Welcome to the new CUES FYI. We've got a great new look to go with our in-depth content. Today we also unveil a brand--new cues.org that is easier to navigate and invites more user participation. Starting today, you can comment on articles, submit member news about yourself or your credit union, participate in the popular CUES Net and CUES Director Net discussions and customize your very own MyCUES page--all on cues.org.

In this issue of CUES FYI, read Credit Union Management's latest online-only "PR Insight" column about managing your online reputation. And check out the magazine's April 2010 cover story "Wringing out Efficiency" about how CUs are making the most of payment system income-and the least of expenses. Finally, read an article by Mark Meyer#1, CEO of Filene Research Institute, about helping employees get happier about selling.

Wringing out Efficiency
Front-line and back-office innovations help CUs make the most of payment system income.
 
Come on, Get Happy!
New findings from the Filene Research Institute and McKinsey & Co. show what gets members to use more services. (Psst! It's your employees.)

PR Insight: What are People Saying About You on Line?
Online reputation management presents challenges

Recognize the Stars at Your Credit Union
CUES Rising 100 is a bi-annual award open to non-CEO executives in all functional areas of the credit union. Nominate the individuals who excel at contributing to the growth and success of your credit union. The deadline for applications is June 4, 2010.  
 

Member Benefit Section

Online Learning for Boards: Board Orientations: Often orientations are overly staff-focused, with a parade of departmental reviews of internal operations. This is not particularly helpful to a director. The orientation should be focused on the board's work, not the staff's work. With that in mind, some of the topics commonly included in an appropriate board orientation include:

* An overview of the board's policies;
* An overview of the board's work environment and articulated values;
* An overview of how to actually do the job as a director on this board;
* The financial concepts necessary to understand the credit union and the reports that the board reviews.

CUES Director members can review five more things to include in a board orientation and study about other aspects of board governance--then test their knowledge--in the CUES Director Education Center, now a member-benefit (password required; e-mail cues@cues.org for help).

Check out all the CUES Director member benefits.

2015 Scenarios: CUES, in partnership with Decision Strategies International, Inc., brings you 2015 Scenarios for Credit Unions in North America. Building on an earlier work, 2010: Scenarios for Credit Unions: An Executive Report, the current study focuses on four distinct future scenarios, and challenges credit union leaders to question their assumptions and to develop a more flexible, multi-faceted view of the future.

CUES members can download the full report.
 
Non-members can read an executive summary.

New Benefit! CUES members and subscribers to Credit Union Management can now access the magazine in two new ways. Read a digital version by logging in at cumanagement.org then clicking on the magazine image in the top bar. Or read all the features from print on line at cumanagement.org. As before, some articles are available for all to read. The rest are password protected for CUES members and magazine subscribers. E-mail cues@cues.org for password help.

Review all your member benefits here.

Blog: Humor Done Right: Last week, for April Fool's Day, Johns Hopkins University ran an article on its home page claiming it was dropping the confusing "s" from its name. The school's Web site showed a photo of a worker spackling over the letter and even dropped it from the main logo, becoming John Hopkins completely for the day. Read more in this CUES Nexus Connection post. Then add your comments. What do you think about using humor in marketing? What credit unions do this well?
 

Learn Business Lending from the Experts
The time is right to take advantage of the strategic opportunity business lending brings. Attend the CUES School of Business Lending, and you'll learn from facilitators Jim Devine and Bob Hogan, the experts who also teach state and federal examiners. Complete all three weeks of the series, and you'll walk away with everything you need to create a successful program at your credit union.

Cool Web Site: This week's cool site is the brand-new cues.org. It features your favorite areas from the old site, such as Members Share and online articles, plus adds some nifty new features. Get in on the popular CUES Net and CUES Director Net discussions right on the site and access an all-new digital version of Credit Union Management magazine. Plus, the MyCUES tab lets you pick the information you want to see. Check it out at cues.org.

Member News:

Retirement: Alan Smith, CEO of $69 million/7,900-member Hopewell Federal Credit Union, Heath, Ohio, has retired. He is succeeded by James Johnson, formerly EVP/chief operations officer at the credit union.

Merger: $1.1 billion/115,000-member Vantage West Credit Union, Tucson, Ariz., has merged with First Edition Community Credit Union.

Kudos: $630 million/68,000-member Northwest Community Credit Union, Springfield, Ore., once again was named one of the best 100 companies to work for by Oregon Business magazine.

Read all the CUES member news here.

CUES Calendar
 
CEO Institute I
Strategic Planning
April 11-16
University of Pennsylvania
The Wharton School

CUES International Leadership Academy
April 12-15
Graduate School of Business
Florida International University
Miami

Webinar: Alternative Capital: Myths and Realities
April 14
10-11 a.m. Central time

CEO Institute II
Organizational Effectiveness
April 25-30
Cornell University
Johnson Graduate School of Management

Webinar: Why Hispanic Members Are Important to Your Strategic Future
April 29
10-11 a.m. Central

CEO Institute III
Strategic Leadership Development
May 2-7
University of Virginia
Darden School of Business

Webinar: Alternative Capital: Recapitalizing Credit Unions
May 12
10-11 a.m. Central time

CUES School of Business Lending
School I: Business Lending Fundamentals
May 17-21
Hyatt Regency Cambridge
Boston

School of Risk Management
May 17-18
Hyatt Regency Cambridge, Overlooking Boston
Boston
 
CUES School of Hot Topics: Addressing the Challenges of Reg E
May 19-20
Hyatt Regency Cambridge
Boston
 
Check out all the upcoming CUES events.

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Theresa Witham
CUES Editor
direct: 410.665.1370
theresa@cues.org
main office: 800.252.2664 x 5307
fax: 608.441.3407
www.cues.org
P.O. Box 14167
Madison, WI 53708-0167