By Joyce Moed, Reporter
MADISON, Wis.–Seven women representing U.S. credit unions are representing the World Council of Credit Unions from April 5 to 12, as part of the organizations Peru-Chile Women’s Leadership Credit Union Engagement Program.
In Peru, the participants are visiting Lima on April 5, and Huanuco on April 7. In Chile, they are visiting Santiago from April 9 to 12. The trip will include a Women’s Leadership in Development session, and briefings with various credit unions throughout Peru and Chile. They will also see a CU Network transaction at San Francisco de Huanuco CU, and attend many planned sessions on topics including risk and collections and management control.
The seven participants are: Susan Albrecht, senior vice president of CUNA Mutual Group’s International Division; Mary Cunningham, president/CEO of USA Federal Credit Union in San Diego, chairman of the NCUF board of directors, and board member of the FMJ Foundation and CUNA; Jo-Anne Ferguson, senior director of the International Development Program of the Canadian Co-operative Association; Sylvia Lyon, president/CEO of the Credit Union Association of New Mexico; Winona Nava, president/CEO of Guadalupe Credit Union; Penny Reeves, director of the Credit Union Central of Canada, and chair of the board of the Credit Union Central of Alberta; and Catherine Roberts, CEO of Community Choice Credit Union, and vice chair of CUNA’s World Leadership Development Committee. They are joined by Brian Branch, executive vice president and chief operating officer of WOCCU, and Mark Cifuentes, vice president, technical services for WOCCU.
“This particular group is looking at women’s leadership, and projects tailored to low-income women,” Branch said.
As for the women selected to participate, Branch said WOCCU looked for “people who really have an interest in this topic.”
“We also looked for people who have given something back to the World Council,” he added. “We are trying to give them something back.”
After the women return home, they return to their respective credit unions. “Normally we ask them at some point to relate to their colleagues about what they’ve learned,” Branch said. “We look to them for help to tell their story when they come back.”
Also, in past similar trips, participants stayed in touch, being available to each for advice, Branch said. “There have been a lot of exchanges,” he said.
According to WOCCU, there are 168 credit unions in Peru, serving 674,0444 members. Combined, these CUs have $758 million in assets. In Chile, Coopeuch credit union is the largest CU and serves more than 370,000 members through 73 branches countrywide. It has $1.2 billion in assets.
