WOCCU conference draws a young audience

WARSAW, Poland – Even before it officially opened its 2002 International Credit Union Leadership Institute, the World Council of Credit Unions (WOCCU) was reporting the conference to be a success. For one thing, 19% of this year’s conference attendees – a total of 558 registered – are under 35 years of age. This at a time when the aging of the movement has been considered by some to be an industry problem. Kecia Doyle, WOCCU’s Marketing Communication Manager, said the organization was really pleased with the number. WOCCU had been aiming for a 12% draw from the age group. In 2001 it was only 10%. Thirty-four young credit union people are vying for five special scholarship called the WOCCU Young Credit Union Professional (WYCUP). The nominees come from Rwanda, United Kingdom, New Zealand, Ireland, USA, Australia, Poland, Singapore, Congo, Canada, Kenya, Canada and Jamaica. Scholarship winners are offered registration at WOCCU’s 2003 conference in Brisbane, Australia. The WYCUP program gives young professionals the world over a chance to network and to look at how different nations look at the same problem. The Sixth International Credit Union Leadership Institute kicked off on June 25th.