14TH ANNUAL CONGRESSIONAL VISIT
		Want to make a difference?  Then join us for IBAT's 14th Annual Congressional Visit, May 23 -25!  A hardy group of Texas community bankers will have the opportunity to meet face-to-face with members of Congress to "tell our story", and we want you to be a part of this critical mission.   IBAT has been aggressively advocating for your interests in D.C. for years, but nothing makes an impact like a community banker in the office of their Congressman.  Please consider being a part of this process, and making an investment in your future and the future of your franchise.   The hotel cut-off has been extended until Wednesday, April 19, and rooms will not be available after that time.  Additional information is available here.
ON THE HILL
		The Texas Legislature will be back in town Monday, April 17 for a 30 day special session to address the method by which Texans pay for public schools.  Your government relations staff has been working with a cadre of attorneys and accountants, and meeting with key players at the Capitol to assess the impact of the Perry/Sharp tax proposal on community banking.   While we are clearly supportive of a broad-based, low rate business tax to replace the broken franchise tax and lower the property taxes now in effect, we continue to have some reservations as to the ultimate impact of this new tax on our member banks.  Please watch for additional information, and please be ready to contact your Representatives and Senators if an alert is sent.  This will be a quick and very fluid process, and banker/constituent contacts will be crucial for our ultimate success.
100 YEAR ANNIVERSARY
		IBAT would like to congratulate Marion State Bank on the occasion of its 100th Anniversary.  The bank will host a celebration on April 23 commemorating its past and the beginning of another century of service to the community.  The IBAT Board of Directors and staff congratulates Chairman and CEO Gilbert Staats, President Doug Mikus, and the directors, officers and employees on this important milestone for the citizens of Marion and Guadalupe County and the community banking industry.
SOLUTIONS FROM SERVICES
		IBAT's Endorsed Provider, SecureWorks, would like to invite you to a free live webcast on April 25th, 2006:  "Report from the battlefront: The latest developments in banks' war on hackers."   This webcast will demonstrate the latest types of attacks being carried out against financial organizations and what your bank can do to protect its network and its customers.  SecureWorks security experts provide an in-depth look at how some real attacks played out and how its banking clients have successfully defended their networks.   To sign up or for more information, click here.  Date: Tuesday, April 25th Time: 3 pm Eastern Duration: 30 minutes
IBAT LEADERSHIP CONFERENCE - SURVIVOR LEADERSHIP
		For those who have not had the pleasure of visiting Galveston and/or the Moody Gardens area, the Moody Gardens Hotel is the premier resort on the island and is surrounded by 242 acres of breathtaking gardens and majestic pyramids.  On the hotel property, there is a Texas-sized pool with waterfalls and swim up bar, a full service spa, teen spa, jogging track and fitness center with indoor lap pool and volleyball courts.  Within walking distance are the Moody Garden attractions:  rainforest pyramid, aquarium pyramid, discovery pyramid, IMAX theater, palm beach and much more.   For more information on the Leadership Conference, click here.
ON THE EDUCATION FRONT
		A special thanks to the Kenedy Area banks for hosting the Bank Secrecy Act Program April 6th.  We had five banks training over 125 attendees.  Supporting banks included:   Karnes County National Bank-Karnes City First State Bank-Three Rivers First National Bank-Beeville The First National Bank-Goliad First National Bank-George West For more information on cluster programs, please e-mail Julie Courtney at jcourtney@ibat.org.   Be sure to check out the upcoming programs including: Deposit Account Fraud - San Antonio, Houston, Irving Compliance Management - Houston
COMING SOON
		For a complete listing of upcoming events, click here. Meanwhile, please mark your calendar for some of our key events for 2006.     The Exceptional Assistant April 27-28, 2006 - San Antonio   IBAT 14th Annual Congressional Visit May 23-25, 2006 - Washington, D.C.   Leadership Conference June 15-17, 2006 - Galveston   IBAT 32nd Annual Convention October 1-3, 2006 - San Antonio   Bank Operations Institute October 8-13, 2006 - Dallas