PENSACOLA, Fla.-Navy FCU said last week it is hiring 43 new workers at its call center here.

FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla.-NCUA said it has granted Broward Healthcare FCU a TIP charter to serve the healthcare industry in Broward County.

MADISON, Wis.-Call it the mother of all credit union savings contest: a new contest called Save to Win that will award one member of a Michigan credit union $100,000.

Greater Nevada CU, Carson City, Nev., named Maryann Grace Haynes Wendover branch supervisor.

Events

ALEXANDRIA, Va.-A few days short of Valentine's Day, NCUA promoted Love last week, that is long-time regional director Melinda Love, to the agency's director of examinations and insurance position.

ALEXANDRIA, Va.-The controversy over the $5-billion bailout of the corporate credit union network is bringing to the fore a festering dilemma for credit union executives and directors over where their ultimate allegiance lies; is it to the credit union movement as a whole, or to their own members?

WASHINGTON-Priority No. 1 for the credit union trade groups right now: mitigating the cost of rescuing U.S. Central Corporate FCU and the corporate system.

Sadly our industry seems to have forgotten our own history. In going after expansion, have we turned our backs on the very reason for our existence?

The credit union movement is at a major crossroad in its storied history. Current economic conditions, combined with market liquidity frozen as a result of the mortgage crisis, has caused pain among all financial industries, especially within the banking industry and the credit union movement. Despite the fact that the "best financial minds in the world" got caught up in this crisis with unheard of losses, it appears that many within the credit union movement would prefer to scrap the whole corporate credit union network because they obviously have no appreciation for the contributions the network has made to the whole movement, or the corporate credit unions' role in the success of the movement over the decades. No doubt, without the corporate credit union movement there would be a lot fewer credit unions, large and small.

After reading the "Finger-Pointing Erupts Over Corporate Bailout" article (CUJ Feb. 6), I have a feeling of consternation yet one of total resolve. For the good of the industry as well as Rockdale FCU, I feel it ill-advised for industry leaders to make proclamations that may not be true. From the last few months' media coverage of various financial events including congressional hearings, is it wise to think Congress is the solution to our challenges when we, as an industry, should and can solve our own problems and in result, better serve America.

As we are all aware, natural-person credit unions are being asked to restore the NCUSIF after the effects of the losses at U.S. Central are recognized. This $5 billion charge will cause untold harm to our members, who took no part in the decisions that led to these losses. In fact, most credit unions in the country will post negative net income during 2009 and will certainly have a meaningful depletion of their members' capital as a result.

FEBRUARY

SAN DIEGO-Be among the first 85 people to register for Credit Union Journal's Grow Show, and you'll have the opportunity to hear some Blue Ocean strategies - literally. Ensuring outside perspectives on leadership and innovation are a hallmark of Grow Show, and this year's event will include a special evening session with Capt. Mike Manazir, commanding officer of the USS Nimitz, the largest warship in the world. Yet despite its size, space on the Nimitz is limited, so make sure to register today.

You've seen it a hundred times on various TV news shows and, admit it, you loved it. It was painful and embarrassing and you sometimes found yourself squirming as much as the guy you're watching, and still, you couldn't pull yourself away.

MANASSAS, Va.-Credit unions may want to think twice about cutting technology staff and outsourcing IT to save money-Synergy One FCU found that it actually saved $600,000 last year by bringing network support back in to the fold, according to Bud Hobeck, CIO at the $185-million CU here.

TMG Client Conference Announced

WAUSAU, Wis.-Marathon County Employees CU averages more than four services per member, which is the big reason it grew its assets by 11.5% in 2008 and capital by 14%.

LAKE MARY, Fla.-Times are tough, but that's all the more reason to attend Credit Union Journal's upcoming Grow Show, where a variety of proven growth strategies will be on tap.

WOCCU Creates Fund For Aussie Fire Victims