Message from our Board Chair

Greetings Friends in Travel!

September marks a new season for us in the Northern Hemisphere, the Autumnal Equinox arrives on Thursday, September 22, 2022 at 9:04 PM EDT. According to almanac.com, the word “equinox” comes from the Latin word aequus meaning “equal” and nox meaning “night”. On the Autumnal Equinox, daytime and nighttime hours are about equal. Here’s another interesting fact from almanac.com about the Autumnal Equinox, the full moon that occurs nearest to the equinox is called the Harvest Moon. I’m sure you already knew this, but did you know that it’s called the Harvest Moon because way back in the olden days (also known as the days of yore 😊) around the Autumnal Equinox, the full moon would (and still does) rise at sunset for several nights in a row, and would provide farmers with just enough extra light to let them finish harvesting before the killing frosts of Fall occur. This phenomenon occurs because the angle of the moon’s orbit and the tilt of the Earth line up perfectly to cause the moon to “rise” early. Isn’t it cool to see how science and “old wives’ tales” align?

At my bank, we routinely go through exams to be sure that we are adhering to the rules, regulations and standards set by the OCC, short for the Office of the Comptroller of the Currency. (Some other banks’ exams are performed by the FDIC, short for the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation.) They come around on a set schedule, “seasonally” some might say. The examiners find where a bank needs improvement, make recommendations and then follow-up on those recommendations to ensure changes were implemented. Each bank is given a rating at the end of the exam, like a grading system. There are rules that we need to follow set by the OCC or FDIC that may seem arbitrary to our customers but are put in place for a reason. A banker’s job is to understand the rules and regulations, and if a customer has a bad experience as a direct result, to do our best to make it right. What do you do when you receive a complaint or a bad review? One thing I learned many years ago when I was in sales was “Perception is Reality”. This simply means that what a person experiences comes from their point of view, and regardless of intention, what they perceived to happen is what happened. Understanding that goes a long way in smoothing over ruffled feathers. It’s important to take the time to curate a thoughtful response versus going on a gut reaction, acknowledge their feelings, and acknowledge your mistake. Show your customers that you are willing to spend the time to listen to their concerns and take the time to rectify what you can. Giving a sincere apology, whether you were at fault or not, goes a long way. And, bonus, learning from our mistakes brings improved processes and demonstrates growth.

Hope you enjoy this change of season, Happy Fall Y’all!

Best,

Allison

Allison Whalen

Summit Club Director

F & M Community Bank

Preston, MN

MEMBERSHIPS RENEW ON OCTOBER 1

If you are your bank's membership administrator in our system, you will soon be receiving an email notifying you to log in and renew your membership. Please complete the online form. If you did not have at least 15 passengers on tour with one of our PTOs, you will receive an invoice for dues upon completion of your renewal.

If you are not currently a member and would like to join Heritage Clubs International so you can begin to access our member-only resources and attend the annual Peer Group conference, please reach out to Tina Goeske at 952-835-6543 or tina@heritageclubs.com.

PTO Highlight

Explore Croatia with Collette – From a Traveler’s Perspective

Robert and his wife Jeannie went on the Croatia and Its Islands tour earlier this year with Collette.



For European-bound travelers looking for something a bit different, Collette Travel is offering part-land and part-yacht tours in and along the coast of beautiful Croatia. 

The three-day land portion started in the capital, Zagreb, with a stay at the Sheraton Hotel. Zagreb is picturesque and safe to explore. From there, we spent two nights in Sibenik and had day excursions, including the magnificent Krka National Park — with its dozens of beautiful waterfalls that you can hike all around. The Sibenik Amadria Park Hotel was absolutely worth five stars, and our dinner outdoors at the hotel's small village-like restaurant was incredible.

Next was Split, where we walked through Roman Emperor Diocletian's (retirement) palace. Split is on the Adriatic, and that's where we boarded our 36-passenger yacht. (By the way: great showers in each cabin!) 

The next seven days were spent cruising the crystal clear waters of the Adriatic Sea. We had only breakfast and lunch (amazing full- course meals) onboard — and then ate evening dinners on a different island stop each night. Great food and facilities on all islands and lots of exploring on your own, too. Highlights included wine tasting, rowing into the "Blue Cave" - which is very similar to Capri's Blue Grotto, and walking historic streets with great history. We visited Marco Polo's birthplace and Vis, Croatia, where much of the "Mama Mia! Here We Go Again" movie was filmed. The tour ended in Dubrovnik - which was by far the most crowded place. But, if you haven't been there, the great walled city is a must.

The trip's format meant having a chance to relax and really getting to know your new friends. It's a unique tour that Jeannie and I rated as one of the best we've taken!

https://www.gocollette.com/en/tours/europe/croatia/croatia-and-its-islands 

Contact Jim Edwards  jedwards@collette.com /800-222-5679 or your local Collette BDM

2023 Peer Group Conference

We are just a few days away from the opening of the Peer Group registration!

Watch for a special announcement coming soon.

Plan now to join us in Lafayette for Peer Group!

February 27 - March 3, 2023