Fast Start for the FSI

John Poff of Mutual Service Corp. and the chair of the FSI board, told attendees that FSI had had "seven constructive meetings" with NASD over the past year and noted that John Simmers was nominated to serve on the NASD Board of Governors (see below). FSI members are also serving on nine of 100 NASD District Committees this year, and eight members are serving on District Nominating Committees. The group has hired a consultant for its Congressional strategy–Bartlett & Bendall–and concluding that it's "more advantageous" to have influence with "fewer, more powerful members in Congress." He revealed that FSI has identified 10 Congressional candidates that it may support. To do so, FSI has also made a concerted push to increase member funding for its political action committee. Finally, acknowledging the efforts of outgoing chair Tony Batman of 1st Global, Poff announced that FSI would present a new annual award, the "Tony Batman Leadership Award."