Registrations continue to come in as AFSA makes final preparations for the 89th Annual Meeting & Leadership Conference in Chicago taking place October 30-November 1, 2005. New sessions and speakers have been added to the schedule. For example, in the aftermath of Hurricanes Katrina and Rita, AFSA staff has put together a panel of AFSA members — from a cross section of the financial services industry — on how the finance industry is recovering. The panel will cover human resources, customers, branch structures and disaster recovery. And most importantly, what lessons can be gleaned for the future? Panelists include Stephen L. Blake, Senior Vice President, Human Resources, American General Finance Corporation; David D. Gibbons, Chief Risk Officer, HSBC North America Holdings Inc.; John Holden, Chairman, President & CEO, Pioneer Credit Company; Francis C. Lee, President & CEO, First Tower Corporation. The discussion will be led by Harry Goff, AFSA chair elect and president & CEO with CitiFinancial.

In addition, The Honorable Judy Biggert (R-13th IL), U.S. House of Representatives will speak during Monday's luncheon. A lifelong Illinois resident, Judy Biggert combines a wealth of experience as a legislator, lawyer, community leader and small business owner to serve the suburban Chicago residents of her district. Serving on the Financial Services Committee, she helped write the Sarbanes Oxley legislation that reformed the accounting and auditing industries in the wake of the Enron and Anderson scandals.

The following Committees of Professional Interest will convene during the Annual Meeting:

October 29, 2005
AFSA Education Foundation Board of Directors
NICCM Board of Governors

October 30, 2005
Associate Member Advisory Board
Executive Committee
Mortgage Division Meeting
NICCM Board of Governors

October 31, 2005
Board of Directors

October 31-November 1, 2005
Law Committee

November 1, 2005
Audit & Compliance Committee
E-Commerce Committee
Financial Relations Committee
Human Resources Committee
Information Systems Committee
Marketing Committee
Operations Committee
Public Communications Committee
State Government Relations Committee
Vehicle Finance Division Advisory Board

November 2, 2005
SGR Executive Committee
US/European Investors Conference Advisory Boards