In a novel approach to conferencing, the $1 billion FORUM CreditUnion of Indianapolis said its annual "Symposium" seminar, apopular event among Midwest CUs for examining industry trends, isundergoing a low-cost remake allowing attendees to pick speakersand the agenda.

But FORUM officials warned that the Oct. 7-8 event, which hasbeen on CU calendars for five years, may be scrapped if the creditunion "cannot break even" without financial help from the attendeesthough advance bookings and sponsorships.

"For those of you that have attended you have consistently toldus that you want the event to live on," said a FORUM notice citingthe CU's subsidizing the cost of past symposiums. "We love thisevent, but we have to break even and to do that we need 150 peopleto pledge to attend at $225 each, plus 10 sponsorships at $500 apiece."