SALEM, Ore. — MaPS Credit Union is introducing its new training CUSO with a free, 10-week workshop that it hopes will translate into deeper connections to the community, as well as income from future classes.
MaPS, a $329-million CU also known by its charter name, Marion and Polk Schools CU, has expanded beyond its original FOM and currently serves eight Oregon counties. Jill Nowacki, VP of development, and Matt Beaman, director of administration, said the new CUSO, called EDGE (which stands for Education, Development, Growth and Entrepreneurship), is a continuation of the credit union's commitment to growth and development.
"We have a long-standing dedication to financial education as an education-based credit union," said Nowacki. "We help achieve economic empowerment by providing tools and give people the knowledge they need to be better in their personal or professional lives."
Much of what EDGE teaches is about personal development, explained Beaman, who in addition to his credit union duties is the owner of Step Forward Consulting LLC-a business and personal success consulting firm. Beaman said Step Forward performs workshops and seminars for small groups, such as the executive team of a business.
"We help people understand where they want to go, why they want to go there and what is standing in their way," he explained. "What we are doing with our credit union membership is offering the workshop, which we call 'Get the Edge,' to help them know what they should be doing in their jobs or personal lives. The fundamental is: the more perfect we help a person be, the better they will be; the more they grow and develop, the better their lives will be."
Free Workshop Is First Step
Step No. 1 is the free workshop, which Beaman said includes self-development topics ranging from setting goals to finding a purpose, either business or individual, as well as strategies and techniques to develop vision, overcome fear, and develop confidence in self and others. The EDGE course is based on Napoleon Hill's "Think and Grow Rich."
"After 10 weeks, people come away with pretty defined roles and methods for achieving those goals," he said. "It is a free trial because many people are hesitant to spend money for something if they aren't sure of the presenter or the material. For some businesses and individuals we are going to be a fit and for others we are not."
Get the Edge began May 14. After the free workshop concludes, EDGE will offer paid workshops and seminars later this summer. The first two being rolled out are a goal-mapping workshop and Ken Blanchard's "Situational Leadership II." Beaman described the latter as a system of opening up dialog between managers and employees to improve performance.
Situational Leadership
"Many leaders have a certain leadership style, and the premise behind situational leadership is there is not one correct style for every situation," he said. "As a leader, you must tailor your style for each specific task or goal."
The price for the goal-mapping workshop will be $99 for a half-day seminar. The two-day Situational Leadership II workshop normally is $1,695 through Blanchard, but the EDGE price point is $995. The CUSO will offer early registration for $795. Beaman said EDGE will purchase the participant materials from Blanchard. To teach the course and use the Blanchard name one must be a certified trainer, and Beaman is one of the only certified trainers for credit unions in the Salem area.
"It is a substantial investment for an organization to get someone certified, so this helps make all credit unions better," Beaman stated. "Not every credit union can afford a fully staffed training department, so they can bring that to EDGE, as well."
Agreed Nowacki: "This is something we have because we have a unique niche. This is our way to strengthen relationships with the community by helping build things here. Part of making this a CUSO is so other neighbors in the credit union movement can participate. Because EDGE is a CUSO, it is a more affordable way of getting leadership training. Many credit unions across the country have cut their conference travel budgets, so this is a way to still bring in outside knowledge."
Beaman said the process of getting out the word to other CUs still is in development. He anticipated as word spreads through the local business community, MaPS will work with local Chambers of Commerce and do some advertising. "But it tends to travel best through word of mouth," he said. "We compete for the same market space, yet we work together on things like this. It is less about competition and more about creating something better for both parties."
Nowacki said two other MaPS' CUSOs, CU Wireless and Advanced Reporting, started with the same premise: recognizing a need in the market and forming a CUSO to serve other organizations, as well.
MaPS also has insurance and investment CUSOs to serve its members, she noted.
MaPS serves nearly 38,000 members in Marion, Polk, Yamhill, Linn, Benton, Clackamas, Washington, and Multnomah counties. The credit union has eight branches.
