I was very pleased to be at the Community Bankers Association of Illinois Annual Meeting in Memphis last week where they presented the first "Certified Winning Commmunities" award to Tremont, Illinois. Accepting were Jim Shafer of The First National Bank in Tremont and Rick Jameson of Tremont Savings Bank. These two along with Tremont Savings Bank VP, Kendall Stewart, led the community in developing a Vision and Action Plan.

Twenty organizations were co-sponsors and over 250 people attended public meetings and provided their thoughts about how the future of Tremont should be. They developed 37 measurable objectives in 6 goal areas. The reason they recieved the reward is they are accomplishing many of the things they said the will do!

I will be speaking to the Heart of Illinois Mayors meeting and will present an award to the Mayor, Todd Bong, on Thursday. He will display it proudly in the Village Hall. This excellent community understands leadership and working together. Those are the keys to moving forward.

If you want to hear more about the Certification program, pleae contact me. You can provide that spark that will ignite your city, town, village or county!