26 Hoosier Banker April 2016 GR SPOTLIGHT Sine die came early for the 2016 Indiana General Assembly, wrapping up late in the evening on Thursday, March 10. The excitement of Indiana lawmaking may have been put to rest for the year, but the efforts of your Indiana Bankers Association Government Relations Team continue. Advocacy is a year-round venture. It takes continual relationshipbuilding and educating about complex topics to give a clear, strong voice to the Indiana banking community. Following are some “next steps” of the IBA GR Team, and we encourage you to join us to build grassroots strength. IBA Regional Meetings This summer the IBA will again host a series of regional meetings, with the goal of building relationships between legislators and Indiana bankers. Meetings will be held in eight cities throughout Indiana; dates and locations will be announced soon. Each meeting begins with a member-only IBA update and peer discussion, during which attendees will be briefed on the Association and how bankers can participate in additional grassroots opportunities. Lunch with area legislators will follow, presenting a valuable opportunity to talk face-to-face with the legislators who represent your communities. These IBA Regional Meetings have been well received. They serve not only as an opportunity for bankers to create or build on relationships with legislators, but also to network with fellow IBA members. Please plan to attend one or more of these meetings. Indiana BANKPAC We all are aware that 2016 is a vital election year for the future of our country and our state, and bankers will need to make their voices heard throughout the election process. Indiana BANKPAC, the political action committee of the IBA, gives bankers a voice and a means of supporting those candidates who are supportive of the banking industry. Indiana BANKPAC kits have been mailed out to IBA-member banks to assist in implementing 2016 BANKPAC campaigns. This year bankers will have the opportunity to contribute through several options, including sweepstakes entries for a trip to Costa Rica, silent auction donations and purchases, payroll deduction or general contributions, and a new BANKPAC charitable match program. We understand that not all bank employees are able to attend the regional meetings or the IBA Annual Washington Trip, but contributing to Indiana BANKPAC is a way for all Indiana bankers to stay engaged and supportive of the industry. IBA Annual Washington Trip This year’s IBA Annual Washington Trip is scheduled for Sept. 25-27. If you have never attended this trip to Washington, D.C., to advocate on behalf of your industry, we encourage you to come and see firsthand why your presence is so important. Thanks to the leadership of our current and past chairmen, our delegation has grown year after year, and we hope to continue that trend. This year’s trip will include briefings by the Independent Community Bankers of America, American Bankers Association and Conference of State Bank Supervisors, followed by meetings with the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau, Office of the Comptroller of the Currency and Federal Deposit Insurance Corp. The final day of the trip is reserved for meetings with Indiana’s delegation. Our senators and representatives sincerely appreciate the efforts of Indiana bankers who travel to our nation’s capital to meet with them on this trip. Please consider joining with your fellow bankers this fall. t About the Author Joshua A. Myers is government relations & communications office manager of the Indiana Bankers Association. He can be reached at 317-9178047, email: jmyers@indianabankers.org. Next Steps for Indiana Banking Advocacy
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