Iowa Bankers Association surveying members via e-mail

Northwestern Financial Review, Sep 15, 2001

The Iowa Bankers Association is utilizing Web-based technology to survey its members and, as a result, reduce expenses. A Manchester, N.H.-- based company, iballot.com, offers an encrypted Website that manages online balloting for shareholder meetings, public opinion surveys and elections. The IBA decided to team with the company to conduct its legislative issues survey this fall. The move means there will be no electronic voting at the association's legislative symposium conducted during its convention, Sept. 18.

"We got some promotional material in the mail from the company," said Mike Triplett, IBA's government relations manager. "They showed us some ballots they had done for other organizations and we were really impressed."

The IBA has used many methods to collect information from its members in the past. Compared to iballot.com, they were all expensive. "The cost was a critical factor," said Triplett. "It turns out to be two dollars per response. If we had every single one of our member banks respond, it would cost us less than a thousand dollars. You can't beat that."

Several years during the last decade, IBA conducted real-time, electronic balloting at its annual convention. This method carries a price tag of about $6,500.

The CEO of every IBA member bank will receive an ID number and password to access the survey online. The survey site will contain briefs on various legislative issues. If Internet access is not available, CEOs can request a form and submit their opinions via U.S. mail-the IBA has the ability to enter written surveys into the online system. Participants have one week to submit a completed online form. The IBA Legislative Committee will use the survey results to shape its 2002 legislative agenda.