The official theme of NAFCU's 33rd annual convention was, "Oceans of Oppurtunities," but it may as well been "Aloha."
That's Hawaiian for hello and goodbye. As in hello to a new chairman, Jim Mills, of Three Rivers FCU, and a new organization CEO Fred Becker. And goodbye to an outgoing chairman Ron Keeler of Lockheed FCU and longtime president and CEO Ken Robinson.
And the Hawaiin term for thank you, "mahalo," was directed at Robinson, who hung up the reins in March of the trade association he led through its infancy to its greatest triumph, successful passage of the HR 1151, the CU Membership Access Act of 1998. After 16 years at the helm, Robinson was applauded by the 2,500 atendees throughout his valedictory remarks at the convention's opening.
Keeler, CEO of Lockheed FCU the past 18 years and chairman of NAFCU, announced NAFCU's participation in the multi-million-dollar fundraising drive for the national memorial to World War II veterans (see page 23 for related story).
The NAFCU board voted to lend NAFCU's support to the campaign and to encourage its members to promote the effort as well. "I think it is appropriate that we announce our participation in the campaign here, in Honolulu, where the battleship Missouri and the Pearl Harbor Memorial serve as solemn reminders of America's involvement in the last world war," said NAFCU President Fred Becker.
Earlier in the week, top Pentagon officials outlined for defense credit union officials the new on-base regulations governing financial institutions.
Those regulations will: allow the Department of Defense to authorize community-based credit unions to serve bases; limit on-base credit unions to those federeally insured; require five-year reviews of on- base leases; encourage on-base credit unions and banks to provide members with financial education and counseling; and require on-base credit unions to furnish financial reports to base commanders on an as-needed basis.
The issue of financial counseling and education is an important one for defense CUs, acknowledged Roland Arteaga, president of the Defense CU Council, acknowldeging that traditional financial education is failing many enlisted men. This has prompted the DCUC to join up with CUNA, NAFCU and the Defense Department in a national financial education program sponsored with the National Endowment for Financial Education (NEFE).
The initial stages will be focused on educating junior and senior level participants in the Reserve Officers Training Course, and may be extended to the military services' enlisted personnel.
The new regulations will not: ban ATM surcharges on base, as was proposed earlier; cap on-base fees to 110% of the national average; or require on-base credit unions to provide commanders with monthly financial reports.
