CUNA Releases New Volunteer Board Member Case Study

Posted: 2010-07-22 00:00:00

Legislation could be on its way in 2011 that will impact volunteers who serve on credit union boards and committees. While the exact requirements of the National Credit Union Administration’s (NCUA) proposed regulation won’t be known until it passes, the Credit Union National Association (CUNA) is helping credit unions prepare and understand the benefits of board/volunteer training by offering a new case study titled, “Investment in Training for Credit Union Volunteers Returns Value.”

“CUNA is committed to providing the training needed by board members to better understand their fiduciary responsibilities,” said Todd Spiczenski,Vice President, CUNA Center for Professional Development.  “Training is not a luxury—it’s an investment that yields returns in preparedness for NCUA compliance challenges, readiness for strategic planning, and increased insight into all aspects of board governance and operations. This new case study demonstrates the power of prepared volunteers.” 

In “Investment in Training for Credit Union Volunteers Returns Value,” six credit union volunteers share their thoughts on the impact and benefits of their experience with volunteer training.

Steve Gray, board chair of OnPoint Community CU, Portland, Ore., said in the case study that his board required each member to complete at least six Volunteer Achievement Program modules during the first term. “The stakes are high,” he said. “We are a major player in all our financial markets. We need to be educated.”

For a copy of the case study, visit training.cuna.org/boardreq.

CUNA offers several volunteer training tools including: Online Volunteer Training on Demand, the Volunteer Certification Program (VCP), and the Volunteer Achievement Program (VAP). In the programs, volunteers learn about:

• Governance and ethics
• Safety and soundness-including income statements and balance sheets
• Strategic planning
• CEO oversight
• Board operations and development

About CUNA – Your Trusted Resource for Credit Union Success™

With its network of affiliated state credit union leagues, Credit Union National Association (CUNA) serves 90 percent of America’s 7,700 credit unions, which are owned by more than 90 million consumer members. Credit unions are not-for-profit cooperatives providing affordable financial services to people from all walks of life. For more information, visit www.cuna.org