The Club probably “started” with a banjo “teacher” / player; Bob Wilson although he was never a member and had no notion of starting something like the CIBC. Bob played for years as a professional player at Shakies in Peoria, and numerous other gigs. He was a regular for years at Conklin Dinner Theatre for their Wednesday evening performance of Love Rides the Rails or Will the Mail Train Run Tonight.
Bob taught Phil Kuhl…who in turn encouraged Bill Ihnow, and Bill Weber to play.
Conklin Dinner Theatre was a place where banjo players got together. Several fellows from Bloomington played regularly at Conklin. Chuck Bruno and Larry Cisco are two current CIBC members from Bloomington.
Another influential person was Rich Richelieu. Most of the “Morton banjo players” started on a Richelieu banjo. Bob Wilson also played a Richelieu plectrum… in fact had 2 matching instruments with consecutive serial numbers. (Those banjos are now used by Phil as loaners to new players.)
The Central Ill Banjo Club began accidentally. Richelieu was invited to attend the Morton Pumpkin Festival Seniors Citizens Gig… a sing-along 25-year-old sing-along. Bill Ihnow often jokes that he and Bill Weber, now deceased, had about two weeks to learn how to play the banjo as they were needed for this gig. That gig had grown into a group we called the Royal Grand Pooba Beaner Gut Bucket Band. A name given by Ed Grant, the gut bucket player in the group.
Because Richelieu was celebrating his 83rd birthday during the 1995 Pumpkin Festival, we decided to invite him and his wife who were going to be in our area. His presence motivated us to invite other banjo players and musicians to join the Pooba group. We then went to our home for a back yard picnic and birthday party for Richelieu. That party went on till after midnight with plenty of jamming and fun.
Within a couple of weeks, a meeting was called with a couple of the fellows to consider a banjo club. We sent out a questionnaire to all who attended the Pumpkin Festival gig to seek interest in a club. After Christmas and early in 1996, we had our first meetings. Soon our club got too big for a house, and we moved to a conference room at Kuhl & Company Insurance. After a couple of years there, we moved to the K of C hall where we continue to meet today.
Although there are many reasons for our club’s growth; an important part of our culture has been that we have tried to expand and encourage other people to play the banjo. Because it is FUN.
Over the years, the club has been a big promoter of helping others learn the banjo. For a majority of our club’s history, three privately owned Richelieu Oregonian Plectrum banjos have been out on “loan” to prospective banjo players. The “deal” is they can use it; it is not for sale…. and they must return it within 90 days. Then they have to buy their own.  Sometimes they come back without a player… but most often, they come back with a person who wants to learn how to play. Fortunately our Club has given “everyone”.. regardless of talent… the opportunity…and a place to play along. Once the prospective person attends one of our practice’s… they seem to be quickly hooked.
WE owe a great deal of thanks to the HEADLINERS who have supported our club over the years. Mentioned were Richelieu and Bob Wilson. but at our Pumpkin Banjo Bash ’96, we were host to Buddy Wachter, Tim Allen, Johnny Baier, Lance Diekow, and Paul Erickson…. all GREAT players.
At the Pumpkin Banjo Bash ’98, we added Mickey Finn and Kathy Reilly and Dick Savoy from Kansas City.
In 2001, Wachter, Erickson and Baier overcame transportation issues to support an unforgettable Pumpkin Banjo Bash III. This event came the Thursday to Saturday immediately after Tuesday 9-11-01.  These professionals and their willingness to share their talents and enthusiasm with the people of Central Illinois has had a huge effect in my opinion on our club’s success. 
We have been in every Pumpkin Festival Parade for several years. Our CIBC performs often “together”… but we also perform many times individually or in small groups. Our club “gets credit” whereever a banjo is played in our area.  We have made a positive difference to Central Illinois!