LBA Board & Officer Selection Banker Driven

Last year, the LBA did a survey of Louisiana bankers to get guidance on some legislative issues, including flood insurance given the flooding around the state, capital standards, examination experience, shareholder return expectations with the increasing time and expense with regulatory requirements, along with a few questions ranking banker top concerns. Also included were two questions aimed at LBA accountability. One asked if there are items the LBA should do that that we are not doing. The other was this: Do you believe the LBA Board of Directors, and bankers generally, appropriately oversee the operations of the LBA to assure the LBA staff is focused on the priorities of your bank? All 97 respondents answered yes. That response was and is very gratifying to us here at LBA as it indicates a level of confidence in the oversight and direction of the Association by Louisiana bankers elected by their peers to represent them. The LBA by-laws provide for the election of the Board by the members of the LBA. The by-laws were rewritten in 2008 by a committee of the Board with LBA General Counsel David Boneno assisting. The by-laws require that, to be considered for election to the board, a banker must first be nominated by a banker. The nomination forms are sent to all member banks. There are some minimal qualifications in the by-laws that focus on involvement with the LBA so there is some familiarity with the Association. The nominations for regional directors are provided to the sitting director of that region, and they, in turn, gather past directors from the same region and make a recommendation that goes before the membership for approval at the annual convention business meeting.  

Nominations for LBA Treasurer are now being requested. The forms have been sent out, and we provide them at the LBA regional lunches as well. The treasurer eventually becomes chairman and is a four year commitment. Nominations are considered by the Executive Committee of which there are six. The four officers (chairman, chairman elect, past chairman and treasurer) and two regional board members elected by the Board to serve on the Executive Committee. These six meet to select a recommendation they present to the full board for consideration. The board elects the treasurer. Please consider sending to me a banker you believe would make a good treasurer. The by-laws provide a good process, and most of the time a good process has good results. It all gets back to the bankers in this state and their taking the time and attention to keep us here focused on the needs of your institution.