The League of Southeastern Credit Unions and Affiliates have beenhosting emerging credit union leaders from Costa Rica thismonth.

The participants are part of the U.S. Department of State'sProfessional Fellows Program, which brings emerging leaders fromaround the world to the U.S. for intensive fellowships designed tobroaden their professional expertise.

Alabama and Florida credit unions are hosting eight credit unionfellows from Costa Rica who have been placed with credit unions inHuntsville, Tuscaloosa, Orlando, Tampa, Panama City and Miami.

“This is an exciting program to be affiliated with,” said LSCU& Affiliates President/CEO Patrick La Pine. “We've hosted CostaRican credit unions in the past and we've also had (representativesfrom) our credit unions go to Costa Rica. However, this programwill begin to give these Costa Rican credit union leaders realexperiences in U.S. credit unions. The experiences will beinvaluable as future credit union leaders.”

LSCU has had an international partnership with Costa Ricathrough the World Council of Credit Unions since 2005.

The Professional Fellows program supports internationalcooperation and builds networks of people and organizations workingon critical issues worldwide. The LSCU program is designed tofacilitate idea exchanges, promote foreign language skillsdevelopment, enhance cultural diversity and improve problem-solvingskills as they relate to credit union development and management.In addition, the program focuses on helping credit unions find newways to attract younger members.

At the conclusion of their fellowships, participants will gatherin Washington, D.C., to take part in the Professional FellowsCongress, May 8-10, 2013. The congress provides a forum forparticipants to discuss best practices with other young leaders intheir profession, and to develop concrete projects and networksthat they can implement upon returning to their countries.