Membership growth awards and new director presented at annual general meeting
GOLD COAST, AU (July 29, 2014) -- World Council of Credit Unions announced its new associate member, Australasian Mutuals Institute (AM Institute) of Australia, Monday at World Council's 2014 annual general meeting, held in conjunction with the World Credit Union Conference currently underway in Gold Coast, Australia.
AM Institute provides education, networking and professional development services to Australia and New Zealand's mutuals banking sector. CEO Graham Olrich was present at the meeting to accept the World Council flag denoting its new membership.
World Council also presented Outstanding Membership Growth Awards to representatives from the following member organizations in recognition of outstanding membership growth rates in 2013:
- Confederação Interestadual das Cooperativas Ligadas ao Sicredi (SICREDI) of Brazil
- Federación Nacional de Cooperativas de Ahorro y Crédito (FENACOAC) of Guatemala
- Islamic Investment and Finance Cooperative (IIFC) Group of Afghanistan
 The 2014–2015 World Council Board of Directors. Back row (left to right): Steven Stapp (USA); Oswaldo Oliva (Guatemala); Sylvester Kadzola (Malawi); Yvonne Ridguard Harris (Jamaica); Brian Branch (USA); Louise Petschler (Australia); Bruce Foulke (USA); Doug Stoddart (Canada); Brian McCrory (Ireland). Front row (left to right): Manfred Dasenbrock (Brazil); Anne Cochran (USA); Grzegorz Bierecki (Poland); Daniel Burns (Canada); Patrick Jury (USA). |
Manfred Dasenbrock, SICREDI chairman; Oswaldo Oliva, FENACOAC CEO; and Mahir Momand, representing the IIFC Group, accepted the awards on their organizations' behalf.
"The global credit union movement grows today thanks to the commitment of World Council's members and their work to serve members worldwide," said Grzegorz Bierecki, World Council chair. "This year, we honor membership growth, in particular, as a clear indicator of the success of our service to all corners of the world."
Doug Stoddart, CEO of Nelson & District Credit Union, was welcomed as a new World Council director at the annual general meeting. Appointed by Credit Union Central of Canada (CUCC), Stoddart will represent Canada on the board in replacement of former CUCC representative, Scott Kennedy. The 2014–2015 World Council executive committee members include Anne Cochran, first vice chair (USA); Daniel Burns, second vice chair (Canada); Patrick Jury, treasurer (USA); Manfred Dasenbrock, secretary (Brazil).
The World Credit Union Conference runs through 30 July. Follow conference activities, including daily event photos, on World Council's Facebook and Twitter pages atwww.facebook.com/WOCCU and www.twitter.com/WOCCU using #WCUC2014.
World Council of Credit Unions is the global trade association and development agency for credit unions. World Council promotes the sustainable development of credit unions and other financial cooperatives around the world to empower people through access to high quality and affordable financial services. World Council advocates on behalf of the global credit union system before international organizations and works with national governments to improve legislation and regulation. Its technical assistance programs introduce new tools and technologies to strengthen credit unions' financial performance and increase their outreach.
World Council has implemented more than 290 technical assistance programs in 71 countries.Worldwide, 57,000 credit unions in 103 countries serve 208 million people. Learn more about World Council's impact around the world at www.woccu.org.