Commission readies for Oct. 2 hearing
The CUNA Renaissance Commission's first public hearing will be held Monday, Oct. 2 in Chicago during CUNA's 16th Symposium and Annual General Meeting. The three-hour hearing gets underway at 3:30 p.m.
Witnesses have been invited to provide testimony, which the Commission will use to arrive at recommendations for the CUNA Board on the changes that might be sought to improve the credit union charters and choices available to consumers.
Among the topics likely to be addressed by witnesses during the hearing are field of membership, expanded powers, private deposit insurance, regulatory burden, the needs of credit unions of varying sizes, and the balance between state and federal charters.
The Commission is planning at least one more public hearing, and perhaps two, before it completes its work.
Focus groups seek volunteers
Public hearings are just one way that the Renaissance Commission is gathering information from credit unions--but a series of focus groups is a second, significant method the Commission will be using to tap into the ideas of credit unions.
And you can join in.
Credit union representatives can volunteer for the focus groups by contacting the Renaissance Commission (by e-mail, telephone or letter). Focus groups will then be scheduled as either face-to-face meetings in various locations around the country, or as telephone conference calls. (Click here to find out more about contacting the Renaissance Commission.)
Focus groups are gatherings of individuals representing a particular segment of the population. The group members are asked a variety of open-ended questions about particular issues and asked for their perspectives in their answers.
Join a focus group
The Renaissance Commission is gathering information from credit unions and other groups that have an impact on credit unions to develop recommendations. Other methods planned by the Commission to use in gathering information are two public hearings and focus groups made up of credit union representatives and others.
Credit union representatives can volunteer for the focus groups by using the contact information provided.
"We need a broad spectrum of the credit union community to participate in this effort," said Frank Pollack, chairman of the Commission and president/CEO of Pentagon FCU in Alexandria, Va. "The Commission is looking for recommendations that reflect the breadth and depth of the issues and concerns facing credit unions and their ability to serve their members in the future."
