CBAI turns 25 at convention

Northwestern Financial Review, Sep 18, 1999

The Community Bankers Association of Illinois will mark its 25th anniversary with its annual convention-this year to be held Sept. 23-26 at the Crowne Plaza Hotel in Springfield, Illinois' capital.

Highlights will include talks by Larry Winget, a noted motivational speaker and business humorist whose topic is "The Simple Way to Success." Also, Decatur-born author and storyteller Rick Butts will discuss "Survival Tactics for the 21st Century Jungle." An entertaining talk by comedian/juggler/magician Frank Miles will teach the audience to laugh at fear.

Besides those speakers, numerous educational sessions will be offered at the convention. Various experts will discuss topics that include agriculture, bank fraud, increasing shareholder value, Internet security, finding good loan customers, Federal Reserve initiatives, bank law updates and estate planning.

National banking issues will be the topic during a Sept. 24 luncheon which will feature Tom Sheehan, president-elect of the Independent Community Bankers of America. Sheehan leads Grafton State Bank in Grafton, Wis.

The association also will announce new officers for the 1999-2000 year. Roger Lehmann, president of The Harvard State Bank in Harvard Ill., will become the CBAI's new president. Lehmann succeeds Jim Ashworth, president of Carlinville National Bank in Carlinville. (See accompanying "Meet the President"feature.)

A number of entertainment outings will be offered including golf, a historic home tour and a talk by Titanic historian Larry Klugman, a man who for 30 years has collected information about the doomed ship. Bruce Belland, longtime television producer and entertainer, will give listeners a view behind the television screen during his talk.