Bone: Scott Off Base on Volunteer Representation

I need to correct some information in Jim Rubenstein’s article, entitled “NAFCU At-Large Candidates Share Candid Views on Industry” in the Feb. 15 issue. Bob Scott indicates that the Maryland/D.C. League Association recently appointed a new volunteer advisory committee, but they didn’t appoint a volunteer to their board. At the present time, the MDDCUA has two full-time volunteers on their board. Six years ago the then Maryland Credit Union League created one seat on the board of directors that had to be filled by a volunteer (nonpaid board member). I was asked to fill that position and then ran for a full three-year term at the next annual meeting. Since then additional volunteers have joined the MDDCUA Board. During my tenure, I served as secretary of the board and am currently the vice chairman of the MDDCUA. There is much dialogue going on at the local, state; and, especially, at the national level concerning the role of volunteers in the credit union movement. If volunteers make the difference in the credit union movement, as we are often reminded, then I feel volunteers need to be visible on various boards both on the state and national levels. We at the MDDCUA, I believe, are ahead of the current dialogue on volunteerism. I feel that MDDCUA can proudly say we are pioneers in having volunteers involved at the state level. I would encourage other state leagues and associations such as CUNA to look long and hard at the value volunteers can add to their boards. NAFCU has a volunteer on their board (currently secretary). Hopefully, in the coming election we will see additional volunteers filling some of the vacant board positions at NAFCU. J. Wesley Bone Chairman, First Financial of Maryland FCU and Vice Chairman, MDDCUA Columbia, Md.