Pub. 6 2011-2012 Issue 5

January/February 2012 7 Extraordinary Service for Extraordinary Members. T HE SECOND SESSION OF THE 102ND NEBRASKA LEGISLA- ture is now underway. The NBA’s legislative process has been in full swing since last summer when the Government Relations Committee met to start its annual process in preparation for the 2012 legislative ses- sion. Both the NBA Government Relations Committee and the NBA Board of Directors have reviewed bills remaining on the table from last session, considered concerns raised by our members, and examined issues under consideration by other state legislatures around the country. Through this banker-driven process, the NBA staff has received direction on how to best advocate for pro-banking, pro-business poli- cies and a legislative and regulatory environment that best supports our member financial institutions. In fact, one of the NBA’s true strengths is the role it plays as a sounding board for thoughts, ideas, and opinions from bankers across the state. Through the NBA and its committee structure, ideas are channeled to the membership and are heard, analyzed, and acted upon. Through the association, bankers explore the issues that affect the banking industry’s day-to-day and long-range outlook. At the NBA, we do our best to keep our members informed regarding the issues facing the industry each year. Legisla- tive updates and calls to action have now been enhanced by the NBA’s new interactive, industry-focused website. While much of the same information is available, the content is easier to access and NBA positions on bills can be easily reviewed by our members. Our process is designed to be transparent to ourmembers. We need your ideas and suggestions; they are critical to the development of sound banking policy for the state of Ne- braska. Your support and involvement in the process enables the NBA to remain exceptionally effective in the government relations arena. Thank you for staying engaged; your par- ticipation will continue to pay dividends for years to come. Z 233 South 13th Street, Suite 700 Lincoln, NE 68508 Phone: (402) 474-1555 • Fax: (402) 474-2946 NBA Board of Directors NBA Staff George Beattie NBA President & CEO george.beattie@nebankers.org Joni Sundquist Vice President of Communications joni.sundquist@nebankers.org Kendell G. Holthus NBA Chairman (2011-2012) (402) 363-7414 Cornerstone Bank, York Clark D. Lehr NBA Chairman-Elect (2011-2012) (402) 563-3656 First Nebraska Bank, Columbus Robert A. Balfany (402) 434-1035 U.S. Bank, N.A., Lincoln Nicholas W. Baxter (402) 602-1839 First National Bank of Omaha, Omaha Cory A. Bergt (402) 434-4122 Wells Fargo Bank, N.A., Lincoln David P. Dannehl (308) 876-2451 First State Bank of Loomis, Loomis Donovan H. Ellis (402) 396-3431 Midwest Bank, N.A., Pilger Alan L. Fosler (402) 323-1272 Union Bank & Trust Co., Lincoln Stephen J. Hatz (402) 918-1567 Bank of the West, Omaha Michael J. Homa (402) 351-4248 Mutual of Omaha Bank, Omaha Allan D. Jefferson (402) 362-4411 York State Bank & Trust Co., York Jeffrey C. Johnson (402) 562-2108 Columbus Bank & Trust Co., Columbus Philip Jossi (308) 893-2351 State Bank of Riverdale, Riverdale Timothy E. Keller (402) 375-2043 F&M Bank, Wayne John F. Kotouc (402) 399-5088 American National Bank, Omaha Vicki L. Kraai (402) 773-5541 Astra Bank, Sutton Clarence L. Landen III (402) 449-0919 Security National Bank of Omaha, Omaha Kevin Larson (402) 372-5147 CharterWest National Bank, West Point Brian Lierman (402) 475-0521 Great Western Bank, Lincoln Barry J. Lockard (402) 434-2225 Cornhusker Bank, Lincoln Ken H. Niedan (308) 368-5555 Hershey State Bank, Hershey David A. Ochsner (402) 225-3381 Commercial Bank, Nelson Ryne D. Seaman (402) 643-3636 The Cattle National Bank & Trust, Seward John P. Stinner (308) 436-2300 Valley Bank & Trust Co., Gering James H. Varney (877) 860-2266 Custer Federal Savings & Loan, Broken Bow Michael B. Jacobson NBA Past Chairman (308) 534-2861 NebraskaLand National Bank, North Platte Larry D. Marik NBA Past Chairman (402) 562-5846 First National Bank of Columbus, Columbus NBA’s Banker- Driven Legislative Process George Beattie, President & CEO, Nebraska Bankers Association PRESIDENT’S MESSAGE ReachGeorge Beattie at (402) 474-1555 or george.beattie@nebankers.org .