CU House ready for opening, though delayed

WASHINGTON-Credit Union House is awaiting its grand entrance-or entrants, from the building’s perspective-into the credit union community, according to Credit Union House Manager Kyle Noble. A ribbon cutting ceremony was originally scheduled to take place September 11, but it was postponed due to the bombing of the Pentagon and subsequent evacuation of most of the government and corporate offices in Washington, D.C. Noble’s phone is already ringing regularly with questions from the credit union leagues, all 51 of which invested in the venture, as well as others in the credit union movement. Additionally, two House members, the names of whom CUNA is not releasing, have called inquiring about the credit union home away from home. Credit Union House is already booked solid with events throughout the fall, she said of the structure. “We’ve been very busy, which is great. I would be very concerned if there were a lull,” Noble said. She said that she would prefer to be busy because that means people are using the House. Noble added that from the third floor it has “an amazing view of the Capitol,” right along the rooftops of the city and lined with foliage. Though Credit Union House is scheduled to be open during regular business hours, Noble expects to work some long hours during the congressional sessions. Either she or Program Assistant Pat Whiting will be at Credit Union House during all functions held there, which could take place any time of day. Most of the calls Noble has received have been in conjunction with league Hike the Hills. “It’s the first season of operations so everyone is getting their feelers out for what they can do,” she said. She added that many are already indicating great interest in the video and audio conferencing capabilities installed in Credit Union House. “I think [Credit Union House] will work out as planned.I think it will absolutely work out and go beyond that,” Noble said. Her previous experience, at the age of just 27, in political fundraising is broad including fundraising for the Beckett Fund, a non-profit law firm; fundraising for the Trinity Forum, which holds seminars for Fortune 500 companies; and the Republican party finance director from Arkansas. (Ironically, she lived in Little Rock, just a block from former President and Arkansas Governor Bill Clinton). Noble earned a bachelor’s degree in communications from the University of Arkansas. Noble noted that many of the fundraising and managerial aspects of the job will be familiar to her. She explained that in her fundraising experience, she has handled events of this magnitude and larger. Though many in the credit union community may not have heard of the new Credit Union House manager, she has been working from a cubbyhole of an office in CUNA’s building for more than a year. Noble reports directly to the board of directors of the Credit Union House LLC, though she is actually employed by CUNA as part of its contribution to the House. Since her hiring, Noble has been overseeing the finishing touches at Credit Union House making sure everything, from walls to tables, is where it belongs. Construction on Credit Union House was only a month behind schedule, which Noble was told is a modern miracle in Washington. The House was completely finished and ready for its grand opening prior to the terrorist attacks in Washington and New York, which forced a delay in the opening. An informal brown bag luncheon with CUNA President and CEO Dan Mica was scheduled for those that made it into Washington for September 12. [email protected]