Contact:
Christopher Morris
608-231-4374 | cmorris@ncuf.coop
Madison, Wis. – Forty-two credit union professionals were guided by eight dedicated program facilitators and mentors through the intensive week-long Credit Union Development Education (DE) Training. The April 6-13, 2011 training was held at the Lowell Center on the University of Wisconsin campus in Madison, Wis.
Team Projects
During the week-long program, participants were involved in group exercises, encouraged to ask questions of visiting speakers, and are required to complete team projects proposing solutions for credit unions to help alleviate or eliminate challenging situations in any given area.
“We refresh the studies every year, incorporating challenges credit unions face today while continuing to provide critical lessons in cooperative principles and credit union philosophy,” said Lois Kitsch, DE Facilitator and National Program Director for NCUF. “It is timeliness that we strive for in the entire DE training experience as participants work through critical issues that include interchange legislation, mergers and small credit unions, growth plan, financial capability plans, 2012 as the ‘Year of the Cooperative,’ and credit union development in Iraq.”
“The DE experience has reignited my passion for working in the credit union movement,” said Meghann Dawson, class attendee and Instructional Design Manager at the Credit Union National Association. “It has provided a solid foundation with cooperative principles, credit union philosophy and global development issues. I believe that having the knowledge provided by DE combined with the network of other CUDEs, I will now be able to play a more purposeful role in the current and future success of the industry.”
Class Graduates
The 2011 graduating class included credit union movement representatives from across the U.S. and two from Ghana participating through the African DE Scholars Program. They are: Latonya Allen, Government Printing Office FCU (Washington, DC); Taylor Carstens, Peoples Trust FCU (Texas); Angie Cayot, Southwest Bridge Corporate FCU (Oregon); Cathy Cline, Southeastern Ohio CU Inc. (Ohio); Chantea' Coger, Winston-Salem Firemens CU (North Carolina); Paricia Coleman, Keesler FCU (Mississippi); Dianah Darkwah, Ghana Co-Operative Credit Union Association Ltd (Ghana); Meghann Dawson, Credit Union National Association (Wisconsin); Betty DeWeese, Telco Plus CU (Texas); Ryan Dold, Missouri Credit Union Association (Missouri); Holly Fearing, CUNA Mutual Group (Wisconsin); Sandra Gladney, American Airlines FCU (Texas); Cassandra Grayson, League of Southeastern Credit Unions (Florida); Brianne Gutoski, Credit Union National Association (Wisconsin); Jennifer Hamrick, State ECU (North Carolina); George Hofheimer, Filene Research Institute (Wisconsin); Heidi Knudson, Altana FCU (Montana); Patrick Livingston, Coastal Federal Credit Union (North Carolina); Tim Loveless, Missouri Credit Union Association (Missouri); Lee Mabry, State ECU (North Carolina); Jeremy Martin, Navigator CU (Mississippi); Kelli Martin, Chesterfield FCU (Virginia); Brandon McAdams, Coastal Federal Credit Union (North Carolina); Amy McLard, Missouri Credit Union Association (Missouri); Mark Meyer, Filene Research Institute (Wisconsin); Tara Neiswonger, Education First CU (Ohio); Zach Poole, Singing River FCU (Mississippi); Tish Pruitt, American Airlines FCU (Texas); Alana Robertson, Mississippi Telco FCU (Mississippi); Olivia Ruiz, New Mexico Educators FCU (New Mexico); Adam Schwartz, National Cooperative Business Association (Washington, DC); Sarah Dale Simpkins, Mississippi Credit Union Association (Mississippi); Barb Stanek, Missouri Credit Union Association (Missouri); Troy Stang, Northwest Credit Union Association (Oregon); Lynn Storum, National Credit Union Administration (Virginia); Beth Troost, Michigan Credit Union League (Michigan); Vivian Valencia, Verity Credit Union (Washington); Darren Westendorf, CUNA Mutual Group (Iowa); Michelle Williams, MECU of Baltimore (Maryland); Daniel Winters, Co-Operative Credit Union (Wisconsin); Molly Wright, Guadalupe CU (New Mexico); and Willie Yao Ahli, Ghana Co-Operative Credit Union Association Ltd (Ghana).
Upcoming DE Training
The next DE Training will be held at the Lowell Center in Madison, Wis. on April 18-25, 2012. Anyone who is interested in attending the upcoming class can email cude@ncuf.coop to be put on a list to be notified when registration is open.
More Attendee Testimonials
“The DE program is not just training, it’s an experience,” said Betty DeWeese, President/CEO at Telco Plus Credit Union.
“DE training allowed me to meet with people from all across the country who are committed to serving credit unions in their communities, enjoy unique experiences, learn a lot, and come back with great ideas to incorporate the credit union philosophy into everything we do for our members,” said Amy McLard, VP, Federal Legislative Affairs at the Missouri Credit Union Association.
“I have an opportunity to participate in many training activities as part of continuing development and to stay fresh in my field. DE training by far was the best training experience I have had in many years. The training program itself was relevant with an excellent progression through the materials leading up to the ‘project.’ The facilitators made the program appear seamless. I believe the training has changed the way I view my work and it may be the catalyst to a new work focus,” said Lynn Storum, Economic Development Specialist at the National Credit Union Administration.
“Through a well-designed highly interactive program, the DE experience reminds us what credit unions can do in the future to serve people by reminding us of our heritage and showing us a way to collaborate with each other,” said Adam D. Schwartz, Vice President Public Affairs & Member Services at the National Cooperative Business Association.
*Note to editors: High-resolution versions of these images are available upon request.
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More 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.”
Over the past 29 years, more than 1,000 credit union advocates from over 30 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.
The National Credit Union Foundation is the primary sponsor of the DE program. Support is provided by CUNA Mutual Group, the Credit Union National Association, the World Council of Credit Unions, state foundations and leagues.
For more information on the DE program, visit www.ncuf.coop under Foundation Programs.
About the National Credit Union Foundation (ncuf.coop):
The National Credit Union Foundation is the US credit union movement’s primary national philanthropic program provider, fundraiser and grant-maker. Through NCUF grants and programs, credit unions provide widespread financial education, create greater access to affordable financial services, and empower more consumers to save, build assets, and own homes.
NCUF is funded primarily by investments in the award-winning Community Investment Fund (CIF) and by generous Supporters led by the Credit Union National Association and CUNA Mutual. All NCUF donors provide support that empowers NCUF and state credit union foundations to make a real impact in the credit union community.
The National Credit Union Foundation is a 501(c)(3) tax-exempt charitable organization. NCUF continues to earn the Better Business Bureau seal of approval as an “Accredited Charity” for meeting all 20 BBB Wise Giving Alliance Standards for national charities.