Credit Union Times Magazine May-24, 2006

• CUNA Ramps Up GOTV Efforts

  By Staff Writer

  WASHINGTON - Gearing up for the 2006 election season, CUNA's political affairs department has launched its 2006 Elections Action Center.

• Arizona CU Staff Visits Mexico's Caja Libertad on Fact-Finding Tour

  By Staff Writer

  PHOENIX - Six representatives from three Arizona credit unions and the Arizona Credit Union System recently returned from a weeklong, fact-finding tour of the marketing efforts ACUS' partner credit union, Caja Libertad.

• Just pic and cutline for this please

  By Staff Writer

  Horizons FCU Awards Youth Week Winner See BINGHAMTON, N.Y. -Horizons Federal Credit Union President/CEO Mario C. DiFulvio presents young member Kathryn Wills, a prize of $50 for making a deposit into her savings account during National Credit Union Youth Week. Wells was delighted to receive the extra money in her...

• E1 Financial Hosts Opportunity For CU Officials to Meet Assembly Candidate Eng

  By Staff Writer

  MONTEREY PARK, Calif. - Credit union leaders were recently given the opportunity to meet 49th District Assembly Candidate Mike Eng at a reception hosted by E1 Financial Credit Union.

• CUs Part of National Rebuilding Together Day

  By Staff Writer

  VIENNA, Va., and SAN JOSE, Calif. - All across the country credit union volunteers rolled up their sleeves and brushed up on their DIY skills to participate in National Rebuilding Together Day.

• Credit Unions Find Friends Throughout Congress in New Power Rankings

  By Sarah Snell Cooke

  WASHINGTON - A government relations information management group recently ranked all the members of Congress according to power, and credit unions count members among their allies throughout the ranks.

• Mountain America CU's Business Services Open House Turns into an Annual Blockbuster

  By Michelle A. Samaad

  WEST JORDAN, Utah - What started out as a "defense strategy" to counter the fallout from a seasoned loan officer leaving Mountain America Credit Union has turned into an annual event with record attendance.

• CUNA Mutual Discovery Conference Hottest Ticket in Vegas

  By Staff Writer

  MADISON, Wis. - For the first time in 11 years the CUNA Mutual Discovery Conference 2006 "Ideas. Inspiration. Innovation." has sold out.

• Where CU Friends and Foes Fall on List

  By Staff Writer

  Senate * No. 4 Finance Committee Chairman Charles Grassley (R-Iowa) * No. 34 Banking Committee Chairman Richard Shelby (R-Ala.) * No. 59 Regulatory relief leader Mike Crapo (R-Idaho) * No. 73 Banking Committee Ranking Member Paul Sarbanes (D-Md.)* * No. 96 Tom Carper (D-Del.), bankruptcy reform champion House * No....

• Credit Union Figures Take Part in First Ever NCBA Summit

  By Sarah Snell Cooke

  WASHINGTON - Credit unions shared the stage with representatives of a number of other cooperatives at the first-ever National Co-op Summit May 3, organized by the National Cooperative Business Association, which attracted about 300 attendees.

• `What We Do' Got Big Play at Utah League Conference

  By Jim Rubenstein

  LAYTON, Utah - To make sure Utah credit union employees attending last week's annual meeting of the Utah League of Credit Unions got the message, "It's What We Do" signs were pervasive - even emblazoned on hotel room keys.

• Mortgage Asset Research Institute Releases Latest Fraud Report, Florida Leads in Cases of Reported Fraud Against Lenders

  By Staff Writer

  WASHINGTON - The Mortgage Asset Research Institution (MARI) has released its eighth annual mortgage fraud report for the Mortgage Bankers Association, and the findings show that while mortgage originations remained strong in 2005, so did mortgage fraud.

• Navy Federal Promotion Encourages $1 Million in Youth Account Deposits

  By Staff Writer

  VIENNA, Va. - Navy Federal Credit Union branches around the world came up with creative themes to encourage and educate young members and their parents about the importance of saving money early.

• New England-Area CUs Stay Afloat During Heavy Rains

  By Staff Writer

  MARLBOROUGH, Mass. and PORTLAND, Maine - With heavy rains that pounded parts of New England relentlessly for nearly three days in the early part of last week beginning to taper off by Wednesday, residents of Maine, Massachusetts and New Hampshire began to assess damages to their homes and businesses wrought...

• Bay Area CU Mascots Talk Savings with Kindergarteners

  By Staff Writer

  OREGON, Ohio - To help celebrate National Credit Union Youth Week, Bay Area Credit Union's own Boomer and his sidekick, Bean-Counter stopped by four kindergarten classes at Coy Elementary School.

• Charter Oak FCU Board Heads to Big Apple To Visit Shinkin Central Bank

  By Staff Writer

  GROTON, Conn. - Charter Oak Federal Credit Union Board Members recently headed to New York City to visit with Takeshi Aoki, senior analyst for Japan's Shinkin Central Bank Research Institute.

• Attorneys as `Debt Relief Agencies' Challenged Under Bankruptcy Reform Law

  By Sarah Snell Cooke

  WASHINGTON - The Connecticut Bar Association and the National Association of Consumer Bankruptcy Attorneys have filed suit challenging the U.S. Trustees interpretation of attorneys as debt relief agencies under the Bankruptcy Abuse Prevention and Consumer Protection Act.

• NCUA Rules in the Works on Underserved Areas and Conversions

  By Jim Rubenstein

  LAS VEGAS - Responding to Congressional and court pressures, NCUA is working on two clarifying regulations this summer dealing with the Utah underserved case and bank charter conversions and is considering a third on CUSOs, NCUA Board Member Gigi Hyland told NACUSO's annual convention meeting here last week. In a...

• New York State 2006-07 Budget Means New Fees for State-Chartered CUs

  By Staff Writer

  LATHAM, N.Y. - New York State Credit Union League General Counsel Mike Lanotte would have preferred fees levied on state financial institutions for the state's 2006-07 budget year remain unchanged. But considering they were originally proposed by Gov. George Pataki to be much higher, Lanotte says the increase could have...

• Should the Earnings of Credit Unions That Convert to Banks be Taxed?

  By David Morrison

  WASHINGTON - Should credit unions that convert to mutual banks and then go on to issue stock pay taxes on the retained earning they bring with them? Or should the retained earnings be channeled into an independent foundation or other charitable organization dedicated to fulfilling some of the credit union's...

• Technological Card Changes to Reduce Fraud Appear Very Unlikely for U.S. Market; Are U.S. Cards More Vulnerable to Fraud?

  By David Morrison

  ARLINGTON, Va. - Any credit union executives who might have looked to updated credit and debit card technologies for ways to better combat card fraud should not hold their breath.

• CUNA CFO Council Has Fun Detailing The Financial Big Picture

  By Myriam DiGiovanni

  MADISON, Wis. - Chief financial officers that want to be in the know need not look any further than the CUNA CFO Council says Brian McVeigh, CFO Council chair and NuUnion Credit Union senior vice president/CFO. Founded in 1994, the CUNA CFO Council was developed from credit union CFOs looking...

• Chatfield Kids Win CU Promotions

  By Jim Rubenstein

  COLUMBUS, Ohio - The Chatfield dynasty is alive and well with two of its members winning recent promotions. Danielle Chatfield, vice president of lending at the $290 million KEMBA Financial CU since 2004, has been promoted to chief operating officer and her brother, Mark, left the Texas Credit Union League...

• Kanjorski Gives Choice One Community CU High Marks for VITA Participation

  By Staff Writer

  WILKES-BARRE, Pa. - Employees of Choice One Community CU earned applause from Congressman Paul Kanjorski (D-Pa.) for their participation in the Volunteer Income Tax Assistance (VITA) Program and offering free assistance during tax season to lower-income families in the Greater Wilkes-Barre area.

• CUSOs Advice on `Disruptive' Role

  By Staff Writer

  LAS VEGAS - As the industry's longtime champion of innovation, CUSOs are in an ideal position to become agents of change "in taking on the Goliaths," but there are any number of strategic barriers including overestimating potential growth markets, a Toronto management consultant advised CUSO executives this week. In a...

• SECU Volunteers Unite Through Regional Strategic Planning Sessions

  By Staff Writer

  RALEIGH, N.C. - To ensure its local level volunteers remain connected State Employees' Credit Union has recently held a regional strategic planning session and dinner.

• Mica Pledges Commitment to Financial Education

  By Staff Writer

  WASHINGTON - CUNA President and CEO Dan Mica reiterated the organization's commitment to financial literacy before the U.S. Treasury Department's Financial Literacy and Education Commission May 15.

• To Fight Banker Attack CUVA Breaks Out In Song

  By Staff Writer

  LAKEWOOD, N.J. - With bankers on the attack about CU taxation marketing/public relations firm CUVA has unveiled a new proactive tool to fight back - a little song called "Hypocrisy."

• MEMBERS Financial Rolls Out SEG Marketing Program

  By Staff Writer

  MADISON, Wis. - CUNA Mutual Group's MEMBERS Financial Services has begun offering credit unions its Select Employee Group marketing program designed exclusively to help them market insurance and investment programs to members and attract new members through retirement planning and financial services. "Going directly to SEG employees with a financial...

• Maine Credit Union League Breakfasts With Governor

  By Staff Writer

  WESTBROOK, Maine - The Maine Credit Union league was recently part of a select group from the financial services and insurance industries in the state who attended a fundraising breakfast and roundtable discussion with Gov. John Baldacci. Also at the May 16th event were Jon Paradise, Governmental & Public Affairs...

• Redwood CU Names Youth Week Winner

  By Staff Writer

  SANTA ROSA, Calif. - Redwood Credit Union has recently awarded $100 to 11-year-old Sean Thomas Wolfe as part of its 2006 Youth Week Savings Challenge.

• Universal 1 CU Inspires Youth Savings

  By Staff Writer

  DAYTON, Ohio - What better way to inspire kids to save than teaching them how they can earn money?

• Merrimack Valley FCU Latest to Offer SBA Loans

  By Staff Writer

  BOSTON - Members of Merrimack Valley Federal Credit Union now have an additional business lending resource to turn to.

• Bankruptcy Attorneys Hold Free Workshop for Katrina Survivors

  By Staff Writer

  NEW ORLEANS - The National Association of Consumer Bankruptcy Attorneys planned to hold a special workshop May 20 free of charge to Hurricane Katrina survivors.

• Dahlstrom Named President of Education Credit Union Council

  By Staff Writer

  SAN FRANCISCO - At its 33rd Annual Conference held in San Francisco, the Education Credit Union Council, Inc. elected its new board.

• Wescom Hits Airwaves Touting CU Difference

  By Staff Writer

  PASADENA, Calif. - A popular radio consumer finance show recently talked up the credit union difference with Wescom Credit Union Senior Vice President of Corporate Development Joel Chavarin on air.

• CFE FCU Teams Up to Recognize Workplace Safety

  By Staff Writer

  ORLANDO, Fla. - CFE Federal Credit Union has joined forces with Orange County Public Schools Workers' Compensation department to recognize and award five elementary schools for providing a safe, accident-free working environment for their employees. The five schools singled out included Dover Shores Elementary, Eccleston Elementary, Hillcrest Elementary, Lake Sybelia...

• Louisiana CU League Awards Scholarships To Southeast CUNA Management School

  By Staff Writer

  HARAHAN, La. - The Louisiana Credit Union League has awarded three Louisiana credit union professionals scholarships to the Southeast CUNA Management School in Athens, Ga.

• CU Direct Connect Wins Top Award

  By Staff Writer

  LAS VEGAS - CU Direct Connect of Centennial, Colo. has won the highest honor from NACUSO - the CUSO Collaboration & Cooperation Award for 2006 - presented during NACUSO's annual conference here.

• Membership Gains Impacted When Large CU-to-Bank Conversions Occur

  By Staff Writer

  MADISON, Wis. - Last year's membership gains may be directly impacted if any large credit unions convert to savings banks this year, according to the latest data from CUNA Mutual Group. In its March Credit Union Trends Report, CUNA Mutual noted that the loss of OmniAmerican and Community Credit Unions...

• Huron River Area CU Hosts Financial Education Blitz

  By Staff Writer

  ANN ARBOR, Mich. - Huron River Area Credit Union turned up the heat on its financial literacy efforts during Youth Week.

• Orlando FCU Gives Back Over $806,000 To Members

  By Staff Writer

  ORLANDO, Fla. - Orlando Federal Credit Union has shown its members that it literally pays to be a member.

• DFCU Owners United Still Assessing Options; Some Members Still Have Not Received CU's Letter

  By Staff Writer

  DEARBORN, Mich. - DFCU Owners United, the group of members of the $1.8 billion DFCU Financial which had first opposed the CU's proposed conversion into a mutual bank and also backed a special meeting to vote on recalling the board, is still weighing its options in the wake of the...

• CU Charity Golf Tournament Tees Up $100,000 for CMN

  By Staff Writer

  ANTHEM, Ariz. - Desert Schools Federal Credit Union recently hosted its charity golf tournament raising money for the Children's Miracle Network and Phoenix Children's Hospital. Desert Schools and its business partners raised $100,000 for CMN to be used for the Phoenix Children's Hospital "One Darn Cool School" program. This year's...

• Langley FCU to Help Members Improve Credit Scores

  By Staff Writer

  NEWPORT NEWS, Va. - Langley Federal Credit Union has launched CreditBuilder, a program designed to help members with no credit, little credit or unfavorable credit. CreditBuilder works by depositing proceeds of the loan into a savings account, which earns the standard savings rate and is held as collateral, according to...

• Certified Credit Union Executives Force Increasing

  By Staff Writer

  MADISON, Wis. - Add another 47 individuals to the total number of Certified Credit Union Executive designations awarded nationwide. CCUEs now total 2,383.

In Other News

• DONATIONS

  By Staff Writer

  Michigan Schools and Government Credit Union, Clinton Township, Mich., announced the winners of its Rudolph Heino and Sallylou Cloyd scholarship awards. The six students chosen to receive the one-time scholarship clearly demonstrate a desire to overcome obstacles, dedicate themselves to worthy causes and commit themselves to higher learning. Among the...

News

• Utah League Head Chides Simmons On Wal-Mart View

  By Jim Rubenstein

  LAYTON, Utah - When it comes to both credit unions and Wal-Mart Stores, the chairman of the American Bankers Association, Harris Simmons, is clearly out of touch with his fellow bankers. That's the view of John Lund, the chairman of the Utah League of Credit Unions, who charges Simmons has...

• Panini Opens New MICR Center in Ohio

  By Staff Writer

  DAYTON, Ohio - Panini North America, a subsidiary of Panini S.p.A., is opening a new MICR Testing and Qualification Center in Dayton, Ohio.

• NACHA Issues Rulemaking on Back Office Conversions

  By Staff Writer

  SAN DIEGO - During its recent PAYMENTS 2006 conference, NACHA announced the approval an amendment to its operating rules to permit retailers and billers that accept checks at the point-of-sale to convert eligible checks to ACH debits in the back office.

• Special Report: Check 21/Image Exchange

  By Staff Writer

  Credit unions are still waiting for full-blown image exchange to take off, but many are finding substantial cost savings in forwarding items electronically. Pages 22-24.

• Palmetto Cooperative Services Chooses VSoft Branch Capture; CUSO Working To Penetrate CUs in Three Core States

  By Staff Writer

  ATLANTA - Palmetto Cooperative Services has selected VSoft's branch capture solution to offer image exchange to its item processing credit union clients.

• PCUA Singles Out Marketing Elite

  By Staff Writer

  HARRISBURG, Pa. - The Pennsylvania Credit Union Association recently honored its brightest credit union marketing efforts with its annual publications and Web site awards.

• 14B ACH Payments in 2005; Doubles in Five Years

  By Staff Writer

  SAN DIEGO - Automated clearinghouse payments were up 16.2% in 2005 over 2004 to nearly 14 billion transactions, NACHA recently reported.

• PCUA Names Woods Top CU Professional

  By Staff Writer

  HARRISBURG, Pa. - During its recent Annual Convention and Exposition in Atlantic City, N.J., the Pennsylvania Credit Union Association presented its William W. Pratt Lifetime Achievement Award for the Credit Union Professional of the Year to Keystone Federal Credit Union Executive Vice President Christine Woods. The annual award is presented...

• Kodak Unveils New Scanners

  By Staff Writer

  ROCHESTER, N.Y. - Eastman Kodak has released the KODAK i1200 Series Scanners and the KODAK i1300 Series Scanners.

• Lots of Conference Action

  By Staff Writer

  There were a few key conferences held recently and Credit Union Times was there to provide on-site coverage. See conference coverage on pages 26-27 and page 50.

• Share Draft Volume Still Strong Despite Increase in ACH, Plastic Cards

  By Staff Writer

  SHREWSBURY, N.J. - Share drafts aren't dead just yet.

• Key Credit Union Bills Dead This Session, Says Utah Congressman

  By Jim Rubenstein

  LAYTON, Utah - Credit union trade groups have known for some time that key industry bills are dead for this session in Congress, but that message also got delivered by a Utah Congressman to the Utah League of Credit Unions at its annual meeting convened here last week. "Nothing will...

• PCUA Shines Spotlight on Winners; a New Youth Ambassador is Named

  By Staff Writer

  HARRISBURG, Pa. - The Pennsylvania Credit Union Association's 72nd Annual Convention at the Borgata Hotel Casino & Spa in Atlantic City, New Jersey served as the site to honor the credit union industry's brightest stars.

• Fiserv Sees Substitute Check Volume Growing Rapidly; Benefits of Send Side of Exchange Outweigh Receiving

  By Staff Writer

  BROOKFIELD, Wis. - When image exchange is in full bloom, paper items will be a thing of the past, but the industry isn't there yet by a long shot.

• PCUA Elects Board, Honors Volunteer

  By Staff Writer

  HARRISBURG, Pa. - The Pennsylvania Credit Union Association Board of Directors has re-elected its chairman and vice chair.

• 18% of COCC's Document Processing Clients Exchange Images

  By Staff Writer

  AVON, Conn. - COCC announced that 18 of its 99 document processing clients are exchanging images using the Federal Reserve's FedForward product.

News Briefs

• Former GE Chairman & CEO To Headline ABA Annual Convention

  By Staff Writer

  WASHINGTON - The American Bankers Association recently announced a number of heavy hitters to address its Banking Leaders Forum and Annual Convention set for Oct. 15-18 in Phoenix. Jack Welch, former chairman and CEO of General Electric, will set the tone for the meeting, then Federal Reserve Board Chairman Ben...

• 2006 ICU Day Theme Vote Is On

  By Staff Writer

  MADISON, Wis. - It is time once again to vote for this year's International Credit Union Day theme on the World Council of Credit Unions, Inc. Web site.

• NCUA June Board Meeting Delayed

  By Staff Writer

  ALEXANDRIA, Va. - The NCUA Board has postponed its monthly meeting for June.

• Sun Shines Brightly on Ventura County CU Billboards

  By Staff Writer

  VENTURA, Calif. - Ventura County Credit Union is building a sunny brand awareness campaign with a high-profile billboard along California's historic route 101. The heavily traveled freeway runs through the heart of Ventura County, connecting with Los Angeles to the south and Santa Barbara to the north. "If Ventura County...

• AACUC Panel to Feature Veteran, Young CU Leader Experiences

  By Staff Writer

  SEATTLE - Veteran and young credit union leaders will share the stage to discuss their unique experiences in the movement.

Marketing

• Navy Federal Honored for Graphic Design

  By Staff Writer

  VIENNA, Va. - Graphic Design USA, a national magazine for design professionals, has honored Navy Federal Credit Union with four 2006 American Inhouse Design Awards. The credit union was recognized for its 2004 Annual Report; campaign poster for Toys for Tots-Delivering Joy; Car Loan Air Freshener Direct Mailer; and Tween...

• CU Digest Wins Award of Excellence

  By Staff Writer

  RANCHO CUCAMONGA, Calif. - The California and Nevada Credit Union Leagues' flagship publication, Credit Union Digest, has received three Communicator Awards for publications excellence. In the overall magazine category, the league received the award of excellence-the highest distinction-for the January 2005 issue of Credit Union Digest. Taking an advocacy-centric focus...

• SECU Promotes State Employees with `What's In It For You' Image Campaign

  By Staff Writer

  RALEIGH, N.C. - State Employees' Credit Union and the Office of State Personnel and various other state agency representatives, are shining a spotlight on state employees and the services they provide by sponsoring the "What's In It For You" Image Campaign. The campaign is a one week radio promotion airing...

• Everything CU.com's Triple-B Branding Event to Hit Baltimore

  By Staff Writer

  HOLYOKE, Mass. - EverythingCU.com will host its popular credit union brand immersion event "Branding, Bonding & Brew -Once Upon a Brand" in Baltimore. The second ever "Triple-B-Baltimore" will be held September 20-22 at the Admiral Fell Inn. Attendees called "gnomes" are submerged in a branding experience through a mix of...

• Consumer CU Marketing VP Civil Rights Hall of Fame Inductee

  By Staff Writer

  WAUKEGAN, Ill. - Consumer Credit Union Vice President of Sales and Marketing Hal Coxon has been inducted to the Lake County Civil Rights Hall of Fame. One of 12 honored for their outstanding contributions toward the advancement of civil rights in Lake County, Illinois, Coxon's civil rights activism has spanned...

Regulatory/Compliance

• NCUA Releases Updated Insurance Brochure

  By Staff Writer

  ALEXANDRIA, Va. - NCUA is getting the word out to credit unions that it has updated the Your Insured Funds brochure. The Federal Deposit Insurance Reform Act and conforming amendments changed deposit insurance coverage levels. Certain retirement accounts, including Individual Retirement Accounts and Keoghs, now have federal deposit insurance coverage...

• IRS Going After Abusive Tax-Exempt Credit Counseling

  By Staff Writer

  WASHINGTON - Credit counseling agencies that do not comply with the law, have been put on notice. The Internal Revenue Service has released a report on tax-exempt credit counseling agencies and announced it plans to take further steps to make sure these organizations comply with the law.

• OFHEO, FinCEN Agree to Share Mortgage Fraud Data

  By Staff Writer

  WASHINGTON - The Office of Federal Housing Enterprise Oversight and the Financial Crimes Enforcement Network reached an agreement to facilitate the sharing of OFHEO examination findings with FinCEN concerning actual or suspected mortgage fraud.

• Newtek Attempts to Thwart Delisting with 10-K Filing

  By Staff Writer

  NEW YORK - Newtek Business Services, Inc. said May 11 it has filed its Form 10-K annual report for the year ending Dec. 31, 2005, but a NASDAQ hearing is still scheduled for June 1 to address why the company missed the filing deadline. The small business services provider and...

• Commissioner Cynthia Glassman to Leave SEC

  By Staff Writer

  WASHINGTON - After more than four years as one of four commissioners at the Securities and Exchange Commission, Cynthia Glassman announced May 15 she plans to leave at the end of her term on June 5. Glassman did not set a specific date for her departure but according to SEC,...

• Hood Pays Visits to CUs and State Regulators

  By Staff Writer

  ALEXANDRIA, Va. - NCUA Vice Chairman Rodney Hood headed west for a myriad of visits with state regulators and credit unions.

• NCUA Names Morton Region IV Director

  By Staff Writer

  ALEXANDRIA, Va. - NCUA has named Keith C. Morton director of Region IV effective May 14.

Tech Bytes

• Greylock FCU Migrates to OSI Platform

  By Staff Writer

  GLASTONBURY, Conn. - Pittsfield, Mass.-based Greylock Federal Credit Union, with $848 million in assets, 11 branches and approximately 61,000 members, has selected Open Solutions Inc.'s The Complete Credit Union Solution for core processing.

• S1 Corp Launches Package of Biz Lending App Tools

  By Staff Writer

  ATLANTA - S1 Corporation has rolled out the latest versions of its lending solutions. The company, a provider of customer interaction software for financial and payment services, recently launched the latest release of S1 Consumer Lending, S1 Business Lending, S1 Lending Docs, and S1 Credit Origination Server. Some of the...

Special Report

• Accolades for MaPS CU Administration Center

  By Staff Writer

  SALEM, Ore. -MaPS Credit Union's new Administration Center is making a name for itself.

• SRP FCU Unveils Belair Elementary Branch

  By Staff Writer

  NORTH AUGUST, S.C. - SRP Federal Credit Union and Columbia County Schools have joined forces to open a credit union branch at Belair Elementary. Business Development Manager Yvonne Meeks, who coordinated the partnership with Columbia County School Superintendent Tommy Price and Belair Elementary Principal Mark Boyd, says the move is...

Opinions

• For Check 21, the Time is Now; CUs Have to Jump in to Reap the Rewards

  By Staff Writer

  "If you build it, they will come," to paraphrase the famous line from the movie Field of Dreams. But when it came to developing a Check 21 solution, it was a little more complicated than building a baseball diamond in the middle of a cornfield. There were questions about processes,...

Letters to the editor

• Voting Requirements Serve a Purpose in Conversion Attempts

  By Staff Writer

  I just read Editor-in-Chief Paul Gentile's April 26th column along with comments from Dave Adams and Marv Umholtz. I just want to thank Gentile for his comments and the open opportunity he has given any interested contributor to speak their minds regarding the conversion issue.

Looking Back

• CREDIT UNION TIMES Vol. 13, No. 21 May 22, 2002

  By Staff Writer

  Looking back four years ago finds NCUA Board member Debbie Matz holding a meeting with credit union leaders to discuss unintended consequences in the examination process. The candid dialogue between regulator and regulated was hailed a success by attendees.

Opinion

• No Longer Masters of Our Destiny

  By Staff Writer

  Let's face it: There's no success in isolation. This is true at nearly every level of society. As individuals, we routinely combine our efforts with others to achieve greater success, as do our credit unions. If you doubt this, think of what your credit union would look like absent all...

Publisher's Column

• The McHenry Hearing and Good Old DFCU Financial

  By Staff Writer

  The much anticipated hearing on Congressman Patrick McHenry's Credit Union Charter Choice Act, which would lessen NCUA's role in credit union-to-bank conversions, produced some interesting tidbits.

People

• WEST

  By Staff Writer

  Matadors Community Credit Union, Chatsworth, Calif., has elected Robert Stoneham as the CU's new chair and Kevin Bread as a new member of its board. LBS Financial Credit Union, Long Beach, Calif., has promoted Felicia Graves to vice president of salary plan and has named Jovilyn Herrick vice president/branch manager...

• MIDWEST

  By Staff Writer

  Day Air Credit Union, Kettering, Ohio, has named Bettina Buscemi, business development specialist. First American Credit Union, Beloit, Wis., has recently promoted Shari Fegre to mortgage loan processor; Dawn Miller and Jenny Miller to member service representatives; Kate Affholder to receptionist/teller supervisor; Emma Prowse to information systems specialist; and Dan'ell...

• EAST

  By Staff Writer

  Connex Credit Union, North Haven, Conn., has appointed Anne Guetti as the director of sales and business development and S. John Severson has joined the Commercial Lending Department through CUSO Services. Family First of NY Federal Credit Union, Rochester, N.Y., has re-elected Donald Milton, chairman; Gary Lazenby, vice-chairman; and James...

• SOUTH

  By Staff Writer

  Toni Davisson, vice president of finance with SC Telco Credit Union, Greenville, S.C., has graduated from the Graduate School of Bank Investments and Financial Management at the University of South Carolina. Yvonne Meeks, business development manager at SRP Federal Credit Union, North Augusta, S.C., has been honored with the South...

• SOUTHWEST

  By Staff Writer

  First Financial Credit Union, Albuquerque, N.M., has named Bryan Vice, director of business services. Primeway Federal Credit Union, Houston, has named Randal Ward, vice president of credit and collections.

In Memoriam

• New CUNA Lobbyist Has Seen CUs Gain Equality on Capitol Hill

  By Sarah Snell Cooke

  WASHINGTON - Credit unions came full circle during his 25 years on Capitol Hill, CUNA's new Vice President for Legislative Affairs Dean Sagar observed.

• CU Movement Loses a Leader-Former Wescom CEO Robert Brain

  By Staff Writer

  PASADENA, Calif. - After battling Lou Gehrig's disease, Wescom Credit Union Founder Robert T. Brain has died at the age of 75. He began his career working in the engineering department at the Pacific Telephone Company. During that time, he became interested in credit unions and was elected to the...

• First Tech CU's Mike Osborne Dies at Age 49; Selfless Leader Known for His Operational Expertise

  By Michelle A. Samaad

  BEAVERTON, Ore. - Mike Osborne, executive vice president and CFO at First Tech Credit Union, died on May 13 at the age of 49 of pneumonia. Osborne was a rising star among credit unions, known for his knowledge of operational issues, specifically technology. He spoke at many credit union events...