Pub. 2 2011 Issue 1

www.wvbankers.org 4 A M ESSAGE FROM THE P RESIDENT AND CEO By Joe L. Ellison A s I write this for publication in March, the month of January is almost over. I wonder how many of us have already failed to keep one or more of the resolutions we made at that time. The problem with resolutions is most of us make them too hard to keep. With this in mind, may I suggest a few belated resolutions that each banker in West Virginia should strive to keep. Resolution #1 – Increased involvement in government relations Everyone knows that our industry has been under attack for nearly two and a half years now. Our readers also know that our members were not the cul- prits in the financial/economic crisis. You can help your association and the banking industry by staying up-to-date on the WVBA’s government relations efforts and more importantly, becom- ing involved in them. You can also be of great service to the association and your profession by responding to calls of action when you receive our legislative updates and notices from our national trade group. Resolution #2 – Continue to support the WVBA BankPAC We made significant progress in our political action efforts in 2010. We raised almost $70,000 last year alone as more and more of our CEOs are heeding the call to give by soliciting their boards and management to support WVBA BankPAC. There will be a special elec- tion this spring and fall for governor and then we’ll enter the 2012 election cycle. 2010 will be vitally important to the banking industry. West Virginia will elect a governor, a U.S. Senator, three Congressional representatives and two justices to the State Supreme Court in 2012, along with the entire House of Delegates, one-half of the State Senate and all other statewide elected officials ranging from the Attorney General to the Auditor and Treasurer. We simply must have as many bankers as possible involved in our political efforts. Resolution #3 – Leverage our political relationships We have two new members of Congress – Representative David McKinley and Senator Joe Manchin. We also have sev- eral new members of the West Virginia House of Delegates and State Senate. I am confident that many of our bank- ers know these individuals and have strong relationships with them. Like banking, lawmaking is often centered around personal relationships and the trust developed between community and economic leaders and elected officials. Recently, I took Randy Snider, Presi- dent and Chief Executive Officer of Community Bank of Parkersburg, and Charles Maddy, President and CEO of Summit Financial Group, to meet our two new representatives in Washington, DC. They want to hear from you. Send them a personal note. Better yet, make it a point to go and see them when they have a function in your area. Let’s work hard to make sure our new members know and understand the im- portant role banking plays in our state and our nation’s economy. I am asking you to consider these reso- lutions. I am well aware of the many challenges you already face and that your primary focus is to take care of your customers, your community, your shareholders, and your employees. But being actively involved in government relations is important as well. The laws Congress and the state Legisla- ture pass have a huge impact on every phase of your bank’s operations and, ultimately, its profitability. As for us, the WVBA staff is always ready to serve you and our resolution for this year and every year is to pro- vide our full and ongoing support for your bank and the great industry we are privileged to be a part of. Q Belated Resolutions How many of us have already failed to keep one or more of the resolutions we made two months ago.