No wonder they're proud. RMA's chapters share a few of their proudest moments. Membership and service top the list of their accomplishments

RMA Journal, The, June, 2005

The RMA Atlantic Chapter recently partnered with Dalhousie University's RBC (Royal Bank of Canada) Centre for Risk Management to host the first-ever RMA Credit Risk Case Competition. Students from six Canadian universities participated in the event, which was held in March at Dalhousie University in Halifax, Nova Scotia.

Initially, the competition was believed to be the first of its kind in Canada. However, subsequent research conducted by Dalhousie's Faculty of Management suggests it was the first of its kind globally.

Eight teams (the maximum number allowed in the inaugural event), each consisting of four MBA students, were presented with details of a real-life credit case, certain details of which were disguised to protect confidentiality. Students had three hours to prepare a 15-minute PowerPoint[R] presentation based on their analysis, which they then presented to a panel of five judges representing the financial, legal, and accounting communities.

Teams were judged on the thoroughness, appropriateness, and sophistication of their analysis as well as on the creativity and business sense of their decision and the persuasiveness and appropriateness of their presentation. Overall quality of the presentations was considered extremely good, and a wide range of approaches and recommendations were presented to the judges.

Planning for the competition began in 2004 when the RMA Atlantic Chapter presented the basic concept to the dean of Dalhousie's Faculty of Management and to the director-elect of Dalhousie's recently opened RBC Centre for Risk Management. The objective was to raise the profile of credit risk management both as a vocation and as a critical element of overall risk management not currently focused on by academia.

CIBC, under the auspices of Ron Cathcart, executive vice president, Retail Risk Management, sponsored the $2,500 first prize. The RMA Atlantic Chapter donated the $1,000 second prize, and the RBC Center for Risk Management provided the $500 third prize.

"Effective risk management is a fundamental element of building a foundation for sustainable business growth," says Cathcart. "CIBC is proud to sponsor the RMA Credit Risk Case Competition, which will provide students with a tremendous opportunity to expand their knowledge and skills in the important field of credit analysis."

Support of the event by major banks and the university, as well as by local law firms and an insolvency consulting firm, marked a rare partnership of business and academia that provided a forum for the exchange of ideas and perspectives. Financial support by the various groups also enabled students participating in the event to attend a pre-competition dinner, where they were able to interact with members of the business community and to meet with recruiters from several financial institutions.

Members of the academic community were impressed by the willingness of the business community to endorse the competition, while members of the business community were impressed by the caliber of students competing.

First place went to the University of New Brunswick, while Dalhousie University's Team #2 finished second. Wilfrid Laurier University came in third.

Discussions are already under way for turning the competition into an annual event and opening it to include additional teams.

--submitted by David McLeod, past president, Atlantic Chapter, David.McLeod@CIBC.ca

At its annual planning meeting in July 2004, the New Orleans Chapter asked Emily Fillon and Grace Feng to establish a new Young Professionals Association (YPA). Under Emily and Grace's dynamic leadership, YPA has grown to over 125 members, staged many successful events, and reached out to support various causes in the local community.

YPA provides a forum for networking and career development for young bankers, accountants, lawyers, and other young professionals in the New Orleans community. It also develops future members and leaders for the New Orleans RMA Chapter.

To help YPA grow in its first year, the leaders decided to charge no annual membership fee and instead charge fees on a per-event basis. Although each event costs $5-15, YPA leaders have displayed savvy negotiating skills to obtain free or low-cost food and drink. Consequently, the YPA treasury has actually built up balances in its first year.

In October 2004, YPA held a successful kickoff networking social that attracted 45 people to Lucy's Bar and Grill in the Warehouse District of New Orleans. A second networking social offered door prizes and a raffle. Next came a Mardi Gras social (pictured), held before the Muses parade at a restaurant in downtown New Orleans.

YPA also organized and invited the entire RMA New Orleans Chapter to its Sports Night in late February. After a pre-game social, the group headed over to the New Orleans Arena to watch the New Orleans Voodoo take on the Tampa Bay Storm in arena football.

With a strong community and charitable focus, YPA has collected clothes and toiletries for Covenant House, supported a Big Brothers/Big Sisters bowling tournament, and planned future support for the Bethlehem Children's Treatment Center.