ABERDEEN, Md. — NAFCU Board Secretary Dave Gilbert, chairman of Aberdeen Proving Ground Federal Credit Union, will be leaving the NAFCU Board after serving the maximum three consecutive three year terms, but he will not be abandoning the credit union industry.

In fact, he recently won election to the board of the Maryland & D.C. Credit Union Association as well as maintaining his spot at APG FCU and plans to always volunteer in the credit union industry. “It's kind of an addiction,” he admitted.

Gilbert has been the only volunteer serving in the last couple of years on the national trade association boards and during that time, the issue has been raised of getting more volunteer participation. He emphasized that there is absolutely a place for volunteers at all levels. “The problem is a) they don't have the recognition or b) I've got to admit this, there is a large time element…” he acknowledged. “Probably the last thing is to make a good campaign.”

Gilbert has been working on that issue educating volunteers on what it takes to get elected and how to get known and noticed. As a member of the National Association of Credit Union Chairpersons, he and others have tried to harness what they learn there and bring it back to Maryland to share with the smaller credit unions that might not be able to send someone away to a national meeting and provide networking opportunities.