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Being Frank
- Champions of Main Street -
When the year began and we outlined the Four Pillars -- a comprehensive plan for IBANYS future -- we made a commitment to our members that, through hard work and dedication, we would reinvent, reinvigorate, renew and refocus this association.
We have upheld that commitment by use of a Planning meeting of the Board of directors which resulted in a Strategic Plan. While we will tell you more about the entire plan through this newsletter, I would encourage everyone -- both member and potential member -- to attend our upcoming Regional meetings. At that time I will present a complete look at the Plan and answer questions.
Over the past several months we have begun implementing strategies within the Plan to accomplish our goals and objectives. One major step in establishing our Government Relations Pillar was to laser-focus on specific areas. These areas included using a legislative agenda as well as establishing a working Government Relations committee. Additionally, it included presenting and advocating our positions to the legislature, press -- and more importantly, our members.
We have also re-established our communications arm and activated Peer Councils, starting with the CFO council. These combined efforts resulted in the most successful CFO Peer Group/Senior Management Conference in the past ten years. Additional councils will follow.
Although the aforementioned is exciting and ongoing, it simply does not matter unless we re-establish IBANYS as the champion of community banks in New York State. To that end, we successfully stopped the continual loss of members, encountered over the past decade, effectively retaining our 2010 numbers in 2011. Additionally, we have added four new members. These improvements in membership mean that we are regaining momentum, and more importantly, the trust of our community banks.
How do we keep this momentum? By keeping our promise to communicate and listen to our members and potential members. Besides writing and calling, we have been on the road visiting person to person, one on one in your banks with you. And you have my personal promise and commitment that these road trips will continue. We will listen, we will learn, and from it IBANYS will continue to improve and be the champion for your interests and yours alone.
Join us at your upcoming convention in Saratoga Springs and you will not only hear, but will see and feel the new energy-- and you need to be a part of it. After all, what would Main Street be without you, the "Champions of Main Street"?
Thank you for your continued support.
Best regards,
Frank J. Capaldo
President/CEO
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