Independent Banker - April 2021 - 52

ICBA 2021/22 EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE
Advocacy is critical for community
banks. While we may continue to
see some headwinds, the more
we are engaged, the greater the
likelihood that we can prevail.
-BOB FISHER, CHAIRMAN, PRESIDENT AND CEO OF TIOGA STATE BANK,
SPENCER, N.Y.
dubious premise that the Too Big
to Fail problem had been solved!
Community banker allies banded
together, challenged his dangerous
positions and eff ectively muted this
threat to community banking.
unashamedly, and without hesitation,
proud to be a community banker.
Laff itte: I became involved heavily in
the grassroots side of advocacy after
going to ICBA's Washington Policy
Summit [now the Capital Summit].
After visiting with our state delegates
all day, who I felt did not want to meet
with us, I told our state executive that
I was not coming back to Washington
unless I knew my voice was being
heard. It was a wake up call about
how important it is to engage. I had
not been back from Washington a
week when Sen. Tim Scott's (R-S.C.)
offi ce reached out to us for how we
felt on an issue that was in the Senate
Banking Committee, since we had just
discussed this with them. I realized
that at that time, they may not
have seemed interested, but it does
matter. They do hear us, and it is very
important. Since then, I have been
heavily involved in advocacy.
Deckard: Initially, my involvement
began at the state level in representing
community banks in the state of
Washington. The Community Bankers
of Washington (CBW) invited me to
participate on the board of directors.
I learned back then that if we don't
stand up for our industry, nobody will!
My bank has been a member of ICBA
for almost 40 years, and through
attending conventions and visits to
Capitol Hill, I became passionate
about our national association.
The relationships developed with
legislators, administration offi cials,
regulators and fellow bankers have
been critical for my own bank and
my industry.
Aiken: The fi rst ICBA convention
I attended was in 2004 in San
Diego. [Former ICBA president
and CEO] Camden Fine gave a
very impassioned speech about
advocacy. A favorite saying of his
was " If you're not at the table,
you're on the menu. " That stuck
with me.
Wilcox: We are each responsible for
making our voice heard and not
letting others carry our water. When
community bankers join their voices
together, their chorus becomes
incredibly eff ective at advancing the
pro-community bank agenda.
Kennedy: About 25 years ago, my
congressman had become a leading
proponent for Wall Street-at
the expense of his Main Street
constituency. His arguments,
couched in a lofty defense of the
free market system, rested on the
Zimmerman: As I looked at our
industry, I realized that part of the
responsibility of every community
banker is to be involved with
advocating for our industry. Due
to the huge impact both legislative
and regulatory bodies have on our
business, you must engage and
ensure that the voice of community
banking is heard and understood.
That is best done on the grassroots
level with real stories explaining
the eff ects, sometimes unintended,
of legislation and regulations
on individual banks, customers
and communities.
Hartings: I wanted to make sure,
either on the local or national scene,
the legislators understood my bank's
and my community's issues. Like
most bankers early in my career, I
attended local political functions and
went to D.C. the fi rst time with our
state association, CBAO [Community
Bankers Association of Ohio]. As I
went through leadership at CBAO
and then ICBA, I got more involved
with advocacy and support of our
PACs. It just confi rmed to me the
need to step up and speak up for
community banking.
Molly Bennett is executive editor of
Independent Banker.
ONLINE EXCLUSIVE
To hear more from the ICBA
executive committee, see
part two of this article at
independentbanker.org
52 Q ICBA Independent Banker Q April 2021
http://www.independentbanker.org
Independent Banker - April 2021

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of Independent Banker - April 2021
