LAS VEGAS-With its upcoming meeting already selling out occupancy at the Bally's Resort here and spilling over to other hotels, Bob Dorsa, president of the National Association of Credit Union Service Organizations (NACUSO) recently announced expanded plans for the trade association. NACUSO will host its first-ever credit union directors conference on CUSO-related issues on November 5-7, 2000 at the Renaissance Wailea Resort on Maui, Hawaii. "As CUSOs have continued their rapid growth in both numbers and size, the number of volunteers in need of training and industry information has exploded," said Dorsa. "We plan to present extensive fundamental information and case study materials as well as open forum discussions designed to educate the credit union volunteer on the important role that CUSOs will play in the future," he added. The timing of the meeting is to accommodate boards' strategic planning requirements for 2001, he said. The trade is also planning its usual Fall Conference/Workshop in Washington, D.C. at the Renaissance Hotel on September 20-22, just before the 2000 presidential election. There will be the usual array of speakers and CUSO case studies, with NCUA officials added, if available. The annual conference in Vegas on May 9-12 has a packed agenda and now, a packed house, with well over 400 attendees expected, said Dorsa. Opening on Tuesday with separate discussion groups geared to explore ideas on whatever participants want to focus: either operational CUSOs or financial services CUSOs, the following day brings a keynote session on strategy by Peter Johnson and later, breakouts on CUSO formation and structure. The awards luncheon for the CUSO of the year breaks up the day; and later sessions include recruiting for the CUSO CEO position and CUSO marketing. This year's meeting will feature an Internet Cafe so that attendees can stay in touch via e-mail and the Web; another innovation Dorsa said was requested by members. Day two will open with motivational speaker Rick Olson, who will attempt to help listeners "Unleash Greatness" and live up to potential. Later, insurance, CUSO compliance issues and alternative investments will hold sway. The later sessions will focus on aligning the business plans of the CUSO with its sponsor credit union(s) and the effect of the Gramm-Leach-Bliley Act, or financial modernization bill, and how to manage CUSOs that have multiple owners. CUSO privacy requirements and compliance will also be covered. Day three opens with speaker Tom Davis on "The Human Connection to Change... What's Logical Isn't Necessarily Psychological" and segues into examining CUSOs with an operational objective. The usual wrap-up Q&A discussion session that is conducted by Dorsa gives attendees a last chance to ask that yet-unanswered question. For information on this or any NACUSO meeting, call 888-462-7302 or visit their Web site at (NACUSO.org). -
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