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HEADLINE NEWS
Rep. CUMMINGS Signs onto
CURIA
MDDCCUA Holds Largest
Percentage of Sponsors
in Nation
WASHINGTON - Rep. Elijah
Cummings (D-Md.) signed
on last week to support
the Credit Union
Regulatory Improvements
Act (CURIA, H.R. 1537),
bringing the number of
signatures in support of
the House bill to 148.
MDDCCUA President Mike
Beall said, “Rep.
Cummings’s
co-sponsorship means
that seven out of eight
Maryland members of
Congress and eight out
of nine of our Maryland
and DC delegation are
supporters of this
crucial credit union
legislation. Majority
Leader Hoyer as part of
House leadership does
not generally co-sponsor
legislation. His staff
has been supportive of
the bill and our
efforts. No state
league in the country
has this type of support
for the bill.”
At MDDCCUA’s Legislative
Luncheon on Capitol Hill
during the GAC in
February, Rep. Cummings
noted that he believes
credit unions comprise
“a bridge that help
people cross over
financial difficulties
to meet goals and attain
wealth.”
MDDCCUA officials and
Advocacy Committee
members are also
pursuing Maryland’s U.S.
Senators about
supporting the Senate
version of the
legislation, which is
being introduced by Sens.
Mary Landrieu (D-La.)
and Joseph Lieberman (I-Conn.).
Maryland Senate Approves Financial Literacy Bill
ANNAPOLIS, MD – A
MDDCCUA-backed financial
literacy bill was passed
by the Maryland Senate
last week by a vote of
46 to 0. The bill would
create a state-wide task
force to craft a plan
that would lead to
having financial
literacy education as
part of the school
curriculum. The task
force would be comprised
of representatives from
the General Assembly,
Credit Unions, Banks,
Teacher’s Unions, and
the State Superintendent
of Schools. The bill
was introduced by
Senator C. Anthony Muse
(District 26) of Prince
George’s County.
Charles L. Benton Jr.
1916-2008
Longtime Finance Adviser
to Gov. Schaefer and
MECU Board Member
Charles L. Benton Jr., a
close aide to Gov.
William Donald Schaefer
whose financial acumen
helped make Baltimore's
revival possible, died
of pneumonia Saturday at
Union Memorial Hospital.
The longtime city
resident was 91.
As reported in the
Baltimore Sun, Mr.
Benton oversaw
Baltimore's finances for
30 years - first as
budget director and then
as head of the city
finance department. Mr.
Benton also served as a
board member for
Baltimore’s Municipal
Employees Credit Union
and one of the credit
union’s branches had
been named in his honor.
Funeral details were
unknown at press time.
The entire March 23,
2008 Baltimore Sun
article about Mr. Benton
appears here:
http://www.baltimoresun.com/news/obituaries/bal-md.ob.benton23mar23,0,1536340.story
MDDCCUA 2008 Board of
Directors Election
Update
COLUMBIA, MD - In 2008,
four at-large Board of
Directors seats are up
for election.
The Nominating Committee
of the Maryland &
District of Columbia
Credit Union
Association, Inc.
(MDDCCUA) comprised of
Jacqueline Smith (Ft.
Meade Community Credit
Union), Debra Connors
(Money One FCU) and
David Gilbert (Aberdeen
Proving Ground FCU) has
nominated the following
persons for election to
the offices for three
year terms beginning
Saturday, June 14, 2008
at the conclusion of the
3rd Annual Meeting:
-
Nominee/incumbent:
Miguel Boluda, CEO,
PAHO-WHO FCU
-
Nominee/incumbent:
Chris Conway, CEO,
Educational Systems
FCU
-
Nominee/incumbent:
Charles Mallon, CEO,
Congressional FCU
-
Nominee: Joseph
Sparacino, Chairman,
Montgomery County
Employees FCU
-
Nominee/incumbent:
Rod Staatz, CEO,
SECU of Maryland,
Inc.
In addition to the
nominations made by the
Nominating Committee,
six (6) or more
affiliated credit unions
may nominate a candidate
for any one or more of
the above positions,
provided such
nominations are in
writing and are received
by the Secretary of the
Maryland & District of
Columbia Credit Union
Association at the
Association office no
later than Monday, April
14, 2008. Such written
nomination(s) must be in
the form of a petition
and/or letter on credit
union letterhead, with
the potential nominee
certifying his or her
acceptance of the
nomination and the
office if elected, and
such petition and/or
letter is signed by the
secretary of the board
of directors of the
petitioning credit
union(s).
Please note that Chapter
Association Directors of
the Maryland & District
of Columbia Credit Union
Association are
nominated and elected in
accordance with the
bylaws of each
individual Chapter, and
not by the affiliates at
large.
Deadline Approaching for
the 2008 Trailblazer
Awards
Credit unions should hurry to submit their entries for the
2008 Trailblazer
Awards for
Excellence in Marketing
and Communications
The deadline for entries
is 5:00 p.m., Monday,
March 31, 2008. All
information for the
awards, including entry
forms, can be found
online at
http://www.mddccua.org/Awards%202008.html.
Martin Eakes Added as
Keynote Speaker at
MDDCCUA’s Annual Meeting
& Convention, June 11–14
COLUMBIA, MD - Don't miss the opportunity to learn how
credit unions can make a
difference in their
members’ lives through
responsible lending at
this year’s
Annual Meeting and
Convention
from
June 11–14, 2008,
in
Ocean City.
The theme
is
Credit Unions in
Action…Opportunities &
Obligations
as we examine the
directions to help
credit unions realize
their potential.
Martin Eakes co-founded
Self-Help, a community
development lender and
serves as Chief
Executive Officer of
Self-Help/Center for
Responsible Lending.
Self-Help has provided
over $4.5 billion in
financing to homebuyers,
small businesses and
nonprofits. Self-Help
reaches people who are
underserved by
conventional
lenders—particularly
persons of color, women,
rural residents, and
low-wealth
families—through the
support of
socially-responsible
citizens and
institutions across the
U.S.
For more information or to register,
click here
Early Bird Discount for
Annual Meeting
Exhibitors
Reserve your spot now to
take advantage of this
substantial discount
COLUMBIA, MD – Sign up
now for exhibit space.
Reach more than 700
attendees at MDDCCUA’s
Third Annual Meeting and
Convention scheduled for
June 11–14, 2008, in
Ocean City, Md.
Exhibition prices for
the 2008 convention are:
$1,650 per booth January 1 – April 15, 2008.
$1,895 per booth beginning April 16, 2008.
Discounts
also are now available
for
early-bird sponsorship
and advertising.
For more information
contact
Dawn Johnson
at 443-325-0768.
Collections & Bankruptcy
School Scheduled for
April 14-16
COLUMBIA,
MD - MDDCCUA is offering
the CUNA Collections &
Bankruptcy School:
Advanced Level on April
14-16, 2008, for any
staff member in charge
of the collections
efforts at your credit
union.
Discuss the challenges that exist in collection practices
today. Explore best
practices while getting
need-to-know information
on privacy issues, FTC
views on debt
collectors, and reviews
of landmark cases that
shed negative light on
the collections
industry. The CUNA
Collections & Bankruptcy
School has new topics
every year that will
keep risk-management
professionals current
and compliant in the
collections world.
For more information, please contact
Diane Pinter,
443-325-0779. Online
registration is
available.
Click here.
Upcoming Training Events
COLUMBIA, MD - Take
advantage of these
educational
opportunities being held
in the Columbia office.
Just click on the title
for details:
April 1
Disaster Preparedness
and Recovery This
session will provide an
update on NCUA’s
perspective on disaster
planning. Learn areas
of improvement and best
practices NCUA
representatives have
experienced in the
field.
April 3
Serving & Lending to
Young Adults
In this session, you
will learn how to target
the tremendous potential
of the 18-30 market
segment and explore
lending strategies and
programs for young
adults.
April 8 or 9
Credit Scoring and
Analysis
This session will
highlight credit
scoring, analyzing
credit, evaluating risk,
credit reports, debt
ratios and strategies to
make good loans.
April 10
Branch Strategies
This
seminar will help you
understand trends in
branch expansion, and
provide statistics about
adding new branches and
insight into your peers'
thinking about expanding
online or expanding
geographically by adding
branches.
Sign Up for CUs for Kids
Golf Tournament on May 2
COLUMBIA,
MD – The annual MDDCCUA
Credit Unions for Kids
Golf Tournament is being
held at the beautiful
Waverly Woods Golf
Course in
Marriottsville, Md., on
Friday, May 2. Tell
your friends and
co-workers to join you
for a day of golf,
networking and fun,
while helping to raise
money for local
Children’s Miracle
Network hospitals.
Breakfast and registration is at 7:30 a.m. with shotgun
start at 8:30 a.m. The
cookout and awards are
at 1:30 p.m. The fee is
$150 per golfer. Hole
sponsorships and other
sponsorship
opportunities are
available. RSVP by
April 30.
Click
here to register.
For more information,
contact
Sarah Turner at
443-325-0778.
Golf Page Available on
Web Site
Find out when and where credit union-related golf events
are held in 2008 by
going to MDDCCUA’s
It’s All About The Golf
web page.
If you are planning a golf event and want it included in
the list, please contact
Paul Rosenberger at
443-325-0766.
CU HAPPENINGS
MCT FCU Wins “2007
Business Champion for
Children Award”
ROCKVILLE, MD - MCT Federal Credit Union is the
recipient of the “2007
Business Champion for
Children Award” for its
in-school branch (ISB)
student-run credit union
program and all of its
financial education
initiatives for the
youth of Montgomery
County. The credit
union will be honored at
the Montgomery County
Business Roundtable for
Education (MCBRE) Awards
Gala on April 15th. 
“Our in-school branch
program is not just all
about having an account
or opening a
membership,” said Lynne
R. Talon, MCT FCU’s
Manager, In-School
Branches. “This program
teaches students about
savings and budget so
they can develop
proficiency in basic
life skills pertaining
to personal finance.
Students learn how to
manage and balance their
checking accounts, use
credit wisely and
explore investment
options.”
MCT’s In-School Branch (ISB)
Program was developed in
conjunction with the
Academy of Finance to
introduce students to a
financial environment
and provide hands-on
experience and learn
basic teller and member
service skills. The
hands-on experience
permits students to
explore
entrepreneurships and
career options in
banking and finance.
Students are also
provided sales and
leadership training to
empower them to manage
their own business
through the
opportunities provided
by the ISB program.
MCT was the first credit
union in Maryland to
have in-school branches
at county schools.
Montgomery County Public
Schools (MCPS) currently
houses nine in-school
branches—six high
schools, one elementary
school and two
alternative schools.
Other jurisdictions are
using MCT as a model for
establishing their own
in-school student-run
branches.
MCT has established a
formal partnership with
all of these nine
schools that operate the
ISB Program primarily
for the support and
enrichment of the
education process. The
County’s largest high
school, Montgomery
Blair, located in Silver
Spring and MCT’s busiest
in-school branch,
implements the ISB
program through the
Entrepreneurship Academy
and its core business
and finance curriculum.
Signal Financial FCU
Hosts Kazakhstan
Delegates’ Money
Laundering Prevention
Event
KENSINGTON, MD - Signal Financial FCU hosted a “Money
Laundering as
Transitional Crime
Project” program for
Kazakhstan delegates on
March 12. The delegates
were guests from the U.S
Department of State
International Visitor
Program. This program
annually brings
approximately 5,000
foreign nationals from
all over the world to
meet professional
counterparts and to
experience America
firsthand. The selected
delegates are
representatives of the
Member Committee and the
Parliament of the
Republic of Kazakhstan
as well as the
Kazakhstan General
Prosecutor’s Office.
Dana Washington, Signal
Financial’s FCU
Training/Compliance
Administrator, conducted
the initial meeting and
the presentation. This
program is designed
mainly to convey a
general understanding of
how U.S financial
institutions protect
against money laundering
and fraud. This includes
the type of programs
that are used to track
transfers and alert
staff to specific
transactions, as well as
training personnel to
prevent and be aware of
money laundering.
Congressional FCU’s Mike
Ray Honored by
Development Educators
Scholarship Set Up in His Name
WASHINGTON – Credit
Union Development
Educators (DEs) recently
honored Mike Ray,
Director of Business
Development for
Congressional FCU and a
DE, by setting up a
scholarship fund in his
name. At a meeting
during the Governmental
Affairs Conference, Ray
was surprised by the
announcement that DEs
had garnered donations
amongst themselves worth
$2,900 within hours via
an e-mail blast. He
received a standing
ovation. The fund’s
total is $3,165 at press
time, and growing.
Credit union managers
and volunteers who could
use financial assistance
to attend one of the DE
training programs, now
have an opportunity to
tap into this new
scholarship fund.
MDDCCUA President Mike
Beall, who is a DE, said
“The DEs wanted to give
back to Mike who has
been an active supporter
of the program, and who
has given so selflessly
and generously to the
DEs as a trainer,
mentor, and cook. Ray
prepares a gourmet meal
for large gatherings of
DEs every GAC and never
asks for help or money.”
For more information
about the DE program,
click
here.
Sandtown Habitat for
Humanity Project In
Progress – Volunteers
Needed
BALTIMORE - Once again
MECU has partnered with
area businesses to rehab
a home in Sandtown for
Habitat for Humanity.
The new project is
located at 1508 Baker
Street, Baltimore, Md.
Provident Bank and Ciena
will be assisting MECU
with this project and
MECU’s part is to work
the 2nd Saturday of each
month, beginning March
8. The next one is
April 12. There is also
a Blitz Week, June 23 –
27.
The workday will be 8:30 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. with a light
breakfast and a box
lunch provided. Skilled
and unskilled are
heartily welcomed. If
you can assist in
preparing this house to
be a home for a
deserving family, please
contact Frank Ciesla at
MECU,
fciesla@mecu.com.
BUSINESS
Attend A Free Lunch and
Learn Session on CU
Business Services
COLUMBIA, MD - Be informed on the steps to develop a
highly successful
business services
program, during a
Lunch and Learn
session on Monday, March
31, at MDDCCUA’s
Columbia office. The
event will be presented
by CU Business Capital
LLC (CUBC), an
endorsed MDDCCUA
business partner. The
free event is from 11:00
a.m. until 1:00 p.m. and
lunch will be served.
Find out, first hand,
how to analyze the
business market around
each branch and then
craft and properly price
the products and
services that will
create a successful
program.
CUBC is a national CUSO
focused on helping
credit unions offer a
full suite of business
services including
business lending,
business deposits, cash
management, remote
capture, merchant
services, business debit
and credit cards,
training, and
consulting.
These services are
supported with
"best-in-class"
technology, operational
procedures, training,
and policies. Its staff
is comprised of
experienced business
lending and cash
management
professionals, who work
with leading industry
vendors as strategic
partners. CUBC's
approach incorporates
existing core systems in
making decisions to
offer business services.
More information is
available at
www.cubusinesscapital.com
or contact
Gabi Villegas at
954.599.5274. Please
RSVP by March 26.
REGULATORY AFFAIRS
NCUA Releases LETTER
NO.: 08-CU-05 -
Statement on Reporting
Loss Mitigation Efforts
of Securitized Subprime
Residential Mortgages
ALEXANDRIA, VA - NCUA
Letter to Federal Credit
Unions No.: 08-CU-05 has
been released in the
agency's effort to
encourage credit unions
servicing securitized
subprime adjustable rate
residential mortgages to
utilize the HOPE NOWą
alliance’s loan
modification standards
to report foreclosure
prevention efforts.
This recently developed
reporting format will
assist industry efforts
of measuring foreclosure
prevention activity by
standardizing data
fields regarding
modifications of
subprime adjustable rate
residential real estate
loans, and will help to
foster more transparency
throughout the
securitization market as
the financial industry
moves forward
collectively through
this current mortgage
crisis.
To read the full copy of
this letter, please
click this link
HOPE NOW,
www.HOPENOW.com,
is an alliance between
counselors, servicers,
investors, and other
mortgage market
participants formed
under the direction of
the Department of
Treasury and the
Department of Housing
and Urban Affairs in the
fall of 2007.
NCUA Board Meeting
Schedule for 2008
Click
here to get a
copy of the NCUA Board
meeting schedule for
2008.
Resource Information for
Area Roundtables
Our area has several active Roundtable Groups that provide
essential services and
promote professional
growth and development.
Please direct your email
or phone calls to the
contacts shown in the
respective Roundtable
listings located on the
MDDCCUA Roundtable web
page.
CHAPTER CORNER
Suburban Chapter Meeting
Scheduled For April 16
COLLEGE PARK, MD - The
Suburban Chapter meeting
topic for April is
"Developing Member
Loyalty" and will be
presented by Deluxe
Financial Services. The
presentation will
discuss member
engagement and
retention. Loyal members
use more products and
services and refer more
new members. Learn how
to create a profitable
loyalty strategy for
your credit union.
The meeting is held at
the Holiday Inn located
at 10000 Baltimore Ave.,
College Park, Md. and
begins at 5:50 pm.
April meeting sponsors
are: Broder &
Associates, National
Capital FCU and Visions,
Ink.
Register online at:
http://guest.cvent.com/i.aspx?1Q,M3,6f133d52-4b6b-4b86-bee3-b7e78f1bf20c
DC Legislative Reception
and Chapter Meeting
Scheduled for April 22
WASHINGTON
- Join members of the DC
Council and Maryland and
District of Columbia
credit union
professionals and
volunteers for the 2nd
Annual District of
Columbia Legislative
Reception and DC Chapter
Meeting. The reception
will be held at the DC
offices of the Maryland
& District of Columbia
Credit Union Association
located at 1701
Pennsylvania Ave., NW
Suite 450, Washington DC
20006.
This event is a great
opportunity for credit
union professionals and
volunteers to network
with each other as well
as the elected officials
of Washington, DC.
A brief DC Chapter
business meeting will be
held from 5:30 - 6:00 pm
followed by networking
and remarks from the
invited elected
officials.
Heavy hors d'oeuvres
will be served.
Register online at:
http://guest.cvent.com/i.aspx?1Q,M3,52f6c689-4368-44db-8a89-0636fbda31ab
Mark Your Calendar for
Other Chapter Meetings –
Details to Come
·
May 13 – Baltimore Chapter
·
May 14 – Western Chapter
A WORD FROM OUR PARTNERS
Filene i3
Seeking 12 New Members
Applications Being
Accepted for i3
Innovation Group
MADISON, WI - If you are
a credit union
professional who has
ideas, creative energy,
and finds satisfaction
in getting new
initiatives developed,
Filene i3
would like to hear from
you. The Filene Research
Institute in Madison,
Wis., is seeking
innovative, insightful,
and entrepreneurial
credit union
professionals to help
shape the future of
credit unions by joining
the Filene i3
innovation group.
The 39 members of Filene
i3 are credit
union innovators from
across the United States
and Canada who study
factors which affect
credit unions, explore
demographic changes,
buying and investment
patterns, and needs of
consumers to create
sustainable growth for
credit unions.
Essentially, i3
is focused on the future
and helping credit
unions shorten their
innovation cycles.
Thomas Bowen, Chief
Operations Officer for
KC Councils FCU, College
Park, Md., is a recent
member of this august
group, and said “My
involvement in the
Filene i3 program has
been a rewarding and fun
experience. The program
gives its members the
opportunity to share
their ideas with people
that think like they do
and feel the way they do
about the credit union
movement.”
Filene i3
members
reflect diversity in
experiences, credit
union positions,
geography, and credit
union membership.
Members serve three-year
terms, must be in a
position of substantial
responsibility (but not
yet CEO), and are
required to attend two
national meetings each
year; support from their
credit union is
essential.
To apply, candidates need to complete an i3
online application
process by May 27, 2008.
Application details are
available on the Filene
Web site at
www.filene.org/home/i3/2008application.
Filene created the i3 program – ideas,
innovation, and
implementation – to
enhance
the level of innovation in the credit union industry, and
to harness innovative
ideas for the
industry. The group’s objectives are to:
-
Identify and evaluate recent credit union innovations which
meet member needs.
-
Lower costs and increase credit union operational
efficiencies.
-
Build member loyalty.
-
Meet the special needs of member segments.
-
Enhance credit union effectiveness.
-
Develop and implement new innovative ideas which address
major issues,
problems, and
opportunities facing
credit unions.
-
Identify and evaluate innovations in other organizations
which could be
adopted by credit
unions.
-
Provide a forum for cooperation, collaboration, professional
development, and
industry succession
planning.
For a summary of current and ongoing i3
projects, visit
www.filene.org
and select i3
on the toolbar.
CUs Invited to Exhibit
and Participate in DC
Saves Financial Literacy
Fair at THEARC on April
5
WASHINGTON – The Capital
Area Asset Builders is
holding its first annual
DC Saves Financial
Literacy Fair at THEARC
on Saturday, April 5
from 10:00 a.m. to 2:00
p.m. It will be in the
Boys and Girls Club,
1901 Mississippi Avenue,
SE, Washington, DC
20002. The goal is to
provide quality
financial services, such
as financial planning,
free tax preparation,
and credit counseling,
in a no-strings-attached
and fun environment; and
increase awareness of
financial issues and
supportive services for
the region’s families,
no matter what their
incomes. Launched in
2007, DC Saves is also
celebrating its first
anniversary. Twelve
MDDCCUA member credit
unions are DC Saves
partners.
Credit unions can participate by having exhibits at the
Fair. The fee for a
table is $200, with a
$50 discount for DC
Saves partners. Set up
is between 8:00 a.m. and
9:30 a.m.
So far, Signal FCU is a sponsoring credit reports, and
Andrews FCU is
sponsoring the
appearance of Sammy the
Rabbit.
The application for sponsorships or exhibit space along
with fees must be
returned before Friday,
March 28.
For more information on the program and an application,
click here.
To find out more about the Fair, or being a DC Saves
partner, call Linda
Stroman, DC Saves
Coordinator,
202-419-1440, ext. 109
or e-mail
lstroman@caab.org.
Submit Press Releases
and Photos to FOCUS
If your credit union has an upcoming event, news, or a
milestone such as an
anniversary, please
e-mail releases and
photos (in .jpg format)
to
sturner@mddccua.org.
The deadline for
submission of articles
is close of business on
Wednesdays.
Maryland
and District of Columbia
Credit Union Association
8975 Guilford Road,
Suite 190
Columbia,
MD 21046
1701 Pennsylvania Ave,
Suite 450
Washington, DC
20006-5805
(800) 492-4206 (Toll free)
(410) 290-6858 (Local)
fax: (410) 290-7832 MD
Fax: (202) 331-7851 DC
The mission of the Maryland and District of Columbia
Credit Union Association
is to promote, develop
and support the credit
union movement through
advocacy and education.
FOCUS Newsletter Submissions: Press releases, stories or
other submissions for
FOCUS should be sent to
sturner@mddccua.org
by close of business
each Wednesday and will
be published in the
following edition, space
permitting.
The format should be in Word and the font should be
Arial 10. We will make
every effort to make
your information
available, either
directly in the FOCUS or
on the MDDCCUA website
with a link in the
newsletter. If you would
like to subscribe to
FOCUS, please email
Sarah Turner.
For previous editions of
FOCUS, please search our
archives.
If you do not want to receive future MDDCCUA
Newsletters, please send
an email to
Sarah Turner
requesting removal from
this email list.
Policy/Disclaimer: ©2005
Maryland and District of
Columbia Credit Union
Association. All Rights
Reserved. |
