Club Corner
When espresso doesn't do the trick, try a 'shot' of Peer Group wisdom. Heritage Clubs features a new club director every month in our Club Corner. From successes to challenges, we can all learn from one another's experiences.
Peggy LaCounte
M &J Travel Club Director
Morril & Janes Bank and Trust (Hiawatha, KS)
15 years as club director
17years at the bank
HCI: Tell us about your most memorable experience with your club?
PL: Our club was coming back from a wonderful New England trip on a United flight. We had a short window to make our connecting flight and we sat on the runway for 30 minutes so I knew we were in trouble. After we got in the air I went to one of the flight attendants and told her I had 42 people with me and we had already lost our window to make our connecting flight. About 30 minutes before we were to land the pilot came on over the loud speaker and said, “There is a young lady (I loved being referred to as young) from Kansas on our flight with 42 of her friends that need to make their connecting flight so we are going to change gates and park in the gate next to the gate they need.” My members thought I was wonderful and kept asking “How’d you do that?” As I smiled, I secretly was asking myself “How in the world did that happen?”
HCI: Can you share with us some of the challenges you face with your club?
PL: The biggest challenge for 2009 has been selling extended trips. It's not that they don’t want to travel, they are just afraid of spending those dollars that they have worked so hard for and saved. It’s a wait and see game until the economy turns around. However, the bottom line is I have a wonderful club and it is the most rewarding part of my job. When each trip is over I stand outside the bus to personally thank each and everyone for coming and the “Thank You’s and Hugs” are worth all the challenges and work it took in putting the trip together.
HCI: What words of advice do you have for new club directors?
PL: Always treat your members the way you want to be treated. One of my favorite quotes is, “At the end of the day only kindness matters!”
HCI: What do you consider to be the greatest benefit of your Heritage Clubs membership?
PL: I do not feel our club would be so successful without being a member of Heritage Clubs. I so look forward to our annual conference to renew old friendships and make new friends and get rejuvenated for the next year. I always go on the FAM and recommend everyone to go. I get so many great ideas visiting with fellow directors on a bus from one destination to the next. The annual conference is a priceless tool for running a great travel club!
HCI: Can you share with us one of your fondest Peer Group conference moments?
PL: Deadra Stanton, of Creative Communications from Mason City, Iowa, was the keynote speaker at one of the conferences and she was great! Deadra is one of the most humorous, up-beat speakers I have ever had the privilege to hear. I cannot remember the last time I laughed so hard. However, I think every conference is the best and I always have a wonderful time and can’t wait until the next year’s conference.
end of interview
Club Corner Archives:
December 2009 - Melanie Lisk (First National Bank - Fairfield, IA) Club_Corner.Melanie_Lisk_December_2009.pdf
November 2009 - Dena Floyd, Mary Franks, Jackie Larkin, Ardis Johnson (Spiritbank - Sapulpa, OK) Sprirtbank_Club_Corner_November_2009.pdf
September 2009 - Sheila Clary (Central Bank of Illinois - Geneseo, IL) Club_Corner.Sheila_Clary_September_2009.pdf
August 2009 - Larry Blake (Hills Bank and Trust Company - Hills, IA) Club_Corner.Larry_Blake_August_2009.pdf
July 2009 - Amy Bradham (The Patterson Bank - Waycross, GA) Club_Corner_Amy_Bradham_July_2009.pdf
June 2009 - Pam Shyne (Northway Bank- Berlin, NH) - Club_Corner_Pam_Shyne_June_2009.pdf
May 2009 - Patty Paul (First Citizens National Bank-Mason City, IA) Club_Corner.Patty_Paul.May_2009.pdf
April 2009 - Donna Jackson (Umpqua Bank - Roseville, CA) Club_Corner.Donna_Jackson.April2009.pdf
March 2009- There was no Club Corner interview.
February 2009 - Ruth Rogers (First National Banking Company - Ask Flat, AR) Club_Corner.Ruth_Rogers.Feb_2009.pdf
January 2009 - Laura Kammarmeyer (First State Bank -Manchester, IA) Club_Corner._Laura_Kammarmeyer.January_2009.pdf
December 2008 - Kathy Tripp (Ohio Legacy Bank -Canton, OH) Club_Corner.Kathy_Tripp.December_2008.pdf
November 2008- Audrey Bowden and Mary Busch (Castle Bank - DeKalb, IL) Club_Corner.AudreyBowden_and_Mary_Busch.November_2008.pdf
October 2008 - Trudy Cresswell (Eastwood Bank - Rochester, MN ) Club_Corner.Trudy_Cresswell_October_2008.pdf
September 2008 - Karla Hynes (Iowa State Savings Bank - Creston, IA) Club_Corner.Karla_Hynes_September_2008.pdf
August 2008 - Joan Gibson (American Trust & Savings Bank - Dubuque, IA) Club_Corner.Joan_Gibson_August_2008.pdf
July 2008 - Kitty Nash (Home State Bank, N.A. - Crystal Lake, IL) Club_Corner.Kitty_Nash_July_2008.pdf
June 2008 - Val Kelsey (D.L. Evans Bank - Burley, ID) Club_Corner.Val_Kelsey_June08.pdf
