Category Archives: VCNB Family

A Presidential Portrait: Remembering Aaron Will

Posted on by
1

a-will-jrIn honor of our 150th anniversary in 2017 we are taking a look back at bank history and the people who have helped to shape our bank into the successful, secure institution that it is today. Read on to learn about one of our former presidents!

Aaron Will Jr. served as the second president of Vinton County National Bank, taking the reigns after the death of his uncle Daniel in 1924. While Aaron’s leadership of the bank lasted just fourteen years, his legacy is extraordinary.

Aaron Will ushered in a period of rebirth and progress, while strengthening his bank’s reputation as one of the most secure in the state. He boldly tore down the original bank building, replacing it with a beautiful new brick and marble building meant to impress the customer and to stand out in downtown McArthur. He launched the first organized marketing campaign for the bank, aggressively and consistently informing the public of the strength of his bank, the experience of his employees and the variety of the products offered.

Aaron is also remembered for hiring the bank’s first female employee, years before many of his competitors made room for women in banking. Perhaps most importantly, he navigated the bank safely through the Great Depression, exiting the Depression years stronger and more effective than ever.

Born in McArthur on May 22, 1872, Aaron was the son of Jacob S. and Rebecca Davis Will. He graduated from McArthur High School at the age of eighteen in 1890 and soon began working for the bank. Aaron was elected cashier of the bank the following year and worked as a banker for the next 48 years.

Aaron was one of the organizers of the McArthur Brick Company and was chairman of its first meeting in 1905. He was elected Treasurer and Director of this company, serving in this capacity until his death.

He is said to have taken much interest in civic affairs, supporting anything that would better the community. He was a founding member of the McArthur Rotary Club, belonged to the McArthur Episcopal Church and belonged to the Knights of Pythias. He was selected as alternate delegate to the Republican National Convention in 1928 and Delegate in 1932 but was unable to attend because of ill health. He was again selected alternate in 1936.

Aaron died of Chronic Myocarditis on Apr. 13, 1938 at the age of 65. He left behind his wife Mary B. Will and children Mary Will Pilcher, Jean Will and Robert B. Will. His son Robert and grandson Bob Will would later follow in his footsteps to lead the bank.

Aaron’s impact continues to be felt in our 150th year as we continue to strive for the same strength and stability that Aaron insisted on throughout his career.

Learn more about our 150th year here or about our founding president here.

Remembering Our Founder

Posted on by
1

dan-will-portraitVinton County National Bank founder Daniel Will is remembered for building the bank and presiding over the institution for more than one-third of the bank’s history. He was a colorful character and a self-made man who spent a lifetime pursuing his own version of the American Dream.

Born in Hocking County, Ohio in 1832, Daniel Will came from a family of ten children. He did not come from a wealthy background. Instead, he is said to have started life with no capital, but an abundance of energy and industry. His formal education was confined to the “Three R’s” which allowed him to educate himself through observation and reading. He soon proved himself to be skilled in the areas of business and finance, expertise that proved useful in his early career owning general stores in Zaleski and McArthur.

daniel-will-2In 1850, he assisted in driving stock to Harrisburg, Pennsylvania for an $11 monthly salary. He returned home just as he went to Pennsylvania – on foot – and taught a term of school that fall. By spring 1851, Daniel was employed as a clerk in his uncle Joseph K. Will’s store in McArthur. He remained with his uncle for three years, earning an annual salary of $125. He then entered a partnership with his uncle, remaining in this position until 1858. At that time, he withdrew from the partnership with his uncle and opened a store in the neighboring town of Zaleski. He soon took on another partner, his father Jacob G. Will.

Daniel eventually opened a general store in McArthur, operating not on credit like his competitors but on a cash system that allowed him to buy at large discounts and then sell lower than the general market price. Before long, he was selling more merchandise than the other three stores in town combined.

His brothers Jacob and Aaron began to clerk for him and became his partners in 1865. Two years later, he established the bank of Will, Brown and Company. When this bank consolidated with Vinton County Bank on September 1, 1868, Daniel was chosen to lead the new Vinton County Bank as president.

Daniel Will was a banker for 57 years, making it difficult to separate his life story from the story of the bank. He never married, devoting himself instead to business and community. He served the bank until his death in 1924 when he died at the bank at the age of 92.

Upon his death, he was memorialized by local newspapers including The McArthur Democrat Enquirer which remembered him as “the oldest and best known banker in the state, if not in the United States.”

Daniel is said to have had many interests outside of banking. He was the owner of the Will Hotel and of 1,600 acres of land in Vinton County as well as other real estate in McArthur. He was not a politician but, by all accounts, labored for the advancement and general welfare of his community.

Throughout his distinguished career, Daniel established a reputation for being steady and conservative in every way. Vinton County Historian Lew Ogan wrote, “Daniel Will informed my father once upon a time that he felt he was doing a favor to his friends and fellow citizens when he established a bank for their convenience so they could conserve their life earnings for a profit. This he did as his bank was known far and wide, a reputation, if you please, as a safe institution. When the hard times came in 1893 and 1894, Mr. Will was prepared to meet the situation.”

Daniel Will started life with few resources other than his own wits and a strong work ethic. He proved that hard work and determination could take a young man places in nineteenth century America and he set out to use his businesses to help his neighbors achieve their own dreams. Daniel Will today is remembered mostly by a framed portrait in our first bank in McArthur but he set into motion a business and a small-town banking mentality that can still be felt today.

VCNB Celebrates 150 Years

Posted on by
1
McArthur2.jpg

VCNB began life in McArthur, Ohio as Vinton County National Bank. We have been in the same location for 150 years, except for a few months when we moved out to construct a new building in 1925. Today, the VCNB Financial Family has grown to be far larger than our founder Daniel Will probably ever imagined possible.

In 1867, a bank was founded to serve the citizens of Vinton County, providing a safe place to keep deposits and a reliable source for borrowing money. Today that bank is preparing to celebrate a milestone anniversary. Vinton County National Bank is 150 years old!

There aren’t a lot of businesses in this nation that can boast such a long and storied history. We have survived twenty-eight Presidents, recessions and depressions, war and peace. We were here for the construction of the Statue of Liberty, the rise of the automobile and the fall of the Berlin Wall. We are known for being early adopters of technology from the Xerox copier and the earliest computers to the most advanced technology the 21st century offers the world of banking.

Through it all we have worked to be good neighbors, to be a responsible corporate citizen and to always remember where we came from. This year, we’re also going to have some fun while we celebrate our 150th anniversary all year long!

While we haven’t been in some of our communities for 150 years, we want all of our offices to join in the fun by having an anniversary event in 2017. We also will be offering special promotions throughout the year.

Our biggest event though will be at our first office in McArthur. We will partner with the Vinton County Athletic Boosters to help with their 4th of July Celebration. We are still working on the details but we will be bringing a great entry to the parade, will host an open house at the bank, will sponsor entertainment for the festival and host a fun day with the Ohio Village Muffins. If you haven’t heard of the Muffins, check them out here.

They play baseball with mid-nineteenth century rules, uniforms and equipment. We’ll have them here to play baseball and softball games against our bankers and other community members. That day will feature some other nineteenth century fun including old fashioned games for the kids, food, music and more.

To say that we are excited would be an understatement. We are elated for the opportunity to celebrate our anniversary.

Incidentally, our bank building in McArthur was constructed in 1925 and dedicated with an open house on Saturday, July 4, 1925. Our open house to commemorate the 150th will be held on Saturday, July 1, 2017. We promise we didn’t plan it that way but we do think it’s a neat coincidence!

We will have a lot more details about our celebration in McArthur to release in the coming weeks and months. The celebration will begin with the parade on Friday, June 30 and will continue throughout the weekend. We hope you will mark your calendar and come for all the festivities.

We also are working on the events all our other offices are hosting or participating in this year. We will post details here and on Facebook as information becomes available. We also have a page on our website where you can learn about upcoming events, current specials and the bank. Be sure to bookmark the page and check back for new information!

You can also subscribe to this blog so that our stories are delivered straight to your inbox or follow us on Facebook where we have contests, vintage photos and other great content. Have an old photo or story about VCNB you would like to share? Tell us about it in the comments section!

A Chapter From Our Past

Posted on by
Reply

The following biographical sketch appears in the book “History of the Hocking Valley,” published by Inter-State Publishing Company of Chicago in 1883. It details the life of Captain J.W. Delay, a Civil War hero and first Cashier of the Vinton County National Bank. The book provides a wealth of information about cities, townships and villages, educational, religious, civil, military and political history and portraits of prominent people in the Hocking Valley. We hope you enjoy reading it as much as we did.

Captain (Major) J. W. Delay      

First Cashier of the Vinton County National Bank

Captain J. W. Delay, Cashier of the Vinton County National Bank is the son of Ambrose Delay and a a grandson of Rev. Jacob Delay.  The latter was born in Greenbrier County, Virginia, July 18, 1780, and died in Jackson County, Ohio, October 13, 1845.  Ambrose’s wife was Mary Crouch who survived him until December 24, 1854, when she died at Berlin Crossroads, Jackson County, Ohio.

Jacob Delay was extensively known throughout Southern Ohio as one of the pioneer Methodist ministers, and was remarkable for his great decision of character as well as forcible and positive manner of preaching the gospel.  Although he was a native of Virginia, he was of English extraction and became an early settler in Jackson County, Ohio.

Jacob was the father of eleven sons and one daughter, five sons still living.  Ambrose was the seventh and was born in Pickaway County, Ohio in 1810.  Ambrose died in Jackson County, Ohio (Berlin Crossroads) on April 1, 1864.

Ambrose’s wife, Rebecca S. Whitman was born in Greenbrier County, Virginia in 1811.  Rebecca died in Union County Iowa in 1881.  Their family consisted of six sons and four daughters, three sons and one daughter still living.

J.W. Delay is the oldest and was born in Jackson County on January 10, 1839. As his father was a farmer J. W. devoted his summers to the farm and his winters to school. At the age of seventeen years he entered the Ohio University, where he spent two years at which time he was tendered a clerkship in a store and accepted.  Two years later he was engaged at the Latrobe Furnace as a bookkeeper.  In that capacity he served until July, 1861, when enlisted in the United States Army.  On August 10, 1861, he was enrolled in Company K, Thirty-sixth Ohio Infantry, muster and appointed First Sergeant.  June 6, 1862, he was promoted to Second Lieutenant and First Lieutenant on January 16, 1863.

About this time he was placed on detached service on staff duty in the subsistence department, in which capacity he serviced during the war.  He was commissioned on October 24, 1864 by the President of the United States (Abraham Lincoln) as Captain of the United States Volunteers.  Also he was brevetted Major on July 10, 1865, just four years from date of first enlistment.

He participated in the battles of Lewisburg, Virginia, within five miles of the settlement of his grand parents on both sides.  He also fought in the second battle of Bull Run, Virginia and South Mountain in 1862.  During the following winter his regiment was in General Rosecrans’s campaign from Murfreesboro, participating in the battles of Chickamauga, Mission Ride, and many incidental fights of that campaign.

In the winter of 1863 – 64, he returned east and participated in the campaign of Generals Crooks and Hunter In West Virginia; subsequently in all the battles of the Shenandoah Valley under General Phillip Sheridan (Somerset, Ohio), serving until the war was ended.

Upon his return home in July, 1865, he entered the firm of H. F. Austin & Co. at Buckeye Furnace, Jackson County, Ohio.  J. W. Delay was engaged in the manufacturing of pig-iron, where he remained until October, 1866.  After that together with Mr. Austin and others, J. W. came to McArthur and organized the Vinton County Bank.  He did not move his family to McArthur until January, 1867.

When the bank was organized he was elected Cashier, and continued by re-elections to hold the same position until the consolidation with Will, Brown, & Co. in 1868.  The Bank became a “National” bank on October 1, 1872.  The name was changed to the Vinton County National Bank of McArthur with J. W. Delay remaining as Cashier and Daniel Will as President.

During the late war April 11, 1864, he married to Miss Samilda J. Buck.  They have for sons and three daughters, all living.

 

 

Pursuing a Dramatic Passion

Posted on by
Reply

This slideshow requires JavaScript.

It’s Volunteer Appreciation Week! This is a time to recognize those volunteers who keep the non-profit organizations, churches and civic groups humming across the nation every day. At VCNB we encourage our employees to embrace volunteer projects that they think are important or that they find engaging. While we have a lot of great volunteers in our ranks, there’s one in particular who goes far above and beyond, giving hundreds of hours each year to a project she considers a true labor of love.

Longtime Friendly Bremen Banking Center employee Dee Conrad has spent more than ten years volunteering with the Lancaster High School Drama Department, starting when her middle son became involved with the productions. Her official title is Costume Mistress for major productions at LHS but when she describes her work, she clearly does much, much more than the job title suggests.

Lord Farquaad - Shrek the Musical

Lord Farquaad – Shrek The Musical

The Drama Department puts on two major shows every year: a fall play and a spring musical. Each production requires countless hours of research, searching through the costume storage, Goodwill, Salvation Army, eBay or people’s attics and basements to then manipulate or alter a costume piece or sew something from scratch to make each costume just right for the role and the time period. Dee explained, “We are responsible for every little thing each person needs from the top of their head to the bottom of their feet. That may mean a hat, eyeglasses, jewelry and, of course, the correct shoes in addition to the clothes they wear.”

But first she works with the Director on the production they will do and is involved in the audition process where a committee gives their input to the Director who ultimately decides who gets the roles in the play that may involve anywhere from twenty-five to fifty young people. Each cast member could require as many as five to ten costumes per show. Sometimes the shows are double-cast which allows the less seasoned actors to have a major role for the Thursday night show and also act as understudy for the more senior actors who perform on Friday and Saturday nights. Because these two actors may not be of the same height and build, two separate sets of costumes may be needed.
Once the cast is set, then the real work begins. Along with the help of another long-time volunteer who is the Art/Prop Mistress, each student is measured and their pictures taken. If the show takes place in a time period within the last 100 years, many of the current clothes in stock can be manipulated to fit. If the show is a “fanciful” show like last year’s “Shrek, The Musical” or this year’s “Monty Python’s Spamalot”, Dee takes as many modern pieces as possible and transforms them into period costumes. “For ‘Xanadu’ a few years ago, I used a bridesmaid dress and turned it into the costume of a Greek Goddess. Sometimes it isn’t the actual clothing but the logistics of a show that make it difficult. In “Drowsy Chaperone’, my leading lady had to appear to change into seven different outfits while singing and dancing, all in one musical number. There were many hours of thought and discussion with the Director and Choreographer about how she could accomplish this feat. I was able to finagle and maneuver each piece of clothing just right for her to get this done,” she said.

Donkey (Dakota) & Fiona (Grace)

Donkey and Fiona – Shrek the Musical

Sometimes Dee even sews a costume from scratch, often without a pattern but perhaps working from a picture. She cited one example where a small girl needed a “Madeleine” costume. Working off pictures of this famous literary character, Dee was able to create the collared dress, cape and hat.

Along with research on the right look for a period costume, she may need to learn about period accessories, how to distress a specific type of fabric to make a costume look old or dirty or how to clean and style a wig. Then there is the endless fitting, fixing and adjusting to make each costume look and stay correct. “I assist the actors with their hair and stage make-up, plus I try to look at the actors before they go on stage. Some of the changes the actors must do are so quick that another set of eyes to make sure a collar is down, a shirt is tucked in, a hat is on straight, etc., help to make the production go smoothly.”

The list of responsibilities and the work required for each production seems to be a mile long but Dee takes it all in stride when she says, “It does require a lot of creativity, thought, planning and work. But it always gets done somehow and the results are always spectacular! Our philosophy is that we don’t put on what people might think of as ‘high school’ productions. We do professional work that anyone would pay to see. We strive for excellence in everything we do, from the acting and dancing, to the sets, costumes, lighting and sound quality. Each of our young performers work extremely hard and put in hundreds of hours of their time to memorize their script, learn their blocking, sometimes learn a different accent, perfect their dance moves, etc. I applaud each one!”

Being Costume Mistress is clearly a labor of love for Dee but her efforts don’t stop with clothing and accessorizing the drama students. “I love these kids! I love working with them, seeing them grow from nervous Freshman to confident Seniors! We are family! I do try to be a positive adult role model for them. I try to encourage, teach, laugh and cry with them. I really enjoy seeing them grow and move on to whatever college or career choice they make,” she explained.

She mentioned that this family is looking for a new member as the Drama Department is seeking someone to build sets for future productions. The gentleman who has built spectacular sets for the group for many years is retiring from that position, providing an opportunity for someone else to become involved in the group.

Dee, who was a Theater major at the University of Hawaii, said that she has always loved the theater. She was also good in math at school, so when she needed a job when she moved to Lancaster, she landed a position in banking and has never left. Starting as a bank teller about 38 years ago, she has been with our VCNB family for nearly 18. Dee works as a Retail Banker in our office at W. Fair Ave. in Lancaster. “God puts you where He wants you. I’m a firm believer in that and I believe that I’m here for a reason,” she explained.

She credits her husband Steve for supporting her involvement with Drama all these years. He is also involved with LHS as Asst. Varsity Soccer coach as well as the official photographer for the drama productions. She said, “I’m very grateful to my husband for putting up with so much! A lot of things don’t get done at home when I am in the thick of a show. This time we had a stuffed cow on the dining room table for a few weeks and sequins tracked all over the house. The other day I apologized for all this and he said ‘I just love watching you do the things you love’. And I really appreciate him for that!”

The couple have three sons: Dan and John who both live in Austin, TX and Mike (along with his wife, Mayela) who is stationed with the Air Force in Tucson, AZ. Mike and Mayela are still involved in Community Theater there in AZ. Dee is also a member of Calvary Baptist Church in Lancaster as a Sunday School teacher and in the church choir.

“I really do love working with the kids! They’re a lot of fun and keep me younger!”

We thank Dee for being such a spectacular influence on young people at Lancaster High School and congratulate her for finding a passion that she so clearly loves. We believe the drama students at LHS are very lucky to have her. Great job Dee!

Twin Oak Forest Products Finds Balance Between Domestic and International Sales

Posted on by
Reply

This slideshow requires JavaScript.

 

The following appeared in the 2015 annual report for VCNB’s parent company Community Bancshares, Inc.(CBI). We thought our blog readers would enjoy learning about this homegrown local business.

When Randy and Polly Young started Young’s Logging, their daughter Marcie was just three and son Hunter was only six months old. That was in 1980 and the business, like their kids, is all grown up.

Today they operate as Twin Oak Forest Products. Since recently consolidating locations to one large, scenic spot on Pumpkin Ridge in Vinton County, they seem to have hit their stride.

Twin Oak is a multifaceted operation that offers an impressive variety of products appealing to a retail customer and to commercial buyers who come from across the region and even across the world to take advantage of their superior products and services.

VCNB visited with the family on a snowy February day and learned the story of how the business came to be what it is today. Randy, who has a degree in Forestry from Hocking College, explained that he began his career working as a log buyer for other companies. “In 1980, I opened my business because I had reached my peak with the company I was with at the time,” Randy noted.

Polly added that they bought their first dozer at 24% interest and set out hoping to do well enough they could make the payments. Fast forward 14 years and the company had not only survived, they were growing. In 1994, the company began sawmilling and was able to  expand their product line.

Today the company employs seventeen people including Polly, who does the bookkeeping, and Hunter who is very much following in his father’s footsteps. “He and Marcie used to ride in the log truck with me,” Randy laughed as the pair reminisced about their children and the business. “Hunter worked every summer from the time he was fourteen,” Polly said. “He went to school for Forestry and graduated in 2000.”

On the logging side of the business, Twin Oak exports logs to countries across the globe including Malaysia, Indonesia, Spain and beyond. “We work with a broker on some and do some of the deals ourselves,” Randy said. “There’s a German customer here today and Japanese customers coming in.”

When asked if cultural differences cause challenges in international business, Randy explained that it hasn’t made a difference. “We’ve worked with them long enough, we know what they want so it hasn’t been a problem,” he added.

On the lumber side of business, they sell a lot domestically and continue to grow in that area. This lumber can have many uses but is typically used for furniture and cabinetry. “Probably eighty percent of it goes to neighboring states. Pennsylvania, West Virginia,Kentucky and here in Ohio,” Randy said. “A smaller percentage goes south to places like North Carolina and Tennessee.”

He noted they also sell a lot to a company in Newark, Ohio where the veneer log is sliced and is often sold internationally.Twin Oak offers a number of finished products that are sold to customers in Southern Ohio too.

Wood flooring and paneling are popular items. “They can come in to choose their paneling and their flooring. The paneling is so popular we try to keep it in stock,” Randy said. They are also known for log cabin kits and timber framing. Randy said they can provide kits and materials for everything from a garden shed to an elaborate dream home.

In addition, the company sells grade lumber and railroad ties. They also buy timber and typically have two or three contract crews in the woods at one time.
Randy commented on the ever changing American economy and the boost his business has experienced by expanding to international dealings. “It’s definitely a world economy, it’s not just us in this country now,” he said. “We’d certainly be lost without the international economy.”

Randy and Polly were also complimentary of their relationship with Vinton County National Bank. “It’s been a good relationship. The bank has stood with us through thick and thin, the good days and the bad days. And there certainly have been some bad days,” Randy said. “We’ve been with you since we started out in 1980.”

When they aren’t busy with their business, Randy and Polly enjoy spending time with their family including five grandchildren who are their pride and joy.

One of the most rewarding things about community banking is getting
to know customers. We are proud of the hard working Young family and Twin Oak Forest Products!

Love Your Pet Day

Posted on by
Reply

It’s Love Your Pet Day and we wanted to show off some pets from the VCNB Family! If you can handle the cuteness, we encourage you to scroll through and admire pictures of pets submitted by our employees. You will note that we have a lot of traditional pets and a few that aren’t so traditional! Enjoy!

This slideshow requires JavaScript.

Making Change With Change

Posted on by
Reply

Could you spare a quarter today? How about tomorrow? Most of us wouldn’t miss a quarter every day but it could have a life-changing effect for one local non-profit organization. Shepherd’s House is in dire need of a larger, more efficient shelter and is asking people to help them save for a shelter with just 25 cents a day.

Shepherd’s House is a domestic violence and sexual assault shelter and advocacy center in Vinton County. The organization began helping clients in 1999, initially offering advocacy services and growing to include an emergency shelter.

Shepherd's House Quarter Challenge 2016

Shepherd’s House Board Member Tami Case-Collins is pictured with Jane Nickels, Branch Manger of our McArthur Office.

Statistics say that one in four women will experience domestic violence in her lifetime. More than three million children will witness domestic violence in their homes this year.  Surprisingly, one in seven men will be a victim of abuse. So while the shelter is available only to women and children, Shepherd’s House provides non-shelter assistance to men as well. Sands said the shock waves caused by this violence will echo far beyond the household of an abuser.

“These victims are our neighbors, our sisters and daughters. They’re our mothers. You wouldn’t believe the amount of elderly who are abused by grown children. Victims are many times the bullies who are hurting your children. They’re kids who often grow up to be abusers and they’re in the pool of people your children will be choosing friends and spouses from. You may not know it but domestic violence affects us all,” she warned.

Shepherd’s House has binders filled with the names of hundreds of known abusers in Vinton County – men, women and juveniles – a testament to the need for a larger shelter and more services in this community.

When a victim comes in, the staff works to assess their needs and offer whatever services are necessary “We give them time to calm down and realize what’s happened so they can make decisions. We guide them through the system and explain the services available to them. We explain legal terms and sit with them in the courtroom. We help them with emergency plans and talk to them about staying safe. We offer peer support in a safe, judgment free zone,” Sands explained. “The judicial system isn’t always fair in the eyes of the victims and we have to make it as least traumatic as possible for the client.”

While cozy and welcoming on the inside, the current shelter is simply too small to meet the demand. With cramped office space and small living quarters for just one family at a time, the organization needs a larger home to grow in.

“Our dream is to never have to turn someone away because of space. Our dream is to have enough employees to not have staff overworked and exhausted. The dream is to someday have transitional housing units for domestic violence victims so that they can have a few months to get on their feet. But right now the need is to just have three or four bedrooms with space for a little office,” Sands concluded.

Sands pointed out that this fundraiser is a great project for families with children. “I know a year is a long time but if people would teach their kids to help others, to every day spend five seconds thinking about someone else, that habit becomes an asset. These children will grow up to be more caring adults and their contribution will mean the world to us,” she said.

She admits that there is still a stigma associated with domestic violence. “People think that it can’t be that bad or she would leave. They think if she really wanted out she would just go. They think it’s not their business. But it isn’t that easy. You have no idea how hard it is, how devastating it is until you’re in that kind of danger. If you’ve never had someone threaten you or your children or even your family pet, you just don’t know how hard it is to escape,” she lamented.

Once victims do escape, they face an uphill battle with the logistics of daily life including employment, child care, acquiring the things they need, often with little or no credit of their own. They typically face the most basic struggle of simply keeping their children safe from their abuser and a roof over their heads, according to Sands. “It’s hard to believe but for some, it seems better to stay than to leave. That’s how little hope they have.”

When we heard about the quarter challenge, many of us here at VCNB felt compelled to help. That’s why we have placed large jars in the lunchrooms of our two McArthur offices, inviting employees to drop in a quarter a day or whatever they can spare. To kick off the campaign, the bank donated $365, the equivalent of four people doing the quarter challenge.

Sands said that they have already received donations from a few individuals who are skipping the quarter challenge and giving the equivalent now. Either way is fine with Sands and the organization’s Board of Directors. Checks for Shepherd’s House can be sent to P.O. Box 550, McArthur, Ohio 45651.

Follow Shepherd’s House on Facebook  or join in the Quarter Challenge.

 

Celebrating A Career: Christyne Calvin Retires After 34 Years

Posted on by
Reply

When Christyne Calvin came to work at Vinton County National Bank, Ronald Reagan was President, a postage stamp cost .18 cents and a loaf of bread averaged .54 cents. The year was 1981 and Christyne was embarking on a career that lasted 34 years and left a lasting impression on the bank.

Christyne Calvin poses during her retirement party last week. She will retire this month after 34 years with the bank.

Christyne Calvin poses during her retirement party last week. She will retire this month after 34 years with the bank.

Christyne will retire from her position as Loan Review Officer on December 31. Her bank family celebrated with a party last week where retired VCNB President and current Board Member Steve Hunter gave a tribute to her career and remarkable work ethic. “While she literally did grow up in the bank, she started full time in 1981, and, as of the end of the year she will have worked some 12,589 days, some 34 plus years,” Hunter told a group of bank employees and retirees.

Hunter reflected on her extensive career. “Christyne actually has worked in just about every job, in every department in the bank – some of which she had to invent and define as she went along. From hand filing checks to writing bank policy, she has literally done it all. Most recently she built and defined the important role of loan review,” Hunter reminisced.

Christyne’s family founded VCNB in 1867. Her father, J.G. Will also enjoyed an extensive career with the bank, including several years as President. “I didn’t want to come in and just be J.G’s daughter,” Christyne said. “I wanted to do some serious numbers work and I wanted to earn my keep.”

Christyne Calvin is shown with her dad J.G. Will when Christyne was still just an adorable infant. Both Christyne and her father had successful careers with Vinton County National Bank.

Christyne Calvin is shown with her dad J.G. Will when Christyne was still just an adorable infant. Both Christyne and her father had successful careers with Vinton County National Bank.

With a degree in Journalism, Christyne had left Vinton County to be a newspaper reporter and social worker. When she realized that a career change to banking made sense, she returned to college to earn a Master’s in Business Administration before moving home to McArthur and taking a job at the bank. “I was a working mother and wanted to do something meaningful but also wanted to be close to mom and dad so the kids could get to know their grandparents…. It made a lot of sense,” she explained.

Christyne has also served on the bank and CBI Board of Directors for several years. Her experience in various roles has made her a tremendous resource for younger employees and coworkers over the years.

She noted that it is impossible to talk about a banking career without mentioning change. “Oh, the changes I’ve seen! The pace has certainly quickened, mostly due to technology,” she mused.

When she started, Christyne said her desk had an electric typewriter, a telephone, adding machine, pen and paper. Desktop computers would not be popular in the office for another decade or more. “It was hard to get information in this age before the internet. If you needed a credit rating, you would call the credit bureau and write it down over the phone. Information is much easier to get today and we have an entire department devoted to technology,” she said. “Another big change is that electronic banking has given us the ability to live away from the area and still bank here. Even if you move, you can still bank with us.”

One of her greatest career accomplishments is the creation of the bank’s first Loan Review Program. “We built it from scratch, went to a lot of schools and did plenty of research to create something that worked. And I would like to think that we improved the quality of the loan portfolio and the credit culture here,” she said.

She cited her ability to work with external auditors and bank examiners as a benefit to the bank. “My own dad said ‘there’s more than one way to skin a cat.’ You can always learn something from others, learn how they do things differently and take from it the best of their knowledge,” she explained.

Christyne talked about her dad some when we chatted about her retirement and Hunter also mentioned the correlation between J.G. Will and his daughter. “For those of you who have gotten to know Christyne, in many ways you’ve also gotten to know J.G. She, like her father, has a quiet yet confident manner. Broadly inquisitive and curious yet unassuming. Deeply analytical. Very balanced and fair. Always appreciative and complimentary to every member of the entire staff,” Hunter said.

Following her retirement, Christyne plans to move south to be close to family, including her grandchildren Stella, Asher and Marie Claire.

“I’m going to miss everybody here. You can’t spend that many days and hours of your life without missing it. But I’m moving towards something. Those kids can’t wait for their Memaw to be there and I’m looking forward to the free time,” she said. “Time gives you possibility. I look forward to going at my own pace and pursuing things that matter to me. I’m hoping to exercise my creativity, take yoga… go for walks more often, subscribe to National Geographic and actually have time to read! Imagine having time to just sit and enjoy my coffee. Look up at the sky and breathe,” she mused.

“I can’t believe this is going to be my life. Thank you Lord, thank you,” she exclaimed.