Community Bankers of Iowa Monthly Banker Update October 2013 | Page 5

Fine Points

Written By: Camden Fine, President and CEO of ICBA

Our Legacy Trees
“He plants trees to benefit another generation.”

— Caecilius Statius, ancient Roman poet

Early feedback tells us that the conference was a great success. This is because ICBA is planning a continual series of
programs. So look for similar programs in the future, including
at ICBA’s national convention. We would love to hear your ideas
as well.

Have you planted a tree lately? With just a little attention early
on, a seed or sapling can, once established, grow unaided into
a mighty, towering tree. Before you know it, you’ll have created
something magnificent—a legacy for the next generation to
behold.

Since becoming ICBA’s president and CEO nearly a decade
ago, I’ve had the privilege of meeting so many smart, energetic
and conscientious young community bankers. Their optimism
and new ideas for our industry have been tremendously refreshing and uplifting. Our industry and our country will be in
very good hands, as long as we do our part to pass on our own
knowledge.

The planting of trees is an appropriate metaphor for the stewardship our individual institutions and our industry as a whole
provide, for those working today and those soon following. For
community bankers, such stewardship means building resilient
and capable financial institutions to remain strong local economic engines. It involves helping your customers achieve their
financial goals and dreams. And it’s about the work of building
increasingly better communities in which to live and work.

Community bank leaders are extremely busy responding to a
whirlwind of urgent imperatives facing our institutions, our customers and our communities. So it’s understandable that if any
of us have overlooked some of the career needs of the upcoming generation. However, our industry can no longer afford to
put off its leadership development, succession planning and
mentoring responsibilities. So look to ICBA as a partner in the
endeavor.

For you, this financial stewardship comes naturally. It’s inherent
in what you do every day, and you do it far better than anyone else. Without your efforts, America’s remarkable and truly
unique heritage of personal economic opportunity and liberty,
though still undermined and beleaguered by financial overconcentration, could never last.

Together we have a lot of worthwhile work to do. Fortunately,
while nurturing future leaders requires special attention and
commitment, the work we start, like planting a seedling, will
gather its own momentum. Once established, it will grow almost
by itself into something majestic. If so, that could be our most
important and lasting legacy of all.

But no stewardship can be considered complete without nurturing the next generation of leaders. It’s an obligation for which
we all share responsibility—to leave our families, institutions
and society in increasingly capable hands. It can also be the
most rewarding task
we ever undertake.

Keith W.

Start seeing what connected customers
can do for your bottom line.

Designer
Movie buff

Carol B.
© 2011 Deluxe Enterprise Operations, Inc. All rights reserved.

Just as you are
committed to developing your brightest
employees as future
leaders, ICBA is committed to developing
the next generation
on a national level.
Early this month the
association conducted its first Emerging
Leaders Conference in Minneapolis.
Dozens of young
community bankers from across the
country attended the
intensive three-day
conference. Together
they participated in
various discussions
and peer networking
sessions designed to
advance their professional experience,
skills and character.

Cari W.
Busy Mom
Music fan

Small
Business
Owner/
Baker

Karl S.
Sales
Rep
Sports fan

Start connecting today
at deluxe.com/connect
or by calling
1-888-633-5893.

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