March 2017

                                    
 
Message from our Board Chair 

Val Kelsey
It is time!  Peer Group is just two weeks away and I can't wait to see all of you again.
 
When I think of Peer Group, I think of all the amazing travel partners and PTOs that we have access to and who are eager to help us plan fabulous outings for our members.  From those unique attractions in our back yards to the unbelievable destinations across the globe and every place in between, HCI suppliers can help us discover new ways to delight our customers and make them want to tell their friends why they do business with our bank.  I just want to say "thank you" to all of the loyal HCI partners who do so much of the heavy-lifting and make us look good in front of our members.
 
If you are attending Peer Group this month, be sure to read the special announcement about the Globus-sponsored contest so you can pack to participate.
Valerie Kelsey, CBCD 
Special Announcement for Peer Group Attendees
 
Been there, done that, bought the T-shirt!
The Globus family of brands is sponsoring our closing reception & dinner again this year, and we want everyone to show off their travels in a relaxed way.  So please plan to bring a T-shirt from your favorite destination and wear it Thursday night as you relax and enjoy a fun evening with all your friends from Peer Group! A prize will be given for the most unique shirt or outfit!
 
Partner Profile: Visit Lake County, Illinois
   
 
Jayne Nordstrom is excited to share with you the treasures of Lake County, Illinois. She represents a large variety of venues and attractions. Whether you're looking for unique festivals, interesting tours, delicious dining and confections, fabulous outdoor experiences or great shopping - Jayne will help you plan the perfect excursion for your group. But you'll probably have trouble fitting all the fun into a single day trip! She has made it easy to plan a group tour with over 30 sample itineraries  already prepared on their website. 
Visit Lake County is new to HCI but has already become very involved. Jayne attended Peer Group in 2016 for the first time and is excited to be attending again this year. She and her colleagues in the area are sponsoring a fun event during the 2017 conference. "Peer Group is the best show that I have ever attended because we get to spend so much time with the bankers. The appointments are long enough to actually get business done, and I love being included in all of the sessions."

Julia Terwilleger, CBCD, of American Trust & Savings Bank, in Dubuque, Iowa, participated in the Lake & McHenry County FAM tour in May. "It was great! I was so impressed with the variety of experiences and how well-run the tour was. Jayne did a great job putting it together." The tour was co-led by Jayne and another local CVB rep. "One of them was with us the entire time," says Julia. "They exposed us to some real treasures in the area." The Sanfilippo Estate was a highlight of the FAM for Julia which she says was a "wonderful tour - the docent was terrific and it was amazing to see the vast collection of musical instruments on this tour." She also thought the Tempel Lipizzans were fabulous - this is the home of the world's largest privately-owned herd of stallions.
 
Contact her today so your club can enjoy great dining, entertainment and educational experiences in Lake County. 800-525-3669 jayne@lakecounty.org
Member Spotlight: Amber Thomas
Central Bank Illinois
Geneseo, IL
 
Amber Thomas, CBCD, has been the club director at Central Bank Illinois in Geneseo for five and half years. As a part-time employee, her time in the office is packed with planning monthly game and movie days, annual picnics, Spring Flings and Senior Expos for her 2,200 members. She also plans around 8 day trips and one to three fight-required trips in the US each year, in addition to an international trip every other year.

 She is also an active member of HCI, serving as a member of its advisory board and its CBCD committee. "I am proud to be a part of an organization that strives for excellence - one that focuses on education, trending topics and networking," she says. "HCI has our best interests at heart." Attending Peer Group every year "gives us an annual boost in spirit." This event and the Fall Forum event provides focused education on topics that many club directors are dealing with that you just can't get anywhere else.

 "As club directors, we get the opportunity to bring joy, excitement and adventure to people," she says.  One of her favorite memories is of two club members who met on a club tour to Hawaii and wound up getting married within the year. Amber loves the fact that "we can change lives" and this is the best part of the job!
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