David Chatfield Honored with Special Digest Issue, International Fund

New Fund Will Help Support Development Training Programs For CU Staff, Leaders

CCUL

(Rome, Italy) - At the World Council of Credit Unions' 2005 World Credit Union Conference in Rome today, Matthew Davidson, executive vice president of the California and Nevada Credit Union Leagues, announced two League initiatives to recognize the career and dedication of League president and CEO David L. Chatfield, who has announced his retirement as of April 1, 2006. A special issue of the League's flagship publication, Credit Union Digest, will be dedicated to documenting his illustrious career. Proceeds from the publication will go to the David L. Chatfield International Training Fund, newly established by the California and Nevada Credit Union Leagues, in conjunction with World Council of Credit Unions, to help support development training programs for credit union staff and leaders worldwide, particularly in developing countries.

"For more than 40 years, Dave Chatfield has been involved in almost every facet of our movement, from volunteer, and regulator to chief executive and local, state, and national leadership positions. In addition to his domestic efforts, international credit union development has been Dave's passion as evidenced by his involvement with World Council of Credit Unions and his contributions to the credit union systems in Mexico, and central and eastern Europe," said Matthew Davidson. "To recognize his many achievements, we've created a special opportunity to honor Dave's contributions, while also supporting the continued development of credit unions internationally, and we invite credit union leaders to help us carry on Dave's mission to strengthen credit unions worldwide."

The November 2005 issue of Credit Union Digest, with the theme of "Celebrate—Windows Of Opportunity," will offer credit union leaders and friends a chance to share their thoughts and memories of Chatfield's credit union influence in full-page messages, at a cost of $1,500, and half-page messages, at a cost of $750. The proceeds, expected to be $100,000, will benefit the David L. Chatfield International Training Fund, which is to be administered by World Council of Credit Unions' Worldwide Foundation. Full-page donors also will be recognized as World Council of Credit Unions bronze supporters. This special issue will be distributed at the Leagues' Annual Meting and Convention, to be held October 24-26 at the Disneyland Resort in Anaheim, CA.

Inspirational and achievement-focused Credit Union Digest stories in honor of Chatfield may be submitted through Monday, September 12, 2005 via the League's website at www.ccul.org/trainingfund.

El Consejo Mundial de Cooperativas de Ahorro y Crédito es la asociación gremial y agencia de desarrollo para el sistema internacional de cooperativas de ahorro y crédito. El Consejo Mundial promueve el crecimiento sustentable de las cooperativas de ahorro y crédito y otras cooperativas financieras en todo el mundo a fin de facultar a las personas para que mejoren su calidad de vida a través del acceso a servicios financieros asequibles y de alta calidad. El Consejo Mundial realiza esfuerzos de defensa activa en representación del sistema global de las cooperativas de ahorro y crédito ante organizaciones internacionales y trabaja con gobiernos nacionales para mejorar la legislación y la regulación. Sus programas de asistencia técnica introducen nuevas herramientas y tecnologías para fortalecer el desempeño financiero de las cooperativas de ahorro y crédito y profundizar su alcance comunitario.

El Consejo Mundial ha implementado 290 programas de asistencia técnica en 71 países. A nivel mundial, 51,000 cooperativas de ahorro y crédito en 100 países atienden a 196 millones de personas. Obtenga más información sobre el impacto global del Consejo Mundial en www.woccu.org.