When credit union trade associations are brought up in aconversation, national organizations like CUNA and NAFCU areusually the first to come to mind. But, there are plenty of smallerniche groups serving the industry.

These include groups that cater to credit union operationaltopics such as marketing, CUSOs and technology, as well asorganizations that specialize in fields of membership, such asteachers, police officers and scientists.

Here's a look at five specialty trade associations that workwith and for credit unions:

The National Council of Postal CreditUnions

The National Council of Postal Credit Unions is the only tradeassociation dedicated exclusively to the education and networkingof postal credit unions.

“Postal Credit Unions are some of the oldest credit unions inthe United States. Many of them have charters that pre-datethe Federal Credit Union Act,” said Kevin Yaeger, NCPCU boardchairman and president/CEO of the $38 million Post Office CreditUnion in Madison, Wis. “In fact, the U.S. Postal Service wasinstrumental in chartering credit unions around the nation in the1920s and early 1930s.”

Each year, during the group's annual meeting and convention,postal credit unions have an opportunity to hear from, and provideinput to, top management of the Postal Service. Last year, PatrickR. Donahoe, postmaster general, spoke to the group. The conferenceprogram includes credit union topics and strategic updates from thePostal Service.

“As a whole, postal credit unions have been impacted in twoways, consolidation within the credit union movement and plantclosures and downsizing by the U.S. Postal Service,” Yaeger said.“Many of our member-credit unions have switched to communitycharters in order to sustain growth, while remaining focused ontheir postal base. In recent years, some of the smaller postalcredit unions have been merged into larger non-postal creditunions. The consolidation issue has been a standing item onour group's agenda for years and we'll continue to keep a close eyeon how changes at the Postal Service will impact our member-creditunions.”

Next: Developing Montana Montana Credit Unions for CommunityDevelopment

Montana Credit Unions for Community Development is thecharitable arm of the Montana Credit Union Network, helping toimplement programs that improve the social and economic well-beingof Montanans. Located in Helena, Mont., it delivers programs reaching consumers andcredit union members across the state.

The MCUCD provides marketing andtechnical support to the credit unions for each of the programs itadministers. Currently, MCUCD's efforts center in financial andconsumer education, free tax services and matched savingsaccounts.

MCUCD works directly with credit unions and communityorganizations to support programs that strengthen and educatemembers and the community. When a credit union or partner callslooking for help to prepare for a classroom financial educationpresentation, this organization provides them with appropriatetools and resources. In addition, they advocate at the statelevel to encourage lawmakers to support programs that help Montanafamilies.

Debra Kelly, compliance manager at the $88.5 million Sky FCU inLivingston, Mont., said her credit union belongs to theorganization because “they have a genuine desire to reach out andhelp – in so many areas – with their member credit unions and thecommunities and members that the credit unions serve.”

Next: Focus on Firefighters National Coalition of Firefighters CreditUnions

The National Coalition of Firefighters Credit Unions offers itsservices to all credit unions primarily serving firefighters andtheir families. Formally founded in 2008 by 25 credit unions aftermeeting since 1999, paid membership is voluntary; funds received gotoward providing conference scholarships and access tobenefits.

NCOFCU offers educational conferences and scholarships,networking opportunities with credit union colleagues through itswebsite, “Firefighters Credit UnionCommunity”, access to a membership database, shared policiesand procedures, discussion forums, an exclusive CEO listservnetwork, an exclusive volunteer listserv network, and memberdiscounts on services.

“After attending many conferences, serving as a volunteerdirector and firefighter and later CEO of a firefighter creditunion, I found myself sitting in rooms filled with people I reallydidn't know, and not much in common with,” said Grant Sheehan, thegroup's CEO.

“It was then that I decided to look to putting the directors andstaff of firefighter credit unions in the same room. From thatpoint on, the attending firefighters and staff found that thebrotherhood of firefighters and CEOs bonding and an open roundtablesharing of ideas and solutions was a terrific benefit that theyhave not found at any other conferences they have attended,”Sheehan said.

Next: For Volunteers Only National Association of Credit UnionChairmen

What makes the NationalAssociation of Credit Union Chairmen unique is that it is anall-volunteer group dedicated to the education and networking ofvolunteers. Those who attend the annual Roundtable Forum preparedetailed white papers and provide in-depth Call Reportdata. While the topics change every year, the format has notchanged in more than 30 years.

“All trade groups face challenges regarding membership indifficult economic times but we consistently get comments like 'Ican only attend one conference a year and this is the one that Ialways take back ideas from',” said Chuck Smith, chairman of the$264.5 million First New York Federal Credit Union in Schenectady,N.Y.

“This is powerful in that unlike most conferences, where wesimply are part of a huge audience and get 'talked at,' NACUCRoundtables require us to come to the small group discussionsprepared to contribute. Participants are encouraged to prepareposition papers on each of the roundtable discussion questionsprior to the conference,” Smith said.

Next: All In For Auditors The National Association ofCredit Union Supervisory & Auditing Committees

The main objective of NACUSAC is to provide education forsupervisory committees that is very specific to the all-volunteercommittees' needs. The group also includes internal auditors andother credit union staff, as well as board members, at its annualconference. Staff and board members are also permitted toparticipate in webinars hosted by the group.

“Most of the CPA firms that specialize in credit unionshave a training conference; however, their primary focus isnormally only to present their staff members and market theirservices,” said Gerry Dunning, who chairs the group and is also asupervisory committee member at the $1.2 billion Caltech EmployeesFCU in Pasadena, Calif. and the $1.1 billion Partners FCU inBurbank, Calif.

“At NACUSAC we have our annual conference where NACUSAC controlsthe agenda for the program and we bring in speakers from multipleCPA firms and Supervisory Committee members to present topics thatare timely for the committees,” Dunning said.