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New National Credit Union Foundation Chairman Allan Kemp McMorris pledges more financial and human resources to expand the Development Education program in the U.S. and worldwide. "Credit union philosophy is our most important asset," McMorris affirmed in his first address to Credit Union Development Educators. "I not only pledge the Foundation's support, I pledge my personal support. I promise you I will become a DE before the end of my term as Foundation Chair!" |
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Credit union managers and volunteers who could use financial assistance to attend Development Education training now have another scholarship opportunity. Development Educators created a new scholarship fund honoring Congressional Federal Credit Union's Michael Ray. It's the DEs' way of thanking Ray for hosting a dinner at his home in Washington each March to welcome DEs from around the world. |
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 | | | | 1. Complete a local DE program to build a solid foundation.
2. Complete an independent studies project appropriate to the learning objectives of the same programs as approved by the International DE Council.
3. Attend WOCCU's Hispanic Marketing Immersion Program or participate in an international-based program approved by the International DE Council, or participate in another country's DE program.
4. Attend WOCCU's World Credit Union Conference.
In 2010, WOCCU is teaming up with the Credit Union National Association's America's Credit Union Conference to form The 1 Credit Union Conference. This international event will take place in Las Vegas, Nevada, USA on July 11-14, 2010.
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Credit Union Development Education |
National Credit Union Foundation’s Best Kept Secret is ... Credit Unions' Best Educational Value! |
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 While it has been making a difference for over 25 years, many credit union professionals have never heard of the Credit Union Development Education (DE) training program.
We want to change that – because DE training is more critical now than ever! |
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 Why? Part of the answer can be found in the Spring 2009 issue of the nationally recognized Strategy & Business Magazine. An article headlined Not Just for Profit predicts that alternatives to the stockholder-centric business model will arise from the current economic crisis… and contribute more to the future of the world.
The Strategy & Business article focuses on the value of “hybrid” business models -- like cooperative credit unions -- that don’t feel short-term stockholder pressures. Rather, credit unions maintain a “mission controlled, for benefit” focus that provides socially responsible governance and solutions for consumers.
This empowers credit unions to achieve a “triple bottom line” that benefits their business, their members, and their communities. |
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 2009 DE Training will incorporate this emerging discussion while continuing to provide critical lessons in cooperative principles, credit union philosophy, and the member-centric business model that has enabled credit unions to weather the economic storm better than most for-profit institutions.
“This year more than ever, it is critical for credit unions to leverage their unique business model in order to make a greater bottom-line impact,” emphasizes DE Program Director Tom Decker. |
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Who Should Attend – And Why |  DE training is open to everyone from new employees who need a credit union orientation to seasoned executives who need to recharge. Participants cite many benefits of attending DE training:
Graduates acquire skills in credit union outreach initiatives, problem solving, technical assistance, team building, and public presentations.
Graduates earn certification as Credit Union Development Educators (CUDEs). They join a networking group including over 800 graduates across America and 10 other countries.
CUDEs realize that local issues are indeed global – and that credit unions grow stronger by working cooperatively.
CUDEs return to their jobs with new understanding of how to promote cooperative principles and credit union values as distinct advantages in today’s competitive financial services marketplace.
“All financial institutions offer a commodity,” points out 2008 CUDE Lily Newfarmer, president/CEO of Tarrant County Credit Union. “We are all trying to get the same loans, checking accounts, etc. What sets credit unions apart from our fierce competition are our cooperative principles and credit union philosophy. If we don’t embrace these differences and show our members that we’re better because we’re unique, our very existence is in jeopardy.” |
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| Scholarships Are Available! | | Scholarships are available through the National Credit Union Foundation's DE Fund or through your state credit union foundation or league.
Interested in a scholarship? Several states provide specific scholarship information on the "How To Register" for DE page. If you don't see your state listed there, contact your state foundation or league.
If there's no DE scholarship available in your state, contact NCUF's Tom Decker: tdecker@ncuf.coop or 800-356-9655, extension 4374.
“We realize that the economy is tough, so we want to do everything we can to make it easy as possible for credit unions to send representatives to DE training,” confirms Decker. |
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"Never Compromise the Credit Union Ideals!" |  “The DE program is very worthwhile to become involved in, regardless of how long you’ve been in the credit union movement,” concludes Credit Union National Association Board Member Mary Cunningham, CUDE and president/CEO of USA Federal Credit Union. “Even after many years of loving credit unions, in DE training I was forced to step outside of my comfort zone and explore a whole new world…. Through doing so, I’m re-committed to be sure I never compromise the credit union ideals in my organization.” |
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| Development Educators Mark CUNA’s 75th Anniversary | | ESTES PARK, Colorado (6/19/09)—On the same spot where 52 credit union delegates founded the Credit Union National Association in the summer of 1934, a representative group of Credit Union Development Educators assembled in Estes Park to commemorate CUNA’s 75th anniversary.
“Their visit gave them pause to pay tribute to the early pioneers of the movement,” related Development Education Program Director Tom Decker. “At the same time, we aspired to rededicate all CUDEs to the same spirit, passion and vision of CUNA’s founders.” |
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 | | Recalling the famous photograph taken in 1934 of CUNA founders and their families representing 20 states at Estes Park, 20 modern CUDEs re-enacted the photo in June 2009.
Before leaving Estes Park, the CUDEs sang one of the same songs sung by the delegates 75 years ago after establishing CUNA’s bylaws.
The photo re-enactment and song are now documented in a three-minute video created by the CUDEs and posted to YouTube.
While in Colorado, the re-enactors also participated in the annual CUDE Workshop, which took place in nearby Boulder. Attendees discussed issues ranging from cooperative social responsibility to credit union sustainability.
The CUDEs also completed a community service project: pruning trees, pulling weeds and clearing rubbish at two affordable apartment complexes.
Throughout the four-day workshop, participants provided a running summary of each day’s events on Twitter for other CUDEs who were unable to attend.
Jim Dixon, a board member from the Credit Union of Colorado in Denver, concluded:
“As the ‘rookie’ of the 2009 DE Workshop, the more I become involved in the CUDE movement, the more excited and addicted I become to learn more, meet more CUDEs and become more involved in the greatest financial organization designed for ‘People Helping People.’” |
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| What Sustains Us | | The Credit Union Development Education (DE) program is sustained by a corps of volunteers dedicated to growing the credit union movement by assisting credit unions in the delivery of our core philosophy.
Linking our past with credit unions' present, the DE program brings renewed relevance to the philosophy of "People Helping People."
Through discussions of cultures and movements in developing nations, our own roots are brought to vivid life. Through presentations on community development and low-income credit unions, a new light is shed on the inherent power of our cooperative structure. And through group work, participants learn practical lessons on diversity and relying on others to solve problems.
When DE training is over, graduates return to their jobs revitalized. They gain a clear understanding that local issues are indeed global, and that credit unions have the unique ability to improve the lives of people everywhere.
Every year, people from all parts of the world become certified as Credit Union Development Educators (CUDEs). These individuals commit volunteer and professional time to take the credit union message to audiences throughout the world. In addition to promoting the credit union ideal, continuing involvement in the DE program provides CUDEs with an excellent opportunity for career development and personal enrichment.
Becoming a CUDE is a commitment -- a very rewarding one. Staff and volunteers alike can benefit from participation in this innovative learning experience and joining the proud ranks of CUDEs around the world.
Click here for amazing testimonials! |
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| How To Qualify | | In order to qualify for entrance to the program, individuals must:
Be an employee or volunteer of a credit union, league, association and/or service organization or, in the case of international participants, an association affiliated with the World Council of Credit Unions;
Be willing to devote a reasonable amount of work and personal time for development-related volunteer activities of your choosing. |
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| Trading Places: Credit Union Development Corps Makes First Exchanges | | 4 CUDEs to Trade Places with CDCUs
The National Federation of Community Development Credit Unions (Federation) and the National Credit Union Foundation (NCUF) have begun the first four partnerships in the Credit Union Development Corps, an exchange program between Credit Union Development Educators (CUDEs) and the Federation’s network of community development credit unions (CDCUs).
In this program, participating CUDEs visit a CDCU for one week to learn first-hand how it effectively serves its low-income members.
Subsequently, a representative from the CDCU spends one week at the CUDE’s institution, learning about that credit union’s programs and operations.
Click here to read diaries from exchanges highlighted in Credit Union Magazine! |
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 In this photo, Philadelphia Federal Credit Union's Vice President of Lending, Claire Ippoliti (second from left), a certified CUDE, studied how the Federation helps credit unions serve low-income members.
From left are the Federation's Linda Levy, Cliff Rosenthal, and Pam Owens.
See how and where the first exchanges are working... |
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| CU Development Educators "Stop Hunger" at CUNA GAC | | When Credit Union Development Educators arrived in the nation’s capital to participate in the Credit Union National Association’s Governmental Affairs Conference, they set aside Sunday to pack meals to “Stop Hunger Now.”
CUDE volunteers packed 15,000 meals in the community room of the Reeves Municipal Building at 14th and U Streets in Northwest Washington, where the District Government Employees FCU is located. Each meal cost 20 cents each and consists of dehydrated, fortified rice-soy meals containing over 20 vitamins and minerals especially formulated for the undernourished.
The meals were then vacuum-sealed in bags that will be shipped to needy communities as far away as Haiti.
The “Stop Hunger Now” project was being organized by Melissa Farley (CUDE Class of 2005), president and CEO of MB Consulting in Lynchburg, Va., and Carla Decker (Class of 1997), president and CEO of District Government Employees Federal Credit Union. They also raised donations to help cover the costs of the meals. |
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Who Supports Us |  The National Credit Union Foundation is the primary sponsor of the Credit Union Development Education program.
Support is provided by state credit union foundations and leagues, CUNA Mutual Group, the Credit Union National Association, and the World Council of Credit Unions. |
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