REAL Growth Requires REAL Focus
You've made great strides this past year and things are looking up. Now's the time to discover real growth and to do so requires real focus. The Georgia Fall Symposium is the place to make it happen. Discover what your members are looking for, how to grow your membership, and how to build a strong bottom line at this symposium. Attend and come away with proven ideas to get growing!

NEW this year!

• CPE credits available for participants: 8 credits (specialized knowledge and application)
• Volunteers can earn credits toward their Certified Credit Union Volunteer (CCUV) designation
• Gain knowledge in preparation of NCUA letter regarding board training
• Expanded guest options including Thursday tour
• Golf outing Friday afternoon including lunch
• Exciting pre-conference educational options including:
• HR Workshop
• Council Meeting
• REAL Deal Session and Reception (by invitation)
• New and exciting lineup of speakers and curriculum

Fall Symposium: October 6–8, 2010

HR Workshop:  October 5–6, 2010

Marketing Council Meeting:  October 6, 2010

Preview the schedule

Focus on Achieving Service Excellence

Michael Hudson
Truth is, the long-time credit union differentiator of first-rate member service has become less of a distinction. High quality service is rapidly becoming the norm in the industry, not the exception. In this information-packed program you'll learn how your credit union can achieve service excellence by focusing on long-term member relationships that exceed member expectations. We'll explore generational differences in service expectations, technology tools that can enhance member interaction, integrating sales into the service process, and specific tactics for defusing member concerns, all in the context of what members expect from their financial institution today.

Legendary Leadership

Tim Harrington
Ike Eisenhower, arguably the most important leader from World War II, was not the best military tactician, nor the best speaker, nor the most dynamic personality. Yet he took the Allied Forces that were reeling from defeat after defeat and led them to victory over the world's most powerful military. Not only did he have to lead his own staff, but he had to manage the stormy personalities of Churchill, Roosevelt, de Gaulle and Generals Montgomery and Patton, and somehow molded them all into a powerful coalition. How did he accomplish all this? By becoming a great leader. Through his three greatest talents: skillful diplomacy, ability to plan, and the power to inspire success in others, he pulled together an unlikely coalition of nations and defeated Nazism. His methods of leadership are as effective in the business environment today as they were in the battlefields and war rooms sixty years ago. This session will teach the practical lessons from Eisenhower on leadership.

Management Track: Meaningful Credit Union Collaboration: Creating Big Plans for Growth

Kelley Parks
There are many innovative outsourcing solutions currently available, including partnering with another credit union or joining/starting a CUSO. How do you know which outsourcing solution is best for your credit union? Many credit unions are finding ways to collaborate and better serve the low income member, provide business services, improve operational efficiency, and much more. Which best practice principles can be learned from your credit union peers?

Part 1: Ideas at Work
Attend this session and examine how some credit unions have collaborated. Also, discuss a number of examples and ideas from the movement.

Part 2: Action Plan and Next Steps
To further expand on the success of these collaborations, this session will explore how to implement these ideas to ensure sustainability and success.

Management Track: Surviving Lack of Courtesy Pay Revenue

Tim Harrington
With new courtesy pay regulations here and possibly more on the way, potential loss of courtesy pay revenue could be a major issue for more than 60% of credit unions that offer this service. Replenishing a revenue stream is never an easy task, but during this session you’ll gain strategies to mitigate the losses and replace that revenue stream. Two things are clear: Americans have shown a need for their financial institution to provide them an easy way to make ends meet and credit unions need to secure methods to cover the high expense of offering checking accounts. During this session, we’ll take a glance at new and potential regulations while discussing strategies you can use to help alleviate the loss you may encounter in your courtesy pay program.

Management Track: Taking Social Media to the Next Level for REAL Results

Kelley Parks
The social media honeymoon is over. Countless credit unions have attempted to join the online conversation only to find that no one is interested. The hard reality is that posting press releases on a corporate blog or starting a Facebook page doesn’t get you much. So what does? You have to create real excitement and connection. There’s no shortcut! This session will explain what works and what doesn’t when it comes to social media.

Management Track: Redefining Risk For Your Credit Union

Joni Lovingood
Regulatory and legislative dynamics combined with pervasive economic forces have redefined the boundaries of credit unions’ risk exposures in 2010 and into 2011. Credit unions are facing new and changing risks from just about every direction imaginable. There are man-made threats such as lawsuits, embezzlement, and fraud, which are hard and fast considerations in our industry. Emerging risks related to new technologies and services such as remote deposit capture and contactless payment devices and ever-present dangers such as hurricanes, tornados, and fires. Attend and gain an overview of the most prominent, costly, and growing credit union risks, plus guidance for key steps in managing them.

Volunteer Track: Strategic Thinking for Credit Union Boards

Michael Hudson
(Level 2, 3 credits, Strategic Planning Category)
The changing marketplace for financial services places new pressures on credit union leaders and challenges them to think differently. This thought-provoking session explores some of the changes that may occur in the future and outlines a framework for implanting strategic thinking within your leadership team. Though we won't be forecasting the future, you’ll gain insights that will help you strengthen your planning efforts and engage your team in looking beyond the day-to-day to define a compelling future for your credit union. You'll leave energized and ready to take your credit union to the next level!

Volunteer Track: CEO Succession Planning Strategies for Your Board

Richard Boothby
(Level 2, 3 credits, Strategic Planning Category)
Approximately 59% of credit union CEOs will become eligible for retirement in the next 15 years, yet just over half of credit unions with a CEO nearing retirement have a succession plan in place. Don’t make CEO succession an afterthought. This session will discuss strategies for an effective CEO succession plan and identify essential elements needed for your board’s plan.

Volunteer Track: Is Your Board Financially Literate? Focused Tips for Board Success

Tim Harrington
(Level 2, 3 credits, Safety & Soundness Category)
NCUA’s recent proposal requires credit union boards to be financially literate and to be able to ask the right questions to ensure your credit union is safe for its members. While the NCUA letter is still out for comment and not all the details are worked out, there’s no doubt that expectations for credit union volunteers will increase. This session will discuss some of the financial basics all board members should know, evaluate the right questions boards should be asking, and discuss additional tools that are available for credit unions to ensure your board is financially literate.

Volunteer Track: Board Self-Evaluations: Essential to Governance

Tim Harrington
(Level 2, 3 credits, Governance Category)
Board self-assessment provides board members with an opportunity to reflect on their individual and corporate responsibilities, identify different perceptions and opinions among board members, point to questions that need attention, and use the results as a springboard for board improvement. You’ll also learn to increase the level of board teamwork, clarify mutual board/staff expectations, demonstrate that accountability is a serious organizational value, provide credibility with members and examiners, and look internally in addition to assessing the CEO and programs 2010 budget.

CUNA Volunteer Certification Program

You can earn credit toward your Certified Credit Union Volunteer (CCUV) designation by attending the designated breakout sessions and successfully completing exams.

The CUNA Volunteer Certification Program gives you the recognition for volunteering to direct a credit union. The program is designed to create a simplified approach to some rather complex subjects. It will provide you with a convenient, practical way to become certified in the areas of credit union operations, governance, compliance, and more.

Learn more and new enrollees receive 50% off the registration price by attending this conference.