GRAND FORKS, ND (June 7, 2013) CUNA President/CEO Bill Cheney and the Credit Union Association of the Dakotas (CUAD) were in Grand Forks, ND at the Alerus Center to “Unite for Good” this week during the annual CUAD Summit.
On Thursday, June 6th, Cheney addressed the General Session, and discussed CUNA’s strategy in Washington, meeting the challenges we face, but looking towards a bright future. Mr. Cheney expanded upon the three-tiered coordinated efforts of ‘Unite for Good’, the ‘Don’t Tax My Credit Union’ movement and the ‘Plan to Win’, vital to the success of the credit union movement. “There is much to be excited about…credit unions grew over 800,000 net new members so far this year, in just three months” stated Cheney. “Hats off for all you are doing” he added.
Addressing the burdens that community based financial institutions and credit unions are facing, Cheney stated that “over-regulation could create the next financial crisis… and we are starting to have some success in getting that message across”. In fact, Mr. Cheney met with CFPB Director Cordray and NCUA Chairman Debbie Matz last week, and said that the tone is different than it was a year ago. “They acknowledge that credit unions did not cause the financial crisis, and are addressing issues with examinations” he told the audience.
In conclusion, Cheney said that credit unions do not want to wait until the taxing of credit unions is part of legislation and then begin to fight it; we need to stop it now. “With a shared message and a common vision, nothing is impossible!” He encouraged the audience to visit the donttaxmycreditunion.org website. “This was my first time in North Dakota, and I am impressed by all that credit unions are doing here and around the Dakotas for their communities” said Cheney. “I also appreciated the ‘Unite for Good’ theme that the Summit has expanded upon,” he concluded.
Following Mr. Cheney’s address, the afternoon continued with a theme of “The Good We Do”, during which Lois Kitsch, national program director for the National Credit Union Foundation’s REAL Solutions program spoke about the connection between the NCUF and the Credit Union Foundation of the Dakotas (CUFD). Peter Butterfield, Chairman of the CUFD also gave an update of the activities the Foundation is supporting in the Dakotas.
Felicity Guerin, Development Manager for Credit Unions for Kids (CU4Kids) took the stage to expound on the difference that credit unions are making through their Children’s Miracle Network Fundraising activities. Ms. Guerin accepted a check in the amount of $4,200 on behalf of the Children’s Miracle Network, proceeds from the Summit’s charity golf tournament with matching funds from COOP Financial Services.
CUAD’s President/CEO Robbie Thompson concluded the General Session with an update on the website that was launched by CUAD in January, CU Social Good. This website, designed to collect stories from around the country about the great things that credit unions do every day, is gaining momentum and has already amassed nearly 900 stories.
Headquartered in Bismarck, ND, the Credit Union Association of the Dakotas (CUAD) is the professional trade association serving 78 credit unions in North and South Dakota with assets in excess of $4.2 billion and nearly 450,000 credit union members. For more information about CUAD visit our website at www.cuad.coop.