Pub. 6 2015 Issue 1

www.wvbankers.org 6 West Virginia Banker A s I write this article, the West Virginia Legislature is in its 24th day of the 2015 Regular Session. So, legislators are just over one-third complete in their work for this historic year. Normally, I would not classify the annual legislative session as being one of the great historic events of my life. Until this year, that was certainly the case. However, West Virginia has turned the page on more exciting times. Lee Milam, president and CEO of Whitesville State Bank might have said it best in an email – “I must say this year’s Legislature has inspired me. I have never witnessed a balanced government in action. It’s some- thing to see. The fact that hard subjects can’t be ignored and have to be brought up, coupled with the balance of power in the Senate makes for some hard working politicians. More importantly, it makes for progress. I didn’t fully understand how stifling a government was. To see how it was and how it is now has really opened by eyes to the beauty of our system. Keep your fingers crossed so we can keep this train moving.” In the last couple of weeks, several bank- ers from around the state – from large to small banks to in between – converged on the State Capitol to meet with the new leadership of the House and Senate. Everyone came away with a feeling much like Lee described. The Association is working hard to get some much needed relief on several key issues affecting banks of all sizes and charters. By the time you read this, I am very optimistic that our hard work will have paid off and legislation for change will have made its journey to the desk of Governor Tomblin. The next historic event of somewhat less magnitude that I would highlight is our upcoming Annual Convention. This year’s convention is historic in its own way. For the first time, WVBA is ventur- ing away from The Greenbrier and we are holding our Annual Convention outside of West Virginia as we head just over the mountain to The Homestead in beautiful Hot Springs, VA. And, for the first time, we are partnering with our friends at the Virginia Bankers Association to do a joint convention. We are still finalizing our agenda for the convention but we will have two outstand- ing keynote addresses by both Tucker Carlson and Lee Wetherington. We hope to have Virginia’s senior Senator Mark Warner meet with our group since he serves on the Senate Banking Committee and West Virginia’s own Joe Manchin. This is an exciting and historic time for our state, our industry and our Associa- tion, and I am very and honored to repre- sent our industry. n A M essage from the P resident & CEO By Joe Ellison Historic Times with West Virginia Legislature By the time you read this, I am very optimistic that our hard work will have paid off and legislation for change will have made its journey to the desk of Governor Tomblin.