9 Hoosier Banker April 2016 Support for the junior board has been strong not only from area schools, but also from the community at large. Local businesses and nonprofit organizations host the monthly board meetings, making presentations to the students about area opportunities, and leading tours through their facilities. These area visits help expose students to future employment opportunities. Additionally, to bolster the benefit for junior board members, every other meeting includes a segment on financial literacy. All members of the junior board are required to volunteer in at least two community service projects annually. Past projects have included the March of Dimes; Wabash County Animal Shelter; Special Olympics; Chili for Charity; Living Well in Wabash County; Relay for Life; and Rake & Run, which provides lawn raking for the elderly. When the bank implemented its junior board several years ago, one long-term goal was to entice talented students to return to Wabash after earning college degrees, to help build a strong workforce and potentially attract new business to the community. To date, two former junior board members have served as interns at the bank, and one former junior board chairman is now a Crossroads Bank employee. Alliance Bank, Francesville In October 2015, Alliance Bank implemented its junior board of directors. Like the Crossroads Bank model, the Alliance Bank JBOD consists of 16 students from four local high schools, with two juniors and two seniors from each. Students serve on the board for two-year terms. Members of the board are selected by Alliance Bank through an application process, and administrators at area schools have been extremely supportive of the program. JBOD members participate in monthly meetings, held at local businesses or nonprofits that the students tour. The duration of each meeting is 90 minutes, with the first half hour devoted to meeting time, and the final hour reserved for the business presentation and tour, followed by a question-and-answer session. Meetings follow Roberts Rules of Order protocol and include a review of previous minutes, a treasurer’s report, plus updates on marketing/communications needs and community service projects. Junior board members currently are making plans for a year-end celebratory meeting event. Junior board member requirements include attendance at all meetings and participation in at least two community Crossroads Bank junior board of director members led a pledge campaign to motivate youth to pledge not to text and drive. events per year. Some students have participated in existing community programs, but others have created new events, such as a food drive connected to high school basketball games. Through community service, students earn merits of $15 per volunteer hour performed. The JBOD collectively may collect merits up to $1,000, and may then designate an organization to receive merit funds at the end of the year. Alliance Bank views its JBOD as an opportunity to bring together students, community organizations and local businesses through real-life experiences. The program builds leaders, supports the community, develops local talent and forges relationships, while educating students about local opportunities that await them post-college. t Terry Stevens, president of Alliance Bank, Francesville, leads the junior board of directors on a tour of the bank on orientation day. Members of the inaugural Alliance Bank junior board of directors gather in front of the bank’s main office. The Alliance Bank junior board of directors presented a check to the athletic director of North White High School as a result of funds raised through a “Food Drive Throw Down” that the junior board created.
RkJQdWJsaXNoZXIy MTg3NDExNQ==