Chapter Success Stories 1999-00
Women bankers represent a valuable, untapped pool of RMA members and chapter leaders. The goal of the RMA Women in Banking Task Force is to help chapters realize this source is out there—and how to capitalize on it to increase membership and awareness of RMA and identify future chapter leaders.
Although several local chapters have begun offering programming for women bankers in the past year or so, there has been no overall effort to target this audience—until now. Within the past year, a Women in Banking Task Force has begun to identify these potential members and leaders, with much success.
"We established this Task Force in 1998 because National and several chapters saw a need for more involvement by women," says Kathy King, VP, Provident Bank of Maryland in Baltimore, and a Task Force member. "We also wanted to find out what kind of representation women had at the local level, on committees and as Associates."
The Task Force is led by volunteer chapter leaders, including King; Peggy Tidwell, AVP, Huntington National Bank, Columbus, Ohio; Nancy Lewis, VP, Colonial Bank, Montgomery, Ala.; Valerie Crane, former EVP, Bank of America, San Francisco; Susan Saxer, SVP, Mellon Bank, Philadelphia; and Moira Barr, Canadian Imperial Bank of Commerce, Vancouver, British Columbia. Last year, the group conducted a survey of female RMA Associates to determine how RMA could better serve this constituency. The survey revealed that, as an organization, RMA had many opportunities to increase membership and function attendance by targeting women bankers. Major points of the survey follow:
- RMA’s networking opportunities provide the greatest value to respondents.
- More than 80% of respondents are interested in networking with and attending programs specifically for women.
- Nearly 40% of the women surveyed do not participate in chapter activities.
- More than half of the 60% who do participate in chapter activities were encouraged by their managers.
- Almost 44% would be willing to commit 1-2 hours a week to a volunteer professional organization.
"We wanted new ideas, a fresh perspective to RMA programming," says King, "and we felt that the Task Force could help us identify some of those ideas, and encourage women to take the lead in executing those ideas."
Goals and Accomplishments of the Task Force
The long-term goal of the Task Force is to increase chapter membership and integrate Women in Banking participants into local chapters, not to set them up as a separate group. The Task Force believes women in banking will benefit from their RMA national and local relationships in several ways, including increased access to information and the opportunity to build relationships, learn marketable skills, gain valuable knowledge, and achieve personal and professional growth.
Central Ohio is one example of a chapter that is integrating women as participants with a gradual approach to its programs. The chapter’s first of three Women in Banking events was not necessarily marketed for women. Rather, the chapter invited the Chamber of Commerce president, a woman, to speak about the future of the City of Columbus. "That set the stage for targeting our women audience," says Tidwell. "Attendance was split 60-40, women."
The second event featured the vice chair of the Federal Reserve Bank of Cleveland, also a woman, who spoke about issues affecting women in the banking industry. "This was a topic with universal appeal, but it highlighted and showcased women," continues Tidwell.
The final event was a panel discussion of executive-level women, presented before a predominantly female audience. "I’d say we eased into our Women in Banking topics, which was crucial to our success," adds Tidwell. This panel was followed by six simultaneous power lunches, hosted by six senior-level women around the Columbus area.
Is the message getting across to women in banking? The Task Force believes it is, but chapters must be committed to this initiative. Selecting a board member to spearhead a Women in Banking Committee is the first step. Although the entire board must be involved in this initiative, members of the committee can come from outside the board. Task Force members and RMA National can provide tips for a Women in Banking Committee.
Benefits of Networking for Women
"Particularly for women in banking, involvement in RMA is all about networking," says Tidwell. "For me, my involvement has helped me develop contacts, both within my institution and the overall banking community. Also, I now have increased confidence in my organizational skills, which I use every day in my position."
King, a 14-year RMA member, agrees, adding that "RMA has given me a network I didn’t have before, more visibility within my organization, and fine-tuned leadership skills."
For more information on starting a Women in Banking Committee, call William Githens at bgithens@rmahq.org or 215-446-4124.