PALM SPRINGS, Calif.-At NAFCU's 21st Annual Volunteers Conference recently in Palm Springs, Calif., NCUA Board Member JoAnn Johnson commended credit union board members for their contribution to the credit union movement. "I applaud credit union board members," Johnson said. "You volunteers face demands that require constant effort and untold hours of selfless dedication for an unpaid job that I'm sure you find challenging and, I hope, also fulfilling. I truly believe that the credit union movement is made richer by its volunteer boards' active participation. Where else do people cooperate in a self-governed process for their own financial well being? As a volunteer credit union board member, you make decisions based on the best interests of your members, unlike other financial institutions, where directors often make decisions based on stockholder returns." Based on her experience as an Iowa state senator, Johnson encouraged the conferees to find out which legislative candidates support credit unions and volunteer in those campaigns. She added that her regulatory philosophy is one that ensures credit unions' ability to compete in a volatile marketplace.