print advertisements and other images.* Also, you may choose to purchase medals for display or to provide to employees or customers at your discretion. The board and staff of the Indiana Bankers Association are proud to provide this year-long opportunity for our members to celebrate this auspicious occasion collectively. Congratulations to Indiana for 200 years of statehood! * Online supplies are available through a members-only webpage at: indianabankers.org/bicentennial.
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