Dear NIBA Members - 2013 is going to be busy!
Last month’s tri-sponsored get-together in Southern California was a terrific success. Fifty-five industry professionals - many at their first-ever NIBA event, gathered in Newport Beach, CA, on January 24. Along with our partners, the CME Group and the NFA, the NIBA plans to make this meeting an annual event.
We are in the midst of our membership campaign, and have already welcomed 18 Vendor Sponsors to the Association this year. We have great FCM and exchange support too, and will have an updated listing next month.
NIBA is proud to announce that members now have access to Great Lakes Credit Union, and to health insurance and human resources administration through Viaquest. These two member benefits can make a real difference in your office’s bottom line.
The NFA has announced three new members to its Board of Directors - all NIBA Members. Jeff Malec, IIB, and John Roe and James Koutoulas both in the CTA/CPO category will attend their first NFA board meeting in late February. Paul Georgy continues as the GIB representative. Jeff takes John Vassallo’s place on the board. John has served for 10 years as an IB representative, traveling to Chicago from his home and office in Dallas. He is a good friend to the IB community, and a good example of a successful futures professional. He’s an NIBA member, too - a former Vice-President of our Association.
The NFA and CFTC have announced new rules which will provide our customers’ funds additional protections. These rules should help us with what has been our main job for the past year - restoring customer trust and industry credibility. Good news is closer for those of us touched by the MF Global disaster as distribution of additional funds goes forward. Russ Wasendorf Sr. has been sentenced for criminal behavior and it is hoped that soon PFGBest customers and brokers will see further restoration of their funds in the coming months.
All this in January alone! Before you get too busy with February, mark your calendars now for the NIBA Spring General Membership Meeting. Scheduled for April 24, 2013, we will meet at the NYMEX Building in New York City. Attendance is complimentary as a benefit of your NIBA Membership.
If you haven’t had the time to return your 2013 NIBA Membership dues, please do it this week. When you renew, update your complimentary listing in the Online Broker Directory so that potential customers will be able to contact you directly. Renewal also makes your firm eligible for all other NIBA membership benefits - insurance, credit union and conference attendance.
Best wishes for all of 2013. See you in New York - Melinda
Melinda Schramm, Founder & Chairman
