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Chairman's Letter - March 2018

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March was named after Mars, the Roman god of war and an ancestor of the Roman people through his sons Romulus and Remus. March is the first month of spring in the Northern Hemisphere. March is widely thought of as the month when the earth becomes dry enough so that it is possible to cultivate in many cultures. In American culture, March Madness - my personal favorite time of the sports year - is a prominent theme! March is another busy month for the NIBA. Traditionally it is the time we reach out to all our sponsors and supporters with a special thank you. Without the support of our FCM, Exchange and Service Provider members, we could not present our in-person membership meetings. These members provide speakers and expertise for panel discussions, financial assistance and even actual meeting space. If you want more information on becoming a NIBA Service Provider member, contact me or NIBA Service Provider Membership Chairman, Steve Petillo, spetillo@straitsfinancial.com. CFTC Chairman Chris Giancarlo testified before the U.S. House Appropriations Subcommittee on Agriculture, Rural Development, Food and Drug Administration, on March 7 regarding the Commission’s 2019 budget request. The requested amount for 2019 is the same as it was in 2018, $281.5 million dollars. CFTC is also requesting authority to hire about 50 more employees. That would make a total of 750 people working at the CFTC. We’ll follow this and update you on the Congressional hearing. Registration is open for “Protecting America’s Agricultural Markets: An Agricultural Commodity Futures Conference,” a joint event with Kansas State University. It will be held April 5-6 in Overland Park, KS and include discussions on macro-economic trends and issues affecting American agricultural markets. Registration is also open for NIBA’s Annual NYC Symposium, taking place at the New York Athletic Club on April 19. For more information on the program, contact NYC Symposium Chairman, Howard Rennell, hrennell@e-windham.com. So, between rooting for your favorite team to make it to the Final Four and registering for two great education and networking opportunities, take a look at NIBA’s Service Provider Directory. Whether you need ethics training, an accountant or attorney, contact a NIBA Service Provider Member. Best, Melinda Melinda Schramm, Founder & Chairman melinda@futuresrep.com

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