South Florida Banking Institute’s 50th anniversary year has come to a successful close thanks to the dedicated effort put forth by our officers, directors, advisory board, and, administrative assistants and members.

The true new millennium arrived with a lot of fanfare and relatively little fuss. The ever-changing field of technology has caused our lives to be both easier and more difficult. Easier in that more and more manual operations can be conducted electronically and more difficult in that the more automated our industry becomes, the more training we require and the more we depend upon these systems to be “online” and functioning at maximum capacity. Our main focus this year is the Gramm-Leach-Bliley Financial Modernization Act.

I would like to recognize several people for an excellent job. Our Vice President of Education Dottie Thorpe, (who came off the advisory board to assist me this year) and her committee for arranging our speaker roster and programs, our “Repeat” Operations Conference Chair Willy Jauregui, who organized and conducted a very successful event this year, our Vice President Secretary/Membership Deborah Kent for her invaluable assistance throughout the year, and to Al Dosal, for returning to the Board and his assistance in contacting our Past Presidents for a very successful Past Presidents/CEO night – which was our 50th anniversary to the day!

In closing, our incoming officers and directors are prepared to continue with the quality programs and seminars for the year 2001 – 2002. Thank you again to all the SFBI members and vendors who supported our organization throughout the year.

See you in September!
Pamela Wendel
President, 2000-2001