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Milligan Chairman-elect
Edward C. Milligan, Chairman and CEO of Main Street Banks, Inc. in Marietta, was installed as GBA Chairman-elect at the association’s annual meeting this week.  Ed has long been active with the GBA and organized the Community Bankers Committee and served as its first chair.  As Chairman-elect, Ed will serve as chair of GBA’s Public Affairs Committee.

Blanton Vice Chairman
R. Daniel Blanton, President and CEO of Georgia Bank & Trust in Augusta, has been elected GBA Vice Chairman.  Dan has been active with GBA having chaired both the Credit Committee and Community Bankers Committee.  Dan also serves as a Contact Banker for his state and federal elected officials.  As Vice Chair, Dan will oversee the association’s educational program, which is developed in coordination with the GBA Community Bankers Committee. 

New GBA Board Members
Joining GBA’s Board of Directors at the annual convention this week were the following seven new members:

• Michael D. Owens, President & CEO, The Coastal Bank, Savannah

• W. Cole Woodroof, President, PlantersFIRST, Cordele

• Judy B. Turner, President & CEO, Decatur First Bank

• Ken F. Thigpen, President & CEO, Georgia State Bank, Mableton

• Edward D. Ariail, President & COO, Habersham Bank, Clarkesville

• Douglas E. Wren, President, United Bank, Griffin

• Randall Eaves, President & CEO, First National Bank of Georgia, Buchanan

, President and CEO of The First National Bank of Polk County of Cedartown, was installed as GBA chairman at the annual meeting this week in Philadelphia.  Larry has been active with GBA for many years having served in Group-level positions and on various committees.  Most recently he chaired GBA’s Public Affairs Committee and served on the GBA BankPAC Board of Directors.  Larry is a Cedartown native and began his career with the Comptroller of the Currency.  He has been with his bank since 1973 and has been president since 1984.  Active in his community, Larry is a member of the Cedartown Development Authority and is on the Board of Trustees of the Polk Medical Center, a past president of the Rockmart Rotary Club, past chairman of Coosa Valley Technical Institute and past president of the Polk County Chamber of Commerce.  Larry has been instrumental in developing the Silver Comet Trail into Polk County and an organizer of the Cedartown Pre-Peachtree Training Camp for wheel chair athletes.  Larry and Lynne have two children and a granddaughter.

In his acceptance remarks at the convention, Larry highlighted two principal goals for his term:  grassroots involvement and bringing more networking opportunities to the membership.  “We need to become more aggressive in our political activities and fund raising.  Our bankers contributed only $81,000 last year to our state and federal BankPac campaigns.  That should be $810,000. This was contributed by less than a hundred of the 350 members that are eligible.  Let’s increase our funding and support of political activities of the GBA.  It is necessary for our survival.”  As for the need to increase individual support of grass root involvement, Larry said, “We have to encourage more bankers to actively support our grassroots involvement.  When we go up against competitors like credit unions, they turn out thousands of people for their cause.  We should never lose another issue simply because we stayed home when others rallied with huge crowds.  Please be like that local volunteer fire department and come running when the alarm sounds.”  Larry is also planning a number of events surrounding the Organizational Meetings, the September Group Meetings and will be considering CEO roundtables with the Congressional Delegation as part of his initiatives this year.

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

GBA BankPAC Update
Since the last Bulletin, the following banks, their officers and directors have participated in the Georgia BankPAC 2002 campaign by contributing to the GBA StatePAC:

• The First National Bank of Polk County, Cedartown, Larry Kuglar, President

• BB&T, Macon, Bob Hatcher, President  

In addition, officers and directors of the following banks have contributed to the GBA FedPAC:

• Community Bank & Trust, Cornelia, Charlie Miller, President

• McIntosh State Bank, Jackson, Pete Malone, President

• Commercial Bank & Trust Company of Troup County, LaGrange, Bobby Carmichael, President

• Farmers and Merchants Bank, Washington, Gerald Norman, President

• North Georgia Bank, Watkinsville, Chuck Williams, President.

Thanks to all for your support. If you have questions or need additional information, please contact Elizabeth Way at (404) 420-2027.

UCC Revised Article 5
The Georgia General Assembly passed H.B. 1253 this past session and the new law is effective July 1.  The bill primarily addresses letters of credit but also contains a few updates from the extensive UCC Article 9 revision passed in 2001.  The letters of credit area within UCC had not been changed significantly by legislation since 1962.  The old letters of credit law was sufficiently broad to allow business practices to evolve over the past four decades.  The new law leaves much of the previous scheme in place but considerably simplifies many rules.  GBA worked closely with the State Bar of Georgia and the Judiciary Committees of the House and Senate on the legislation.  Our special thanks to Dick Hills of Womble Carlyle Sandridge and Rice, PLLC for his assistance and for preparing a short summary of the new legislation.  Call GBA’s Elizabeth Way at (404) 420-2027 with questions.

SBA Names New Director
Congratulations to Terri L. Denison who has been named Georgia District Office Director for the U.S. Small Business Administration.  Ms. Denison has been in various leadership positions with the SBA since 1989 and most recently served the district offices in Indiana, Los Angeles and Wisconsin.

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

Investments Seminar Scheduled
Reliance Trust Company will be hosting a timely investment conference at the Grand Hyatt hotel in Buckhead titled Managing Your Portfolio in Uncertain Times.  The conference will be held in Atlanta on June 6^th from 1:00 – 5:00 p.m. with a reception following.  Reliance Trust Company is one of GBA’s partner organizations offering retirement plan services to GBA member banks.  In addition to the GBA retirement program, Reliance also offers turnkey trust/brokerage services to GBA members.  The conference will feature a range of nationally recognized strategists and equity fund managers, some of whom are currently managing a fund accessible through the GBA retirement program.  Reliance welcomes bank executives, directors and important bank clients who may be interested in learning more about investment opportunities in the current uncertain market environment.  For more information or to reserve space, please contact Korina Edwards at (404) 965-7275 or (800) 749-0752, ext. 7275.

Convention Sponsors

Leadership Conference Approaching
Registrations are coming in at a steady pace for Leadership GBA’s 42^nd annual Leadership Conference.  Bankers across Georgia will convene on July 28-31 at the Amelia Island Plantation in Amelia Island, Florida.  The Executive Committee has planned a great program to help you prepare for the constant changes in the banking industry. But no conference would be complete without an economic update. The National Bureau of Economic Research says that the recession started in March 2001 and has not yet declared it over. When they do, there will be a dispute about whether it ever occurred at all. Dr. Tony Spiva will be on hand to resolve this debate during his presentation, “Whatever Happened to the Recession?” The conference will also provide excellent networking opportunities for bankers from around the state to share ideas. For additional information, call GBA’s Susie McGehee at (404) 420-2010. 

Welcome New Participant
The Board of Directors of the GBA Insurance Trust, Inc. welcomes to the Trust the Community Bank of West Georgia, I.O., Villa Rica, Richard Hayden, CEO. The bank joins more than 275 community banks and associate members in this unmatched member benefit. Please call GBA’s Susan Kelley at (404) 420-2017 for more information.

Thumbprint Signature Program
Check fraud costs banks and their customers millions of dollars each year.  In a statewide effort to combat crime and protect our members, Georgia Bankers Association is in it’s 4^th year of endorsing the Thumbprint Signature Program.

This program provides a simple effective inexpensive method for preventing and deterring check fraud.   Help us send a clear message to criminals that check fraud will no longer be tolerated!

How Does It Work?   When non-account holders ask to cash a check, in addition to requesting the standard forms of identification, participating banks also ask them to place an impression of their thumbprint on the face of the check.  A small “inkless” touch pad facilitates the process.  Although the touch pad looks and operates just like a traditional inkpad, it leaves no stain or residue on users or clothing.  The procedure is quick, simple and clean.  Banks do not maintain a data bank of Thumbprint Signatures.  These signatures are used by law enforcement officials only in cases where fraud is suspected.

The program works as a natural deterrent.  Criminals seeking to commit check fraud are unlikely to put their thumbprints on bogus checks.  Most likely they will try their schemes elsewhere, and those who are foolish enough to cooperate leave a positive I.D. that can be turned over to law enforcement.

Success Stories.  Since the inception of the program, a test group of participating banks has experienced an average 60% reduction in fraudulent checks passed by non-customers.  Thumbprint Signature has received widespread support from local law enforcement agencies.  When a bank reports an incidence of check fraud, often the first question asked is “Do you have a fingerprint?” And although the program is most effectively used as a deterrent, it has actually been used to help apprehend and identify criminals.

How Do We Get Started?   There is no start-up fee other than the cost of the actual Thumbprint pads and products themselves.  You’ll want to be sure to order decals to post at all entrances to let people know you are participating in the program and warn potential criminals that their crimes will not go undetected.  Teller window displays and statement stuffers are also available.  Just complete the order form and fax to (404) 522-9848 or call GBA’s Kenyetta Parks at (404) 420-2035 or Renee Valdez at (404) 420-2036.

Augusta, Georgia-Carolina Bancshares, Inc.
Larry DeMeyers, J. Randal Hall, George O. Hughes, George H. Inman, James L. Lemley, M.D., and Julian W. Osbon were re-elected to the bank’s Board of Directors.

Gainesville, GB&T Bancshares, Inc.
Abit Massey has been named Chairman Emeritus of the holding company and the lead bank, Gainesville Bank & Trust, and Philip Wilheit has been named Chairman of the Board of both.  Sam Oliver has been named Vice Chairman.

Marietta, Charter Bank
Richard K. Carlton has joined the bank as Vice President – Real Estate and Commercial Lending.

Sandersville, Citizens Bank of Washington County
The bank announces the following promotions:  David H. Brooker and Christi S. Whitney to Vice President; Lisa J. Bertoch and Diane M. Sheppard to Assistant Vice President; and James C. Francis, III, to Cashier/Auditor.

Wrens, First State Bank
Our sympathies to the family and colleagues of Betty Sue Walden, Senior Vice President of Operations, who passed away on May 1. The bank is placing a stained glass window in her memory at the Wrens Baptist Church and is accepting donations.

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Make sure you send your press releases to GBA when you have news to report.  Your colleagues across the state tell us the GBA Bulletin is one of their few “must read” publications, so let us help spread the word about your bank.

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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