Pub. 3 2012 Issue 2

summer 2012 7 The Challenge to Be the Best Never Ends As I write this article, it is very early in the morning here in beautiful Monroe County. I am up before the chickens and before the birds start their first songs of the day. T he news of the week has been the sudden and shocking death of former WVU football coach, Bill Stewart, at the very early age of 59. In neighboring Greenbrier County, a local minister just 63 died of a heart attack. Recently, I lost my brother to heart disease. My wife is recovering from a heart procedure and our precious little 11-year-old Bishon has been diagnosed with bladder cancer. So, you are reading this and saying, “Okay Joe. What is the point and what does this have to do with me and my job?” It seems everywhere I go across the state, our bankers are waking to new challenges — the lowest interest rate environ- ment any of us have ever seen, and a level of loan demand that is almost non-existent in most areas. The regulatory scene has almost consumed us as we continue to manage the fallout from 2008. An unfair black cloud has been cast over the banking business, affecting all of our institutions from the smallest to the largest. It seems to me that most of our conversations are negative and somewhat framed in a context of “the sky is falling, how will we survive?” So, here is my point — our industry is alive and well. In every community, you are respected and held in high es- teem. You go to work every day and help make dreams come true for your customers, whether it’s the farmer in Mason County, the coal miner in Bluefield, the teacher in Shepherd- stown, the iron worker in Wheeling, or the mom and pop stores and businesses that are the backbone of our towns and cities. You, Mr. and Ms. Banker are our real heroes. We are in the process of choosing the Banker of the Year and the Volunteer Banker of the Year to honor at the WVBA Annual Convention. I wish we could give the award to every banker in the state, because all of you work hard every day to make your institutions better and to improve the lives of the people you come in contact with. I salute you today and thank you for making me proud to represent our industry. A great banker, friend and mentor told me long ago, “the challenge to be the best never ends.” That old adage is truer and more fitting today than ever before.  A M ESSAGE FROM THE P RESIDENT & CEO By Joe Ellison In every community, you are respected and held in high esteem. You go to work every day and help make dreams come true for your customers