WASHINGTON-"We are starting with the young people to help them get it right," said John Annaloro, president of the Washington CU League, in accepting the Herb Wegner Award for Outstanding Program, which went to the Biz Kid$ TV program that airs on PBS and which was developed by the WCUL.
"We want to help stop the cycle of financial mismanagement in this culture," added the WCUL's Roxanne Krueger-Moynihan. The program reaches more than 4.6 million children, and has also reached one-million via classroom presentations.
WASHINGTON-"When we started, we had no idea where we were going," admitted Jim Blake, CEO of HarborOne Credit Union in Brockton, Mass. whose CU's MultiCultural Banking Center was presented with the Herb Wegner Award for Outstanding Organization. Blake praised his board for OK'ing the considerable capital investment in the Banking Center, which had projected it would be profitable in 12 months and made it-in 13.
Blake noted that when the Center opened his hometown was No. 1 in Massachusetts in foreclosures; today, 66% of residents in foreclosure receive mitigation assistance. "It's been a transformative process for our whole organization," said Blake. "It has energized our staff, and brought us back to our roots in 1917 when we were formed to serve shoe factory workers."
WASHINGTON-For Richard "Doc" Heins, the former CUNA Mutual president who was recognized with a Herb Wegner Award for Lifetime Achievement, it comes down to this: "I think this idea of believing in what you are doing is an important part of this business," Heins said. "My whole motto is life is really what you make it. If you keep a positive outlook and see the opportunities there really is no stopping you."
WASHINGTON-Few can claim the resume of Dick Ensweiler, who was presented with the Herb Wegner Award for Individual Achievement. Starting as a part-time teller, Ensweiler eventually went on to serve at the Michigan, Minnesota and Illinois leagues, before going to CUNA Mutual and then taking over at the Texas league, where he presently serves. Ensweiler also offered these challenges:
"One, if we are the member-owned cooperatives that are so good at serving members, then why are we serving just one-third of the country?" asked Ensweiler. "Let's tell people what we do and be there for them."
"Two, let's commit to serving everyone who is in our field of membership, especially the people who are disparaged by our competitors.
"Three, we have witnessed many new credit union systems around the world. They are growing very fast and they are doing it through collaboration. We have much to learn from these neophytes."
