SEATTLE -- One of the African-American Credit Union Coalition's key architects and long-time board members says he's all for bringing in new talent to keep the momentum going.
Michael Hale, presi-dent/CEO of Andrews Federal Credit Union, who was one of the founding members of AACUC and served as its first chairman, has chosen not to seek another term on the board according to AACUC. Hale is currently serving as chair emeritus and conference committee co-chair.
Five persons are running for three seats on the coalition's board. Helen Godfrey-Smith, president/CEO of Shreveport Federal Credit Union, has been with the coalition since it officially formed in 1999 and is running for another term. Sheilah Montgomery, who has also been with the AACUC since its early days, is also running for another term on the board. Montgomery is president/CEO of 1st Choice Credit Union.
Three AACUC members are also vying for a position on the board. Vaughn Johnson, vice president of business consulting at Members United Corporate FCU, Melinda Edmunds, vice president at Congressional FCU and Tarra Jackson, vice president of lending at Del-One FCU.
In a move unlike at any industry organization, bringing in new talent ensures that a group's mission continues to move forward, said Bob Harvey, chair of the AACUC.
"It was important to him to have new members on the board," Harvey said of Hale. "He does not want [the AACUC board] to be some type of exclusive club. It's a way to better serve by having new, younger and more talented people on the board."
Harvey, who is also president/CEO of $484 million Seattle Metropolitan Credit Union, emphasized that Hale "is not going away from AACUC." Indeed, Hale has been instrumental in the coalition's launch and mission as well as ensuring that the group's conferences ran kink-free.
"As we move on and move up, we can now have the time to take the organization to another level," Harvey said.
The votes will be cast and winners will be announced during the AACUC's business meeting, which will take place Aug. 11 during the group's annual conference in Baltimore.
The AACUC has more than 300 members in 32 states and partnerships with 32 vendors.
--msamaad@cutimes.com
