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Show Cross Currents Page 8 August 21, 1998 During their tour of the Southwest, the monks will be building sand man-dalin Durango and Moab. This is the first-evtime in said LeGrand. She said the Durango, monks will be working on the mandala throughout their stay at the Durango Arts Center, and the public will be able to view their progress. Rene Lafaurie, who is organizing the monks stay in Moab, is also looking forward to the mandala construction. I think its going to be amazing, she said. as er The Directors Corner sr 4 y; Community banking keeps your money close to home Ed McMillan President s everal large bank merg- ers within the last year have caused many con- sumers to wonder if the days of the hometown, community bank are numbered. The Bank of Durango wel- comes the megamergers of banking Goliaths such as Citibank and Travelers, Bank of America and NationsBank. Studies have proven that as, these banks grow, they forget about the small businesses and families who built them. By remaining a locally-owne- d and operated community bank, the Bank of Durango has kept the interests of small business owners as its guiding principle. As big business moves into the Four Comers, some local bankers get giddy seeing the potential for a few new large clients. At the Bank of Durango, we have tempered our growth so we dont forget about the entrepreneurs and consumers that have been, and will continue to be, the core of this region. Local businesses have rec- ognized the Bank of Durangos commitment to them; instead of shrinking in fear of the mega- banks, our assets have grown steadily over the past several years. Instead of downsizing, more responsive to their needs and more likely to maintain their credit relationships during economic downturns, said George Washington University of Law Professor Arthur E. Wilmarth. The Bank of Durango and other community banks have learned that Why Community Banking? small businesses need their banks to be more Personal Service than a place to keep money or get a loan. Expertise Banks are the primary adCommunity involvement visers of small businesses, Financial flexibility and at the Bank of DuSBA loan programs rango we offer individual business management assistance and financial planning to. all our commercial customers. last year we moved into a In spite of the recent rash of larger, more modem facility on megamergers, community Sawyer Drive in Bodo Park. banks still lend the most money Community banks such as to small businesses. Banks with the Bank of Durango have surless than $300 million in assets vived economic recessions, natural disasters and the (which hold 19.5 of U.S. de- megamergers because our direc- - posits) lend a majority of all loans less than $100,000 and tors, officers and employees make decisions at the homenearly half of all loans less than town level. We want your busi$250,000. Are megabanks all bad? Not ness to succeed because it helps the community we live in, as necessarily. But as Rep. Bruce Vento well as our bank. said, I worry about mega anything. Most small businesses agree that community banks are . (D-Minn- TH .), BANK of DURANGO 125 Sawyer Drive Hwy 550160 South in Bodo Park 970259-550- 0 Member FDIC "Tibetans are the baby seals of the human rights movement." These nonviolent approaches, such as mandala building, have not gone unnoticed. In 1989, the Dalai Lama was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize. And while his stalemate with the Chinese has lasted almost 50 years, the story of his countrys struggle has only come to the attention of most Americans within the last several years. Three Hollywood movies, including Seven Years in Tibet and Kundun, have helped in the process. Tibetans are the baby seals of the human rights movement, said Robert Thurman, a professor of Asian religion at Columbia University and a former Buddhist monk And while these sorts of comparisons may seem to trivialize the plight ofTibet, Tibetans are open to the American reception. In my opinion, I really appreciate what Americans are doing for Tibetan freedom, said Phelgye. The American people are very generous and kindful. However, he was quick to point out that not many American know where Tibet is. I need to explain first where Tibet is, he said with a laugh. Once you explain, they are very kind. Phelgye has even seen the American movies on Tibet, and despite panning from some American critics, said they were not too off course. I like Kundun, he said. Thats the reality of whats going on over there. I mean when Im seeing the movie, I feel it is real Tibet. When asked what he sees for the future of Tibet, Phelgye is cautiously optimistic, yet harbors no bitterness. I dont think well be able to get complete freedom. We need to negotiate with the Chinese government and meet in the middle. Locally Owned and Operated We Understand the Daily Business of Life And until that happens, he believes the Tibetan people will wait patiently. We Tibetans believe very strongly. Missy Vo tel is the editor of Cross Currents. |