Natalie Sherry

From Natalie Sherry:

When I began working for the Credit Union National Association nine months ago as the Membership Manager for CUNA Councils, I was excited to join the largest professional organization supporting credit union executives!

Since 1994, Councils have provided the resources and networking opportunities necessary to help credit unions thrive, and along the way, have experienced continuous growth.  Serving marketing, human resources, finance, lending, technology and operations executives, membership has doubled since 2003.

In 2005, the membership reached 3,000 and in 2007, it reached 4,000. And now in 2011, we’ve reached yet another membership milestone:  the CUNA Councils have now reached (and exceeded) 5,000 members!  (I have to admit, it’s a pretty nice feeling to start a new job in a year when the organization is anticipating reaching a historic milestone!)

As the Membership Manager, I’m well-acquainted with the benefits of joining the Councils (discounts on education & training, endless networking opportunities, white paper research… the list goes on), but I wanted to hear straight from the source what our members have to say!  So we asked, “What is it about the CUNA Councils that is helping members now more than ever? “

Here are just a few stories we’ve heard:

The greatest thing about being a member of the Council is to network with our peers.  I was able to get all the information needed to create a new position for a director of lending, including qualifications.  It is the greatest thing to have this vast information at our fingertips.  Everyone on the Council is willing to share and assist.  We do have some amazing people in the credit union world!
— Carol R., Lending Council

I’ve been a member of the CUNA Marketing & Business Development Council since I began working at my credit union in 2008. When I started, I was a college-student and didn’t know what a credit union was. Being part of the Council made it easier for me to understand what it meant for credit unions to be cooperative. Today, more than ever before, the Council is a source for peer-reviews of vendors and programs, feedback and idea generation. I can’t count how many times a week I read an email that makes me think — why aren’t we doing that?! It allows me to bounce ideas off a network of marketing professionals from across the country and stay up-to-date with new technology and practices. It also allows me to ask questions to more experienced credit union marketers when it comes to strategy and compliance or regulations. At the end of the day, I value the Council more than ever before because it allows me, a one-person marketing department in a small community credit union, to feel like I have the support of a marketing staff of hundreds.
— Francesca I., Marketing & Business Development Council

The CUNA Lending Council has helped me develop and improve a lot of my credit union’s policies and procedures. I have received information on foreclosures and mortgage processes to streamline many of our processes. CUNA Lending Council gives me instant access to so many professional and intelligent people that have improved my credit union and hopefully the credit union movement as a whole. I will continue to contribute and learn from the Council.

Thank you CUNA Councils!!!!
— Kimo R., Lending Council

Among all of the “More Than Ever” stories we’ve already received, there is one undeniable theme:  Council membership connects credit unions to each other in a way few other industries can claim.  We collaborate, we grow and we support each other.

To acknowledge the milestone of reaching 5,000 members, we did a little celebrating here at CUNA with cake (ofcourse!) and we’re excited to announce that we have some more surprises up our sleeves so the credit unions we support can celebrate too.

We love to hear what members enjoy most about their membership and are continuing to grow larger every day!  Current members who share their “More than Ever” stories or new members who join the Councils by August 31^st will be entered for a chance to win one of five prize drawings!  Plus, the icing on the cake — we are offering a special ½ year rate and a chance to win a $5000 CUNA scholarship! Join in the celebration!

Please help yourself to a slice of virtual cake—-it’s calorie free!

Thanks for celebrating with us, 5000 members strong — we couldn’t have done it without YOU!

Natalie Sherry is the Membership Manager for CUNA Councils