Headline News

Louisiana CU Advocates Make Waves in Washington, D.C. Today, Take Their Message to Federal Lawmakers

C redit union advocates are perhaps the largest and most visible lobby group in Washington during what promises to be a historic week. More than 90 Louisiana credit union representatives are joining their peers from around the country in Washington, D.C. for CUNA's Governmental Affairs Conference (GAC).
 
To kick-off the event, LCUL hosted a special welcome reception for Louisiana members on Sunday evening, which has become an annual tradition at GAC that allows attendees to meet up with colleagues to network and get ready for several action-packed days of advocacy and education.
 
During the opening ceremonies on Monday morning, Louisiana was represented in the flag ceremony by 2019 Crasher Rebecca Law with Neighbors  FCU and her father, Jeff Conrad, CEO of Pelican State CU. Ronaldo Hardy, CEO of Southwest Louisiana CU, lead the invocation.
 
Following the opening ceremonies, CUNA President/CEO Jim Nussle took the stage to offer his opening remarks. Nussle's message suggested that credit unions are under attack on four fronts: the credit union model, the market (not only by bankers), the movement, and our credit union heart. "Cooperation seems to be becoming 'coopetition,'" he said, where credit unions compete against each other. Nussle's entire speech is available on CUNA's Facebook page.
 
Later that day, Louisiana credit union leaders met for the annual legislative briefing lead by LCUL retained lobbyist Adams & Reese to discuss issues important for the coming Hill visits. In conjunction with the familiar issues we advocate, Jeff Brooks encouraged credit unions to communicate a little different with them this year: tell your stories. Brooks showcased LCUL's latest Financial Literacy Survey Report & Member Success Stories as a key source of information for our Congressional Delegation meetings on Wednesday.
 
Louisiana advocates will use briefing materials during today's meetings on Capitol Hill with members of the Congress. These visits play a vital role in the advocacy strategies of the League and CUNA, and our GAC attendees will take this opportunity to discuss pressing issues with our Louisiana delegation.
 
Look for complete coverage of the CUNA 2019 GAC in our next issue of LCUL's Membership in Action. 

Credit Union Connect:  Breakout Sessions Announced

What is Credit Union Connect and what can you expect by attending?  

LCUL is excited to launch the inaugural year of this new conference that brings our credit union management and c-suite professionals together for networking, peer discussion forums, fundraising to benefit the Louisiana Foundation, vendor exhibitions (some of which are exhibiting in Louisiana for the first time!) plus twelve hot topic breakout sessions presented over four time slots on topics most relevant to today's busy credit union professionals.
 
Breakout topics on April 18th include:
  • Executive Succession Plan
  • Cybersecurity to Combat Skimming and Scammers
  • Creating Winning Strategies with ITMs
  • ATM & Credit Card Processing
  • Preventative Facilities Maintenance
  • Big Data Utilization
  • Core Systems Selection Processes
  • Choosing the right EFT Vendor for your CU
  • Human Resources / Affirmative Action Programs
  • Powering Real Time Payment Options
  • And even more sessions still to be unveiled later this week! 
Note - All sessions are educational in content, with no sales pitches!
 
Your All-Access Savings Pass includes our pre-conference facilitated round tables on the afternoon of  April 17th immediately followed by a complementary networking reception and then the murder mystery dinner benefitting the Louisiana Credit Union Foundation.  

If you're unable to attend the full event, purchase a-la-carte tickets for individual events.  

YPN

YPN Workshop Registration Now Open!
Register now for our 8th Annual Young Professionals Workshop being held in Lafayette  May 3rd - 4th

This year, our dynamic sessions include personal and professional development to Rock your Brand from Melanie Spring and the Harness the Power of Positivity from Tyler Winner of the Dale Carnegie Institute. Also learn directly from mentors at our reverse crasher roundtables, and polish your business etiquette skills at our special etiquette skills lunch. 
 
The YPN compels professionals under 40 to get involved in the credit union movement, connect them with other young professionals, and encourages collaboration for long-term success in the credit union industry.
 
Click here for full details and to register!

News from CUNA Mutual

February 2019 CU Trends Report Now Available

CUNA Mutual Group's Credit Union Trends Report for February 2019 is now available online and can be accessed in the CU Products & Services section of our website, under the heading Performance and Data Resources.  

During December, credit unions picked up 428,000 in new memberships and loan and savings balances grew at an 8% and 5.7% seasonally-adjusted annualized pace, respectively. Firms hired 222,000 workers, nominal consumer spending increased 0.4% and long-term interest rates decreased 25 basis points. The economy grew 2% in the fourth quarter and 3% over the last year. 

For more information, view the complete report here. If you have problems accessing the information or have additional questions about the research and information services provided by the Louisiana Credit Union League, please contact Jason Swint at (800) 452-7221, ext. 30 20 or requests@lcul.com .
Professional Development

Special Invitations - Education Opportunities 
Southwest Lending Conference - May 22-24
LCUL co-administers the Member Business Services Council (MBSC) along with the Cornerstone Credit Union League which helps to produce the Southwest Lending Conference which will be held in New Orleans this year. An invitation has been extended to all affiliated Louisiana Credit Unions to attend the conference at special Louisiana rates. If you are not currently a member of MBSC, it is free to join and your membership gets you an additional discount on registration for the conference on registrations made prior to April 10th.


Credit Union Volunteer Leadership Cruise - August 15-19
Our friends from the Carolina's Credit Union League are hosting their first ever Credit Union Volunteer Leadership Cruise later this summer. They will sail on the Carnival Sunshine to Nassau from the Port of Charleston from August 15 - 19, 2019.  They have graciously opened their registration to invite and include members of select leagues, including the Louisiana Credit Union League! Please note the link below takes you to the Carolinas CU League website for full details and contact information.

Have you Heard?

BRECO Proudly Supports Washington Youth Tour

BRECO is proud to once again partner with DEMCO (Dixie Electric Membership Corporation) in supporting four local high school students recently selected to participate in the Washington Youth Tour.  "We are extremely appreciative of the continued support of the members and leadership of BRECO, for the sake of our youth who participate in this wonderful program" stated David Latona, VP of Marketing and Member Services for DEMCO.
 
Now in its 42nd year, this remarkable program affords youth a weeklong trip to Washington, D.C. to learn of our nation's rich history and politics.  Electric co-ops from 45 states participate, sending more than 1800 youth nationwide to Washington each year. Locally, twelve finalists are chosen to present their essays advocating political reform, written to local and national leaders, at the annual DEMCO Washington Youth Tour Banquet.  The top four presenters are then chosen to represent Louisiana youth in Washington, D.C.  "It has been an honor to work with DEMCO in supporting tomorrow's leaders," stated Joshua Poole, CEO of BRECO Federal Credit Union.  "These are extraordinary young adults, who are dedicated to building a better future."  
Meritus Credit Union Aids Students' Field Trip with Grant
In January, Ms. Ellen Louviere, teacher at Anderson Middle School submitted an application for one of Meritus Credit Union's $250 teacher grants.  She requested the funds to help pay for a field trip so that her students could visit the Jeanerette Museum. Since she was awarded the grant, the students were able to view an exhibit about waterways and their importance to Louisiana on February 28.  The exhibit is on loan from the Smithsonian Museum in Washington DC. The exhibit is free and the grant paid for transportation. This allowed every student to participate as the entire trip was at no cost to families.  Ms. Louviere stated in her request, "The majority of our school lives below the poverty line and most of my students do not have many opportunities to experience anything outside of the classroom. For all of them to be able to participate is very rare." 

"We are grateful to be able to partner with teachers like Ms. Louviere.  It's amazing what teachers can do with $250," said Connie S. Roy, President/CEO of Meritus Credit Union.  Each month, September - April, teachers in the credit union's service area are able to submit a request to be considered for one of five grants awarded each of those months during the school year.  Last school year, 2017-2018, Meritus granted over $11,000 in small grants to teachers.  The credit union is on tract to repeat the same amount this school year.

For additional information, teachers are encouraged to visit merituscu.net/about/teacher-grants

Neighbors FCU Launches Digital Financial Capability Initiative Fulfilling LA Act 154 Mandates For Area Schools  
Neighbors Federal Credit Union announced the launch of an interactive, online financial education initiative through its new partnership with the nation's leading education technology innovator, EVERFI, Inc. The program is called Money Matters and is available as a complimentary service to provide educational resources to the Greater Baton Rouge community and area schools to manage their finances and plan for the future.

Neighbors FCU is providing the financial literacy curriculum free of charge to any schools in the NFCU service area. This curriculum will satisfy the legislative mandate for schools to provide financial education as outlined in Senate Bill 315 signed into Act No. 154 last year.

"With schools now being legislatively mandated to provide financial literacy education, the burden on schools to provide a quality education is higher than ever before," Webb said. "We are happy to provide a bit of relief for our schools by providing the materials needed to satisfy that requirement free of charge to the school."
In addition to the K-12 curriculum, Money Matters offers an assortment of adult financial education learning topics, with subjects including building emergency savings, mortgage education and retirement planning. Each learning topic is 3-10 minutes in length and is designed to encourage participants to build financial confidence via a series of interactive activities. The mobile and tablet-friendly program is available in English and Spanish.

This resource is free and available to the public through Neighbors FCU's company website. The program may be accessed at https://www.neighborsfcu.org/financial-education/
Pelican State CU Board of Directors set Education Hour Record
Directors collectively earned over 1,000 education hours. Pelican's Board is made up of 9 Directors and 3 Associate Directors who volunteer their time to oversee the credit union.
 
"Directors need to maintain knowledge of industry trends and have a strong understanding of credit union financials and operations so that they can competently provide governance," explained Gary Crockett, Chairperson and 28-Year Pelican Board Member.
 
Not only did Pelican's Board exceed their personal goals and set an education record, they unanimously voted for all Directors and Associate Directors to become certified through CUNA Board Certification School . Over the next two years, the entire Board will complete this certification, which will provide inherent value to the credit union and its membership.
 
 "At Pelican, we have made the development and strengthening of our Board of Directors a priority," said Pelican CEO Jeffrey K. Conrad.
 
In 2018, Conrad and his Senior Leadership Team hosted a 2-day strategic planning session to guide the Board to find their "why," set goals and define strategies for the credit union's future. Additionally, the Board read and discussed the book Make Your Board Dramatically More Effective, Starting Today by Gayle L. Gifford.
 
"In order to grow, credit unions must continuously provide educational opportunities for their Board and encourage them to ask challenging questions and provide business savvy insights. Our Board has established its own standards and holds each other accountable to be engaged in credit union activities and decisions," added Conrad.
 
To learn more about the credit union governed by a Board with a passion for learning and growth, visit pelicanstatecu.com/benefits .
NOFFCU is Poised for the Future
New Orleans Firemen's Federal Credit Union (NOFFCU) announces the restructuring of leadership supporting its strategic approach for the credit union's long-term vision.
 
"This leadership team represents our plan to enhance and maximize our resources, personnel, and structure to make a significant impact for our credit union and our members," said Judy DeLucca, NOFFCU CEO.
 
The executive staff consists of:
  • Jeff Caire - Chief Lending Officer (CLO) directing lending efforts. 
  • Mitch Haupt - Chief Innovations Officer (CINO) responsible for implementing technical solutions and expanding efficiencies. 
  • Armand Parvazi - Chief Administrative & Development Officer (CADO) leading digital operations, marketing, and business development.
  • Amy Rodriguez - Chief Experience Officer (CXO) overseeing branch operations.
  These positions join Lisa Hudson and Roxanne Wilkinson who serve as Chief Financial Officer (CFO) and Chief Information Officer (CIO), respectively. 

NOFFCU has also added the following positions to the senior leadership team:
  • David Cook - Collections Manager guiding NOFFCU's collections department. 
  • James Hunter - Director of Real Estate Lending responsible for all mortgage activities.
  "This leadership team brings decades of expertise and embodies our continued commitment to our members for years to come," said DeLucca.

Quote of the Week:
"Nothing is wasted. Every single moment is preparing you for the next. "
- Rachel Hollis

Educational Calendar
Upcoming Conferences & Seminars from your League:

March 22:  Essentials of Share Accounts
April 11: Preparing for the BSA Exam
April 17-18: CU Connect Marketplace and Roundtalbles
April 24-25: ULend Academy
April 30: State GAC
May 3-4: YPN Workshop

Upcoming Teleconferences & Webinars from your League:

March 14: Debit Card Chargebacks Part 2: Understanding Mastercard Rule Changes
March 19: Best Practices for Today's Credit Union Board
  March 20: Advanced BSA Officer Training: In-Depth Risk Issues & Difficult Situations
  March 21: Required Compliance for Commercial Loans Secured by Real Estate
  March 25: Handling Power of Attorney & Living Trust Documents on Deposit Accounts & Loans
  March 26: Board Reporting Series: Red Flags in Board Reports
  March 27: Global Cash Flow Analysis for Underwriters & Credit Analysts
April 2: Mobile Device Risks, Records & Compliance Rules: Managing Your BYOD & COPE Policies & Procedures
  April 3: UDAAP: Consumer Complaint Monitoring & Avoiding Harm
  April 4: Enterprise Risk Management: Three Key Risk Assessments
  April 8: Notary Essentials & Legalities
  April 9: Board Reporting Series: Security Officer Reports to the Board: Fulfilling Your Annual Requirement
  April 10: Teller Training Series: Accurately Completing the CTR Line-by-Line


For a complete listing of educational opportunities available from LCUL, visit the League website.