FROM THE TOP
Let’s Strive to be Remarkable! It is my pleasure to serve as your 2020-2021 Chairman of the Community Bankers Association of Georgia. We have a motivated Board of Directors serving CBA this year who are eager to promote community banking in Georgia. In this issue, I hope you will take the time to read and learn a little more about each of these great bankers who are serving as board members. Know that as a Board, we pledge an open-door policy to you. Please get to know us and reach out during the year with any ideas or concerns you may have. These are some of the most challenging times I have had to navigate in my career. It is tempting to feel discouraged as I look back at 2020 and think of friends, businesses, and opportunities lost. I would be remiss if I did not pause to remember friend and CBA Board member Chuck Harwell. His passing was a somber loss for us all. I recently read a quote from an unknown author which states, “If you feel like you’re losing everything, remember that the trees lose their leaves every year and they still stand tall and wait for better days to come.” So, as we look ahead, I believe it is imperative to focus on the positives and prepare for better days. I am strongly encouraged by the many positives coming from CBA and I look forward to sharing some of these exciting programs and initiatives with you. Membership in CBA provides several benefits to banks including high quality education, networking opportunities, and legislative advocacy. CBA’s educational services have never been stronger, and Kristi Greer stands ready to assist you with your education or training needs. CBA has always offered greatly beneficial onsite and customized programs. However, during these times, CBA has worked hard and done an excellent job of bringing that wealth of information into the virtual world. The traditionally in-person educational offerings have been transformed into multi-faceted digital experiences so that banks would not experience a disruption to the training that is vital to success. Never have I been around a group of Georgia bankers when I did not take home some useful knowledge. That is the
David Lance President & CEO Greater Community Bank 2020-2021 CBA Chairman
power of networking opportunities. Unfortunately, inperson networking has been limited by the pandemic. But don’t discount the power of a Zoom, a phone call, or even a hand-written note. Human connection and collaboration are essential. We hope there will be more opportunities for in-person networking in 2021, and in the meantime, CBA is looking to create socially distanced ways to connect. Advocacy under the leadership of Lori Godfrey is taking off. We have had tremendous success at the gold dome and our bankers have supported the advocacy efforts with their pocketbooks to new and unprecedented levels. Thank you! CBA has recently added a new and motivating benefit – CBA Wellness Solutions. I invite you all to visit the website www. cbaofga.com/wellness-solutions and learn more about this new initiative. You will find programs, resources, and stories to enrich overall well-being. I look forward to taking a deeper dive with you this year into the three pillars of wellness - mind, body, and spirit. I am also very excited to share with you the new mission statement recently approved by the CBA Board of Directors. Communities are our Passion. Banking is our Purpose. Advocacy is our Power. This is truly an expression of what Community Bankers Association is all about. History has taught us that the community bank is closely, vitally linked to the local economy, and will rise and fall with it. The bank that looks to prosper in the future should make a concerted effort to focus on the economic development of its market area. The health of communities is reflective of the health of community banks, and vice versa. Keeping CBA’s mission at the forefront will aid us in our work to enhance local banking and build stronger communities. 2020 has certainly been an unusual and challenging year. At our recent CBA Annual Convention, Keynote Speaker David Salyers inspired us to consider our perspective. Having the right perspective will drive success. As we look forward, let’s strive to be remarkable. I wish a better and brighter 2021 for each of you. Have a wonderful holiday season. N ove m b e r / D e c e m b e r 2 0 2 0 | G e or g i a C om m un i ti es F i rs t | 3
