Pub. 1 2012 Issue 5

10 l e a d i n g a d v o c a t e f o r t h e b a n k i n g i n d u s t r y i n k a n s a s BLOK Session III It’s All About Advocacy T he 2012 Bank Leaders of Kansas Class (BLOK) traveled to Washington D.C. with the KBAFederal Affairs Committee on June 16-19, 2012. This BLOK session pro - vided an opportunity to witness, learn from and advocate with many of KBA’s most influential and trusted volunteer bank leaders. In this setting, emerging bank leaders had an opportunity to network with current influential and trusted leaders of Kansas banking while playing a role in advocacy efforts for the industry. Highlights of the trip began with a monument tour featuring stops at the White House, US Capital, Lincoln Memorial, Jefferson Memorial and many others. The monuments, memorials and national landmarks were observed into the evening where some were most spectacular when lit up in the night. Following the monument tour and participation in an award winning show at the Kennedy Center, the group was thrust into the busy DC culture with an early A.M. session of ABA 101, which es- sentially familiarized them with the history, structure and organizational function of the ABA. The BLOK class had an opportunity to be mentored by the seasoned KBAFederal Affairs Committee members as they traveled together from the ABA to the CFPB, FDIC, OCC and advocacy planning sessions. Networking was plentiful as they wrapped up the trip with Congressional visits on Capitol Hill and a closing reception featuring members of the Kansas Congressional delegation and their staff. The 2012 BLOK Class will conclude its training in a fourth and final session this coming September. FAC member Bob Leftwich, (Impact Bank, Wellington), joined by John Runnebaum and Janice Peters, 2012 BLOK class members, discuss the impact of regulatory burden on community banks with FDIC Capital Markets Branch, Associate Director, Bobby Bean. Grant LacKamp, 2012 BLOK, discusses KBA’s legislative platform with former KBA Chairman Kent Needham, (First Security Bank, Overbrook). Adrian Morales, BLOK class 2012, pauses for a photo with Todd Novascone, Chief of Staff for US Senator Jerry Moran. KBA Federal Affairs Committee member Dave Shepherd, (The Mission Bank, Shawnee Mission), and Tom Wagner, 2012 BLOK class, visit while waiting for US Senator Jerry Moran to return from the Senate floor debate on the 2012 Farm Bill.