U.S. Treasury Department to Conduct Crisis Testing
The Treasury Department has announced that it will sponsor an industry-wide exercise this fall for the financial services sector to test its ability to respond a pandemic crisis, such as a bird flu outbreak.
“A lack of preparedness could turn a biological problem into one that seriously affects the availability of financial services to Americans and the global economy,” said D. Scott Parsons, Treasury Deputy Assistant Secretary for Critical Infrastructure Protection and Compliance Policy. “While the industry has taken up its responsibility and improved its response plans, there is still much work to be done. Treasury is encouraging financial institutions of all sizes from across the country, including banks, credit unions, securities firms and insurance companies, to participate.”
President Bush directed Treasury in May 2006 to coordinate with the banking and finance sector to better prepare its response to a pandemic crisis.
The voluntary exercise will bring together the public and private sector through the Financial and Banking Information Infrastructure Committee and the Financial Services Sector Coordinating Council. The FBIIC-FSSCC Pandemic Flu Exercise of 2007, beginning September 24 and running for three weeks, will focus on the continuity of financial services for Americans in the event of a pandemic crisis. The exercise will examine a number of issues including human resources, continuity of operations, and dependencies on other sectors such as transportation, energy and telecommunications.
The test will occur entirely online using a secure website hosted by the Securities Industry and Financial Markets Association. Treasury will release registration information in the coming weeks.
For more information visit the Treasury Department’s website www.treas.gov.
Join Us for the Iowa v. Iowa State Tailgate!
Come tailgate with us before AND during the Iowa v. Iowa State game. This year, with the new Iowa State policy of not selling any single game tickets, we were not able to secure the 1,200 game tickets as we have in the past.
So we’re doing the next best thing! We are having an EXTENDED tailgate at the Scheman Center in Ames. Those of you that are not able to secure your own game tickets are invited to continue to eat drink and enjoy the camaraderie of your fellow bankers, sponsors and IBA Associate Members! Don’t worry about missing the game, we’ll watch it on big screen TVs at the tailgate! Each tailgate attendee will receive a commemorative t-shirt of the team of your choice with the list of sponsors on the back. You will also enjoy a buffet, drinks and dessert! You will receive your t-shirt at the tailgate.
Tailgate tickets are $15 each. We would love to have the 1,000 + we have had in the past!
Please contact the IBA’s Marilee Davis for more information at
800.532.1423 or 515.286.4225, or e-mail mdavis@iowabankers.com.
2009 Scenes of Iowa Photo Contest
Towa bankers and their families are invited to submit photos to be included in the 2009 Scenes of Iowa customized calendar. For fifteen years the Iowa Bankers Association has developed this calendar, which is then offered for sale to Iowa bankers. This is a great way for amateur photographers to have their work displayed in homes and banks around the state!
Use your imagination and creativity! Send us your photos of all of the things that make Iowa great! From summer festivals and county fairs to fall harvests and winter wonderlands, we want to showcase your favorite part of Iowa.
Specifications on photo submissions as well as an entry form and additional information are available in the Extras section and online at www.iowabankers.com. The deadline for submissions is September 1, 2007. Entries may be either mailed or e-mailed to the Iowa Bankers Association. Please contact the IBA’s Cheryl Miller with questions at 800.532.1423 or e-mail cmiller@iowabankers.com.
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