NASSAU, Bahamas - With the theme of "Making a World ofDifference," the African-American Credit Union Coalition recentlyheld its annual conference here. More than 200 traveled to theCaribbean island for the Aug. 10-13 meeting, which also includedattendance from natives from the Bahamian credit union movement."We've made some real strong connections," said HelenGodfrey-Smith, AACUC chairwoman and president/CEO of $63 millionShreveport Federal Credit Union. This conference marks the lastyear Godfrey-Smith will serve as AACUC chairwoman after taking thehelm in 2003. AACUC board members were planning to meet the week ofAug. 22 to name its new chairperson and new officers.Representatives from the Bahamas' largest CU, Teachers and SalariedCooperative CU, Ltd., attended the meeting along with officialsfrom the Bahamas Cooperative League. Some of the highlightsincluded a presentation from Anne Cochran, president/CEO of theLouisiana Credit Union League, on her liaison work with creditunions in South Africa. As part of its mentoring outreach, earlierthis year the AACUC approved $2,700 in scholarships for threenative Africans to attend the African Management Institute. TheWorld Council of Credit Unions, Inc. sponsors the Institute, whichwas held at Strathmore University in Nairobi, Kenya June 6-18. RitaHaynes, manager of $9 million Faith Community United Credit Union(FCUCU) in Cleveland, was also honored with the Pete Crear LifetimeAchievement Award for her 40 years of service at a recognitiondinner. She has been with FCUCU since 1959 and has been CEO for thepast 13 years. Haynes, who also serves as board chair of theNational Federation of Community Development Credit Unions, hasused that platform to promote and guide the mission of CDCUs on anational scale. "It was a lonely journey at first," Haynes saidcommenting on the lack of African-American presence and influencein the credit union movement during the first few decades of herinvolvement. But she learned, quoting her mentor, Moses Hill, "Ifyou want to make a difference, you have to be at the table." TheAACUC's popular internship program was also highlighted recognizingthe 35 interns that participated this summer. Three of the internswere awarded the Pete Crear Scholarships, each worth $2,000.Godfrey-Smith said the AACUC is working on taking the internshipprogram to another level with an effort to educate the industry onhiring young CEOs. "We've taken on the mission of the idea ofbringing a more youthful look to the movement," Godfrey-Smith toldattendees, adding the retirement of older CEOs over the next fewyears could be an opportunity to bring another dimension to themovement. The AACUC is also moving forward with another programthat will record the history of credit unions from anAfrican-American perspective. The goal is to have a written recordin place by 2008, the year marking the anniversary of the firstcredit union established in the United States. Godfrey-Smith saidAACUC interns have already identified several key milestonesincluding the establishment of one of the first African-AmericanCUs formed in 1927. Bob Hoel, director of the Filene ResearchInstitute, who also gave a presentation on research at theconference, and Pete Crear, WOCCU president/CEO, said they willassist in the effort, Godfrey-Smith said. The AACUC's mentorshipprogram will be revamped to assist small, financially healthycredit unions on going to the next level. The Coalition will helpwith business plans to include strong growth cycles, Godfrey-Smithsaid. Scholarship partnerships with CUNA and CUES have helped thosewho lead small credit unions to attend management schools andindustry conferences. To assist with many of its outreach programs,the AACUC and the National Credit Union Foundation launched thePete Crear Fund in August 2004. The fund is a donor-designated fundwithin NCUF's Community Investment Fund (CIF). Credit unions canparticipate by making investments in their corporate CU anddirecting the investment be placed in the CIF. One-half of theinvestment income is returned to the investing CU and the remainingportion of the investment income is split between the coalition andthe league or foundation of the state of original investment.Godfrey-Smith said the fund is "strong and growing." Other AACUCconference guest speakers included Gary Officer, president/CEO ofthe Associated Black Charities and former head of the NationalCredit Union Foundation; Crear, who spoke on his new mission atWOCCU; and Tarra Jackson, lending protection manager at CUNA MutualGroup, who spoke on credit union sales culture from anAfrican-American perspective. NCUA Region III Director Alonzo Swannreturned this year to serve as a facilitator on a best practicespanel while NAFCU President Fred Becker also returned to provide alegislative and regulatory update. The AACUC will travel to Seattlefor its 2006 annual conference. [email protected]