NASHVILLE, Tenn. - Capital of the Volunteer State. Home of the Grand Ole Opry. Site of Elvis Presley's home, Graceland and Dolly Parton's theme park, Dollywood. By the end of July, "Music City, USA" will also be renowned for hosting the World Council of Credit Unions' International Credit Union Forum 2000. A contingent of more than 2,000 representatives from U.S. and international credit unions is expected to attend the conference, July 15-20 at the Opryland Hotel. The six-day conference is intended to be as much an educational event, as a occasion for celebration. WOCCU has much to celebrate. WOCCU is the international organization of credit union associations representing 83 countries throughout the world. As of June 1999, members of WOCCU include regional and national credit union confederations serving 16 countries including: Africa, Asia, Australia, Canada, the Caribbean, Czech Republic, Fiji, Great Britain, Ireland, Latin America, New Zealand, Poland, Romania, Russia, Ukraine, and the U.S. The cultural and ethnic diversity of the countries affiliated with the WOCCU also is cause for a diverse business and economic environment credit unions around the world do business in. This hallmark is reflected in the list of speakers and topics for the educational programs on tap for the conference. Among the notables who will address attendees are Andrew Young, a former U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations, member of Congress, mayor of Atlanta, and human rights leader; Stuart Varney, a founding member of CNN's business team and anchor for Moneyline; John Hume, 1998 Nobel Peace Laureate, current member of the European Parliament, and founding member of the Irish League of Credit Unions and past League president. A sampling of the educational program includes sessions relating to e-commerce; competing in the global economy; economic and growth issues; leadership issues for management and boards; and creating and reaffirming credit union differentiation and uniqueness. Of course, no trip to Music City, USA would be complete without taking a tour and seeing some of the city's landmarks. A cornucopia of events to celebrate the international credit union movement, those who have helped develop it and the issues facing it in the new millennium. -
ekingoff@cutimes.com
