Progress This Past Year

I hope this message finds you enjoying a great North Dakota summer!  As I’ve traveled the state some this summer, it’s amazing how much better the crops look compared to a year ago.  I will confess that I haven’t been to the southwest reaches for a while so I hope things have improved down there as well – they certainly need the relief.  Let’s hope for cooperative weather through harvest!

It’s hard to believe August is already here.  Of course, that means your ICBND staff is in the home stretch of preparation for our 51^st annual convention.  I hope you’re planning to attend.  I promise it will be fun and informative!  For me, part of that means a last minute scramble for a theme party costume that will appropriately embarrass my family and friends.  But this year, I was on top of things and ordered a costume already last week.  Upon my return home last night, my pirate costume had arrived (times two since I apparently don’t yet know how to navigate Amazon Prime…..uffda!).  During dress rehearsal for my wife and grandson, it appears that the online ad may have oversold the quality and fit of this particular garment.  For $9.95 plus free shipping you would think it would live up to its internet billing!  My grandson did enjoy a belly laugh however and he especially liked wearing the hat.

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On a serious note, preparing for the convention also causes us to reflect on our progress this past year.  I’m happy to report that community banking in North Dakota and across the country took a significant step forward this year with passage of Senate Bill 2155 finally bringing some comprehensive regulatory relief to community banks for the first time since the financial crisis 10 years ago and the passage of Dodd-Frank in 2010.  I want to thank all of you who participated in the process to help push this bill across the goal line.  I also want to thank the ICBND Board of Directors for their active participation in all things ICBND this past year.   As I will further report at the annual meeting, this truly has been a successful year for your association.  Last, but certainly not least, I want to thank Tim Karsky for his dedicated service this past year as your ICBND Chairman.  Your leadership, insight, positivity and friendship have been a real gift to me and the association.

I hope to see you all on the 12^th in Bismarck!