CUNA COUNCILS TO GIVE $3,000 SCHOLARSHIP to 3,000th MEMBER

CUNA Councils
March 8, 2005

Milestone member expected to join during 1st quarter 2005

As the combined membership totals for the six CUNA Councils rapidly approaches 3,000 credit union professionals, the group announced that it would award its 3,000th member with a $3,000 professional development scholarship and the individual’s credit union with a complimentary 2005 membership for each council.

Judging by the rapid membership growth trends of the past few years, lucky number 3,000 will most likely join the Councils’ rank before the end of first quarter. “The Councils have gone from 2,200 members just two years ago to today’s historic high,” noted David Rohn, director of the CUNA Councils.

Rohn believes the historic membership growth has continued – in spite of the increases in new professional societies and for-profit ventures vying for the time and interest of credit union executives - for three reasons:

1. Memberships are targeted. “They are discipline focused and staff focused, which means members have the ability to tap relevant knowledge of other members.”
2. The programs are created for and by credit union executives. “There isn’t a for-profit venture behind the group working an angle.”
3. The national scope is a key benefit. “Members bring to the table a broad set of resources, perspectives and a willingness to freely share information and ideas -- something that doesn’t always exist in smaller groups.”

“It is the combination of these characteristics that make the Councils unique in the credit union industry,” concluded Rohn.

The scholarship and complimentary membership in each of the six councils - CUNA CFO Council; CUNA HR and Training & Development Council; CUNA Lending Council; CUNA Marketing & Business Development Council; CUNA Operations, Sales & Service Council; and the CUNA Technology Council - are seen as another way to celebrate the Councils’ ongoing successes and increasing membership.

“The Councils have grown from a few hundred 11 years ago to what they are today because they fill an important need. Credit union professionals have come to recognize the value of the targeted, reliable national networks that the Councils offer,” said Scott Waite, chair of both the CFO Council the Council Forum (comprised of elected senior leaders of all six councils) and senior vice president/chief financial officer for Patelco CU in San Francisco.

“Credit unions themselves have grown in size and complexity over the past 5-10 years. Managing a credit union has become much more complicated today,” said Waite. “The Councils help executives handle the scope of these challenges.”

For more information or the chance to become the celebrated 3,000 member, contact the CUNA Councils at (800) 356-9655, ext. 4368, or go to the Councils’ Web site www.cunacouncils.org for information on the “Search for the 3000th Member.” For more information on an individual council, click on the specific council’s logo located near the bottom of the Councils’ home page.