CUES FYI April 10, 2012: HR Answers. Good Governance. PR Insight.

HR Answers: Credit Union Staff Compensation
The average non-executive employee’s salary rose 3 percent in past year.

Good Governance: The ‘Board Buddy’ and Beyond
Refreshing new board member orientation

PR Insight: Day in the Life of a Credit Union’s PR Professional
Maintaining relationships, a talent for planning and an eye for details are important skills for every PR pro.

Credit Union Management Featured Article

Mutual Benefits
Merchant-funded debit card rewards could be a win-win for members and credit unions.

CUES, CUES Director and CUES Supplier members, as well as subscribers to Credit Union Management, can access a complete digital version of our April issue at cumanagement.org. Email cues@cues.org for password help. Or, to sign up for a handy monthly email with direct links to top articles, email mary@cues.org.

From our Sponsor

Prepare for Fast-Changing Lending Compliance
From our sponsor: Make the Most of Every Lending Opportunity--Part 2

CUNA Mutual Group is the marketing name of CUNA Mutual Holding Company, its affiliates and subsidiaries. Our insurance, retirement and investment products provide financial security and protection to credit unions and their members worldwide. With more than 75 years of true market commitment, CUNA Mutual Group's vision is unwavering: To be a trusted business partner who delivers service excellence through customer-focused products and market-driven insight.

Member Resources

Video: What steps can a board take to improve communication in the board room?

CUES Net: CUES members are talking—about savings bonds, 401(k) fees, IT staffing and more--on the CUES Net listserve. Sign up for the listserve by e-mailing cues@cues.org.

Review all your member benefits here.

Video Blog: Headin’ To Wharton: Devin Selte, CUES Next Top Credit Union Exec and corporate trainer/leadership development and change leadership at Servus Credit Union, Edmonton, Alberta, shares his thoughts about what heading to CEO Institute I next week in this video.

While CEO Institute I is sold out, consider starting with CEO Institute’s second or third segment instead.

Master Member Business Lending
Prevent even one business loan from going bad with the information you’ll learn at CUES School of Business Lending, and it will pay for itself several times over. Reserve your space at each week-long school: Business Lending Fundamentals, April 30-May 4; Financial Analysis and Diagnostic Assessment, July 16-20; and Strategic Business Lending, September 17-21. CUES members, sign up today for all three weeks and save a total of $1,385!

Cool App: With Bump for iPhone or Android, you can tap your phone against another Bump-enabled device and your information (name, photo, email, phone numbers, Facebook, etc.) gets beamed over to their contact list.

Powerful Compensation Data
To attract new talent and reward existing employees with fair-market compensation, you need up-to-date salary information. Participate in CUES Executive Compensation Survey and CUES Employee Salary Survey between now and April 17 to be entered into monthly drawings for thank you prizes and CUES products—plus a grand prize drawing in May!

Member News:

Merger: Kenrick Federal Credit Union, Bryn Mawr, Pa., is merging into TruMark Financial® Credit Union, Trevose, Pa. Trumark Financial CU has one CUES member.

Milestone: Utilities Employees Credit Union, Wyomissing, Pa.., has hit the $1-billion mark in assets. The CU has one CUES member.

Community Involvement: FORUM Credit Union, Indianapolis, held its first FORUM Spirit Classic for employees on Feb. 20 as a part of fundraising efforts for 2012.  The classic was planned by the FORUM Spirit Advisory Council, which determines a special charity for FORUM to sponsor each year.  This year’s charity of choice is Agapé Therapeutic Riding Resources, Inc., which serves children and adults with a wide range of physical, mental and emotional disabilities by rehabilitation through equine activities and riding. The FORUM Spirit Classic featured golf-inspired activities during the CU’s annual employee meeting. Departments had the chance to create and build their own putt-putt hole at FORUM CU’s headquarters.  Employees could also decorate their own golf ball and display them as part of a contest.  Monetary donations were made as a way for employees to vote for their favorite golf ball. The decorating contest raised more than $300 alone.  Employees can also take part in $5 Jean Days, an employee auction, Agapé product donations and more.  More than $4,000 has been raised through prepaid and individual jeans days so far this year.  Monetary donations will help fund scholarships, equipment and care for horses.  CU employees can also volunteer at Agapé by assisting in lessons, caring for horses, or working at special events. The CU has seven CUES members.

San Diego County Credit Union, San Diego, provided free shredding services on April 7, at three SDCCU locations in Southern California. The CU has three CUES members.

Patriot Federal Credit Union, Chambersburg, Pa., presented a $25,000 check Monday for the Sept. 11, 2001, memorial fund for Franklin County Veterans’ Memorial Park. The park will honor all veterans, but the centerpiece will be steel beams from the rubble at Ground Zero in New York City. Patriot Federal Credit Union will sponsor the American flag at the memorial park. The CU has 11 CUES members.

Michigan State University Federal Credit Union, East Lansing, Mich., is sponsoring the annual Race for the Place 5K on April 15. The Race benefits MSU Safe Place, Michigan State University’s on-campus domestic violence shelter and advocacy services provider. MSUFCU has been a proud sponsor of Race for the Place for more than 10 years. The CU has eight CUES members.

Employees at Security Service Federal Credit Union, San Antonio, worked after hours, evenings and weekends, to build a colorful float to ride in Brownsville’s 75th anniversary of the Charro Days Fiesta, held in February. Throughout the eight-day celebration, SSFCU staff participated in several activities, including the Illuminated Night Parade and the Grand International Day parade. The CU has six CUES members.

Read more—and submit your own--CUES member news here.

Free! Webinar: Enterprise Risk Management Fundamentals
April 12
12:30-2 p.m. Central

CEO Institute I: Strategic Planning
April 15-20
University of Pennsylvania
The Wharton School

CEO Institute II: Organizational Effectiveness
April 22-27
Johnson at Cornell University

CUES School of Risk Management(tm)
April 30 - May 1
Cambridge, Mass.

CUES School of Applied Strategic Management(tm)
April 30 - May 3
San Diego

CUES School of Business Lending(tm) School I: Business Lending Fundamentals
April 30 - May 4
Cambridge, Mass.

CUES School of Growth and Profitability(tm)
May 1-3
San Diego

CUES School of Consumer Lending(tm)
May 2-3
Cambridge, Mass.

CEO Institute III: Strategic Leadership Development
May 6-11
University of Virginia, Darden School of Business

Free! Webinar: Discover & Differentiate
May 31
1-2 p.m. Central

DLI: Governance
June 4-6
Joseph L. Rotman School of Management, University of Toronto

CUES Director Strategy Seminar
June 20-22
Vancouver

CCCU and CUES International Convention
June 23-26
Montego Bay, Jamaica

Check out all the upcoming CUES and CUES Council events.