Pub. 8 2013-2013 Issue 5

www.nebankers.org 8 Extraordinary Service for Extraordinary Members. W hen ABA’s Government Relations Council Admin- istrative Committee met early in December, fol- lowed by the ABA Board of Directors, the bankers serving on both helped complete a process that begins with each of you: The adoption of our prior- ity policy positions for the new year. These are developed by the Govern- ment Relations Council with input and suggestions from a broad range of our members, state bankers associations, and ABA committees and councils. They are adopted by the ABABoard and serve as our political advocacy roadmap for the coming year. Our priority policy positions— whether it’s leveling the competitive playing field by eliminating the out- dated and unnecessary tax exemption for credit unions or calling for mean- ingful regulatory relief for community banks—unite our industry in both com- mon purposes and shared goals. That’s also a function and strength of the Al- liance between ABA and state bankers associations (SBAs). Our Alliance depends on the leader- ship of Nebraska Bankers Association President and CEOGeorge Beattie and the commitment and engagement of Nebraska bankers including: • Leslie Andersen, Bank of Bennington, who serves on ABA’s Community Bankers Council; • John Bothof, Northwest Bank, who serves on ABA’s Community Bank- ers Council; • Mike Hilderbrand, Gothenburg State Bank, who serves on ABA’s Agricul- tural and Rural Bankers Administra- tive Committee; • Mike Jacobson, NebraskaLand Na- tional Bank, who serves on ABA’s Government Relations Council Ad- ministrative Committee; • Brad Koehn, Midwest Bank, who serves on ABA’s Government Rela- tions Council Administrative Com- mittee and the Community Bankers Council; • Jeff Krejci, Cornerstone Bank, who serves on ABA’s Banker Advocacy and Grassroots Committee; • Clark Lehr, First Nebraska Bank, who serves on ABA’s Community Bankers Council; • Mark Linville, First State Bank, who serves on ABA’s Community Bankers Council; • Mike Pate, United Republic Bank, who serves on ABA’s BankPAC Com- mittee; • Matt Williams, Gothenburg State Bank, who is ABA’s immediate past chairman and serves on ABA’s Board of Directors and the Community En- gagement Council; and, • Tom Wolf, Platte Valley Bank, who serves on ABA’sMembership Council. These bankers have stepped up to set our agenda and to help usmove forward in reaching our goals. We’ve got another challenging year ahead for our indus- try’s political advocacy. So when these bankers ask you for your support on an industry issue, please don’t hesitate to give it to them. If you want to become more actively involved in promoting our industry’s advocacy efforts and supporting the Alliance between the ABA and state bankers associations, there’s no better opportunity than the ABA Government Relations Summit, March 24-26 in Washington. This event is your oppor- tunity to personallymeet withmembers of Congress and the regulators. The theme of our GR Summit is “Linking Principles to Policy.” This is an advocacy challenge. We want you and your banking colleagues to make sure that lawmakers and regulators understand the principles that guide our industry and incorporate them into policy.  Washington Update Advocacy for You and by You Frank Keating , President & CEO, American Bankers Association Reach Frank Keating at keating@aba.com . © 2014 American Bankers Association. All rights reserved. Reprinted with permission.