The National Credit Union Foundation announced that its Credit Union Development Education training class is already half full with paid registrations before marketing materials were even launched.The training class is scheduled for May 13-19 and is being held this year at a new location at Lake Lawn Resort in Delavan, Wis.“We haven’t even begun to market the 2009 DE training program until today [March 9],” said Steve Delfin, executive director of the NCUF. “Yet graduates of past DE programs have been encouraging their colleagues and coworkers to sign up. Development Educators strongly believe, as we do, that this year it’s more crucial than ever to learn to leverage credit unions’ cooperative business model as a competitive advantage.”Attendees acquire skills in credit union outreach initiatives, problem solving, technical assistance, team building and public presentation. They earn certification as Credit Union Development Educators and join a network group that includes over 800 graduates across American and 10 other countries.“DE training in 2009 will incorporate emerging economic discussions while continuing to provide critical lessons in cooperative principles and credit union philosophy,” said Tom Decker, DE training facilitator and director of social impact management for NCUF. “We plan to show this year’s trainees how the member-centric business model will enable credit unions to weather the economic storm better than most for-profit institutions.”–[email protected]