PORTLAND, Ore. – More than 340 credit union leaders from throughout the state – as well as three credit union officials from the Republic of Uzbekistan – are expected to converge here Thursday and Friday (Nov. 13-14) for the 67th annual meeting and convention of the Credit Union Association of Oregon (CUAO). The two-day event will include a gala black-tie optional fund-raising event, the 15th annual Credit Unions for Kids Dinner and Auction. It will mark the association's final such event, which this year has raised more than $630,000 and which officials say is the second highest of any state league. Fund-raising efforts have benefited Doernbecher Children's Hospital as well as the pediatric units at Sacred Heart Hospital and Rogue Valley Medical Center. A full slate of educational programs is being offered during the conference. Among the speakers scheduled is National Credit Union Administration board member Deborah Matz. She is slated to address the annual business meeting on Thursday morning. Much of the focus of the educational sessions will be on the future of the credit union industry, from Bob Hoel of the Filene Research Institute discussing ways to attract young adults to ensure a credit union's future prosperity to Tom Steiner of Tom Steiner and Associates talking about how to deal with the rapid changes that will be taking place over the next five years. Other sessions will address topics such as motivating employees and creating positive work teams, understanding audit and internal control procedures and using the Internet to effectively attract and serve members. Michael Hudson of the Beacon Leadership Group will open the conference with his address, "The Road Less Frequently Traveled-9 Pathways To Revitalizing Your Credit Union." "This presentation has a lot of ideas and practical insights in it . . . focused on what CUs can do to make sure they are recreating themselves to serve the changing marketplace," Hudson explained. "It was created in response to comments and discussions that I have had at CU league programs around the country across the past three years and addresses nine critical areas where CUs need to revitalize now, before it is too late." Those areas are products and services, member service, facilities, community presence, identity, operations, board/management, people and the strategic plan. The closing session, presented by Tim Lerew of Lerew Consulting, will again address the changing financial services landscape. His address is entitled, "It's 2006: Do You Know Where Your Members Are?" CUAO officials said they expect three credit union officials to attend the conference from the former Soviet Republic of Uzbekistan. The visit is the latest in a series of exchanges since CUAO partnered with the World Council of Credit Unions to work with the fledgling credit union movement in Uzbekistan. The Tayanch, Umid and Sherdor credit unions opened in late 2002. Oregon credit union leaders have previously visited the country, located north of Afghanistan. CUAO in 2000 hosted Nizom Muradov, a representative of the Central Bank of Uzbekistan. According to the WOCCU, voluntary savings deposits from December 2002 to June 2003 in Uzbekistan have increased by more than 1,700%. The country has a population of nearly 26 million people. In addition to the educational sessions and fund-raiser, the conference will also feature more than 70 vendors displaying their wares and an awards banquet. -

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