It was with great sadness that I read of the passing of "Volunteer Extraordinaire" Al George. As someone who started out his credit union career more than 30 years ago in San Diego, I first met Al at a chapter meeting in the early 1980's. It seemed as if he'd been around credit unions forever at that point, but what impressed me most about Al, aside from his boundless energy and love of credit unions, was his passionate interest in people and their development within the credit union system. To someone young and sold on the credit union mission, I can't think of anyone more encouraging of my own career in credit unions than Al George. 

I moved to the East Coast almost 20 years ago, but I would still run into Al at the GAC, always wearing his signature smile and talking up credit unions. It was individuals like Al that made this credit union system what it is today.  I hope we pass on the same passion for credit unions to our younger associates that Al passed on to his.  

We'll miss you!