As an organization that exists solely to meet the
needs and represent the interests of its member credit unions, the Idaho
Credit Union League (ICUL) is committed to credit unions; credit union
members, volunteers and staff; credit union business partners; and to the
Credit Union System.
We will deliver a range of products and services
designed to meet the needs and reflect the diversity of our credit unions.
We will support credit unions in their efforts to improve the financial
well being of themselves, their members and communities.
And just as credit unions continually, in all facets of
operations, work to demonstrate the value of membership in their
organizations, so will the Idaho Credit Union League continually and in
all facets of its operations, strive to demonstrate the value of belonging
to the League.
We will communicate the credit union difference in our
state and in our nation’s Capitol so that credit union members and
potential members, legislators, regulators and the community at large will
understand and appreciate the unique role that member-owned financial
cooperatives play in the lives of people throughout Idaho. We will work to
help make the credit union community stronger and more effective in
protecting credit union interests.
We will help credit unions articulate their uniqueness
by addressing fundamental credit union differences such as service to
members, member education, democratic control, diversity, commitment to
the credit union movement and other cooperative activities, and voluntary
community outreach.
This Statement of Commitment to Credit Unions is our
declaration to the public that we believe in credit unions. We believe in
the credit union operating principles and in our mottos, "Not For
Profit, Not For Charity, But For Service" and "Where People Are
Worth More Than Money." We are credit union people helping credit
unions to better serve their members.
Our employees are the League’s most important
resource. We expect integrity, creativity, courage, initiative, teamwork,
respect, and individual judgment. We value and recognize excellent
achievement.
Section I: Service
to Members
The Idaho Credit Union League represents
credit union interests to Congress and the Idaho State Legislature through
building relationships and lobbying efforts. We actively promote the
credit union difference to our state and federal elected officials. We
maintain a quality relationship with state and federal regulators to
better serve our member credit unions in the regulatory arena. We serve as
an information resource for our members and offer educated and
experienced-based advice on compliance and regulatory issues.
The Idaho Credit Union League sees its role as one that
allows credit unions to share views in order to arrive at a unified
position that they can communicate to legislators at the state and
national levels in order to support pro-credit union legislation and to
protect the common interests of credit unions. We encourage bipartisan
support of candidates and legislators who share credit unions’ points of
view and who side with credit unions on our important issues.
Current Programs That Support Political Involvement:
1. Hike-the-Hill – The Idaho Credit Union
League supports, promotes, and participates in CUNA’s effective
Hike-the-Hill program at least two times each year. We budget for--and
sponsor--three people (both staff and volunteers) from Idaho credit unions
to participate in a Hike-the-Hill trip to Washington, D.C. each year. We
meet with our congressional delegation and their staff members at least
quarterly; as well as visit CUNA Washington and NCUA. We host legislative receptions
for our congressional delegation and their staff during our Hike-the-Hill
events. We make every effort to educate our participants in addition to
sponsoring lobbying activities during these events.
2. State Governmental Affairs Conference – The
Idaho Credit Union League holds an annual state GAC in which we educate
our member credit union professionals and volunteers regarding the
importance of the political process. We also take this opportunity to
coordinate visits with state legislators and raise funds for political
involvement. We host a legislative reception during our State GAC to give
our members an opportunity to build, renew, and strengthen personal
relationships with Idaho state legislators and political operatives.
3. Lincoln Day & Jefferson-Jackson Dinners
– To further contribute to bipartisan relationships with our elected
officials and political parties, we sponsor seats and entire tables at GOP
and Democrat functions such as Lincoln Day and Jefferson-Jackson Day
dinners around the state. In each of these events we encourage credit
union volunteers and staff to attend the dinners and visit with elected
state officials.
4. CUNA Governmental Affairs Conference –
League staff, Governmental Affairs Committee members, and other Idaho
credit union staff and volunteers attend the world-class CUNA GAC each
year. We also coordinate hill visits for our participants during this
important educational and lobbying event.
5. Idaho Credit Union League Legacy Awards –
Each year at the Idaho Credit Union League Annual Meeting, we hold a
Legacy Awards Luncheon to recognize those individuals, credit unions, and
chapters who have contributed to the efforts to raise political action
funds throughout the year and to encourage greater involvement by the
Idaho credit union movement in this important effort.
6. Fundraising – The Idaho Credit Union League
sponsors a state-registered political action committee, ICULAC, to raise
funds to support the needs of the national movement’s own political
action committee, CULAC. We also operate an internal fund, the Member
Advocacy Fund, which is designed to raise funds that can be used to
support candidates for state office and other lobbying expenses. We hold a
fundraiser each year at the League Annual Meeting to raise funds for
CULAC. We encourage the Chapters of the Idaho Credit Union League to hold
their own fundraisers to advance the goal of political involvement. We
also encourage credit unions to participate in the CUNA Deduct-A-Buck
program and other forms of fundraising to support this cause.
Products & Services Offered By The Idaho Credit
Union League & Affiliates
The Idaho Credit Union League and Affiliates, either
directly or through mutually beneficial and quality partnerships with
outside entities offers products and services that assist member credit
unions in their efforts to serve their members.
Section II: Member Education
The Idaho Credit Union League is committed to
education of credit union professionals, volunteers and members.
Significant portions of our human and financial resources are devoted to
offering a wide variety of educational opportunities for everyone within
the credit union movement.
Current Programs that Support Member Education and
Advocacy:
1. Education Sessions – Each year, more than 50
days of seminars, conferences, and networking opportunities are presented
throughout Idaho on a variety of operational, technology,
compliance, staff sales training, teller training, and other
industry-related topics. We consistently offer educational training at all
levels, from beginners to those employees with more advanced experience.
We also offer a Chapter Leaders’ Conference, which offers extensive
information and promotes leadership among chapter leaders.
2. In-House Training – In addition to our
workshops we offer a variety of topics as part of our on-site training
program. Our consulting staff includes specialists in the areas of
lending, compliance, human resources, regulations, bankruptcy, lending,
credit union management, and strategic planning. These consultants visit
credit unions for one-on-one consultations and/or present information
from their specialty areas consistently throughout the year.
3. Scholarship Program – Credit union
volunteers and professionals have an opportunity to apply for scholarships
from the Idaho Credit Union League for CUNA, League, Chapter, and CUNA
Mutual Group educational sessions, conferences, and meetings.
4. Credit Union Resource Library – Various
resources ranging from policy examples to training tools are available
from this in-house library.
5. CUNA sponsored Schools – As a benefit of
being affiliated with the Idaho Credit Union League, credit unions are
able to have their staff and volunteers participate in numerous CUNA and
CUNA Mutual sponsored seminars and schools. These educational
opportunities include lending, management, technology, correspondence
certification program and a variety of other timely and important topics
and are taught by industry leaders in the various areas of interest.
6. Community – By being involved in both the
National Endowment of Financial Education (NEFE) and the Idaho Financial
Literacy Coalition, the Idaho Credit Union League is committed to
educating members and consumers, alike, about wise financial management.
We are also dedicated to promoting the credit union uniqueness, philosophy
and values.
7. Publications – The Idaho Credit Union League
provides information through a variety of sources including The Gem
Newsletter, Fast Fax, Security Alerts, our up-to-date Web site, and press
releases to the media.
Section III: Governance
ICUL is an organization founded upon democratic
principles of governance. ICUL seeks to involve its membership in all
facets of its operations. Through seven chapters, League members play a
direct role in governance and are involved in guiding the League toward
serving the needs of all members. Idaho Credit Union League members:
* Elect directors through Chapters, thereby guaranteeing
geographic representation.
* Maintain involvement via committees. Through its many
committees, ICUL seeks to expand the involvement of credit union
professionals and volunteers in its activities. These committees are:
o Audit Committee
o Awards Committee
o Bylaws Committee
o Credit Union for Kids Committee
o Finance Committee
o Personnel Policies Committee
o Resolutions Committee
o Scholarship Committee
o Small Credit Union Task Force
o Governmental Affairs Committee
§ Idaho Credit Union Legislative Action
Subcommittee
§ Member Advocacy Subcommittee
Section IV: Diversity
We recognize the value of diversity in people of
varying backgrounds who are involved with credit unions at all levels. Our
marketplace is one where credit unions are of varying types and sizes,
serving diverse fields of membership. We see our role as a provider of a
framework for the sharing of diverse viewpoints.
The Idaho Credit Union League and Affiliates actively
seek to fill staff vacancies by hiring qualified candidates without regard
to age, race, creed, religion or socio-economic status, seeking to
represent the community where we operate.
Section V: Commitment to the Credit
Union Community and other Cooperative Activities
Because of the very nature of our business, we
have a tremendous commitment to the credit union community and to other
cooperative activities. The Idaho Credit Union League strengthens the
movement by serving in leadership roles and by supporting the efforts of
credit union-based organizations.
Current activities that support the Credit Union
Community:
1. Boards and Associations – The Idaho Credit
Union League Vice-President serves on the AACUL’s Business Activities
Committee and Harland’s Credit Union Advisory Board.
2. Partnerships with other states – We partner
with other leagues to offer conferences. And, credit unions that are
members of Leagues in other states are eligible to attend education
sessions offered by our League.
3. International Credit Union Day – We
recognize International Credit Union Day and encourage our member credit
unions to observe this important occasion. We offer our staff as speakers
for Credit Union Day Dinners around the state. We donate to chapter Credit
Union Day advertising campaigns.
4. CUNA – We support CUNA and CUNA Mutual Group
educational sessions, lobbying activities, and other areas promoted by our
primary trade association. Our CEO serves on the Political and Grassroots
Coordination and Assessment Subcommittee of CUNA’s Governmental Affairs
Committee.
5. Chapter network – We work to strengthen the
network of credit unions in Idaho by providing support to credit union
chapters statewide.
Section VI: Public Service /
Corporate Citizenship
We recognize that practicing good corporate
citizenship supports the credit union philosophy of "People Helping
People"; furthermore, it will help raise the overall level of social
and economic well-being of those in our community, help to strengthen ties
within the community, and better position us to reach out and serve the
credit union members and potential members in Idaho. We realize the
importance of building belief in our organization and us and know that
being exceptional corporate citizens contributes to that positive
self-value.
Current Public Service Activities:
1. Credit Unions For Kids – We support Idaho
and neighboring states’ hospitals by encouraging credit union
participation in the Children’s Miracle Network Credit Unions For Kids
Program. We highlight this significant program at our Annual Meeting by
recognizing and encouraging Idaho credit unions for their efforts toward
fundraising for this most worthy cause.
2. Consumer Information Council – The Idaho
Credit Union League President/CEO is a member of the board and treasurer
of the Idaho Consumer Information Council. This council promotes consumer
education and consists of community-minded businesses and organizations
working together for the common good of Idaho consumers and businesses.
3. Financial Literacy Coalition – The Idaho
Credit Union League Regulatory & Governmental Affairs Specialist
participates in this council and leads a team, which is developing a
program to educate newly married couples. The Financial Literacy Coalition
is made up of community organizations and businesses and works
cooperatively to promote consumer financial education.
4. Better Business Bureau – The Regulatory
& Governmental Affairs Specialist volunteers as an arbitrator for this
organization.
5. Paint the Town – Employees of the Idaho
Credit Union League volunteer their time to help in the Neighborhood
Housing Association’s Paint the Town program in which volunteers paint
the homes of local elderly and disabled citizens.
6. Individual contributions – The Idaho Credit
Union League encourages its employees to be caring citizens within their
own communities by helping within their neighborhoods and churches.
7. Other associations – The Idaho Credit Union
League is a dues paying member of the following associations: American
Society of Association Executives (ASAE); American Association of Credit
Union Leagues (AACUL); Boise Area Chamber of Commerce; Idaho Society of
Association Executives (ISAE); National Association of State CU
Supervisors (NASCUS); National Cooperative Business Association; Idaho
Association of Industry & Commerce (IACI); Society of Human Resource
Management (SHRM).
8. United Way – The Idaho Credit Union League
Communications Director is actively involved in United Way Activities and
Idaho Credit Union League employees support this worthwhile cause.
Last updated
January 04, 2007
