Okay everyone we have spent another year together working on CIP, HMDA, Reg B, Overdraft Protection pros and cons, HOEPA he**, and it has been incredible. I know that Mary Beth and the gang recently released a BOL poem that touched on several BOL moments, but I am interested to know what your special memories and highlights from BOL during 2003 were.

Was someone particularly helpful to you in a crunch? Did you make Platinum poster or were you a first time poster to BOL? What was your favorite threads and why?

I personally want to thank Dan for all of his help this year with lending related compliance issues. He has helped me on BOL and behind the scenes to make sense of the nonsense!

I always have loved Cleabatsu's for fun and to de-stress a bit. You just have to charm Dave into borrowing his chair and it has been very entertaining to watch Dawnie, Pam, and Maria take control over the men of the joint.

The audit forum is always my favorite since I feel most at home in areas where other auditors are subject to the same insane responses from management as I experience.

All in all, I feel like I have come to know many of your virtual personalities and I thank BOL for providing such a priceless place for us to brainstorm, discuss, cuss, and find valuable information!

So tell us what your experiences have been.........

Well I got to meet a few BOLers in person this year and for that I'm thankful. It's so fun to put a name with a face (or a psudo name I guess) And who would ever have expected to disco with a BOL banker?

Many moments make me smile. Maria and her pitchfork, our darling Ray and of course...my favorite chuckle, Dave's big head!

I've enjoyed talking wine with the gang and exchanging recipies. I smile whenever I think of houseboats and HMDA reporting now.

I've asked for help and received it every time, and learned more about my profession by answering others questions. There are so many I could thank for help, but I can't narrow it down to one or two or ten, so I'll leave it at "the most special people" who have helped out! I can cook rice now, dance the limbo and argue with mortgage lenders. Sing about privacy, whine about predatory lending and cook a mean pheasent. Oh and the tourism advice! What more could a girl want out of a forum!!!!

As someone who answers a post or two, I do have to add that I've really enjoyed having the opportunity to be of assistance. A couple of my dear new friends even went so far as to send me a thank you note or a little treat during the year. You have no idea how good it makes me feel to know I helped someone out who is in the same boat I once was! The thoughts were sweet and very appreciated!!!

I hope all have a very merry merry holiday and a wonderful New Year! I'll rush back on the 5th just to see what I missed while I'm on the beach in Florida or partying in New Orleans!

::::SMOOCHES AND HUGGLES::::: (In a professional manner of course) heh heh

I thought the update to the OFAC list was a major event of 2003! Which one, you say? Oh yeah. I guess an OFAC update is pretty routine these days...

As for specific BOL moments, the first that comes to mind is the Post Odometer passing the 100,000 mark.

And personally, I enjoyed getting to the Security Officer's Workshop and meeting a few other BOLers. As Dawnie said, it's always good to have faces to go with the names.

I've enjoyed everything this year. From finding out that I'm not the only one who works with commercial lenders lacking concern for compliance to enjoying a VUD at Cleabatsu's, etc. Dan has been gracious to me and helped me many times throughout the year, whether it be on BOL or regular e-mail. I've received needed guidance from many others during 2003. I look forward to meeting a few BOLers in March at the ABA school.

Merry Christmas to everyone and have a great New Year!!!!

Mackenzie & Skittles thank you for the kind words and I also appreciate the information you have shared with me.

There are so many on this board that share a wealth of knowledge. You have Marybeth and all the BOL crew, Andy (which of course is now part of the BOL crew), David, Don, Richard, Paul, Dawnie, Lucy, Jim and you can just go on and on. Maybe we should form our own regulatory agency and "dismiss" the other ones.

As for my favorite moment, I don't know if I could name just one but Dawnie, I remember the houseboat discussion (and I'm still not convinced those were "house boats" ).

Another one is how we let one "rouge" take up so much of our time discussing his personality and ways of banning him from the board.

I'm very glad I found this board and my heart felt thanks to all BOLers for sharing they wisdom and ideas.

And to Z and Mr Clean - thanks for coming up with Cleabatsu's. Although I don't participate on regular basis, it's great to know I have another watering hole come to. It has certainly been a great stress reliever for a lot of us.

To all of you, be safe in your travels and celebrations. But above all, don't let the true meaning of the season escape you.

Merry Christmas.

Some of my memorible moments this year were being a winner of the "How I Use BOL" essay contest (that may have been late 2002?) and being online when the 100,000th post was made. I am so very thankful that this forum exists so that I can share thoughts on both professional and not so professional issues. Merry Christmas and Happy New Year to all the BOL family!

I would be lost without BOL and the friends I've made here, it's that simple. There's too many to name but you know who you are. I did make Platinum Poster status, very exciting for me. My favorite thread was the BOL addiction one that I started because it still rings true, I'm addicted to BOL and everyone's responses made me laugh. I've had the most fun by far at Cleabatsu's (once I could think of a way to gain entrance Mr C. ) Seriously folks, thanks to the BOL staff and all my BOL "peeps" out there, thanks for all of your guidance and friendship throughout the year, you've helped me out more times than I can count. Happy Holidays to you all!

It has been my pleasure to co-own Cleabatsu's with my partner Z and serve all my BOL counterparts their favorite spirits and offer a place to gather!! BOL has also been a great place to gather serious information, often within moments of posting. My thanks to all the BOL moderators and Guru's who share their insight and wisdom, but I give BIG props to all the "regular" users out there that offer their own "two cents" worth!!!

My favorite moment was when I found BOL. I was unemployed, interviewing and needed to keep up-to-date. BOL was a lifesaver!!! Thanks to all!!!!

I can't even begin to name all the new friends I have made in this forum. I appreciate you all. I know that if I am in a bind, I can count on you to help. I know that if I have great news (still smilin') you will celebrate with me and if I have bad news, you will grieve with me and pray for me. You are the classiest bunch of people I have ever known. Not to mention (okay I'll mention it) the fun that I have at Cleabatsu's. When the pressure of work is strong, I can get a good laugh and a great 'drink'. Magic, you have come to my aid in a huge way. Mr. C., Z, Maria, Dawnie.....(all the other names that don't come to mind because of the late night of "Christmas Stuff"), thanks for the laughs. David, DP, Andy, Mary Beth, you are all so wise and giving of your time. My heartfelt thanks for all you do.

I don't know of a particular moment that comes to mind, but the helpfulness and the brainstorming out there is terrific! I am glad to have stumbled upon BOL...you are a great bunch of folks with alot of knowledge..banking and otherwise! hehe... I now know that IF I ever have the need to buy someone a nice bottle of wine...have no fear...ya'll will fill me in on the choicest of the choices! Now..if ya need a good cheap beer..I'm your gal!

Although I don't post substantive posts often, I do enjoy reading them. After a few years on here, I have learned to stick to what I know--Texas law. I rarely post an answer to anything else because there are so many knowledgeable participants willing to share their expertise. And of course, with a simple search, I can usually find the answer to any questions I have without having to post a thing.

My favorite moment? Hmmm? I can't really think of a moment--but I did enjoy making up a NCAA Football Top Ten each week and discussing it with those who were interested.

There were several LOL moments, but none come to mind right now.

Still the new guy here. My favorite moment is, for obvious reasons, when I found the website and learned that there is soooo much knowledge out there. I'm new to the banking business, in general, so I feel WAY outclassed in a lot of these forums, but I'm made to feel comfortable offering my opinions and limited experience to at least add to a discussion. Right or wrong, I can put my ideas on the table and have the gang correct me or take my ideas into consideration. Gotta love it! I don't know where I'd be without you guys...keep it up! And please continue to be tolerant of my "infancy".

Sorry to post again, but I have to thank CubDave for getting me to watch baseball on TV. I watched my first whole game EVER because of him, and heard some great stories about my dad as a result of that . Cool or what?

Jeremy,
We were all the new guy at some point or another (and in many ways, I still am the new guy.) And we're glad that you decided to join us. It's always good to have more security folks to bounce ideas off of.

Wow. Actually this is one of the special moments.

Merry Christmas, Happy New Year, Happy Holidays.

I have enjoyed each and every one of my moments on BOL this year. From posts about Do-Not-Call, CIP, and HMDA, to posts about NCAA Football, I find BOL to be a great resource. Thanks to all who have helped me this year, I pledge to return the favor to you and to others and keep the spirit alive that makes BOL so great. Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year to all of you on BOL and to all of your families.

Ditto to ALL of the above posts. BOL is a great resource. It is always my first stop.

I have to say who could live without duct tape!!! i have learned so much for so many people, even though i may not always have an answer or even a posted question, i learn so much just by reading what everyone has to say. plus there have been so many laughs in the watercooler that helps keep me going on hard days Gotta love the BOL family!

I appreciate all the knowledge, wisdom, insight, and witty banter that are in great supply on BOL. Thanks for demonstrating over and over again that bankers are NOT conscienceless miscreants, dull drones, or witless cubicle dwellers, as some would have us believe. You all (and that's the only time you'll ever see me use that expression) have shown over and over again that bankers--and the vendors who love them--are intelligent, witty, giving, and caring people.

I enjoy this site so much that I feel guilty about the amount of time I spend on it. But, in the long run, I believe my employer is more than adequately compensated for my time, thanks to all of you!

One of my proudest moments was when we brainstormed with Mary Beth for the letter to FinCEN on the 314(a) requests, AND WE GOT A RESPONSE and some improvements and clarification to the process.

The 100,000 post count was fun!

The whole process of giving collective birth to CIP policies and procedures was something to behold.

The quality and frequency of the Webinars on BOL is also a highpoint.

The general comradery in the Watercolor is a welcome relief to the resistence and general disbelief that we face in our daily work.

And I can't believe that we so quickly forgot about our Great American Compliance Novel! Ah Charity, Hope, Fate, and Destiny... how quickly you have faded from the gleam of our eyes, only to be replaced by the moribund proceedures of CIP. (One can only wish....)

My favorite moment in 2003 was the posting of the Watercooler Section on May 30, 2003. It's now the most viewed and receives the most posts versus any other section of BOL Threads. It's a favorite, because it's very telling, with "Survivor Spoilers" having the most views (6,574) and one "Welcome to Cleabatsu's" thread the most posts (423) - and the second most (374) and the 5th most (309).

So, it seems like Bankers are in the bar talking about reality TV most of the time, at least on BOL!

That's true, as it appears that BOL posters may spend at least 90% of the time in the bar, but the most thread views winner is "Survivor Spoilers" (6,574) with the "New Controversy Free Add-a-Quote Thread second (5,285 views). It seems to me that ExGovtBabe, who posted the Survivor Thread, and zaibatsu, who posted the Quotes thread, should win something covering the 2003 posting period. Think of it this way, they kept posters out of the bar and thinking about meaningful (Quotes) and meaningless (Survivor) things. Now that is an outstanding accomplishment.

Although the Mr. Clean threads are the clear winner as far as views, but we don't want to encourage a bad habit by giving him a prize.