BankThink

The scene: A ballpark, opening day of baseball season.

I have been a regular reader of the Credit Union Journal's print edition for many years but just recently discovered the newly redesigned website (www.cujournal.com). It is easy-to-read and navigate and packed full of information. The site is an extremely useful research tool to learn more about almost any topic within the credit union marketplace.

Ideally, effective research results presentations start at the beginning of the process with involvement from stakeholders in defining the purpose of the research and then planning its execution. However, even without thorough front-end homework, results presentations can be a dynamic launching pad for improvement and innovation because they foster buy-in, focus, shared learning and teamwork.

The article that appeared on the Credit Union Journal online regarding the resignation of Ernst & Young as Online Resources' accountant was incorrect. There were no disagreements between the companies, as clearly stated in our SEC 8K Filing.

What's the best way to increase employee productivity, improve member service and ensure that everyone is taking advantage of all the functionality of your core system and applications? The answer is a continuing education program. An ongoing training program not only helps to ensure high performance, it is a boost to morale.

You've probably heard about the University of Iowa Community CU's recent attempt to change its name to Optiva. That story has been covered in this publication and others, and debated endlessly in blogs. Members were asked to vote on the name change and it barely passed. Then some members who hated the new name and didn't want to change the old one circulated a petition, got enough signatures for a new vote, and defeated the name change.

Nationally, we are experiencing total construction costs at an average of 8% higher than last year's costs. And while there has been a downturn in the residential market over the last few months, the total residential construction value is still 50% more than what it was just four years ago.

Let's hope it remains a conference name and not a metaphor.

Has The Carl Icahn Era For CUs Begun?

Imagine volunteering to take over the local Little League baseball program with the best of intentions and plans to clean up the fields and make sure all the kids have fun, thinking your only real worry is that enough parents sign up for the after-game snacks. And then in your first month in the post you discover other leagues say they have dibs on the fields, some parents (the ones who never volunteer their time) are planning to sue because Johnny isn't getting enough innings, and oh, one of the coaches' names just showed up on a list of sexual predators.