WOCCU Recognizes Polish President
MADISON, Wis.-The World Council of Credit Unions last week awarded Lech Kaczyski, the former president of Poland who died with 95 other government officials and their spouses in an airplane crash, the 2010 Distinguished Service Award. The honor recognizes the significant contributions the late statesman made to Poland's credit unions.
"Rarely does a head of state offer the level of support that President Kaczyski did to the credit union movement," said Pete Crear, WOCCU president and CEO.
Kaczyski's relationship with credit unions first began in 1989 when he was a direct report to Lech Walesa, the former leader of Poland's Solidarity movement that helped secure the country's freedom from Soviet rule. Kaczyski charged one of his staff members, Grzegorz Bierecki-currently CEO of the National Association of Co-operative Savings & Credit Unions (NACSCU) and second vice chair of the WOCCU board-to find U.S. banks that would help Poland stabilize its financial services sector. No bank was interested, but several suggested Bierecki meet with credit unions.
Grant Deadline Is June 30
WASHINGTON-June 30 is the deadline to apply for Innovation Grants from the National Credit Union Foundation. The grants, which are aligned with the NCUF's REAL Solutions program, address five service areas: Financial education, transaction services, savings, credit and homeownership. For info: www.ncuf.coop.
NCUA Publishes LUA With Texas CU
ALEXANDRIA, Va.-NCUA has published a Letter of Understanding and Agreement (LUA) previously entered into with the officials of Kappa Alpha Psi FCU, Dallas, in which it identifies steps the CU and the agency are taking to improve operations. KAPFCU has 1,360 members.
Funds To Expand Financial Ed
MERIDEN, Conn.-The Credit Union League of Connecticut has received a $7,500 grant from REAL Solutions through the National CU Foundation for the development of financial education programs aimed at graduating college students. The CULC said it will allow it to expand beyond the Financial Reality Fairs it has been doing for high school students. The League will be working with three Connecticut universities in 2010 to implement a college-level program.
Next Top CU Exec Being Sought
MADISON, Wis.-CUES has partnered with British Columbia-based Currency Marketin to create what it is calling the "Next Top Credit Union Exec" program for emerging leaders. It will be modeled after Currency's "Young & Free" program and will search emerging leaders under age 35 who will apply by creating a 60-second video about themselves and a project they are working on, a project they are planning, or an idea they have for their credit union. All videos will be on display at www.NextTopCreditUnionExec.com. Interested participants should apply by June 1. Based on votes, the applicant in each region who receives the most votes will become a regional finalist and will receive a prize package valued at $5,000. The six regional finalists will present on the progress of their project, program or idea at CUES' CEO/Executive Team Network in Dallas, Nov. 7-10, 2010. The finalist who scores the highest via a combination of a judging panel, audience and online votes will receive the title Next Top Credit Union Exec and an educational package valued at $20,000.
Getting Competent With Mergers
MADISON, Wis.-Noting that overseeing mergers will be among the skill sets needed by CU CEOs in the future, the six CUNA Councils have released a white paper titled, "Developing a Merger Competency." The Councils reported that more than one-third of all credit unions operating in 2008, for example, had participated in at least one merger between 1979 and 2008. The white paper looks at many areas surrounding credit union mergers including the rationale behind many mergers, roles of staff involved and board, effective mergers, mergers to reject, members point of view, and where mergers often go wrong. For info: www.cunacouncils.org and select the Cross Councils tab.
Tournament Raises $67K For Kids
GREENVILLE, S.C.-A golf tournament in which teams from North and South Carolina competed against each other raised more than $67,000 for the Victory Junction Gang Camp, a NASCAR-themed facility for chronically and terminally ill children.
