News is an important part of public relations, but it is not the only way to bring value to your media contacts and their readers, listeners, or viewers. In fact, if you are only relying on news to interact with the media, your credit union is missing an opportunity to build deeper relationships and reach more of their audience. Get tips for crafting excellent “how-to” press releases in Credit Union Management’s latest online-only “PR Insight” column.

Also read an article about one CU’s success with opting members in for courtesy pay and another article about assessing sales performance, all in this week’s issue of CUES FYI.

PR Insight: The Media Wants to Know ‘How’
Tips on pitching ‘How-To’ articles

CU Success With Opting Members Into Courtesy Pay Program
As of June 1, 9,000 members opted in

Why Assess Sales Performance
Questions to ask about your program

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Online Learning for Boards: Public Image

Directors and other volunteers should seek out opportunities to serve as "ambassadors" for their credit union among friends and family, in their workplace, in venues and events frequented by prospective members within the credit union's field of membership, in the wider community and in the credit union industry. By getting involved in their chapters and state leagues and in industry trade organizations—and by encouraging the CEO and staff to do the same—directors help support credit unions and pick up new ideas for their organization.  

CUES Director members can study further 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).

To learn even more about advocacy, considering upgrading to a membership in CUES’ new Center for Credit Union Board Excellence. Advocacy is one of seven key learning areas; others are finance, committees, governance, board/CEO relations, strategy and risk management. Check it out and sign up for a free trial membership at http://www.myccube.org.

Home Banking Policy: Paul Fero, CEO of $28.6 million PA HealthCare Credit Union, has shared his CU’s home banking policy in CUES Members Share (password required; e-mail cues@cues.org for help). Follow the link and select “Information Technology” from the pull-down menu.

New Benefit! CUES, CUES Director and CUES Supplier members, as well as subscribers to Credit Union Management, can now access a complete digital version of the July issue, plus archives back to December 2009, by logging in at cumanagement.org, then clicking on the magazine image in the top bar. E-mail cues@cues.org for password help.

Review all your member benefits here.

Blog: Rethinking Motivation: The dangling carrot motivation doesn’t work on most employees but a little autonomy does. What would you do with a free work day once a quarter? If you could work on anything you wanted, what would you do? Check out my latest blog post for CUES Skybox. 

Learn the Essentials of Enterprise Risk Management
Risk management has become a critical element in strategic planning for credit unions. Attend the CUES School of Risk Management^™ in Collaboration with the Risk and Insurance Management Society, July 26-27 in Chicago or  Sept. 20-21 in Seattle,  for an overview of the essentials of enterprise risk management. Register today for either location and get the serious risk management education you need.

Cool Web Site: inDinero helps member business owners monitor the financial health of their companies. In less than 5 minutes, you'll know precisely how much you're earning, spending, what your cash situation looks like, and more. You can also get reminders of upcoming bills to pay, or warnings about low balances and unusual account activity.

Member News:

Recognition: Judy Hurst, a member of the CUES Hall of Fame and retired CEO of Unocal Federal Credit Union, recently received the “Unsung Heroes” award from the California and Nevada Credit Union Leagues. The award is designed to honor deserving individuals within the credit union industry with at least 20 years of service and who have made significant contributions in the community. Hurst led Unocal FCU from 1989 until it merged with Wescom Credit Union in Pasadena, Calif., where she continued to work until her retirement in 2006.

New Position: Annette Zimmerman has been named president/CEO of $277 million/36,000-member PrimeWay Federal Credit Union, Houston. Zimmerman formerly served as SVP/branch administration/government affairs at $2.8 billion/344,000-member Mountain America Credit Union, West Jordan, Utah.

People Helping People: The Capital Communications Cares Foundation, the community support and charitable giving arm of $850 million/73,000-member Capital Communications Federal Credit Union, Albany, N.Y., recently awarded $45,000 in scholarships to 18 area students and credit union members.

CUES Supplier Member News:

CUES Supplier member Jack Henry & Associates, Inc., Monett, Mo., a provider of integrated technology solutions and data processing services for financial institutions, has been awarded the Microsoft ISV Independent Software Vendor/Software Solutions Partner of the Year Award.

Fynanz, New York, announced that its credit union service organization released one of the lowest rates available nationwide for a private student loan, starting at only 2.75 percent.

Read all the CUES member news here.

Discover Your Credit Union’s True Potential

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CUES Calendar

Webinar: Making Things Happen
July 15
1-1:30 p.m. Central time 

Webinar: The Art of Risk-Taking
July 22
1-1:30 p.m. Central time

CUES School of Risk Management™
July 26-27
Doubletree Chicago O’Hare Airport Hotel in Rosemont
Chicago

CUES School of Business Lending II
July 26-30
Chicago

CUES Advanced School of Risk Management™
July 28-29
Chicago

Execu/Net^™ 2010
Aug. 22-25
Summit at Big Sky Resort
Big Sky, Mont.

Check out all the upcoming CUES events. 

Join the CUES Community!
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