Message from the President: A New Year for the FCS

Dear FCS Members & Industry Colleagues:

September 1 kicked off the 2011-2012 fiscal year for the FCS, and before it's over, we will celebrate our 45th Anniversary. So we expect this to be a momentous time for the FCS, capitalizing on the momentum from a record-setting 2010-2011 year:

Over the last 12 months, we

• • Launched an FCS Chapter in Chicago
  
• • Reveled at our largest ever FCS Race for Kids ski weekend
  
• • Threw a strike with our inaugural Charity Bowling Tournament
  
• • Welcomed another sold-out crowd to our annual Financial Marketer of the Year Award luncheon
  
• • Drove our most successful Charity Golf Tournament
  
• • Toasted with a sold-out Wine Tasting event
  
• • Hosted nine lunches in New York, averaging more than 100 guests
  
• • Held three Tuesday Breakfast Club events on FinReg, Branding, and Trust
  
• • Stirred up the conversation on Digital Marketing at a Cocktails with Content Reception
  
• • Welcomed CNBC's Maria Bartiromo and FT's Gillian Tett's as their respective book signings
  
• • Got all revved up at our sold out 17th Annual Portfolio Awards
  
• • Re-launched our web site
  
• • Unveiled a new logo
  

Largest ever and Sold-out are labels that make us proud, but they only tell half the story. These events are the Best Ever. Thank you for supporting them and sponsoring them. Because of your participation and generosity, our 2011 donation of $150,000 to our three children's charities — Hope & Heroes Children's Cancer Fund, Make-A-Wish, and Downey Side Adoption Agency — puts us over the $1.5 million mark for the past 12 years.

That's the kind of momentum that propels the FCS forward as we truly make a difference with our mission of Community, Education and Philanthropy. There's a lot more in store for this year, and we invite you to get involved. Committees are now forming for major events and activities – please join us for the camaraderie, the networking, and the satisfying fun for being a volunteer behind a worthy organization.

We're proud to announce 3 new additions to our Board of Directors:

• • Chris Bacon, Morgan Stanley
  
• • RuthAnne Dreisbach, Dreisbach Design
  
• • And Gordy Abel, who will join JP Morgan Chase later this month.
  

KEY UPCOMING EVENTS

FCS Race for Kids, Jan. 5-8, 2012

I hope to see many of you at our 13th annual ski weekend at the Stowe Mountain Resort in Vermont. Last year, more than 340 guests enjoyed the revelry and the camaraderie of this now legendary event. Our "Summit in the Snow" again featured two days of "Fireside Forums," featuring panel discussions with industry leaders on the current state of affairs in financial services branding and media. The Race for Kids weekend is the primary fundraiser behind our annual support of our children's charities. And this year, with many families in Vermont suffering devastation by Hurricane Irene, our efforts – and your support – will be especially meaningful.

Nominations for FCS Financial Marketer of the Year Award

Also in January of next year, we'll bestow our 6th Annual Award to the Financial Marketer of 2011. But that celebration begins with the nomination process that will open in the next few weeks. Look to our web site and a special email blast for details. Is this year for your company, or your client, to win?

September Luncheon

Speaking of Financial Marketers of the Year, the winner from 2009, Jim Speros, CMO of Fidelity Investments, will be our featured luncheon speaker on September 21st at the New York Yacht Club. Reserve your tickets now on our web site. For sponsorship opportunities, please contact me directly.

The FCS remains committed to hosting valuable and topical events throughout the year, to help our members expand both their network of personal contacts and their wealth of professional knowledge… while helping us provide meaningful donations to our charities.

Thank you for your continued involvement and support.

Kevin Windorf

President

Financial Communications Society

kevin@fcsinteractive.com

www.fcsprez.blogspot.com

Twitter: @FCS_Prez

212-413-6044