From Patty's Desk

Centering Our Collaborative Core in Miami

Last week, I had a chance to escape the Michigan snow for sunny Miami, where the American Association of Credit Union Leagues (AACUL) held their 2024 Winter Conference. The event brought together more than 250 credit union leaders, advocates and partners, and this year’s theme was “Comprehensive Collaboration.”

If you’ve been in the credit union movement for long enough, there’s no doubt you’ve heard a common refrain, especially from industry newcomers or young professionals, that goes something like, “I love how collaborative credit unions are!”

This idea of sharing ideas to become stronger as a collective, while it may have become second nature to many of us, is at the core of what makes credit unions different. And it was so nice to be in a place where that concept is front and center.

A primary focus at AACUL’s event was specifically collaborating on advocacy — communicating with credit unions and fellow leagues so we can more cohesively support our ongoing priorities and protect our industry from any potentially harmful policies in the future. As America’s Credit Unions CEO Jim Nussle said during his address on Thursday, particularly stressing the preservation of credit union’s tax status, we have our work cut out for us.

We have to make sure we’re not only on the same page, but that we’re actively showing up for each other. And when we show up for each other, it’s important to remember that we’re also showing up for the six million Michigan members and the 142 million national members who count credit unions as their trusted financial partner.

On Wednesday, I was fortunate enough to be on the panel “DEI — Where are we now?” alongside fellow league leaders and moderated by my friend, and CEO of the African-American Credit Union Coalition, Renee Sattiewhite. The idea behind the panel was to have a discussion about how different leagues around the country are approaching DEI — what strategies we’re taking and the various hurdles leagues may be facing when trying to address what has unfortunately become a taboo subject. The theme of the panel was inclusion and how credit unions strive for thoughtful inclusion of their community. 

All in all, the week was collaborative, informative and, as credit union and league events often are, very fun. Watching the Lions beat the Packers (sorry to my UP friends…) with some of my team in Miami was icing on the cake!

Help Us Honor You

Can you believe Thanksgiving is here already?? I’m sure many of you are like me: juggling end-of-year projects while planning for 2025 amidst the holiday festivities. I bet many of you also share something else in common with me: you have a lot to be thankful for.

One of my year-end projects is, of course, meeting with team members to go over performance reviews, which sounds so much more clinical and detached than they feel when you have a team like mine. As I’ve met with many team members to reflect on strides they’ve taken or their various accomplishments over the past 12 months, one thing has been reiterated to me.

This year, I took a big step, personally and professionally, in adding to my role as MCUL CEO to also become CEO of CUSG. There’s no way I would’ve taken on this joint role without believing in the team I have at both organizations. Again, I know many of you have that in common with me. Not only do I hear from credit union leaders around the state about how talented their teams are, but I also get to see the results first-hand.

Now, I’m sure it doesn’t help to have one more thing added to your to-do list, but we open the award nominations during this busy time for a reason — because it’s important, especially during the forward-looking planning season, to take a second, look back and appreciate what you, your team or your colleague has achieved during the past 12 months. This is the time to nominate your talented team or team member for an MCUL or MCUF Award.

Like I said, I know the work is being done; I see the results year in and year out. Earlier this year, we saw credit unions and professionals win for, among other things, blazing the trail for CDFIs in Michigan, building unique community partnerships that connect people with much needed financial services and tireless education efforts that helped our movement rank top three in the country in financial education outreach.

As you know, we recognize our award winners during our Annual Convention & Exposition, an event that I look forward to every year. And while the event is packed with thought-provoking speakers and sessions, the Honor Awards gala is always the highlight for me. Getting to see a snapshot of some of these achievements and hearing what inspires our award winners will never get old, and I can’t wait to see who’s next!

Another thing potential candidates should keep in mind: in 2024, we instituted a change for each Young Professional of the Year Award winner. As part of the award, we’re giving each recipient a one-year term to serve on MCUL’s Board of Directors. This is a significant opportunity for young professionals looking to build on their career’s momentum and learn from some of the veteran leaders in our industry.

The nominations are open through Jan. 8. You can find awards nominations and individual award information here.

Help us honor you.

An End Does Not Always Equate to a Failure…

I have noticed, as I navigate adulthood, that we are often quick to label an end as a failure in many situations. There’s not much grace given when you find yourself at an end you didn’t expect, hope for or want. 

You may have been let go from a job. A project that you worked on for a year doesn’t get off the ground. You try to get pregnant with nothing but negative test results. A marriage that ends. A business that closes.

 

Any one of these scenarios, or actually all of them, we may dismiss as a failure. A “failed marriage” or “I failed” as I was let go from a job. One that I am currently navigating is the closing of a business — a business I started that ran for seven years. There’s a temptation for those hearing of this closing to minimize the entire experience and label it another “failed” business. 

 

Some of you may know that I started a business in Hamtramck that makes and sells French macarons. In 2016, I found myself starting a hobby of making delicious meringue treats (I cannot call them a cookie!) out of my house. I had fun creating a social media presence with photos of these very colorful and easy-to-promote rows of macarons. I was making so many that I turned to selling them as I didn’t know what else to do with them! 

 

I ultimately went as far as leasing a storefront and creating what I called “my happy place” modeled after patisseries I visited in Paris. The idea was to open just on Saturdays and have a hobby. Well, things went really well and we were ultimately open five days a week and I started to hire employees. I didn’t mention that all this was happening while I was still a busy attorney! In 2018, my role at MCUL began and I sold le Detroit Macaron to my first employee, Isabelle. This week, after being open for seven years, Isabelle has decided to close the store. 

 

I have remained close with Isabelle over the years. She is a year older than my daughter, and I heard her reasons for wanting to close and they were all valid and made sense. I got a sense that Isabelle felt like closing the store was a failure, which was very upsetting to me. I suspect she was feeling this way because we are conditioned to just focus on the end and label it a failure. We may hear others say it and start to buy in, telling ourselves “it failed.” 

 

Most endings have a long, rich story that unfolds when you peel back the layers. A beginning and a middle with challenges, complexities, joy, success and sometimes prosperity along the way. But, when something ends, we quickly jump to just talking about the end part and often it is diminished to a failure. It must be a failure if it ended, right? No. When you frame it this way, and I know my readers will agree, most experiences are too complex to slap on the label “failure.”

 

As I told Isabelle, and as I have told myself as I have matured and seen the nuance to situations in my life, the end is just the closing of a chapter. A change. A pivot. A turn. If you look at the nuance of le Detroit macaron, it is a business started from nothing by one woman and sold to an 18-year-old employee who managed to run a very successful business for six years! How on earth is its closure a failure?! It is a success story through and through. 

 

Somehow, our driven, competitive society has led us to believe that when something that could still go on reaches its end, it is appropriate to label it as a failure. I reject that. I am grateful that, over the last few years, I have learned to embrace change and endings as just that, a change or an end. Who agreed to a rulebook that says when a marriage ends, it fails? Not me. How about we just call it an ending? Maybe in the world of science and experimentation, a label as success or failure makes sense. But when it comes to complex matters involving human emotion and our lived experiences, let’s leave the label “failure” to the scientists.

 

We all go through seasons where things end, and it can be hard. I chose to not make it even harder by calling an ending a failure. To do so is to quickly diminish the beautiful beginning and the messy and sometimes very rewarding middle. To take on the label “failure” and then sprinkle on top of that the shame we carry as a result, is just not necessary in this already challenging world. 

 

I guess the take-away from my blog this week is that if you are getting ready to approach an end or dealing with one that was not expected, focus on the beginning and the middle and see if that helps. Think of it as an ending and leave it there. Like the saying says, “Be glad it happened and not sad it’s over” or however that goes! 

 

I hope my reflections on a recent end to a several-years-long experience can help you the next time you are faced with an end. Focus on what you learned, how you grew and what you are carrying with you to your next chapter instead. Change and ends are hard enough without attaching a negative word to the entire experience. Change the narrative in your head and to those around you, and be sure to correct anyone that gives it a minimized label.

Igniting Potential

If you’re like me, you are jazzed about how much our up-and-coming future leaders — aka our Young Professionals (YP) — have been engaged over the last few years. You see them at events, on social and digging in and working at the chapter level. I have been fortunate to spend a lot of time with them over the last several years and it’s clear to me that they love this industry. It’s up to us, as current leaders, to make sure they stay invested and continue their career with us in our amazing movement.

If you attended our recent Executive Summit, you may have heard me talk about an upcoming MCUL competition that I’m really excited about. It’s called CU Spark Tank and it’s a YP-based competition that I think will tap into our talented group of YPs for the progress of our industry.

Unsurprisingly, many of our YPs have big ideas, but maybe they’re not yet in a position to put those into action. Well, the idea of CU Spark Tank is to challenge participating YPs to showcase those ideas. Specifically, we want to use this competition to see their unique perspectives while they provide insight into what they think is the “next big thing” for the credit union movement.

Maybe they have concepts on marketing the next generation of members, theories about how to reach underserved community members via technology, fresh perspectives on human resources or something else entirely. I’m excited to see all the different angles YPs take on this “next big thing” prompt.

CU Spark Tank will play out at three levels: after competing at the chapter level, semi-finalists will compete at the YP Conference in June, with finalists presenting their ideas on Center Stage during our 2025 ACE in Grand Rapids. While this competition is designed to be mutually beneficial for both participants and their credit unions, who will be exposed to these new ideas, I also think the experience YPs get from presenting at both the chapter level and at our annual conference will go a long way to instilling confidence, growing industry knowledge and equipping them with additional tools as they pursue their path to being an industry leader.

I really hope that your credit union is getting in on this and that you are encouraging team members 40 and under (membership in a YP group is not required) to check this out and throw their hat in the ring.

For more information about the competition, you can visit our CU Spark Tank website.

If you have any questions about the competition, how to hold an internal competition or anything CU Spark Tank-related, please reach out to Haleigh Krombeen.

Thinking Globally

This week, on Oct. 17, the credit union movement will celebrate International Credit Union (ICU) Day (#ICUDay2024). This is the 76th year of ICU Day and this year’s theme is “One World Through Cooperative Finance.”

ICU Day is an intentional way for all members of the credit union movement to remember that we are part of something bigger. When I talked with Mike Reuter, President of Worldwide Foundation for Credit Unions, about the celebration on my podcast last month, he challenged credit unions to “think globally” and ask yourself, “How is what I’m doing helping to make the world a better place?”

It’s easy to focus so much on what we’re doing in our own front yard that we can forget how much we share with credit unions around the world. Whether it’s advocacy successes, regulatory hurdles or technology changes, it’s useful to remember that a credit union a world away is facing the same issues as you. When we stop and recognize the larger context of our movement, I think it can make way for us to integrate, as Mike challenged, international perspectives into our routine.

Sometimes that means attending WOCCU’s annual conference to hear colleagues from all over the globe share first-hand our challenges and successes. It can also mean bringing those international perspectives into your credit union so team members can better understand how we operate as a global cooperative movement. Or, and this is something I aspire to do more often, is to reach out on a personal basis — especially if you are a leader — to fellow leaders that serve outside of your national movement.

ICU Day is also a chance to raise awareness of what we do on a daily basis for our members. When we celebrate the day by volunteering in the community, hosting a giveaway in the lobby, holding a fundraising event, we are raising visibility of not only credit unions but the idea that credit unions are global, and that to be a member of a credit union, the same way when you’re a team member, means you’re part of this larger force for good.

There’s a pride in being part of a credit union, and I see it all year round in all of my colleagues. But we also need to work at translating that to members — by better defining our global movement to members, and potential members, and instilling that sense of pride, we become more than their financial provider. We become their partner.

However you decide to participate this year, please share it with us on social media using #ICUDay2024!

Also, you can still order an #ICUDay2024 pin from WOCCU, as well as other merchandise, and wear it all throughout the month of October. Find that here.

Celebration in Detroit at the MCUL 2024 Executive Summit

Last week, I had a great time hanging out with 120 of my colleagues at our 2024 Executive Summit. Downtown Detroit was a great host, offering a beautiful skyline, riverboat ride, and a reception at the Detroit Institute of Arts and more. 

On Thursday, I had the pleasure of talking to Renee Sattiewhite, President/CEO of the African-American Credit Union Coalition (AACUC), and Jennifer Woessner, Chief Talent Officer of Vibe Credit Union, to discuss DEI — what it means to them, how they integrate inclusion and how it fits with the credit union mission.

Renee was able to boil down the importance of DEI so well, saying, “It all goes back to our basics. We’re people helping people … How you make people feel and how you treat them is the difference between people going to a bank or a credit union. What matters is, how are you, as a credit union professional, moving people towards financial success?”

This is such a simple idea, yet it really resonated with me. Inclusion shouldn’t be something extra that we’re doing in the credit union movement. It’s not something we should be making sure we’re going out of our way to check off our list. Inclusion should be ingrained into our daily operations. It should define our internal and external policies.

Renee and Jennifer were able to name some specific ways they’ve seen credit unions successfully integrate inclusion. Every example came down to one simple rule: doing what you can to remove potential biases.

One of my favorite things that Jennifer said was that when you are outspoken about who you are as an organization — when you broadcast your values — you see a great response and end up having an abundance of talented people who share your values coming through your door.

Before talking with Renee and Jennifer, I announced CU Spark Tank, a new YP-based competition that MCUL will start early next year. The idea is to showcase the bright YP minds in our movement by giving them an opportunity to work on creating and presenting industry-advancing projects. Look for more information on CU Spark Tank soon.

I was also able to chat on stage with MSUFCU CEO April Clobes about how she navigates current industry trends. We talked about the fintech space, branch expansion, member growth and hiring practices. Our conversation was recorded and I’m excited to share it with everyone as an episode of the Credit Unions, Coffee & Conversation podcast. Look for that this Friday.

In addition to stage time with these amazing people, we had thought leaders present offering perspective on AI, what CEOs are excited about at their credit unions and asset-based work groups to really dig into key issues. 

The team did an amazing job hosting this year’s summit and I am thrilled with the feedback from attendees. Excited to bring this event back to the lovely and famous Mackinac Island Grand Hotel next Sept. 10-12 so save the dates! 

Coming Together in DC

Last week, I traveled to Washington, D.C. alongside several of my Michigan credit union colleagues for Hike the Hill, a cornerstone event of our year-round advocacy efforts. Kieran, Todd and I were happy to have nearly 50 of us from 30 different credit unions representing Michigan this year as we hit on some key priorities with 14 of the 15 congressional offices.

At our networking reception, it was fun to see the new faces and first-timers at this event. We had great weather and knowledgeable advocates as we rolled up our sleeves, linked arms and hiked to the Capitol.

As with last year, interchange and overdraft protection took precedence during most of our meetings. Thankfully, we have already gotten a lot of support from lawmakers regarding interchange, but there’s still plenty of work to be done to educate our leaders about how the dissolution of voluntary overdraft protection will negatively impact our movement’s ability to serve their constituents. Also at the top of our list was to educate our lawmakers on the topic of bank acquisitions. Bankers are really knocking on the doors of lawmakers to suggest that the practice is somehow against our mission or suggests our tax status should be modified. We spent some time discussing this issue and I was grateful that we have some credit unions with us who have acquired banks that could speak with concrete examples and experience.

We enjoyed our final Hill visit with Congressman Dan Kildee and thanked him for all of his support over the years. We hope to host a virtual call with Senator Debbie Stabenow to do something similar.

One of the highlights of the trip was getting to see colleagues share stories with national leaders that shed light on just how important CDFI Funds are to Michigan credit unions. These are federal funds that need better processing measures from the Treasury, and we made that clear last week. By making it easier for our movement to better access CDFI Funds, we can continue funding affordable housing projects, financial literacy programs and other life-changing opportunities that Michigan needs to grow stronger.

Now that we are back home, the work and engagement continues. We encourage you to continue to share your stories. Thanks to the credit unions who joined us and those that supported us at home! Oh! Guess what? We are going back to the Hill in March and registration is now open for the Governmental Affairs Conference! Hope to see you there!

Bridging the Gap with YP Deleanna Allen

This article first appeared on CUInsight.com.

I was so happy to sit down and reconnect with Deleanna Allen, or “D” as I have come to call her. She is a marketing manager at Public Service Credit Union in Michigan, a Young Professional (YP) and the Michigan Credit Union League (MCUL)’s YP scholarship winner to the World Credit Union Conference (WOCCU) in Boston this year. Deleanna taught me that she learned about the credit union mission, such as why we advocate and what makes us different, from FUEL, Michigan’s YP group. She didn’t hear it from MCUL, but from her YP peers.

Admittedly, I approached our YP movement in Michigan as a one-way investment, one where we give funds and support so that they can develop knowledge and passion for the credit union industry.

I now understand that our investment in YPs is mutually beneficial. Through them, we’re able to reach credit union professionals that we otherwise don’t reach on a regular basis, such as the frontline workers, mid-level managers and call center team.

As you will read here, I learned a lot more than that from her. I believe there are a lot of Deleanna’s out there, ready and open advocates for our industry. We need to commit to our YPs, open doors for them, bring them in and do what we can to keep them.

Please enjoy our conversation. I know I did.

—————

Deleanna here! Some people call me “D” or “Leanna.” My conversation with Patty made me reflect on the profound impact young professionals have on our industry, the evolution of DEI, the importance of inclusivity and the true meaning of leadership.

When I first joined the YP movement in 2020, I thought it was mainly about networking, gaining support from peers and resources to grow in the credit union industry. But over time, I’ve gained so much more. It’s about deepening our commitment to our careers, understanding advocacy and truly appreciating the work we do for our organizations and industry. The impact on my career and the Michigan movement has exceeded anything I could have imagined. From attending WOCCU’s conference in Boston to sitting down with the CEO of MCUL, I’m incredibly grateful for these opportunities. I hope you enjoy our conversation as much as I enjoyed speaking with Patty!

[Below is an edited transcript of a conversation recorded Aug. 19, 2024]

PC: I really appreciate you sitting down with me. We got to know each other quite a bit in Boston, and we’ll get into that, and I really enjoyed our time, but before we dig in, I want to ask you to tell your story.

DA: I was born and raised in Detroit and I’m the youngest of four girls. I was raised by a single mom. I went to Southfield High School and Wayne State University, and I graduated with a degree in marketing. But how I began my career in the credit union industry … I was working at  a fast food restaurant and I was tired of smelling like burgers. So, I went to the career center at college and Public Service Credit Union popped up. I had no idea what the position was, I was just like, “Let me just get out of fast food.” I applied, interviewed and got the call within the same day of the interview to start with the credit union.

I didn’t expect to still be in a credit union after ten years. I started when I was 19 years old, so I grew up in the industry. And I’ve just grown from there. I’ve been a teller, a sales rep, I was our community relations rep. And then, fortunately, the credit union assisted me with tuition reimbursement, and when I graduated, a position became available in marketing. I started as the digital marketing professional, then the assistant marketing manager and now I’m the marketing manager. I’m the poster child of growth in the organization.

PC: Prior to seeing it at the posting at Wayne State, did you know what a credit union was?

DA: Not entirely. In high school, we had a branch—Michigan First Credit Union, actually. That was my first account. But just withdrawals and deposits from the ATM, that’s all I knew. I didn’t know the mission behind the credit union industry.

Unfortunately, where I come from, financial literacy was pretty much non-existent. I would see my grandparents, they would go to the bank, withdraw deposits. That’s it. No conversation about it. No education about it, not even in schools. So, I’ve been learning … I’ve been a student while being employed in the credit union industry, which has helped my life. Being a part of a credit union has impacted not only my career but my family, because I’m able to now teach them things that I’m still learning.

PC: We’re all still learning, I’m learning all of the time, especially when it comes to finances. Similar to you with your marketing degree, I was a psychology major. So they weren’t teaching us about finances!

Okay, so you’re chugging along, working your way to becoming marketing manager. And somehow you stumble across a young professional group, FUEL. Walk me through what your experience was like. How did you first learn about FUEL and decide to get involved?

DA: In 2020, I had the opportunity to “crash” the CUES Conference in Detroit, and our group had the opportunity to sit in with FUEL. At that time, it was a very small group, maybe less than 30 participants, but the conversations that we were having and the exercises that we were doing, like the opportunity to have CEOs come in and speak to us and hear our perspective, ask for our opinion … I was totally inspired. After CUES, I went straight back to the credit union and said, “How can I join FUEL?”

Since then, I’m not sure if I could put into words the impact that it’s had on my career. Before then, if I walked into a room to network, I wouldn’t know what to say or have the confidence to start a conversation.

And I’m learning from peers, whether it’s marketing-related or from a strategic standpoint, but the biggest one is advocacy. Prior to FUEL, I knew certain things but I didn’t know the full aspect of how important it was to the credit union industry. And I’ve been able to help bridge that gap back at the credit union for the frontline staff, bringing that education and that awareness back. But I don’t think that I would be in the position that I’m in, as far as career growth, if it wasn’t for FUEL.

PC: You told me a similar story when we were having dinner in Boston. You really brought something home for me, and the light bulb probably should have gone off sooner than our conversation. I consider what FUEL does for the League and how support goes both ways, with probably more coming back our way.

Before FUEL, you didn’t even realize there were advocacy efforts, and it wasn’t until you sat through some FUEL sessions and got to know people that it really hit it home for you. That, in turn, really fuels your passion to stay involved and to understand what we do at the League. It’s a win-win. I know a lot of leagues and employers support young professionals and I hope they are listening to us to see how important support for YPs is as it creates a passion for the industry and to advocate for it.

So you’re in FUEL, and you see an opportunity for a scholarship offered by MCUL to go to the World Credit Union Conference in Boston. What motivated you to apply for that?

DA: Actually, one of my very first FUEL meetings! There was a speaker who actually spoke about the World Credit Union Conference, and she was a recipient of a scholarship. Since then, I’ve always wanted the opportunity to attend a conference, no matter where it was.

Then the opportunity was brought up at one of our chapter meetings, and thankfully, my CEO Dean Trudeau nominated me for a scholarship. I actually didn’t know he officially nominated me, and one morning, he texted me very, very early, “Call me.” I was freaking out like, “What did I do? Did I post something on social media wrong?” And he announced that I was a recipient of the scholarship, and I just cried.

You and Janet [Ormsby of MCUL], and Hank [Hubbard of One Detroit Credit Union] made me so comfortable and I had such a great time.

PC: When you and I were at dinner talking about the diversity at the conference, it led to a conversation of diversity in our industry. I really enjoyed our conversation. You’re very open when talking about diversity, and I’m always trying to better understand and make sure that we’re doing what we can to bring more people into our circle, and make our events here in Michigan more diverse. And we just started to have these really big conversations.

We talked about how politicized “DEI” is and how, unfortunately, it’s just turned into this political statement and some employers may be backing away from DEI out of a sort of backlash. As you navigate the workplace and our industry, what are your thoughts on DEI and how employers embrace it?

DA: I know, at least from my personal experience, I’ve witnessed where some professionals and leadership are hesitant or reserved from trying to tap into it full-force. Because, like you said, the political aspect that it’s turned into has just gone a bit wild.

They feel that there’s risk involved in saying they support it or want to bring awareness to it. I understand that from a strategic standpoint, from a marketing standpoint, but at least start within the organization with your staff and employees. Because it affects culture. It has an impact on turnover and retention. Employees want to feel like they work for a place where they belong, or they relate in some type of way, whether it’s your race, pronoun or disability. Some people have disabilities that you can’t visually see. So, whether it’s your language or just things that you support or believe in, at least start having those conversations to understand where they’re coming from. Some people are at work more than they’re at home and they want to feel comfort in that. I see where a lot of leaders are pulling away from that, or afraid to step into that territory.

Now, I do see some credit unions that go full force with it, and it’s so inspiring. And from my perspective, if they can do it, we all can do it. And I think I mentioned it to you as well, but you are an inspiration to the young professionals and the industry in Michigan. You are not afraid to say that you’re still learning. You’re not afraid to attend the African-American Credit Union Coalition Conference. You going there shows that you are striving to provide a more inclusive league, a more inclusive state, a more inclusive industry. And that’s inspiring. If you can do it, the question is for everyone else, why aren’t you doing it?

PC: To me, perhaps some people took DEI full-throttle and took on too much too soon. Maybe some made it even more complicated than it has to be, or more structured than it has to be or more expensive than it has to be. You mentioned having difficult conversations and forums for people to talk, that is a basic step that is not expensive or hard, right?

That space for people to share and listen—think about it like how you said, working where people feel like they belong. And it is beyond color, it’s also gender, orientation, age. The pendulum in 2020 went really far the other way and maybe we need to bring it back a bit and get back to basics.

DA: People have to understand that you don’t have to agree with everything. I challenge everyone to just respect everyone and at least take the initiative to learn to, to educate yourself just for the sake of understanding. I’m not saying you have to agree, not saying you have to act on certain things, but education is a huge piece of DEI, and that’s something at my credit union that I love, that they offer training. They offer training on what it means to be biased or what pronouns mean or what inclusion is—what DEI actually stands for.

PC: What things make you feel like you’re being included … what does inclusion look like to you?

DA: Sometimes, it’s being in a room where I see others that look like me. Or being in a room where there’s diversity just in general. And, this is just me being transparent, but the more opportunities that I receive to participate in events and meetings and things like that, moreso outside of my organization, I am the only one there’s few of us that look like me in the room.

I don’t walk into the room to count like, “There’s five of us.” It’s just a natural thing that happens. You look around and think, “How do I relate to this group?” Unfortunately, sometimes I do walk in and I’m the only one like me. So, if we could see how we can offer more opportunities or encourage people to feel comfortable, to take advantage of the opportunities … because I do know there’s organizations that push or encourage their employees to participate. But sometimes they’re nervous or apprehensive to take that leap. Why don’t we feel comfortable taking the opportunity? Why don’t you feel worthy enough to think that you can be in a room with others? If you have an organization where you don’t see a lot of employees taking opportunities from a diversity standpoint, ask about that.

PC: And when you ask those questions and are really open to hearing the answer, I think that’s when a light bulb can go off like, “Okay, maybe we were kind of short-sighted to pick golf.” Or maybe understanding why sometimes a group of people just wants to do their job and then go home, because they don’t feel they can be their true selves at work. So why would I want to continue past my 9-to-5 when I don’t feel I can really bring my full self there?

DA: And it’s a domino effect. It goes back to DEI. How can I relate to the people that I work for or that I work with? I don’t know how to golf. But if we challenge each other to start having those conversations, you’ll be surprised at the answer. I know I can see a lot of responses being like you said: we were taught you go to work, you follow directions, you go home. Where did that come from? Is that a generational thing? And I could even say it may even go back to DEI. That’s how they were taught back when, before we joined the professional world. So, you’ll be surprised at the answers.

PC: I think one of the keys is to create an environment where people feel comfortable sharing those answers, because it’s a very vulnerable thing to ask someone to share that. You’re very open and willing to go there. But there’s a lot of really good reasons why people aren’t.

Thank you for going down that road with me.

DA: You’re welcome. Thank you for having the space to have the conversation. I respect you a lot for that.

PC: Thank you. So, let’s talk about what we need to do to keep young professionals excited about what we’re doing as an industry?

DA: Providing the opportunities for us to participate, for us to have a voice and for us to learn. Something that we talk a lot about is providing room for growth without the requirement of being a leader. Everyone isn’t meant to be a leader. Everyone doesn’t strive to be a leader, but everyone strives to grow in some aspect. So, having a professional journey where you can still evolve and grow within your role without the end game being leadership. That’s a huge one. And like I said, providing the opportunity for us to just have a voice. Having a safe space, a judgment-free zone to have certain conversations. I think you’ll keep us all.

PC: What about leadership training? What do you think is important about a leadership training program? What do you think are some of the must-haves?

DA: The first must-have is how to work with people—how to work with different personalities and different age groups and how to respect each other. Some people are natural leaders, and you’ll find that people who aren’t in leadership roles might have more of an impact on a group more than the actual manager or supervisor of an area. So, how to embrace those characteristics as well.

I feel like leadership also embraces continued learning. Leadership doesn’t mean that the education piece stops. The industry changes, the economy changes, the culture of the industry changes. How can we continue to embrace those changes, learn and evolve for the betterment of your staff, your membership and the organization?

PC: Absolutely. All great things.

Let’s switch things up a bit and move into one of my favorite parts of the conversation—getting to know the personal side of you a little better.

What is on your nightstand at home?

DA: I don’t have a nightstand, but if I did it would probably be an elephant statue. I love elephants.

PC: I knew I liked you! I actually had the privilege of going to Kenya and hanging around a bunch of elephants. They’re so amazing. Okay, so if you could have coffee with anyone who would it be?

DA: Michelle and Barack [Obama]. I just want a hug. You know, we don’t have to say much, I just want a hug. I feel like they’re like my Auntie and Uncle.

PC: So tell me a bucket list travel destination for you.

DA: Well, now it changed. Kenya. Visit the elephant. So thank you, Patty.

PC: That’s hilarious. Okay, so what is one trait or quality that you think every leader should strive for?

DA: There’s multiple but being humble. Having grace for your employees, I think it’s a huge trait that all leaders should strive for.

PC: That’s awesome, I agree. Well thank you so much for talking with me. It was great seeing you!

Care for a Hike?

Next month, our advocacy team and Michigan credit union leaders for our annual Hike the Hill trip to Washington, D.C., a trip I always look forward to. Since I joined the advocacy world in 2018, it has been really inspirational to witness credit union teams and boards walking to Capitol Hill with us to tell their story. We are also very happy to have some of our young professionals join us as they are learning to appreciate the education that happens when we meet with lawmakers and show them who we are.

In many industries, it’s unfortunately common for there to be a competitive or territorial tension between generations — an unwillingness for the older generation to help their predecessors behind them. That the Michigan credit union movement is not only open to helping and sharing resources with future leaders, but actively seeking out young professionals to become more involved in leadership activities is another great example of the many things that mark our industry as different.

Because of our generous leadership, MCUL has seen a steady increase in Hike the Hill first-timers the last few trips. I would love to see that trend continue this year, because we’re going to need it.

Unfortunately, credit unions are facing a number of potentially harmful pieces of legislation and regulatory overreach, such as interchange, “junk fee” rhetoric, the electronic funds transfer bill that threatens to expand to include fraudulently induced transfers — all of which require us to continue to educate lawmakers and regulators on the credit union difference and how some of their proposal are damaging.

While some of these proposals may be well-intended, it is our responsibility to talk with key decision-makers about how the enactment of these proposals would negatively impact their constituents and their constituents’ communities. This fall’s pilgrimage to DC will be an important step in building momentum on these issues before we head back in March for the Governmental Affairs Conference.

One of the things I love about Hike the Hill is how small-scale and intimate it is. It gives attendees a rare opportunity to talk face-to-face with legislators in a way that we know we are heard. At this year’s Annual Convention & Exposition, MCUL Board Chair Dean Trudeau said something that has really stuck with me since. He talked about how, as a young credit union professional, he underestimated just how much his voice could be heard by lawmakers and regulators. Over the course of Dean’s career, he’s seen how building relationships and sharing member stories have translated to real-life impact.

So, if that’s you…if you’ve been on the edge of going to Hike the Hill but haven’t taken the plunge because maybe you don’t think your voice will make a difference, I strongly urge you to give it a shot next month. It may take time to see change happen, but I can promise your voice will be heard.

You can register for Hike the Hill here.

DEI is Not Dead, Right?

I have heard the whispers, as you have, that some groups and employers are backing away from saying “DEI.” Somehow, our efforts seemed to have stalled as a small political sector has given DEI a bad rap. Programs labeled or promoted as DEI are being classified, by a small minority, as a political statement. This is not only baffling to me but heartbreaking as it seems to have paused our drive toward progress. And if I find it heartbreaking as a white woman of privilege, you can imagine how it hits people of color or members of our queer community.

We all remember the tragic death of George Floyd and many other people of color that sparked the flame in us to face that we have not done enough to open our doors, change policies, host discussions and open our arms to those that have been excluded. There was such momentum — so many Zooms, consultants, policy changes, investment and the like.

For a lot of us, the momentum continues and I am proud of so many who continue on this journey. But after my week with members of the African-American Credit Union Coalition and some conversations with leaders here in Michigan, there is a deep concern that the politicizing of DEI is going to slow us down or, worse yet, stop us all together.

Let’s remind ourselves what DEI is. Being diverse means to have a variety — more than just one of a kind. It includes social-economic status, race, gender, age, sexual orientation and more. How can we possibly be against having variety in our industry? I have not met anyone that is. Equity means to be fair and impartial. Again, who does not strive for this? No one I know. Inclusion means the practice of providing equal access to all. Again, a good thing, right?

Forgive my basic explanation on DEI but my point is to remind you, dear reader, that DEI is not complicated or political. Used together, to me, “DEI” is a little acronym that asks us to be the best we can be as humans and to open our doors and hearts to everyone. Not to mention, we have all have seen the business case for DEI and how young people looking to work in our industry demand a commitment to diversity. There are so many compelling reasons, above and beyond just being the right thing to do, to carry on with our efforts.

If your board or boss finds “DEI” to be “too political,” call it something else and get some support from a consultant or industry leader to shine a light on the business case that supports our continued efforts. But let’s not let our friends who are excited and hopeful to be included feel as if we are leaving our efforts behind as a fad that has lost steam. Let's double down instead.

Last week, I had the pleasure of making it out to Las Vegas to attend the African-American Credit Union Coalition (AACUC)’s Annual Conference. This was my second year attending the event, but this year’s conference was held in conjunction with the CU Leadership Convention.

Together, the event brought in more than 1,200 credit union representatives from across the country. Between this event and my experience at last month’s World Credit Union Conference, my summer has really given me a chance to become even more connected with the broader credit union movement and celebrate the diversity I saw in the attendees.

Talking about and doing the work on striving for more diversity, bringing equity and including folks is not something I will stop doing. I owe it to my team and consider it part of my job to continue. It is also work that is important to me and I know I am not alone. As we all know, the news can be hard on a good day and tragic on a bad day. Let’s be the people who carry a torchlight and keep on the path of good even when the naysayers can be really, really loud.

Yours in kinship and friendship. Patty.

One World

This week, I am one of the 2,500 credit union professionals who have made the trek to Boston for the World Council of Credit Unions’ (WOCCU) 2024 World Credit Union Conference — the first time the event has been in the U.S. since 2015. Also here from Michigan is MCUL’s YP Scholar, Deleanna Allen from Public Service Credit Union. (Make sure you’re checking out her social media takeover on our Facebook and LinkedIn!)

There are attendees here from 60 different countries around the world this year. Seeing that global representation every day is so refreshing and necessary. It’s easy for any of us to get caught up in our day-to-day tasks and what’s immediately in front of us. For me, that means primarily focusing on the current and future needs of the Michigan credit union movement, as well as the advocacy issues we’re working on in tandem with our national partners.

But WOCCU’s conference is a great reminder that we’re part of something bigger. It’s worth remembering that when we build relationships with legislators or when we fight to remove legislative barriers, we’re always doing it as one piece of a much larger puzzle. And when we are gathered together in one place, like many of us are this week, it’s an opportunity to share those experiences with others so that our movement, as a whole, can continue growing.

Last week, WOCCU announced this year’s theme for International Credit Union Day, “One World Through Cooperative Finance.” The idea of “one world” particularly resonated with me. At a time when our world feels so divided on so many issues, I feel lucky to work in an industry that aspires to do the opposite — to work cooperatively so we can provide a better financial future for more than 400 million global credit union members.

Finding the Next Generation of Members

Over the last couple years, MCUL’s Try a Credit Union campaign has had a lot of success focusing on the next generation of consumers, younger Millennials and Gen Z. Our ads have tapped into financial issues and social media relevant to this population while adopting their lingo in order to bring awareness to the benefits and mission of the credit union movement.

We’re excited about where the campaign is going this year, but we also know the younger Millennial and Gen Z population is a large, diverse group of people and our awareness campaign is not the only solution to bridging this gap. That’s why MCUL is joining the Filene Research Institute’s Centers of Excellence as a partner. The latest center is “The Next Generation of Member Growth” and will focus on diving into what future members seek out in their financial partner and how to capture those members. 

Filene first introduced the concept of Centers of Excellence in 2016 to help organize research around pressing issues facing the future of credit unions. Based on research and feedback from credit unions and other partner organizations, the project highlights key focus areas and actionable research to help credit unions make a transformative impact in the coming years.

I have been looking for an opportunity to sync up and dig in with Filene and this Center is the perfect choice. Because of our experience and research during the Try a Credit Union campaign, I think MCUL is uniquely primed to be an asset to the project. Like Filene, we believe it will be integral to the growth of the credit union industry to form lasting relationships with Millennials and Gen Z.

We want to form relationships built on the overlap in the needs and beliefs of this population and how our industry conducts business. That means creating and modifying financial services that meet them where they are. It means building trust over time so that credit unions can help these consumers meet their long-term goals, whether that means buying a home, starting a family or saving for retirement.

This partnership, which we are doing in conjunction with the Cornerstone League, is a three-year commitment driven by MCUL’s interest in helping credit unions of all sizes identify the financial habits and needs of the next generation of members. Member growth is critical for our industry, especially for our smaller credit unions who often report loss of membership. 

Our team is thrilled to be on this ride with the amazing Filene team, and with Research Fellow Kim Lear, to develop strategies and tactics to support our credit unions in Michigan and around the country.

So Long…Status Quo!

I am a big believer in trying new experiences and taking on challenges. I think a lot of “A-type” leaders are the same. Staying stagnant is boring. Routine and consistency, while at times comforting, make me restless for a new horizon.

You would think that this attitude would make me a perpetual job-hopper but that is not the case! I spent 19 years at the same law practice and have been with MCUL going on seven years. Instead of changing where I work, I change what I do. I add things like being a Girl Scout Troop Leader when my daughter was young and taking culinary classes to ultimately open my own French macaron shoppe, all while practicing law. In my MCUL tenure, I started and finished my MBA and joined several boards. I could add learning to speak French to the list but that was an epic fail! C’est la vie!

In 2018, I sold Le Detroit Macaron (ldm), my French macaron business, to my first employee, Isabelle. On the eve of the sale, I shared the news with my customers and friends and posted “ldm taught me that it is never too late in life to start something new, follow a passion and take a risk. When you find a happy place, make it your own.” I still feel this way. It is never too late to start something new, and for years, one of my “happy places” has been the credit union industry.

My “something new” this time around is taking on the role of CEO of CUSG while sticking with my MCUL duties. I feel comfortable running MCUL with my amazing team and board and know I have room for additional challenges. What could be better than taking the reins at CUSG of which MCUL is majority owner? A stronger CUSG means a stronger MCUL and additional security for our team, shareholders and Michigan credit unions. Sounds like a win-win-win. That third “win” being a win for me. I am thrilled to begin leading CUSG next week.

I am excited to dig into the CUSG product line and see where we can be stronger. Work with the team to see how we can be better. Engage with clients and learn about their experience in working with our amazing team. CUSOs are one of our industry’s super-powers. Collaborating and growing together is how we will continue to change lives as an industry 100 years from now. Being a part of that growth and working with our industry around the country in support of the cooperative movement will be, I am sure of it, one of my greatest thrills and accomplishments.

Hey CUSG team! Are you ready for it??!!!

Another AC&E in the Books!

Hi there!

I had an amazing time celebrating 90 years of the Michigan Credit Union League (MCUL) at the 2024 Annual Convention & Exposition (AC&E) alongside more than 1,200 of my credit union family and partners.

In addition to some uplifting speakers and educational breakout sessions, we also managed to raise, as a collective, more than $100,000 for Children’s Miracle Network (CMN) Hospitals.  With your support of the golf outing, our live and silent auction and the fun run, we are making a HUGE difference in the lives of children here in Michigan. Your generosity did not end there — you also helped us raise more than $40,000 for the Michigan Credit Union Foundation during the opening night’s Corks for a Cause event. This money will go out in the form of community enrichment grants, education and support for our young professional group. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you.

The AC&E’s Center Stage gave MCUL’s leaders a chance to talk in depth about advocacy — yes, our current and future priorities and obstacles, but also the need for our larger Michigan credit union movement to embrace grassroots advocacy. You may have been surprised to hear our Board Chair Dean Trudeau say he used to think his voice didn't make a difference in this industry. For someone who has been an integral part of so much progress over the years, you may have assumed it was something that came easy to him. Dean’s success is a testament to following your passion and trusting that, with time and effort, everything else will fall into place.

Another hot topic of the week was AI and cyber fraud. We heard from a cyber expert on what it takes to prepare and educate our team on cyber. We also heard from Lamont Black on how AI is shaping our industry.

Of course, the event ended with our awards gala, which gave us a chance to recognize a year of incredible work from Michigan credit union professionals and volunteers. Many of the winners shared touching and memorable speeches that I won’t soon forget.

In some cases, we weren’t just recognizing a year, but an entire legacy. Chief among them was CUSG CEO Dave Adams, who will be retiring at the end of June. As we celebrated Dave’s career, it was humbling to not just hear about his many accomplishments, but to hear how many people he positively impacted during his 27 years in the Michigan credit union movement. It’s something that will truly inspire me as I step into my joint role as CEO of MCUL and CUSG next month.

For those of you that attended, thank you. For those that are curious about this amazing event, join us next June in Grand Rapids when we do it all over again!

Celebrating 90 Years in Traverse City

I love this time of year. The sun is shining for 15 hours a day, flowers are in bloom, summer vacations are almost upon us and everyone seems visibly happier than we were just a couple months ago. But here in the Michigan credit union movement, what makes it an exciting time is knowing that this time next week, many of us will be on the road to Traverse City for the 2024 MCUL Annual Convention & Exposition (AC&E)!

Now, every AC&E is special, of course, but this year promises to be even better as we celebrate the 90th anniversary of the Michigan Credit Union League.  One of my very first AC&Es was in the spring of 2001. I was pregnant with my daughter and I was one of the credit union vendor partners. I love that I have the perspective of both an exhibitor as well as an attendee, and now working with MCUL. We so appreciate all that our exhibitors and credit union partners contribute to this event.

Another thing that I love about AC&E is getting to see so many people from all facets of the credit union represented. We have people from HR, compliance, branch managers, IT, marketing, board members, C-suite…all together from credit unions across the state to network, share ideas, listen to some great speakers and, most importantly, be there together.

And when I think about the momentous legacy of MCUL and our movement, I think about our collective spirit. There’s no doubt that our insistence of collaboration over competition is why we’ve made such an impact on Michigan over the past 90 years.

Another reason why next week’s AC&E will be memorable is that we’re celebrating one of the major leaders behind MCUL’s last three decades of success: Dave Adams. His retirement party on opening night will be a great way to honor everything he’s achieved for the Michigan credit union movement. For more on Dave’s career, listen to our recent discussion on Credit Unions, Coffee & Conversation.

Of course, Traverse City brings its own unique appeal to this year’s event. Coincidentally, just hours before I started writing this, The New York Times published an extensive article about how to best spend 36 hours in the city. The article highlights many of the wonderful attractions the city has to offer visitors, including how to take advantage of the natural landscape and the great food scene that’s growing so fast I can’t keep up with it! I hope you get some time to explore Traverse City while up at the AC&E, whether that’s taking in some golf, going on a winery tour or just taking a moment to sit by the water.

I can’t wait to share this moment, in this beautiful place, with all of you.

 

See you there!

MCUL 2024 Board of Directors Election Results

Last week, the Michigan Credit Union League tallied up the results of this year’s Board of Directors election. I am happy to announce the district directors and alternate directors that will start their (re-)elected term with the MCUL Board meeting on June 7.

The MCUL Board is made up of seven directors and seven alternate directors (elected geographically by districts) and two at-large director positions (elected by credit unions of asset size state-wide), for a total Board of nine directors and seven alternate directors — each member serving two-year terms.

While the majority of the results were re-elections, we also have two newly elected members in Monroe Community Credit Union CEO Kristine Brenner and Limestone Federal Credit Union CEO Jennifer Watson.

We rely on our Board to guide us through strategic planning, staying informed on relevant industry issues and being an active credit union advocate. My colleagues and I at MCUL have full confidence in the elected members’ leadership going forward. I want to thank each member for their commitment to making the Michigan credit union movement stronger.

2024 MCUL District Election Results:

• District I – Director
  • Heather Luciani - CSO, Honor Credit Union
• District II – Alternate Director
  • Justin Bamford – CEO, HarborLight Credit Union
• District III – Alternate Director
  • Jenny Hoyle – CEO, Isabella Community Credit Union
• District IV – Alternate Director
  • Joy Hill – CFO, Soo Co-Op Credit Union
• District V – Alternate Director
  • Brad Bergmooser – CEO, Financial Plus Credit Union
• District VI – Director
  • Drema Isaac – CEO, FreeStar Financial Credit Union
• District VII – Alternate Director
  • Kristine Brenner - CEO, Monroe Community Credit Union
• At-Large Director, Large-Asset-Size (LAS) Director)
  • Dean Trudeau – CEO, Public Service Credit Union
• At-Large Director, Small-Asset-Size (SAS) Director)
  • Jennifer Watson – CEO, Limestone Federal Credit Union

Headed South for Two Great Events!

A couple weeks ago, I had the pleasure of going down to Orlando, Florida for the 2024 NACUSO Network Conference. If you’re not familiar with the event, it brings credit union leaders together with several CUSOs and other industry innovators and entrepreneurs for a week of collaboration. This year’s theme was “Advancing the Future of Credit Unions” and NACUSO had an impressive lineup of speakers, including Michigan favorite, former Lions star Barry Sanders.

Speaking of Michigan, we were represented very well! I was ecstatic to be joined by several of my state colleagues, including Community Financial Credit Union President/CEO Tansley Stearns, who was part of a panel on reimagining the branch, and 4Front Credit Union Chief Lending Officer Daniel Baker, who spoke about the future of lending. I also enjoyed connecting with Heather Luciani of Honor Credit Union!

In many ways, the event was a year of firsts, primarily for Ronaldo Hardy. Ronaldo was brought on as CEO of NACUSO last June, meaning this was his first year hosting the event. No surprise at all, but he did a fantastic job!

Last November, when I had a chance to sit down with Ronaldo on Credit Unions, Coffee & Conversations and get to know him a little bit, I admired his passion and positive attitude toward the work our movement does. It was no surprise to see him thrive as a host. I had a great time and learned a lot.

Following NACUSO, after a lap back up to Michigan to welcome attendees at our Spring Leadership Conference in Mt. Pleasant, I flew back south to Clearwater to attend America’s Credit Union’s National Credit Union Roundtable. This event is focused on large credit unions and Michigan led the way with the most attendees at 12 CEOs! I love how Michigan flexes its muscle when it comes to collaboration!

I really enjoyed the event and getting to know two of our newest CEOs: Julie Leonard of Lake Michigan Credit Union and Ben Denay of Wildfire Credit Union. The discussion on advocacy was very interesting. We brainstormed on some of our tough issues, such as combating this annoying “junk fee” rhetoric, as well as spending a lot of time learning more about artificial intelligence and how credit unions are incorporating this technology.

All in all, a pretty busy month. But, when you love what you do, it hardly feels like work.  Have a great week everyone!

UP Chapter Fun!

Another April means another UP annual meeting in the beautiful north! As with previous years, I was fortunate enough to attend our UP Chapter’s annual meeting and convention. What a great group of credit union champions! I was happy to attend alongside some of our MCUL team — Andrea, DaeSean, Tony, Brad and Mary Comar from CUSG. We all had a blast!

I enjoyed meeting up on Thursday night and connecting with some folks that I do not get a chance to see very often. On Friday, I gave my MCUL update to the chapter and had a fun time with the YPs participating in a roller coaster building contest. Unfortunately, my team did not win but I still think our coaster was the best! The evening brought the annual party with credit union supporters all around. I hung out at our foundation booth and the CUSG booth.

You can bet that I was thrilled to learn that my dear friend, Connie Toensing, was being honored at the meeting with a Distinguished Service Award!!! Not only is Connie on our MCUL board, she also was the long-time President/CEO of Chippewa County Credit Union that recently was part of a three-credit-union merger in the UP. Connie clearly knows her community and is well-respected by her peers. As for me, Connie has been a true supporter of mine since I joined MCUL and often offers me feedback, guidance and kudos. I appreciate her so much and love hanging with her and being a “real person” [private joke; Connie will get it]!

Saturday morning had me attending the UP Annual Meeting, where our own Tony Zorza did a great job. It was really a joy to hear all the amazing work that our friends in the north are up to.  What a passionate group of credit union professionals. I then found myself, along with MCUF Board Member Jennifer Watson, hanging out with some pretty dynamic young professionals that are part of the FUEL group in the UP. A very impressive group that I was happy to share my story with and hopefully left them with a few bits of wisdom?!!

I also want to take this time to talk about the Pat Ruecker AC+E Scholarship. Did you know that in 2019, MCUL created a scholarship as a way to honor Pat, former president of Marquette Catholic Credit Union (now Embers Credit Union), who was one of the pioneers of the credit union movement in the U.P?

In the spirit of Pat’s legacy, the scholarship is an annual award given to ambitious, driven, goal-oriented professionals from the U.P. Chapter who have a background of consistent community involvement or credit union service. This year, that honor goes to Melissa Bricco of Soo Co-op Credit Union. Congratulations, Melissa! I was also pleased to announce that this scholarship will continue on for another 10 years! See you in Traverse City, Melissa! 

Thanks for reading in on my UP adventure. To conclude my trip, I was so amazed to see the beautiful shoreline of Lake Michigan on my way south to the Mackinac Bridge. The beauty of the UP is truly inspiring! Catch you soon!

Keeping Board Members Connected

For many of you reading this, I know that you live and breathe the credit union industry. This is your passion and you bring that to work everyday. But I also know that many of our credit unions’ board members may not be reading this nor do they see some of our MCUL publications! While our boards are passionate about their individual credit unions, they may not necessarily be looped into our top-of-mind legislative priorities or the other challenges we face, generally, as an industry.

That’s why MCUL has put together some events throughout the year to help volunteers stay up to date on the relevant trends and topics that credit unions are currently navigating. In just a couple weeks, we are hosting the Spring Leadership Development Conference in Mt. Pleasant. If you’ve never been before, it’s a three-day event designed to put board members in a place where they feel prepared and confident to lead their credit union.

Specific to this year’s event are sessions on innovative leadership and an economic forecast that will educate volunteers on credit unions’ current operating environment. We’ve also put together more targeted sessions on Bank Secrecy Act/Anti-Money Laundering training for board members, executive recruitment and succession planning and what volunteers should know about compliance, as well as plenty others.

The Spring Leadership Development Conference isn’t the only event we offer sessions for volunteers — our Annual Conference & Exposition and Fall Leadership Development Conference are also great for board members — but I do think that it’s a unique conference for new volunteers to better understand their role and for seasoned volunteers to learn about our changing financial services landscape.

But attending the conference, like any MCUL education event, is never about an attendee coming to sit down, receive information and then leave. These events are also an opportunity for attendees to expand their network, engage with partners and support the credit union movement. These are also opportunities for our board volunteers to understand and appreciate the challenges our industry faces and get them outside of their individual credit union bubbles. 

Like any strong movement, we’re built on collaboration, and events like the Spring Leadership Development Conference, AC&E and Fall Leadership Development Conference — places where we gather — I believe are perfect spaces for us to lean into that collaboration and grow as an industry.

Making Financial Education Easier: MCUF Offers Free Toolkit for Credit Union Youth Month

Happy first day of Spring! With Spring finally here, that means April is right around the corner. And for credit unions, April means a couple things: National Financial Literacy Month and Credit Union Youth Month.

To celebrate this year, the Michigan Credit Union Foundation (MCUF) has partnered with My First Nest Egg to offer Michigan credit unions free materials to use this April. We’ve put together a toolkit designed for credit unions to empower parents with the resources to make money-based conversations with kids easy and impactful.

The toolkit includes a detailed parent guide, an interactive map for kids and some engaging social media posts. The interactive map is especially fun, since it’s filled with videos and fun games that should make learning about money exciting for kids.

We want the toolkit to make it as convenient as possible for credit unions to participate in Credit Union Youth Month. All you’ll have to do is follow the printing guidelines for in-house activities, or add it to your website for a virtual experience for youth members.

Materials for the full Youth Month toolkit are available online on our website, and are free for Michigan credit unions, thanks to funding provided by MCUF.

MCUF Complimentary Toolkit

We all know how important it is to have conversations with young people about the healthy financial paths that lie ahead for them, and we appreciate the time and effort that Michigan credit unions dedicate to these conversations. Hopefully, our toolkit makes this year’s Credit Union Youth Month a little bit easier.

A Woman’s Mid-Life Perspective

I am grateful that Renée Sattiewhite reached out asking me to write an article for Women’s Month this year. When Renée calls, I answer. I am sure I am not alone! My caveat is that I am not a writer; but, as a component of my role in our credit union industry, I am regularly trying to brainstorm topics for communications. My “go-to” topics have our credit union movement as the subject, and there are certainly several options. I could write about our continued advocacy on some tough issues and barriers that exist today. I could also write about, for example, how we are under attack for charging for products such as courtesy pay. Another great topic would be on regulatory scrutiny or how credit unions are incorporating and partnering with fintech. All of these are relevant topics worthy of an article. But if I am being honest, I enjoy writing about more personal topics the most. And based on feedback I receive on my blog or in past articles, I find that those are the articles that resonate with people. So, that is where I landed.

Turning 52 years young this month, I find myself reflecting on past and future. There are two women in my life that are dear to me and that have me reflecting on where I have been and, if I am lucky, where I am going. Motivation to look back in time comes from my daughter, Julia, as she travels down a road I have also ventured. On the other side, is Lolly, Julia’s grandmother. I am thirty years older than my daughter, now 22, and thirty years younger than Lolly, who turns 82 this month.

Looking back, as my daughter enters the work-force post college, it reminds me of all those years of uncertainty and insecurity mixed in with excitement and energy that I went through. Starting out was hard! As a young lawyer – sometimes called a “lady lawyer” (insert eyeroll), I was often litigating against men much older and more experienced and often in front of a male judge. I would often look around the courtroom when I started practicing law and feel a bit isolated as there weren’t too many people that looked like me. Women have really made progress in this space which is nice to see. Also, I don’t recall interacting with any women attorneys of color in my early years. And while still not perfect, I now see more women of color in the legal industry. The first ten or so years of our career is so exciting, uncertain and scary.

Today, I have a front row seat to my daughter’s first steps into the corporate world and office politics. Things have definitely changed for the better in terms of representation. Also, leaders of organizations are adapting to this generation that values family and downtime. This generation does not consider reasonable working hours a “perk” but a requirement. My daughter was asked during her onboarding to share things such as – how do you prefer to communicate, what is something that is essential for you to do each day and are you a morning or evening person, etc. Some companies really try to know their employees to make their experience richer. I see credit unions also investing more time and resources into their young professionals. Today’s recruits are more vocal on their needs, and it has forced us to get over such notions as “this is how it has always been” and “I had to work these hours, so should you.” Most people are now encouraged to use their PTO/vacation days and share on social media about their adventures. Back in my day, it was a badge of honor to not use all your days and you kept any vacation experience sharing to a minimum. I am so pleased that this has changed.

In a recent podcast that I was listening to – it was suggested to look back at your younger self and present your past-self with the professional role you have now and ask yourself if you would have been surprised and impressed. This is supposed to be a helpful way to evaluate and credit ourselves with our success. Ask yourself: Did your younger self ever envision the professional life you have today? I can honestly answer that question in the negative. When I think back to myself in my twenties and thirties, I would have never guessed that I would be leading the Michigan Credit Union League and about to also step into the CEO role of CU Solutions Group. It would have blown my mind back then and sometimes, it still does!

When I look ahead to my next thirty years, I think of Lolly, who turns 82 this year. She has a home in Michigan and Florida and revels in time with her friends and family. She regularly wears heels, dines out often and enjoys a vodka martini! She always says yes to an adventure. She attends concerts, plays cards, drives a cool car, texts and posts on Facebook and even enjoys a ride on the back of a Vespa in Rome! She lives her life – every day – and she is grateful for it. She has also survived the loss of her best friend and husband, Howard, and cared for him as she watched Parkinson’s disease take him from her. On top of all of this, she is a four-time cancer survivor. She never quits; and even during her challenges, always takes your phone call, quickly responds to your text, sends you a birthday card, is devoted to her many friends and family and never complains. Even as I type this, she does not sound real, but she is. If I am half of who Lolly is at her age, should I be fortunate enough to make it, I will consider myself very lucky.

Where we have been, where we are, and where we are going are most likely all very different snapshots for all of us. I am glad to have learned to be grateful for my past and present and to enjoy and embrace where I am. As for the future, I really do not focus on it too much as I have learned all too well how things change on a dime, and nothing is guaranteed. I challenge you, during this Women’s Month, to reflect on the challenges you have conquered and to celebrate where you are. Do not overlook all that you have overcome to get where you are, personally and professionally. Celebrate you and think about the Julia’s and Lolly’s in your life. I hope you have some great examples that bring you a smile and offer some sweet reflection and hope for the future.

 

By Patty Corkery

Originally published on CUInsight.com

We Are 90!

Big news – we are turning ninety this year! The Michigan Credit Union League (MCUL) has been serving Michigan credit unions for nine decades. We are so proud to have been launched in 1934. As most of you reading this blog know, our Credit Union National Association was organized in Estes Park, Colorado in August of 1934. In order to approve the constitution and bylaws of the new national association, Michigan credit unions had to organize a League. According to The History of the Michigan Credit Union League, on October 4, 1934, with seventeen credit unions participating with 34 delegates and some alternates, the League was officially formed.

My hat is off to the founder and first president of the MCUL, Sam Smith! Mr. Smith was the president of Detroit Federal Employees Credit Union (now People Driven). In 1934, there were 66 credit unions in Michigan and, as we know, the numbers continued to grow. Just twenty years later, in 1954, there were 782 credit unions in Michigan. Wow! The MCUL was incredibly busy during that time and thereafter!

Looking at our history is really fascinating, and I could spend several blogs highlighting information in the 872 page MCUL history book (by the way, there is also a Volume II!), but needless to say, we have been around for ninety years and we are still going strong.

Does this history lesson inspire you to want to come celebrate with us? If you're reading this, registration to our Annual Convention & Exposition is open. Don’t believe me? Click here to see for yourself: Register for the AC&E 

Please be sure to register for the conference to get a confirmation number for your hotel booking (guidance from our amazing education team).

We are heading out to Traverse City for the AC+E and would love to have you join us. You are going to experience all that you are accustomed to along with some incredible new content and top-notch education. And of course, there will be parties! We hope you join us for Dave Adams’ Victory Lap as we celebrate Dave’s last annual convention as a member of our team while he gears up for retirement. There will be amazing prizes to bid on at our Children’s Miracle Network auction as well as wine and craft beer at our foundation fundraiser. I am also very excited to celebrate the people and credit unions who are receiving awards at our MCUL Awards Gala! Winners will be announced soon!

Did I mention there will be golf and a fun run as well? We will also be highlighting some of our amazing credit union partners that serve as sponsors and supporters of the event in our expo room. So much to do. But, as we all agree, the best part of this event is connecting with your credit union friends and meeting new ones. The networking and connecting is what makes this the best credit union event of the year. I will be there; will you join me?

[Facts about MCUL and our credit unions stated in this blog were found in The History of the Michigan Credit Union League; Crews, Cecil R., Detroit, MI 1971.]

Calling All CMN Champions for the 2024 AC&E!

Earlier this week, we sent a letter asking Michigan credit union leaders to be Children’s Miracle Network (CMN) Champions in 2024. I want to take a moment to say a little bit more about this opportunity.

I know February just began, but here at MCUL, we’re already thinking about the 2024 Annual Convention & Expo (AC&E). We want to make this year’s event, which marks MCUL’s 90th anniversary, a great success.

If you’ve attended previous AC&E events, you know that we focus the week’s fundraising efforts on Credit Unions for Kids, a collective nonprofit that benefits CMN Hospitals. This year’s AC&E, in Traverse City from June 5-7, we are calling on you to be a part of the action! MCUL has formed a new “CMN and Other Charitable Activities Committee” to engage our credit union community in organizing these events and making an even stronger impact.

The following are the 2024 events: the CMN Golf Outing on June 5; CMN Live Auction on June 6; and CMN Fun Run on June 7. The Silent Auction will also begin a week before AC&E and will run until the conclusion of the Live Auction event.

Last year, the Michigan credit union movement came together through these events to raise $102,176 for CMN! All these efforts go to support the wonderful work of our Michigan-based CMN Hospitals – Sparrow Hospital in Lansing, Beaumont Children’s in Southfield, Hurley Children’s Hospital in Flint and Helen Devos Children’s Hospital in Grand Rapids.

So, how can you become a CMN Champion? It’s simple. We need credit unions and chapters to be CMN Champions and help us sponsor these events.

Right now, we need contributions for the CMN Silent and Live Auctions. Donations help us purchase fun items and packages for the event that enable us to leverage these donations even further, and we need to get started!

We’re hoping, for 2024, we can go above and beyond what we’ve done in the past. We see what a difference our efforts make for CMN Hospitals and their patients, and we want to make this year’s auction event another resounding success!

I want to encourage you to consider giving at a $5,000 (Large Asset/Chapter), $2,500 (Medium Asset/Chapter) or $1,000 (Small Asset) level – BUT, any amount is deeply appreciated!

Checks can be sent to our MCUL Lansing Office at:

Michigan Credit Union League & Affiliates
ATTN: CMN Auctions Contribution
110 W. Michigan Ave, Suite 100
Lansing, MI 48933

If you have any questions or wish to send your donation via ACH, contact Kieran Marion. We will be sending more information in the coming weeks about opportunities to support the Golf Outing and Fun Run.

Exciting Beginnings

In mid-January, I had the fun experience of moving my only child to Chicago to start her professional career in business consulting. As a recent college grad (Go Blue!), this is her first permanent, regular paycheck gig. Not only that, but it is also her first time living on her own, on her own dime (hallelujah), and setting up an actual home.

Having a front row seat to her first few days in Chicago, after driving the U-Haul to the big city and assembling a lot of furniture, I couldn’t help but get caught up in her excitement and reflect on my own early beginnings to a career.

I have a few solid memories on becoming a lawyer that stand out. First, learning that I passed the bar was a biggie. Getting sworn in was another. I also vividly remember the first time I put my appearance on the record in court as a litigator. It was in Pontiac district court and my client was a credit union. Flash forward to my MCUL career, I specifically remember picking up the phone in my law office when caller-ID showed that Dave Adams was calling. He was calling about an opportunity at the Michigan league and that call changed the trajectory of my career. (Thanks, Dave).

Remember your beginnings and the excitement and nerves that came along with it?! What memories stand out? So many “ifs” and uncertainties, right? For some of us, it’s imposter syndrome; the feeling that we are not qualified or capable. So many questions and not always answers to those questions.

For CEOs, walking into your office for the first time with an empty desk and blank walls. The feeling of excitement and pressure swirling in the air. There is really nothing quite like your first board meeting with all eyes on you!

There is a lot of focus on being present in today and not spending too much time looking back, but there is a lot of benefit to looking back at the road you traveled. That doesn’t have to wait for your retirement; you can take a pause and do it now! For some, it has been a long road; for others, the journey is just beginning. And we know that the road is not always straight. There are detours, dead-ends and plenty of ups and downs in the career journey.

I guess my point in all this reflection is to encourage you to bring some of the excitement you had at the beginning into to your current role and current time. Something nudged you or appealed to you along the way to get you where you are. What was it? I know with so many in our industry it was the desire to make a difference in people’s lives. What a great mission. We are so fortunate to work in an industry with such passion and purpose. While sometimes it may be hard to find one, let alone both, we proceed forward and rely on our credit union family.

I hope you know that you have people rooting for you and a great community of people who have been there! Trust that you are where you’re supposed to be and find joy in helping those who are just getting started -- whether that person is your kid or a new employee. Sharing that journey with them is so rewarding.

New Year, New Look

Welcome to 2024! I hope everyone is refreshed from the holiday season and ready to hit the ground running. To usher in this new year, the Michigan Credit Union League is unveiling a fresh face for our website, MCUL.org!

This has been a long time coming, and we’re very excited to debut a website that not only has an up-to-date look, but also a new layout that will make it easier for members to find what they’re looking for.

A big part of the redesign process was trying to understand how members use the page most so that we could tailor this new look appropriately. We believe the updated navigation will make your MCUL.org experience a more efficient one, going forward.

But don’t worry, that doesn’t mean you won’t be able to find all the same resources and updates that you previously could on MCUL.org — now, it will just be more straightforward.

As our site is new, we welcome feedback on your experience. Let us know how you like it or if you have suggestions for improvements. Thanks to our amazing IT team - led by Timmy Bohlman - and our communications team led by Rick Weaver, for this big undertaking!

For any feedback, as well as questions or concerns you may have about the new website, contact us at communications@mcul.org.