Last week, another 42 credit union professionals from around the globe graduated from the Credit Union Development Education training, pushing the worldwide network to more than 1,000 alumni who are ready, willing and able to spread the credit union message, the National Credit Union Foundation said.
The newest round of Credit Union Development Educators (CUDEs) completed training Sept. 11 at the University of Wisconsin's Lowell Center in Madison, Wis., following a week of group exercises, field trips, issue discussions and team projects.
Attendees came from across the U.S., the Bahamas, Trinidad and Tobago and South Africa to develop skills in credit union outreach initiatives, problem solving, technical assistance, team building and public presentation.
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During the training program, eight program facilitators and mentors guided participants through critical lessons in cooperative principles, credit union philosophy and overcoming obstacles.
"During DE training, we strive to ensure the lessons in credit union philosophy are applicable and relevant to current events," said NCUF National Program Director Lois Kitsch, who facilitates the program.
"For instance, for the final case studies, participants worked through and presented solutions to critical issues that included credit union solutions to payday lending, a small credit union merger dilemma, the 'Don't Tax My CU' campaign, building an Islamic banking center, developing a credit union awareness campaign, and to compensate or not compensate credit union board of directors," Kitsch said.
The training program has received kudos from many past participants and other supporters.
"While there is certainly substance to the DE program, brought through case studies and projects related to real-world issues facing the credit unions, there is also a robust focus on the philosophy and guiding co-operative principals of the movement," said Greg Michlig, president/CEO of the New Jersey Credit Union League in Hightstown, N.J.
"While many of the historical elements of the training were not new to me, the in-depth discussion of how the events of the past are applicable and relevant to current events was stimulating. Participation in programs such as DE training can bring new perspectives to drive innovation or perhaps just rejuvenate a weary soul," Michlig said.
There are three DE trainings scheduled in 2014:
- Jan. 22-29 at the Rizzo Conference Center in Chapel Hill, N.C.
- April 23-30 at the Lowell Center in Madison, Wis.
- Sept. 10-17 at the Lowell Center in Madison, Wis.
Visit the NCUF website to register for DE training.
The fall 2013 CUDE graduates were:
- Colette Beyer, National Cooperative Business Association, District of Columbia
- Lisa Bills-Terrell, NCUA, Virginia
- Shannon Bradley, Pioneer West Virginia FCU, West Virginia
- Brian Branch, World Council of Credit Unions, Wisconsin
- Courtney Cantwell, CUNA, Wisconsin
- Mark Coburn, SECU, North Carolina
- Jonathan Creel, Wright Patt CU, Ohio
- Steven Duckworth, Kentucky ECU, Kentucky
- Gayla Duerr, TwinStar CU, Washington
- Gina Evans, Kansas Credit Union Association, Kansas
- Geoff Finken, North Carolina Credit Union League, North Carolina
- Christina Frohnapfel, Bayer Heritage FCU, West Virginia
- Dawn Fuson, Eli Lilly FCU, Indiana
- Mary Galler-Sanchez, TruWest CU, Arizona
- Boryana Georgieva, CUNA Mutual Group, Wisconsin
- Nathan Gillen, Weokie CU, Oklahoma
- Sonya Harris, Peoples Trust FCU, Texas
- Kimberly Ingham, Peninsula CU, Washington
- John Keet Jr., Personal Care America FCU, Connecticut
- Jami Kirksey, Montana Credit Union Network, Montana
- David LeNoir, League of Southeastern Credit Unions, Alabama
- Scott Lopez, Credit Union National Association, Wisconsin
- Ann Lucas, First Education FCU, Wyoming
- Peg Lucci, Heritage Family FCU, Vermont
- Greg Michlig, New Jersey Credit Union League, New Jersey
- Stephanie Missick-Jones, Bahamas Co-operative League, Bahamas
- Jack Moore, American Airlines FCU, Texas
- Tara Neal, Texoma Community CU, Texas
- Ximena Pacheco, Holy Rosary CU, Missouri
- Lilnette Philipps, SECU, North Carolina
- Dawn Poker, CUES, Wisconsin
- Jennifer Pollastro, Edge FCU, New York
- Steve Rahrich, Credit Union Association of the Dakotas, North Dakota
- Wendy Richardson, COPOS Credit Union, Trinidad and Tobago
- Amy Ridley, BECU, Washington
- Nomadelo Sauli, Co-Operative Banks Development Agency, South Africa
- Desiree Stafford, MECU, Maryland
- Julianne Talley, League of Southeastern CUs, Florida
- Caleb Thomas, First Class American CU, Texas
- Dale Tomalin, CUNA Mutual Group, Wisconsin
- Tobi Weingart, Educators Credit Union, Wisconsin
- Latesha Wheeler, DC FCU, District of Columbia
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