BALTIMORE-Even though it does not seem credit union officials need much enticing to attend one of NCUA Board Member Debbie Matz' Partnering and Leadership Successes workshops, the one slated for July 7 in Baltimore presents an added bonus. A block of tickets has been reserved for attendees of the Baltimore PALS workshop to attend the Red Sox-Orioles game at Camden Yards later that day. The free workshop will focus on sharing strategies to "Knock Out Predatory Lenders and Improve Your Bottom Line." The first panel features credit union CEOs explaining how they compete with predatory lenders, including Baltimore's own Municipal Employees Credit Union CEO Bert Hash. The second will share how to beat predatory lenders at their own game with Navy Federal Credit Union CEO Cutler Dawson and others. The lunch break will be available for networking. "This is an opportunity to learn about credit unions' special loan programs, financial education, and other needed services to provide members with affordable alternatives to predatory lending," NCUA Board Member Debbie Matz said. The full agenda is available at www.ncua.gov under "PALS Workshop Registration, July 7, 2005." Outside the workshop, attendees may also have the opportunity to run into some of the World Series Champion Boston Red Sox team as they will be staying at the Hyatt Regency on Baltimore's Inner Harbor, where the conference is being held, while in town to play the Orioles. PALS registrants can order Orioles tickets through Rick Webb, CEO of Atlantic Financial Federal Credit Union in Baltimore at (410) 584-7474 ext. 223, or [email protected]. NCUA is co-hosting the workshop with the Maryland, Virginia, D.C., Delaware and Massachusetts Credit Union Leagues, Pennsylvania Credit Union Association, NAFCU, and National Federation of Community Development Credit Unions.