Joe Barry: The show must go on

VALLEY FORGE, Pa. – USERS didn’t let the terrorist attacks stop it from putting on its annual EdCon Conference and doesn’t plan on changing any business practices, travel or other, because of them. “Our folks have been traveling since the week of the disaster. It has to be business as usual. We’re in a mission critical environment. In the bigger picture, if credit unions aren’t sound and stable it just adds to the whole unsettling nature of this event,” said Joe Barry, president of USERS Staffers of credit union data processor USERS and representatives from its CU clients were in Scottsdale, Ariz. set to kick off their annual EdCon Conference when the tragic events of Sept. 11 started to play out. Barry said the agenda was quickly revised for a later start to the conference, and screens used to broadcast the conference were tuned to the news. “Out of respect, instead of starting at 9:00, we started at 1:00. We made the decision to go on. It was very gratifying for me that we did still go on. People were crying and hugging and helping those who knew people involved,” said Barry. Attendees were able to separate their emotions said Barry. USERS is known for a humorous skit at the start of its EdCon Conference and that skit was still performed. It was a knock on the quiz show “The Weakest Link”, starring an acid-tongue host. “It was good to see our folks could compartmentalize things and laugh a little.” Attendees also showed their support to the victims’ families by donating on-the-spot at the conference to the American Red Cross. USERS matched client donations. The final tally sent to the Red Cross was $18,000.