Benefactor Helps Louisiana Credit UnionLeague

BATON ROUGE, La. - (10/07/05) -- After having to layoff six of itsemployees in the wake of Hurricanes Katrina and Rita, the LouisianaCredit Union League has been able to rehire two of those employeesfollowing donations from the World Council of Credit Union andother credit union organizations. WOCCU is donating the funds topay for one of LCUL's accountant's salary through the end of theyear. Noting the Louisiana league's involvement in WOCCU'sStrathmore program and African Technical Congresses and generalsupport of the international organization¹s mission, WOCCU CEOPete Crear said he hoped the donation would help to repay LCUL's"contributions and their faith in the movement." LCUL SpokeswomanAlicia Blanda said plans are to eventually return all of thefurloughed employees to its payroll when the league, which has beenoperating out of temporary offices here, is 100% operational. "Theleague is facing the same issues and challenges that credit unionsand other businesses are facing," said LCUL Spokesperson AliciaBlanda, noting that 3,000 municipal employees in New Orleans havealso been laid off. Of the six LCUL employees let go, one hadrequested the move so that he could attend to the significantdamage to his home and that of his parents.