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.

Radio Talk Show Hosts

I like to listen to various radio talk shows. The hosts vary in creditability. And when someone disagrees with them, they often get down right disrespectful. Recent talk show hosts Henck and McKenna of WIBA AM are two I often listen to. When Henck is disagreed with, he is respectful and thanks you for listening and calling in or e-mailing him. On the other hand, Ms. McKenna lacks the class that Henck shows. I feel people like her that seem to represent the opposite ends of the political spectrum cause more problems than they'll ever solve. But one must be careful not to pick fights with people who buy their ink by the barrell.

Don't Be A Victim of Vishing

By now most of us have become programmed to ignore the e-mail messages we receive from foreign princes promising to send us thousands of dollars in return for doing a simple favor. These types of scams have been around for years and are a form of "phishing"; criminals trick people into handing over their bank account number, credit card info, social security number or other valuable data using malicious e-mails or Web sites pretending to belong to banks or online auction services.

But a similar, though less well-known type of scam - "vishing" - is becoming more prevalent.

Voice phISHING, also called "VoIP phishing" is the telephone equivalent to phishing. Vishing is a scam using voice over IP to gain access to a victim's personal information.

Typically, victims receive a call from a recorded voice informing them that their bank account is frozen and also provides a toll-free number to utilize to reinstate the account. When you call that number, you will be asked to verify your personal information. Once you do that, you have provided the criminals with the data they need to steal money from your bank account, or steal your identity. And in the last couple of years vishing attacks have seemed to occur most often over a holiday when the bank is closed and there is no easy way to confirm the validity of the call.

Consumers need to be wary of such calls. If you receive such a call, you should:

.... STOP. Do not respond immediately. It is always best to be cautious and slow to respond.

.... THINK about why your bank would be asking for this information. Remember, no legitimate business would request a customer to verify personal information such as PINs, bank account numbers or SSNs over the phone unless you initiated the contact with the institution using a phone number obtained from the phone book or a bank statement.

.... CALL your bank directly the next business day they are open, and call local law enforcement to report the scam.

Criminals are constantly inventing new techniques or variations on old ones to steal personal information. If you are ever in doubt about a request, immediately contact the police and your financial institution. Both are well equipped to determine the legitimacy of the request and will be happy to offer assistance.

A Day for Remembering

Here we are on the eve of another one of those days that most Americans only see as a day to play. It is too bad all cannot tour the historic battlefields along our east coast; or walk the freedom trail in Boston. Such reminders of the sacrifices so many made for our freedom! The freedom we take for granted.

God bless America! Travel safely.

Hyper-Inflation

I listened to an interview with Governor Tommy Thompson this a.m. on WIBA. During the interview he expressed concern about the unbelievable spending going on right now at the federal level. He predicts inflation levels that might surpass what we saw during the Carter administration in the late 70's - early 80's. I concur. Those who feel this massive spending was necessary to turn the economy around are likely to regret that we didn't take our lumps now and reap the benefits later. As it is, Katy bar the door in a few years, I'm afraid.

Financial Reform

The proposed financial regulatory reform offered by the Obama administration is, as might be expected, good and bad.

The good: requires greater capital requirements for the very large banks that pose systemic risk to our financial system. There are about 19 banks that fit into this category. Also good are some other aspects that put some of the same requirements on the large banks as currently being enforced on smaller banks.

The bad: Creation of new agencies which will do exactly what current agencies should be doing. Why not clean out the management of those existing agencies and require them to do what they should have been doing all along?

Wisconsin Budget

I get the feeling that when all is said and done, the actions of our federal, state and local governments as relates to the current economic environment will take years and years to undo.

Brewers Still In First!

I have high hopes for our Brewers this year. I still think they will pick up another starting pitcher before the end of July. Jake Peavey in San Diego must be high on their list.

Occasionally I have extra Brewer tickets. So if you have an interest, let me know. Good seats - four of them and parking.

Government Is Too Involved

I am somewhat disturbed by an attitude that seems to be gaining acceptance in our American culture. Throughout most of my life it seems good things have happened because the citizens of this great country get involved and make them happen. But it seems more and more people feel things will happen only if the government somehow makes them happen. In my opinion, this will lead to mediocrity rather than excellence.

Too much government, in my opinion.

Remember

This is the weekend we all should pause and thank God for all the heroes in years past who have made it possible for us to live here in the greatest country in the world! As bankers we often see businesses owned by second and third generation family members fail. Why? In my opinion, these second and third generation members have no idea of the sweat and sacrifice made by their fathers, mothers and grandparents to make the business succeed. They lose sight of what it really takes.

I pray Americans are not like these second and third generation business people.

Honesty

Business people come in all sizes, shapes and colors! It is especially rewarding to have as associates people who can be open and honest with you. Sometimes we can get defensive, and even hurt, by honest expressions of opinion and advice. But, in the long run, people who are honest with you are the best people to be associated with. And they don't mean to offend or hurt you.

What A Beauty!

As I look out my window and see people jogging; bikers biking; ducks doing whatever they do this time of year in the pond; the bright sun; predicted high temp of 75.... how can one not be awed by the power of nature on our moods!

Annual Meeting

Last night was our 9th annual shareholders' meeting. It is held each year in the Promega Building in the Fitchburg Research Park. If you have not driven down East Cheryl Drive recently, you should. And go from Fish Hatch all the way to Syene Road. You'll not only see a couple new buildings with retail shops along the drive, but you'll also see the wonderful expansion that has taken place at HospiceCare.

Each Day Gets Better

Most of you know I had knee surgery after a fall on the ice in January. Yesterday was a great day for me in that I was able to ride my bike about a mile - albeit a slow ride around the circle at the housing complex where we live. But nevertheless, a big step in my rehab. So many times we take our health for granted, don't we?

Book Recommendation

I am currently reading "Caught in the Middle." It is a book about how the economy of the Midwest is changing. It is kind of a depressing book as the author doesn't hold out much hope for our smaller communities, especially those more than 50 miles away from a Madison, Chicago or DesMoines. It does hold out Madison as being an economy that has adjusted from relying primarily on manufacturing and agriculture to biotech, research, etc. The book argues that the Madisons of the Midwest will survive and prosper. But it doesn't offer much hope for those communities are not bedroom communities of prospering cities.

Worth a read.

Another Yuk!

Yuk! Weather is ugly today but you got to admit... we always have something to look forward to... nice weather!

Interesting article in the Wi St Journal this a.m. on the effort by Good Times owner Chris Peterson to create a reality show. Check it out and stay tuned.