MONTEREY, Calif. -
The National Credit Union Foundation hosted a Social Impact Management Institute as part of its effort to "connect cooperative values and principles to what credit unions really need to do, and also do in a way to leverage what other institutions and industries are doing to serve low-income households and individuals, and youth, as well," according to Steve Delfin, the NCUF's exeutive director. "The Social Impact Management Institute attempts to connect all that stuff."
Among those making presentations to the SIMI was Lois Kitsch, who is heading up the REAL Solutions project now being championed by the Foundation. Kitsch reminded attendees that while the definition of a credit union is a "simple thing," the related questions are more nuanced.
"How do we measure values? We talk about philosophy. What is the philosophy in our institutions and what makes us unique and different?," Kitsch asked. "The principles we stand by in this country are also the principles in other countries. Each one follows cooperative values and principles."
Kitsch shared the story of how, when working as a project manager for the World Council of Credit Unions in the Philippines, she witnessed "democracy in action."
"I once went to an annual meeting at a credit union in the Philippines where they had to hire a hall because 9,000 people showed up," she related. "Think about our CUs where we have an annual meeting because it's a requirement. Can you imagine an annual meeting that takes all day? Can you imagine that on the floor of the meeting they are talking about the rates being charged and the services being offered. In some places around the world the credit union is the first place where they've been able to stand up and have a voice in how things are done."
In the U.S., she said there are plenty of opportunities to reach out to non-traditional groups with credit union services.
"In one case we have to almost use 'gang language' with youth groups," Kitsch explained. "We tell them, 'You can rap, but someday you might be a successful rapper and you will have to know how to run a business and keep a checking account. You don't want to get ripped off by an agent. You need to know what it means to have life skills and a budget.'"
Kitsch also offered another reminder. "Do we spend time educating people on the front line to know how to help members," she asked. "Not often. A lot of times credit unions focus on their education programs but forget to educate their own staff."
