Let us know how you liked San Diego

We bid San Diego farewell after an amazing sendoff from closing motivational speaker Keith Harrell, "Mr. Super Fantastic." Be sure to join us next year, just outside our nation's capital, in National Harbor, Md., for NAFCU's 42nd Annual Conference & Exhibition, July 21-25. We'll be at the beautiful Gaylord National Resort and Convention Center, right on the Potomac River.

Let us know how you liked this year's Annual Conference. What were your favorite sessions? Your favorite speakers? What did you like about San Diego?

Call your representative to oppose H.R. 5546

As Fred Becker mentioned this morning in our general session, we need your help to stop legislation introduced in the House that would seriously impact interchange fee income. The bill, H.R. 5546, is expected to be taken up by the House Judiciary Committee next Wednesday. NAFCU is asking all of its members to call their U.S. representatives and oppose the bill.

You can call the U.S. Capitol Switchboard at 202-224-3121. Here are some talking points:

• Please don't co-sponsor or vote for H.R. 5546, the Credit Card Fair Fee Act.
• H.R. 5546 is a price control bill.
• Merchants and retailers want to use the electronic payment system for free.
• Merchants already consider the cost of interchange in the price of goods and services.
• Nothing in the legislation requires merchants to pass on any benefits to consumers. In fact, evidence shows that merchants will keep the savings, rather than reducing the price of goods.
• Merchants and retailers can negotiate directly with credit card companies.
• Thank you for supporting credit unions.

Coaching each other

Have you ever considered peer-coaching as a means of maximizing the potential of staff, management and volunteers at your credit union? Well, during yesterday’s general session, executive coach and keynote speaker Marshall Goldsmith showed us all simple ways we can use the concept to better ourselves and credit unions. He showed us that feedback can be fun, especially when it is given with a spirit of support. I’d be interested to know what you thought of Goldsmith’s remarks on peer-coaching…and what plans you have to institute it in your own life.

Thank you, JoAnn

NCUA Chairman JoAnn Johnson, in one of her last public appearances as the agency’s head, shared with us her perspective on her service as NCUA chairman. As she said yesterday, she has “come full circle” with NAFCU. In yesterday’s remarks, she thanked credit unions for their respect, dialogue and friendship, and we at NAFCU would like to extend our thanks to her for giving us the same in kind.

Networking opportunities abound in the exhibit hall

I caught up with a lot of old credit union friends and met many new ones yesterday at the welcome reception in the exhibit hall. I hope everyone had a good time, got plenty of roast beef and had a chance to meet the many exhibitors who have solutions and products to meet your needs.

NAFCU Services Corporation’s preferred partners are all grouped together, so be sure to stop by there the next time you are in the exhibit hall. Also, don’t forget to stop by NAFCU’s own booth and put something in our 100th anniversary time capsule. You can also see a great demo of a new direct mail product we will be rolling out soon.

Hope to see you in the exhibit hall for lunch starting at 11:30 a.m. today.

NCUA Vice Chairman Hood, volunteers and payday loans

Yesterday, NCUA Vice Chairman Rodney Hood hosted a remarkable afternoon interactive discussion, where he announced a new initiative – one that I think will help draw younger people to credit unions. He said that NCUA is about to launch its Blueprint 2020 initiative. This program will provide a plan for credit unions to partner with colleges and other educational institutions to encourage young people to consider membership and careers with credit unions. I know it is an initiative that NAFCU Chair John Milazzo firmly believes in and that he has worked with the vice chairman to help shape the blueprint. In speaking about the initiative, Vice Chairman Hood mentioned that it is intended to do more than just expand credit union membership. It also aims to highlight opportunities for service on credit union boards and supervisory committees.

What did you think about Vice Chairman Hood’s remarks?

I also attended a lively discussion during the Chairs Caucus, where we discussed a number of pressing issues such as the continued decline of small- to mid-sized credit unions as well as concerns about the NCUA’s new data collection requirement and an NCUA Outreach Task Force recommendation to require the disclosure of CEO compensation.

Volunteers out there, what’s on your mind? Let us know.

Finally, I wanted to draw your attention to the remarks of Rear Admiral Len Hering, who spoke at our Defense Credit Union Summit luncheon. He gave a powerful speech about how predatory lending is sapping the readiness of our armed forces. He called it a national security threat and said that 78 percent of all security clearance denials are because of financial problems and fully 100 percent of all espionage cases are found to be linked to financial issues.

Hering also noted that 85 percent of all payday lending stores are just outside of military bases. He called on credit unions to continue their good work and to help teach sailors and soldiers about financial responsibility.

What are you doing to help your members who need short-term loans?

Getting underway

I’ve heard many fine comments about yesterday’s golf tournament, which kicked off this year’s annual conference. It was a beautiful day and the course at Maderas was just spectacular.

During this morning’s Defense Credit Union Summit, the commander of the U.S. Navy’s South West Region, Rear Admiral Len Hering, will give remarks. In addition, we expect to hear some truly inspirational stories of success from our military credit unions.

This afternoon, conference goers will have the opportunity to talk with NCUA Vice Chairman Rodney Hood before moving on to our specialized leadership forums and a conversation with NAFCU President Fred Becker.

The day concludes with our welcome reception in the exhibit hall – a great place to network with your peers and to find out about the best resources available to credit unions. One booth in particular I’d like for you to visit is our NAFCU Pavilion. You can contribute to our time capsule and be a part of our celebration of 100th anniversary of credit unions. In addition, we will hold a raffle for a $100 gift card and a FREE admission to next year’s NAFCU Annual Conference, which will be at National Harbor in Maryland.

Now, I’d like to invite you to share what you think of the conference so far.

Welcome to San Diego!

Well, I have arrived here in beautiful, bright and sunny San Diego. The city promises to serve as the perfect backdrop for this year’s NAFCU Annual Conference. This morning conference delegates and guests were out on the green for the NAFCU Corporate Credit Unions & Friends Golf Tournament. And as they were testing their golf skills, the NAFCU staff was putting the finishing touches on preparations for tomorrow’s education sessions that will kick of this year’s conference.

I am particularly looking forward to our annual Defense Credit Union Summit and the Discussion with NCUA Vice Chairman Rodney Hood. Afternoon sessions will follow that are especially tailored for credit union management. There will be a CEOs Forum, Chairs Caucus, Senior Management Forum, a session for Volunteers as well as a Private Conversation with NAFCU President and CEO Fred Becker.

We will round out the day with a welcome reception – a chance to unwind and interact with conference goers as well as a vast selection of organizations that can help your credit union reach its strategic goals. That’s what this conference is about – putting you in touch with the right people and giving the tools to really make an impact on your credit union’s bottom line.

So what sessions you are looking forward to attending and why?