Winter

This is the first winter I have had thoughts about escaping the snow and ice for warmer climes. Maybe it is because I am unable to get to my cabin and enjoy the snow rather than trying to drive in it.

Wow! This Is A Big One

Memories of growing up in the Upper Peninsula of Michigan were reignited when I got up this a.m. And my black lab sure had a problem finding a "bare" spot to do her "business!"

It is now 8:34 a.m. and three of us have arrived at the Bank. We are encouraging people to be smart and not venture out unless you are confident you won't have a travel problem.

Aloha

I'm just back from a great time in Maui, Hawaii! We were so proud of our basketball Badgers (men) as they took 3rd place in the Maui Tourney. There were 8 teams involved and we only lost to the eventual champion.

Now we wait for the "big" snow storm. What a great country we live in where one basks in 85 degrees one day and then returns to temps in 20's and snow!

Gotta love it!

Aloha II

Ooops. I'm gone for a few days to Maui for UW Men's basketball tourney and some whale watching, I hope.

Happy Thanksgiving .... and God bless America.

Aloha!

Changes in Green Bay

As a shareholder in the Green Bay Packers, I am disappointed in my investment return so far this year. The best asset I see there is Aaron Rodgers and if he doesn't start getting some protection, he won't be an asset much longer. I have tried to defend Ted Thompson, the general manager, but I am beginning to believe a change is needed.

Big Weekend

If you are a football fan, this weekend is special! First of all, you have Purdue coming to town to take on the Badgers. Purdue has won 2 games in a row; Wisconsin has lost 2 in a row. Then on Sunday at 3:15, the Packers take on the Vikings. Should be entertaining.

Welcome Back, Brent.

Well, the big game is forthcoming. Packers/Vikings next Sunday. Brent's return. Hopefully, not a triumphant one. However you weigh in on this, I think it would be classy of Packer fans to give him a nice ovation if possible. Since they don't introduce visiting players anymore, but do it as a team, he won't be introduced individually. But based on the "boos" I heard when he was featured on the jumbotron at Lambeau recently, I doubt if the classy fans will be heard.

Hope I'm wrong.

Blog

I was wondering whether to keep my blog. So I asked our iBank manager to see how many click throughs occur to my blog. And lo and behold, the number was greater than I expected. So I guess I'll keep posting to it for a while anyway.

If anyone knows of a real good source with an objective analysis of the healthcare bill recently passed by the Senate subcommittee, please e-mail it to me at rgorsuch@oakbankonline.com.

Brent Favre

I have a nice painting of Brent Favre on my office wall that is for sale.

Minnesota

I'm kind of glad I don't live along the Wisconsin - Minnesota border. Sure, it would be fine if UW and Green Bay both win this weekend. Worse case scenario? A sweep by UM and Vikings! By the way, those who have been in my office know I have a Brent Favre painting hanging on one of the walls. I have the painting up for sale and I think I have a buyer.

Go Badgers and Packers!

Federal Deposit Insurance

I was watching an early morning news show on TV this morning. A law professor was being interviewed and being asked questions relative to the FDIC insurance fund. There were a few times when the newsman referred to the fund as the "bailout fund." He also mentioned the funds were taxpayer funds. All the money in the fund is generated by assessments levied on the insured banks. None of the money is taxpayer money.

With that being said, the fund does need to be shored up. In no way is any depositor's money at risk. But banks will be asked to ante up funds to build the reserve back to appropriate levels. There have been about 100 bank failures which have caused the fund outflow to exceed the inflow.

Remember, all checking accounts and any other account where the interest yield is less than 1/2% has unlimited insurance protection. For accounts paying over 1/2% the limit is $250,000 per account. But the definition of an account is not as clear as we'd like. So if you have over $250,000 on deposit and you are in doubt, have your personal banker explain to you exactly what your coverage level is.

On Vacation

I'm on vacation. Will catch up on some things around the house and visit the north country.

Health Care Reform

I agree there is a need for reform in some aspects of our healthcare system. But I just hope we don't rely on the federal government to run it. Let the free enterprise system function! Again, I do believe some reform is needed.

Bike Ride

Wow, what a bike ride in Vermont last Saturday. Hurricane Danny and the weather front moving in from the Midwest merged early Saturday a.m. in Vermont. The 100 mile ride begain with 30 mph winds; driving rain and bad roads. Rained all day. Soaked we were 7 hours later.

But what a beautiful state! Perhaps the most beautiful I have seen.

On Vacation

I'm off to Boston in the a.m. and then to Vermont next week for my annual ride (100 miles) for Juvenile Diabetes Research. I greatly appreciate all the donations to JDRF for my ride.

See you in Sept.

Town Hall Meetings

If given the opportunity to attend a town hall meeting on the much-talked-about health care proposal from Washington, will you? Hopefully you will, if given that opp. I'm still wondering who has really read the proposal; who understands it; and who can we trust?

Jets for Congress

Can you believe Congress has approved $550 million for new jets to transport them and other government officials around? And these were the same people criticizing corporate execs for using private aircraft. Wow!

Healthcare

Does anyone really understand the proposed federal healthcare overhaul? Has anyone read the detail? Who do we believe in this debate?

What We Are Seeing

For the first 8 years of our bank's life, we had no delinquent home mortgage loans. Now we have a few and even one foreclosure! But these concerns pale in comparison to other parts of the country. But I do sense we are at or near the bottom of this recession. I only hope some horrific event does not set us back.