CDCU Institute Announces New Graduating Class
MADISON, Wis.-More than a dozen students made up the 9th graduating class of the Community Development Credit Union Institute. The graduates, who were honored in an August ceremony are: Cecil Anderson, Central Oklahoma FCU, Davenport, Okla.; Kathie Black, Inspire Community Development FCU (proposed), Battle Creek, Mich.; Winston Brumfield, AME Church FCU, Baton Rouge, La.; Thom Dellwo, Cooperative Federal CU, Syracuse, N.Y.; Nathan Farrior, generations Community CU, Durham, N.C.; Cindy Harrison, Straits Area FCU, Cheboygan, Mich.; Brenda Kyser, Triumph Baptist FCU, Philadelphia, Penn.; Vanessa Lowe, NCUA, Alexandria, Va.; Regina Martin, AME Church FCU, New Orleans, La.; Frances Morris, Citizens Choice FCU, Natchez, Miss.; Permelia Murphy, Citizens Choice FCU, Natchez, Miss.; Stacey Woiderski, Straits Area FCU, Cheboygan, Mich.; and DeAndre L. Zachery, Shreveport FCU, Shreveport, La.
Valley First CU CEO Biddlecombe Passes Away
PENTICTON, B.C., Canada-Valley First CU's President and CEO Harley Biddlecombe passed away recently. Biddlecombe, who ran the 47,000 member strong institution for the last 31 years after ascending to the role at the remarkably young age of 27, lost a battle with cancer. In 1997 he was honored with a Canadian Achiever award for his work in the financial sector. Paulette Rennie will serve as acting CEO until Valley First merges with Envision Financial at the start of 2010. She will then take the role of president for the Valley First region of the combined entities.
CUES Inducts Dames, Hawkins Into Hall Of Fame
ORLANDO, Fla.-CUES recently inducted two people into its Hall of Fame. Gordon R. Dames, SVP-national accounts with Southwest Business Corp, San Antonio, and CEO Mark Hawkins of Altura Credit Union in Riverside, Calif., were inducted during a special ceremony at CEO/Executive Team Network here. Dames was recognized for a career that began as an NCUA examiner and included successful leadership at Mountain America Credit Union, which grew to $2.5-billion during his term. Hawkins was recognized for his accomplishments at Altura, which grew from 12,000 to 112,000 members while he was at the helm. Both men were recognized for their contributions to CUES.
Meanwhile, CUES also announced its new board members: chairman, Dale F. Schumacher, president/CEO, Tampa Bay FCU, Tampa, Fla.; vice chairman/Chairman Elect-Frederick D. Healey; president/CEO, Workers* CU, Fitchburg, Mass.; treasurer-Lary B. McCants, President/CEO, IBM Southeast Employees FCU, Boca Raton, Fla., and secretary, Teresa Y. Freeborn, president/CEO, Xceed Financial Credit Union, El Segundo, Calif.
NACUC Names Its New Executive Officers
DEL MAR, Calif.-The National Association of Credit Union Chairmen has named its executive officers. Elected were chairman, John Steck, Utah Central Credit Union, Salt Lake City; 1st Vice Chairman: Michael Kzirian, Affinity FCU, Basking Ridge, N.J.; 2nd Vice Chairman: Philippe Ouellette, Jr., Citadel FCU, Thorndale, Penn.; Secretary: Rose Rangel, generations FCU, San Antonio, and Treasurer, E. H. "Pete" Weldon, 1st Community FCU, San Angelo, Texas.
CUES Intro's International Leadership Academy
MADISON, Wis.-CUES is reaching out to cooperative leaders throughout the world as it is now offering a new educational opportunity in the form of the International Leadership Academy, April 12-15, 2010, at the Chapman Graduate School of Business at FIU in Miami. The three and a half day academy will focus on leadership and strategy. For more information, visit www.cues.org and select Executive Education, call 800-252-2664 x5327.
Wisconsin's College Savings Fund Adds CU Option
MADISON, Wis.-Wisconsin consumers looking to maximize their tax deductions should be aware that a credit union CD option has been added to the state-sponsored EdVest 529 college savings plan, which offers up to $3,000 in state tax deductions per child per year for individual contributors regardless of income level.
Instead of purchasing a CD directly from credit unions, consumers contributing to an EdVest account-established via www.edvest.com or by phone at 1-888-338-3789-would direct the state Treasury to use credit unions for a portion of their invested funds.
The credit union CD Portfolio is one of 15 investment options available through EdVest. Wisconsin's credit unions are the first in the nation to hold and pay interest on investments held as part of a state-sponsored college savings plan.
OnPoint Community CU Approved For Expansion
PORTLAND, Ore.-OnPoint Community CU, the state's largest credit union, plans to open new branches in Deschutes County after state regulators approved its bid to expand its field of membership to serve there.
The $2.7-billion credit union is currently searching for sites and has established relationships with 10 local auto dealers for indirect loans. OnPoint currently serves parts of Deshutes and eight other Oregon counties, as well as two counties in adjacent Washington state.
Alliance CU Raises $20K For Homes For Our Troops
FENTON, Mo.-Alliance CU has raised $20,000 in matching funds for Homes for Our Troops, will go towards building a specially-adapted home for severely injured veterans.
Army Staff Sergeant Robert Canine will move into a home being built in Columbia, MO when he and his family return after a year of rehabilitation at Walter Reed Army Medical Center. It will be the first home in the state built with funds raised by Missouri credit unions supporting Homes for Our Troops.
Sergeant Canine was serving as truck commander of a four-Humvee convoy in Baghdad, Iraq on May 17, 2009, when an explosive projectile blasted his vehicle. He lost both legs below the knee from the attack. Canine is currently learning how to walk on prosthetics at Walter Reed. He plans to return home to Mexico, Missouri with his wife Jennifer and their eight-year-old son Sebastian when his rehabilitation is complete.
The Homes for Our Troops program builds specially-adapted homes so veterans can function better with their injuries, continue healing and restart their lives. For more information on Homes for Our Troops go to www.homesforourtroops.org.
