17 credit union professionals receive international CUDE designations
Individuals recognized for achievements in international CU education
The seven international Credit Union Development Educator (DE) programs, in partnership with World Council of Credit Unions, recognizes seventeen individuals who have received their International Credit Union Development Education (I-CUDE) designation at the recent 2016 World Credit Union Conference in Belfast, Ireland.
Seventeen credit union professionals received the I-CUDE distinction. They are:
- Alana Miles, Mississippi Telco FCU in Mississippi;
- Alison Carr, Your Credit Union Partner in Wisconsin;
- Antony MacRow-Wood, Church Mutual CU in the United Kingdom;
- Baboucarr Joof, Gambia Teachers CU in Africa;
- Bert Hash, (Retired) MECU in Illinois;
- Betty DeWeese, Telco Plus CU in Texas;
- Christopher Morris, National Credit Union Foundation in Wisconsin;
- Darlene Johnson, Suncoast CU in Florida;
- Deli Frantzen, Trona Valley CU in Wyoming;
- George Ototo, Kenya CU League in Africa;
- Joseph Mayenda, Sucomo SACCO, Ltd in Africa;
- Kara Kirschner, First Credit Union in Arizona;
- Lisa Brown, Tallahassee Leon FCU in Florida;
- Oscar Porras, Maps CU in Oregon;
- Ranjith Hettiarachchi, Association of Asian Confederation of Credit Unions (ACCU) in Asia;
- Scott Sager, Trona Valley CU in Wyoming; and
- Sheri Eaton, Suncoast CU in Florida.
“I am so proud of all these individuals and their hard work to understand the importance of credit union development on an international level,” said Lois Kitsch, National Program Director at the National Credit Union Foundation. “I am excited to see how they take what they have learned back to their credit unions and communities to make a difference.”
The Development Education Program is designed to encourage an international exchange of ideas and opportunities around credit union philosophy. In an effort to encourage trained development educators to learn from their international peers and to learn from international travel opportunities, the seven international CUDE programs offer their development educators the opportunity to achieve an I-CUDE designation.
To achieve the distinction of an I-CUDE, development educators must:
- Complete their local DE program;
- Complete an independent studies project appropriate to the learning objectives of the DE program;
- Participate in an international program, conference or training opportunity. This may include but is not limited to an international DE program, an international immersion program or an international volunteer assignment; and
- Attend World Council’s World Credit Union Conference or a regional confederation conference.
The seven international DE programs are based in Africa, Asia, Australia, the Caribbean, Europe, Great Britain, the Philippines and the United States.
About the DE program
The mission of the Credit Union Development Education (DE) program is to promote credit unions’ social responsibility and domestic and international development through interactive adult education and professional networking. By linking credit unions’ past and present, the DE program brings renewed relevance to credit unions’ seven cooperative principles and the philosophy of “People Helping People.”
Since 1982, more than 1,500 credit union advocates from over 35 countries have graduated from DE Training to become Credit Union Development Educators (CUDEs). Once they earn their CUDE designation, people return to their jobs with a sense of personal enrichment and renewed energy to share what they have learned. This growing corps of credit union advocates devotes professional and volunteer time to spreading the credit union message to audiences throughout the country. For more information on the DE program, visit www.ncuf.coop under “How We Help”.
