HUNTINGTON BEACH, Calif. -nuVision Financial Federal Credit Union has dubbed director Donald C. Roof "Mr. Credit Union" and after his 50 years of dedication to the movement it is no wonder. "Whenever there is a new election I'm always asked what would you like to do and I've always responded with put me wherever I'm needed," said Roof. "Isn't it interesting what life has in store for you." Roof's first brush with credit unions started when he was preparing to build a house and he needed a place to save his money. As an employee at the Douglas Aircraft Company a few friends told him about the company credit union and Roof says he's been hooked ever since. "I joined as member and I liked what I saw so much that when a friend who was secretary at the time asked if I'd be interested in helping them do some work," said Roof. "I asked what he had in mind and he said how about you come down and help on the credit committee-and that was it for me. I just wanted to be even more involved." He started volunteering for what was then called The Douglas Aircraft Company Federal Credit Union in 1954 serving on the credit committee, then later on the supervisory committee. In 1966 he was elected to the board of directors and since then has served as board chairman, treasurer, 1st vice chairman and secretary. Roof has also served as chairman of the credit union's executive, retirement income plan, compensation, and delinquent loan committees as well as a member of the planning, ALCO, member service, technology, loan, and facilities committees. While Roof retired from the Santa Monica-based McDonnell Douglas Aircraft Company after 40 years in positions ranging from general supervisor in planning and manager of publications to manager of manufacturing business, he still kept serving credit unions. "What I've always liked about what I was doing was helping the guy who didn't have too much to start with," said Roof. "I've served with 10 different managers and presidents/CEOs and it has been lots of fun." The board numbers have dropped from 11 to nine and committees have increased from just two in the early days to 11 as a way to get more directors involved and to better gauge what's happening in the credit union. There has also been a shift in the director make-up from "industrial shop" types to today's board members coming from more operations, accounting and other white-collar areas. Roof has also seen the credit union through two name changes, and despite the loyalties to the credit union's original sponsor the board recognized the need for a new name. "When you volunteer you have to look for what you can do for other people not for yourself," said Roof. "Boeing had taken over the old McDonnell Aircraft, our field of membership had been changing with more SEG groups and at the time the change to nuVision was put to the board I had been retired 26 years- we had to lose the old name. The only real conflict if you want to call it that was that we insisted on keeping the federal in the name." Roof credits constant education and communication in helping maintain great board management relations at nuVision Financial FCU. "I don't like to give advice. I'd rather call it sharing a few good ideas. Healthy board and staff relations start with associating with one another-get involved with your board," said Roof. "Keep them updated and educated on what's going on not only in your community but in the movement as a whole. One of the greatest things in the world is to have people from different fields get together and be involved. Let the board interact with the community and you'll get more of the community involved with your credit union." A positive spokesman for the credit union movement, Roof says he's worried about credit unions drifting too far from the CU philosophy in their quest to be larger. As for hobbies Roof says building his house from the ground up has been his most challenging. "I have a striking acquaintance with all the nails in this house," said Roof. "It took about four years to complete. I used lots of birch, ash, red cedar, mahogany and redwood inside and even installed my own heating system in the floor. I just love it here. I'm about an eighth of a mile from the beach and when we have that big slide in 2045 I'll have an ocean view." [email protected]