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Johnston Nominated Associate Member Representative
Elaine Demarest, Demarest Strategy Group, Macon, the current associate member representative  to the GBA Board of Directors, reports that the Associate Member Nominating Committee has voted to recommend Daniel C. Johnston as the 2002-2004 Associate Member representative to the Board of Directors.  “Danny was the unanimous choice of the Associate Member Nominating Committee, and we are pleased to recommend to our colleagues someone of Danny’s ability to represent us in this important position,” Elaine said.  Danny is President and CEO of Safe Systems, Inc., which specializes in designing, installing and supporting PC networks in banks and also develops PC policy manuals that accommodate the FDIC & OCC requirements at EDP audits.  If elected by his peers, Danny will be the first technology representative to serve on the Board.  The other members of the Nominating Committee were Carolyn Lloyd, Lloyd Associates; Walt Moeling, Powell, Goldstein, Fraser and Murphy; and Paul Holmes, Life of the South.

The GBA Nominating Committee met last week and voted unanimously on the bankers they will be recommending to the membership to move through the officer chairs.  E.J. “Jud” Vann, IV, President of Planters and Citizens Bank in Camilla chaired the Nominating Committee, which is composed of the 10 GBA Group Chairs and the three most immediate past GBA Chairs.  For Chairman-elect, the committee has nominated Edward C. Milligan, President and CEO of Main Street Banks, Inc., Kennesaw.  Ed currently serves as GBA Vice Chairman.  To begin a three-year rotation in the chairs, the committee nominated R. Daniel Blanton, President and CEO, Georgia Bank and Trust of Augusta.  Dan currently represents Group 10 on the GBA Board.  “We are delighted to recommend these two fine bankers to the membership to serve in these two important positions,” Jud said.  “The Nominating Committee was unanimous and enthusiastic in our selection of Ed and Dan and we are confident all our members will be well-served because of their past record of accomplishments both with their own banks and to our industry,” he concluded.  As Chairman-elect, Ed will chair GBA’s Public Affairs Committee, which makes recommendations to the Board on positions to take on legislative and regulatory issues.  As Vice Chairman, Dan will work with the Community Bankers Committee in overseeing the association’s professional development program.

Annual Convention Reminder
Even if your plans are not yet confirmed, the April 25 deadline to receive the group hotel rate is fast approaching. Please call the Ritz-Carlton at 1-800-241-3333 to make your room reservation. You may download a copy of the Convention registration from our web page or call June Somers at (404) 420-2012 for a faxed copy of the registration or to help with questions.

2002 State Legislative Issues
Governor Roy Barnes
Lt. Gov. Mark Taylor
Georgia House of Representatives
Georgia State Senate
Federal Legislative Issues
U.S. Congress
Legislative Updates
Legal Issues

Legislative Update for April 19, 2002

Deposit Insurance Reform
The House Financial Services Committee has reported out H.R. 3717, the deposit insurance reform bill.   Among other things, the bill will increase the deposit insurance coverage limit from $100,000 to $130,000; merge the Bank Insurance Fund and the Savings Association Insurance Fund; raise coverage limits for municipal deposits; and double coverage limits for certain types of IRAs and 401(k)s.  GBA Chairman Jimmy Burnsed, Chairman and CEO of Bryan Bank & Trust in Richmond Hill said, “We are glad the bill is finally beginning to move through the legislative process.  We have worked awfully hard to help educate our members of Congress of the importance of the need to reform the deposit insurance system, and the bill the committee reported out is a terrific first step.”  The bill will also cap the maximum premium for highest rated banks at 1 cent and strengthens the rebate system.

Calendar of Events
Schools
Conferences
Seminars
Events
American Institute of Banking
Leadership GBA
Personal Economics Program (PEP)
Internet Training

Interactive Internet Seminars in May
GBA and the Graduate School of Banking at the University of Wisconsin-Madison are offering two seminars in May.  A Modern Course in Asset/Liability Management For Community Bankers is scheduled May 7, 14, 21, 28, June 4, and 11 from 9:00 to 10:30 a.m. The presenters are Tom Parliament, Dave Koch and Tom Farin. This seminar challenges the way management should accept and evaluate interest-rate, credit, option and liquidity risks. The next seminar, Current Issues in Employment Law, is scheduled for May 6, 13, and 20 from 8:00 to 9:30 a.m. Presenter Patricia A. Wise will cover a variety of employment law topics with a practical emphasis and a view toward avoiding litigation. Please call GBA’s Edie Canales at (404) 420-2034 for additional information.

Two New AIB Courses Offered Online
Over 500 Georgia bankers have taken advantage of the AIB Instructor-led Online courses since their fall 2000 inception. The trend toward Internet use for training is rapidly increasing, and we have added two new courses for this session. Managing Interest Rate Risk is an eight-week course that provides participants with the tools to measure and manage their bank’s interest rate risk and is designed for individuals involved in asset liability management or line managers making pricing, investment, or funding decisions that impact interest rate risk. The first session starts June 3.  The cost including the textbook is $745. Today’s Teller: Developing Basic Skills provides the basic tools to effectively handle the responsibilities of a teller. The eight-week course starts July 15 and costs $270, which includes the textbook. Topics covered will include check handling, transaction processing, cash handling, cash balancing, bank services, bank security and providing quality customer service. For more information, please contact GBA’s Edie Canales.

Don’t Miss the HR Conference
GBA’s Human Resources Conference is one of the most anticipated educational opportunities for those who manage the HR function in their banks. This year’s conference will be held May 9-10 at the Marriott Riverfront Hotel in Savannah. Topics include an update of on-going legal issues challenging HR professionals, how to make your bank the employer of choice and how to communicate a professional appearance. There will also be a keynote address by Ellen Raulerson of Security Bank & Trust in Albany on “Two Many Chiefs and Not Enough Indians.” Raulerson will focus on ideas for helping employees let go of pettiness and move on. One of the advantages of attending this conference is the early bird registration discount for GBA’s HR University in October. You may call the Savannah Marriott Riverfront directly at (912) 233-7722 for a reservations. Call GBA’s Norma Guild at (404) 420-2031 for more information.

Special Training CD for Bank Security Conference Attendees
The program topics for the Bank Security Conference on May 16-17 in Macon were specifically chosen by GBA-member security officers who were asked to select issues most relevant to their activities. As a result, the program represents current “hot topics” and the speakers selected are a team of high profile experts in each area. A unique feature of this year’s conference is the “Train the Trainer” approach. Each attendee will receive an individual PowerPoint presentation on CD for each topic, which will enable them to enhance their own training program back at the bank. A highlight of the conference will be a visit to the Georgia Public Safety Training Center (GPSTC) in Forsyth, where attendees will dine with law enforcement and public safety personnel from around the state and participate in a team building exercise on “Judgmental Shooting” conducted by GPSTC firearm trainers. Thanks to Steve Cross, Committee Chair and Georgia Security Manager for SunTrust Banks, Inc., and the Security Committee for their expertise in planning this event. You may call the Crowne Plaza for room reservations at (478) 746-1461 or GBA’s Norma Guild for more details.

Customer Service and Teller Training
Honey Shelton, one of the nation’s leading trainers and founder of InterAction Training Systems, has made her valuable training tools available to our members in a variety of formats. These products, offered via audiotape, CD, video, and workbook, include Extraordinary Sales and Service on The Frontline; The Phone, The Customer and You; Essential Teller Issues Workshop Series; and Laughs and Lessons at the Teller Window. Seven community banks in Georgia have already discovered the value of these training products for training frontline employees. For more information, please call GBA’s Edie Canales at (404) 420-2034, log on to The Training Institute or call (800) 324-9193.

Welcome New Associate Members
Congratulations to the following companies for being approved for associate membership at the March 13, 2002 Board meeting:

• Federal National Payables, Inc., Bethesda, Maryland, Joe Sillary, President

• Financial Systems & Consulting, Inc., Woodland, Richard Skates, President

• Great American Advisors, Cincinnati, Ohio, James McVey, Chief Operating Officer

• Precision Computer Systems, Sioux Falls, South Dakota, Bruce Christensen, President

• Sterne, Agee & Leach, Birmingham, Alabama, Charles White, Managing Director

Alpharetta, Chatthoochee National Bank
Congratulations to Nat Padget, President and CEO, for being named 2002 Financial Services Advocate of the Year by the Small Business Administration.

Carrollton, West Georgia National Bank
The bank announces the promotion of H. B. “Rocky” Lipham, III to Executive Vice President of Retail Banking, the position previously held by the retiring H. James Crowe.

Clayton, United Community Bank
Marla Mashburn has joined the bank as Vice President of Loans and Arnold Comer as Vice President–Regional Credit Administrator.

Dublin, Morris State Bank
Tony A. Tanner has been elected Banking Officer and Loan Officer.

Fayetteville, Southern Community Bank
Thomas W. Williams has joined the bank as Banking Officer.

Jackson, McIntosh State Bank
Sherry Freeman has been named Assistant Banking Officer.

Marietta, Charter Bank
Michelle Greenlow and Lisa Lawrence have been promoted to Banking Officer.

Marietta, United Community Bank
C. C. Evans has joined the bank as Group Vice President Commercial and Real Estate Lending.

Savannah, Darby Bank & Trust Company
The bank announces the following promotions: Hope Fuller, George Tyson, and Stephen Coomer to Commercial Lending Officer. Vice President Sue Getty has also joined the commercial lending team.

Valdosta, Guardian Bank
R. Ray Chitty has joined the bank as President and Sandy Burris as his Administrative Assistant.

Warrenton, Citizens Bank
Congratulations to Victor C. Parker, CEO and the officers, directors and staff on the celebration of the bank’s 100th anniversary.

GBA's e-Bulletin List
Our e-Bulletin subscriber list continues to grow with each edition.  Bankers from any member bank can be added to the email-distributed version of the Bulletin.  A bonus of getting the e-Bulletin is the number of links we include, which puts even more information at your fingerprints. This is a great way to keep your key employees informed of significant industry information, trends and events. To add yourself or others in your bank to the list, send an email containing the name and email address of each individual to GBA’s Lydia Thomas.

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