(Albany, NY) – In what was a historic first, volunteer credit union leaders from Pennsylvania and New York came together in the Pocono Mountains Oct. 19-20 for a premiere Volunteer Conference jointly sponsored by the Pennsylvania Credit Union Association and the Credit Union Association of New York.
The conference, which took place at the Skytop Lodge Resort & Spa, began with welcomes from both Associations’ President/CEOs: Jim McCormack (PA) and William J. Mellin (NY). Over the next two days, attendees heard presentations by CPA Tim Harrington (Understanding Successful Credit Union Business Models), David A. Reed, Esq. (The Credit Union Experience: Don’t Take It for Granted) and CUANY Director of Compliance Michael Carter (Succeeding in Today’s Tough Regulatory Environment). The CU leaders were also treated to an interactive panel discussion featuring members of NY’s Young Professionals Commission (YPC), who covered the group’s purpose, programs and projects.
Board and supervisory committee breakouts over the two days provided additional timely information, discussions, insights and joint networking opportunities.
“I appreciated the opportunity to network with new people from a different state who share the volunteer passion that has been within me for the past 30 years,” said Donald B. Person from Belco Community Credit Union (Harrisburg, Pa.).
Virginia Brady from UFirst FCU (Plattsburgh, N.Y.) added, “It was important to attend this year's conference because of the emphasis being placed on Credit Union Board Education. I believe that board volunteers should set aside some time each year to participate in conferences that provide them with both education and inspiration as this conference did.”
A number of conference attendees arrived a day early to participate in a golf outing to benefit the New York and Pennsylvania Credit Union Foundations.
This cooperative event was clearly a success, one both Associations look forward to replicating next year in New York.
The Credit Union Association of New York has served as the trade association for the state’s credit unions for 95 years. New York credit unions have assets of more than $57 billion and serve 4.6 million members. To learn more about the Association, visit www.cuany.org.