How many of us will be at the Bank Compliance Institute on the 18th - 21st? I'll be there -- probably one of the only ones from the UP!

Where is it held in Mt. Pleasant?

The Comfort Inn Conference Center. Speakers include Lucy Griffin, L. Ray Jackson (FDIC), Dick West (Bodman, Longley & Dahling LLP), and Chuck Lewis. It runs all day Wednesday and Thursday and until noon on Friday.

I won't be attending. I'm internal audit and we have a compliance officer - I wonder if she's going? Hmmm. Anyway, I was curious if they were having it at the casino. But I'm not surprised it's at the Comfort Inn. People would start gambling and there wouldn't be anyone at the conference!

You'll be in my neck of the woods kwiltr!

When we were putting this year's conference together, we figured there would be some competition from the ABA's event in Chicago in June. That's where I'll be this time.

Nevertheless, I think you have a top-notch agenda and the speakers are first-rate. I hope the attendance doesn't suffer too much. And please make sure you complete an evaluation - we really rely on that feedback!

So, you're on the committee, but are slacking off and going to Chicago instead of Mt. Pleasant?? What possible pull could Chicago in June have over Mt. Pleasant in May?

The timing is especially good for me this year, since my sister is having radiation treatments in Ann Arbor. We can swing through there the weekend before the conference and spend some time with her.

I figured I'd catch grief for that one... How about this: Another committee member is also on the ABA's conference committee - and he's making the same decision!

As for me, I operate under the 'spend the bank's money like you'd spend your own' philosophy, so I can only attend one of the two in good conscience. And this is the first time ABA hasn't been in DC or New Orleans or somewhere outside the range of reasonable drive-time.

The Institute has been averaging 35-50 per year for the last few years. When we found out that ABA would be in Chicago, we expected a drop - I'd be very happy (and unfortunately a little surprised) if we broke 30 this year.

I don't have any advance enrollment statistics, and since the agenda & speakers are all in place we won't meet again until probably June to review the evaluations.

Regardless, you have the opportunity to interact with some very knowledgable and nationally-reputed speakers. You'll learn a ton, and you'll probably have a better chance than I will in having your questions answered directly. The Institute will be well worth the price of admission!

I had considered going to Mt. Pleasant this year because of the caliber of the speakers and the topics that will be covered, but then I opted for the ABA conference mainly because it's in Chicago this year rather than Washington D.C.

I am also a member of the MBA Compliance Committee and will be missing the MBA Compliance Institute to go to Chicago for the ABA Conference.

Lee - consider attending the MBA Compliance Institute in 2005. We will have a lot of the same speakers that attend the ABA conference. Mt Pleasant is not that bad of a drive. It takes me about 3 hours and I live in South Bend, IN.

I guess I'll be meeting you guys next year . Have fun in Chicago, everyone!

I have approval to go to Chicago... but I am not sure if it will work out. I have a 2 1/2 year old and I am not sure if my husband's schedule will work out to allow me to be out of town at that time. Figures! I am working on my mother to help! I also am on the MBA's compliance committee.

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Lee - consider attending the MBA Compliance Institute in 2005. We will have a lot of the same speakers that attend the ABA conference. Mt Pleasant is not that bad of a drive. It takes me about 3 hours and I live in South Bend, IN.

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I have attended the MBA conference in Mt. Pleasant before, and it's not the drive I'm concerned about. My boss would like me to attend a national compliance conference now and then, and call me crazy, but I would much rather drive to Chicago then fly to DC. Plus I can take the family along to Chicago.

So how was it? Did we do well for you?

Oh, yeah. I'm not sure if I should tell you specifics or not, since you weren't there. Since you're on the committee, though....

Lucy was great.

Chuck was - well - Chuck. I'm still going through my follow-up notes and laughing. If I was going to be a speaker, I'd want to be a cross between the two of them somehow.

L. Ray had his whole suit this year.

Sarbanes-Oxley and HMDA didn't really apply to us, so I kind of zoned out there.

Scott Bailey was good on Information Security, too. I have more stuff to follow up there. And on SCRA. Gotta go. I have too much to do....

This was my 4th year attending, and it was fun catching up with people I'd met before.

Thanks to everyone on the committee. It was well worth the 1,000+ miles we put on the car.

Another satisfied customer - I'm really glad to hear it!

As a repeat offender, you might consider joining us on the committee. Three-year terms begin July 1, and you can get more information at www.mibankers.com. We haven't had a UP presence since Wells Fargo bought Steve White out from under us...

PM if you'd like more information.

Anyone going to the Bank Compliance Institute May 2005?

I will attend.

Speakers this year include Lucy Griffin (who we love); Chuck Lewis; John Byrne from the ABA; Dick West from Bodman LLC; Rodney Martin from Warner, Norcross & Judd; and Arvin Clar from the Cleveland police dept.

Funny to see this back again, a year later.

Yes, I'm going. Gayle? You out there? Any quilts in the works this year?

I'll be there

Okay...
Looks like I need to look into the Chicago seminar.

I'll be there just need to get my registration in!! I always have quilts in the works, the challenge is finishing them all!

Just a quick note to say I enjoyed meeting many of you at the conference and hope to see you all again, and those who were unable to attend, next year.