Pub. 5 2017 Issue 4

14 The Community Banker www.mibonline.org M IB is pleased to have long-time MIB board director Tom Welch, President & CEO of Pioneer Federal Savings & Loan Association in Dillon, serve as House District 72’s State Representa- tive. Tom was elected in the fall of 2016 and will serve his term at the Montana State Legislature until May of this year. Tom brings his wisdom, civic spirit, and thorough understanding of the issues facing community banking to the Mon- tana House of Representatives. We are pleased to have Montana’s community banking industry represented by such an upstanding banker, director, and friend. 2 017 opens as a very special year for MIB. The Montana Independent Bankers Association was founded in 1967, which means 2017 is our 50th anniversary! We are excited to celebrate this landmark year with the introduction of several major benefits and programs, the details of which will soon be released. We will also celebrate 50 years of serving Montana’s commu- nity banks at our convention in Helena this July. ICBA President & CEO Cam Fine will be gracing us with his presence, and we will offering several opportunities for you to mix and mingle with him during our convention events, including a VIP invi- tation-only dinner. This chance to hang out with community banking’s best advocate is a rare opportunity that you definitely will not want to miss. If you have yet to experience one of our conventions, whether or not you are a member of MIB, now is the year to do it. Mark your calendars for July 27-29, 2017 at the Great Northern hotel in Helena! As we look forward to the future, we also look back and cel- ebrate our past. If you have any photos, stories, or accounts of MIB’s early years, we would love you to share these with us. Not many of that founding generation are left, and we wish to ac- knowledge the incredible work they accomplished. Please send any photos, stories, etc. to Laura Welker at lwelker@mibonline. org. We would be happy to publish them. Celebrate MIB’s 50th Anniversary with us! MIBDIRECTOR TOMWELCH SERVESAS STATE REPRESENTATIVE O n January 18-19, 2017, MIB and the Montana Bankers As- sociation held their biennial joint state legislative meeting in Helena. The board of directors of both associations met to discuss legislation introduced during the 2017 Montana Legislature that impact Montana’s banking industry, including a proposed sweep of $650,000 from the Division of Banking’s assessments and fees into the state’s general fund, and a proposal to move the Division of Banking to the State Auditor’s Office. Both associations oppose these bills. The MIB/MBA board of directors also held a Q&A lunch with Speaker of the House Austin Knudsen, House Minority Leader Jenny Eck, Senate President Scott Sales, and Senate Minority Leader Jon Sesso, in addition to presentations by Division of Banking Commissioner Melanie Hall, Montana Secretary of State Corey Stapleton, and Darryl James, Executive Director of the Montana Infrastructure Coalition. On the evening of the 19th, both associations hosted a reception and dinner to which all state legislators and bankers were invited. It was well attended, and served as an excellent forum for Montana’s bankers to connect personally with our state legislators. MIB HOLDS JOINT LEGISLATIVEMEETING WITHMBA, STATE LEGISLATORS MIBCELEBRATES 50 YEARSOF SERVING COMMUNITYBANKS! MIB NEWS