The MBA would like to thank Mike McLauchlan, Comerica Bank; Kim Schmidt, Community Central Bank; Tom Bernasconi, Warren Bank; Paul Socia, Citizens State Bank; and Bob McGovern, Chase Bank, for attending a recent grassroots meeting with State Senator Alan Sanborn on Friday, September 21 at Citizens State Bank in New Baltimore. Participants discussed current issues facing the banking industry, including the rising number of foreclosures in Michigan.

The MBA would like to thank: Mike McLauchlan, Comerica Bank; Ernest Antczak, Flagstar Bank; Gregg Christenson, Huntington Bank; Mary Fowlie, MBA Immediate Past Chair; Audrey Cox, Comerica Bank; Lynn Bahr, Comerica Bank; Pat McQueen, Private Bank; and Dennis Angner, IBT Bancorp; for their support of a September fundraiser for Congressman Joe Knollenberg in Pontiac.

The MBA would like to thank United Bank of Michigan in Grand Rapids for hosting the MBA Grassroots meeting on August 29 with Speaker Pro Tempore Michael Sak. The following bankers participated in the discussion (left to right in photo): Art Johnson, United Bank of Michigan; Beth Behrend, United Bank of Michigan; Mike Manica, United Bank of Michigan; Speaker Pro Tempore Mike Sak; Nancy Martin, United Bank of Michigan; Rob Batterbee, Fifth Third Bank; and Cindy Lowman, United Bank of Michigan.

The MBA would like to thank Sturgis Bank and Trust for hosting the MBA grassroots meeting on August 27 with Congressman Fred Upton. Attending were: Eric Eishen, Brian Hoggat, and Ronald Scheske from Sturgis Bank and Trust; Don Farmer and David Allen from First National Bank of Three Rivers; Eileen Toney and Tom Grant from Chemical Bank; Bob Baldwin from Edgewater Bank, and Bill Cody from First Savings Bank of Three Rivers.

The MBA would like to thank the following bankers for participating in Congressman Dave Camp’s annual golf fundraiser at St. Ives Golf Club on Tuesday, August 21: Bill Benear, Firstbank – Lakeview; Gale Hixson of Firstbank – Lakeview; Paul Scoby - Isabella Bank and Trust; and Dick Lavollette – MBA (pictured below). Also attending (and not pictured) were Sue Walz from Independent Bank – Big Rapids and Jon Catlin, Karl Linebaugh, Joe Torrence, and Frank Wheatlake from Chemical Bank. Thank you for supporting your Congressman and representing our industry!

The MBA would like to thank all the bankers who participated in the August 6th Ann Arbor Chamber of Commerce breakfast meeting with U.S. Senator Debbie Stabenow. Ann Arbor Commerce Bank, United Bank & Trust, University Bank, Fifth Third Bank, and the Bank of Ann Arbor all had representatives in attendance. Members had the opportunity to speak one on one on several banking issues being discussed in the U.S. Senate.

The MBA would like to thank the following bankers for attending a grassroots meeting with Congressman Dave Camp in Midland on Monday, July 23: Dave Dunn, Wolverine Bank; Brad Kessel, Independent Bank; Mark Perry, Firstbank, Mt. Pleasant; David Ramaker, Chemical Bank; David Shooltz, Citizens Bank; Dennis Angner, IBT Bancorp and MBA Chairman; Leo Wickert, Isabella Bank and Trust; Rick Barz, Isabella Bank and Trust; Russell Mathews, Comerica Bank; and David Murdoch, Comerica Bank.

The MBA would like to thank MBA Chairman Dennis Angner of IBT Bancorp, Bob Chapman of United Bank & Trust, Mark Emmert and Peter Kubacki of Dart Bank, MBA Director John Abbott of Summit Community Bank, Todd Bailey of Huntington Bank, Tom Ruebel of Fifth Third Bank, Mike McLauchlan of Comerica Bank and Dave Schultz of Citizens Bank for attending a recent fundraiser for Senate Banking Committee Chairman Randy Richardville in Lansing.

The MBA would like to thank Don Grill from Fentura Financial, Dennis Leyder, Tom Bertschy and Dave Hendry from The State Bank, Ron Justice from Davison State Bank and Rachelle Kippe, Judy Relf, Chris Carr and Tom Goodrow from Citizens Bank for attending the MBA grassroots meeting on Wednesday, May 30 with Congressman Dale Kildee at his district office in downtown Flint.

The MBA would like to thank Nick Hevron and Todd Graham of Oxford Bank, Nancy Fox of Capitol National Bank, Mark Emmert of Dart Bank, Tim Gaylord of Mason State Bank, Steve Walsh of First National Bank of Howell, Gary Nickerson, John Szydzik, Bill Anderson, Mark DuShane, John Hulyk, Linda Lavely, Joe Petrucci and Sandy Radtke-Gerkin of Brighton Commerce Bank for attending the April 12th grassroots meeting with Congressman Mike Rogers on Monday, April 23 at Brighton Commerce Bank.

The MBA would like to thank Bob Kaminski and Chuck Christmas of Mercantile Bank, Bill Benear of FirstBank, Jim Bosserd of ChoiceOne Bank, and Art Johnson, John Van Singel, Cindy Lowman, Mike Manica and Beth Behrend of United Bank of Michigan for attending the MBA grassroots meeting with Representative Kevin Green on Monday, April 30 at United Bank of Michigan in Grand Rapids.

The MBA would like to thank Ken Palmer, Al Koskey, Scott Reilly, Roxanne Daust of Range Bank, Don St. Germaine of Baybank, David Williams of Upper Peninsula State Bank, Bill Stream of Peninsula Bank of Ishpeming, Gary Nelson of Peninsula Bank of Ishpeming, and Rick Nebel of Peoples State Bank of Munising for attending the April 12th grassroots meeting with Senator Mike Prusi at Range Bank in Negaunee.

The MBA would like to thank Jim Hoffman and Ricardo Cobos of Honor State Bank, Doug Wolf of Chase Bank, Jon Catlin of Chemical Bank, Brian Duddles of State Savings Bank, Erickson Braund of Wells Fargo Bank, and Daniel Spagnuolo and Wendy Steele of Huntington National Bank for attending a grassroots meeting with Congressman Dave Camp on April 10th

The MBA would like to thank Rebecca Smith, Gregg Christenson and Todd Bailey from Huntington Bank – East Michigan for hosting an MBA grassroots meeting with Senate Majority Leader Michael Bishop on Friday, March 30 in Troy. Also attending were: Kim Schmidt, Community Central Bank; Paul Socia, Citizens State Bank; Vito Pianello and Jim Dunn, The Private Bank; Mary Fowlie, LaSalle Bank; Richard Buss, National City Bank; and Mike McLauchlan, Comerica Bank.

The MBA would like to thank Vito Pianello (The Private Bank), Kim Schmidt (Community Central Bank), Gregg Christenson (Huntington Bank – East Michigan) and Paul Socia (Citizens State Bank) for attending an MBA grassroots meeting with Congresswoman Candice Miller on Monday, March 26 at her district office in Shelby Township.

The MBA would like to thank Norm Campbell (Central State Bank), Larry Stine (Central State Bank), Lindy Evans (Central State Bank), Sheila Fitzgerald (Central State Bank), Karen Irwin (Central State Bank), Blake Brooks (State Savings Bank), Jim Marting (State Savings Bank), Doug Cook (West Michigan National Bank), Art Jeannot (Honor State Bank), Norm Plumstead (Honor State Bank), Donna Hillard (Honor State Bank), Nancy Coalter (Honor State Bank), Mike Worden (Honor State Bank), Charles Keller (West Shore Bank), and Jeremy Holmes (West Shore Bank) for attending a grassroots meeting on March 9 with Senator Michelle McManus at Central State Bank in Benzonia.

The MBA would like to thank Sue Eno (Citizens National Bank of Cheboygan), Jim North (First National Bank of St. Ignace), Kyle Kurtz (First Community Bank, Harbor Springs), and Ron Meister (Central Savings Bank) for participating in a grassroots meeting with Senator Jason Allen on March 9 at Audie's Restaurant in Mackinaw City.

The MBA would like to thank Jeff Gatton from First Savings Bank FSB in Three Rivers for hosting a grassroots meeting with Representative Rick Shaffer on Friday, February 23. The MBA would also like to thank: Bill Cody (First Savings Bank), Scott Connelly (First Savings Bank), Christy Linn (First Savings Bank), Larry Clark (First Savings Bank), Rick Dyer (First National Bank), Dave Allen (First National Bank), Don Farmer (First National Bank), Eric Eishen (Sturgis Bank and Trust), John Johnson (Sturgis Bank and Trust) and Jeff Zimont (Fifth Third Bank) for participating in the discussion.

The MBA would like to thank Paul Clabeusch (Host - Thumb National Bank and Trust), Ernie Paulick (Northstar Bank), Debbie Cunningham (Northstar Bank), Dick Carncross (Signature Bank), Gary Haas (Mayville State Bank), Shelly Rutter (Mayville State Bank), Mary Cunningham (Northstar Bank), Jane Perkins (Thumb National Bank and Trust) and Jay Dubey (Thumb National Bank and Trust) for participating in the MBA Grassroots meeting with Representative Terry Brown and Representative Jeff Mayes on Feb 16.

The MBA would like to thank Doug Chaffin, Tom Myers, and Jim Morr for hosting an MBA Grassroots Meeting in Monroe on February 9 with Representatives Kathy Angerer and Kate Ebli.

The MBA would like to thank Ed Swanson and Denise Wheaton of Independent Bank – South Michigan for hosting an MBA Grassroots Meeting with Representatives Barb Byrum and Mark Meadows on February 9 in East Lansing. The MBA would also like to thank Tom Ruis - Independent Bank – South Michigan, Nancy Fox – Capitol National Bank, Debra Miles – Dart Bank and Mark Emmert - Dart Bank for participating.

The MBA would like to thank Audrey Mistor, Rich Shaffner, Ann Bollinger, and Bill Vowler of Main Street Bank for hosting a meeting with Representative Marc Corriveau on Friday, February 9 in Northville.

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The MBA would like to thank OSB Community Bank for hosting a grassroots meeting in Brooklyn with Representative Mike Simpson on January 26. Attending were (left to right): Craig Goodlock (Farmers State Bank of Munith), Laurie Goodlock (Farmers State Bank of Munith), Philip Hubbard (OSB Community Bank), Representative Mike Simpson, Karena Jors (OSB Community Bank), Barbara Vincent (OSB Community Bank), Stacy Schober (OSB Community Bank), Dan McMaster (MBA), and Jordan Kingdon (MBA - not pictured).

John Llewellyn (Michigan Bankers Association), Representative Rick Shaffer, Senator Cameron Brown, Chuck Hadden (Michigan Manufacturers Association), Bob McDonough (Vice Chair of Michigan Chamber of Commerce Board), and Geroge Erickcek (Regional Economist) discussed current Michigan Business Tax replacement proposals during the First NationalBank of Three Rivers sponsored panel discussion in Sturgis on January 19.

(Photo courtesy of TR Commercial News)

The MBA would like to thank the following bankers for attending a recent grassroots meeting with State Senator and Majority Floor Leader Alan Cropsey at Ionia County National Bank on January 8, 2007.

Host: James Fast. Ionia County National Bank: Kevin Meade, Joan Bartosh, Jerry A. Christensen, Dan Mitchell, Larry D'Haem, Randy George, Michelle Krick, Blaine Kemme, Jackie Thebo, Paul Williams and Shane Husted. Independent Bank, Ionia: Coni Burns and Brian Talbot.