Former WOCCU Board Member, Rose Dorman Remembered

Madison, WI—Rose Dorman, former World Council of Credit Unions (WOCCU) and Association of British Credit Unions (ABCUL) board member passed away Friday, January 13. Throughout her career Rose guided, provided training to and inspired the vision of many credit unions in the United Kingdom, seeing them as a means for eliminating poverty. Her commitment to credit unions began in her own community of Dalmuir, Scotland. Rose discovered credit unions in the mid 1970s and helped to form the Dalmuir Credit Union, which is now the largest community credit union in Great Britain.

"Rose Dorman was one of the most compassionate and sincere people I have ever met; her mission in life was helping others. We at World Council of Credit Unions are deeply saddened by the loss of this great credit union leader, humanitarian and friend," noted Pete Crear, World Council of Credit Unions chief executive officer.

In 2005, World Council presented Rose the highest international credit union honor to be bestowed to a credit union leader, the Distinguished Service Award. Her work was recognized at the international, national and regional level. In recognition of Rose's dedication to credit unions and her support of those in need, the city of Clydebank presented her with the Citizen of the Year Award in 1989 and Her Majesty the Queen awarded her the Member of the British Empire (MBE). The latter presentation was the first time the award—a distinguished honor for both Rose and ABCUL—was granted to a woman of Scotland.

The British government also recognized Rose's contributions by appointing her to an HM Treasury Task Force to explore ways in which banks and building societies could support the development of credit unions. The Task Force recommended the creation of a central credit union service organization and the passage of less restrictive legislation.

In addition to committing many years to credit unions, Rose and her late husband raised four children of their own and opened their home to some two hundred foster children. A remarkable woman, Rose was a true credit union leader that will not be forgotten.

The funeral service will be held at 10.00 a.m. on Friday, January 20th at St. Stephens Roman Catholic Church in Clydebank. Rose's family has requested that donations be made to St. Margaret's Hospice instead of floral tributes. ABCUL will be collecting messages and donations on behalf of members and credit union friends and forwarding them on to the family and hospice. Messages can be emailed to mark.lyonette@abcul.org.

World Council of Credit Unions is the global trade association and development agency for credit unions. World Council promotes the sustainable development of credit unions and other financial cooperatives around the world to empower people through access to high quality and affordable financial services. World Council advocates on behalf of the global credit union system before international organizations and works with national governments to improve legislation and regulation. Its technical assistance programs introduce new tools and technologies to strengthen credit unions' financial performance and increase their outreach.

World Council has implemented more than 290 technical assistance programs in 71 countries. Worldwide, 51,000 credit unions in 100 countries serve 196 million people. Learn more about World Council's impact around the world at www.woccu.org.