The 2015 ICBA Washington Policy Summit was held the last week of April in DC, and it was my first time attending the event. With our North Dakota contingent of 21, it was a great opportunity to network with nearly 1,000 other community bankers and industry advocates from around the country. Congressional leaders, including Senator Richard Shelby, Chairman of the Senate Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs, and regulatory agency heads provided informative and timely presentations as well. As always, the ICBA did a fabulous job hosting the event and ensuring that attendees were prepared with the appropriate messaging and materials. I felt a sense of cautious optimism during the event that maybe, just maybe, independent community bankers might get some regulatory relief in this 114th Congress. I want to thank those of you who attended this year and I’m already looking forward to next year’s summit. I hope you as bank members consider attending or having someone from your bank attend to once again advocate exclusively for independent community banks.