Massachusetts and Bahamas Partnership Focuses on Governance

(L-R) Leroy Sumner, BCLL board member; Nathaniel Adderly; Karen Duffy; Paula Dion; Rufus Johnson; and Francis Davis

Nassau, Bahamas – The signing of an official partnership agreement and good governance training were the focus of a recent International Partnership exchange in the Bahamas. Members of the Massachusetts Credit Union League visited Nassau April 13-15 to learn more about the Bahamian credit union system and to finalize their partnership agreement with the Bahamas Co- operative League Ltd. (BCLL). Also in attendance, representing World Council of Credit Unions, Inc. (WOCCU), was International Partnerships manager Victor Corro.

On the first day of the visit, Paula Dion, senior vice president of professional development and information for the Massachusetts Credit Union League and Karen Duffy, president and CEO of Worcester Credit Union gave a workshop at the Bahamas league entitled "Good Governance – What Makes a Good Board," covering such topics as global commitment, governing style, board member's code of conduct, the chairperson's role, board committee principles, the cost of governance, and board-CEO linkage. The workshop was attended by approximately 40 board members from various league-affiliated credit unions, as well as Nathaniel Adderly, director of cooperative development, Government of the Bahamas and Wendy Warren of the Bahamas Financial Services Board. At the end of the workshop, Adderly declared it and the partnership a success, saying, "We encourage this type of exchange and welcome the relationship between Bahamas and Massachusetts."

The second day, the delegation toured the BCUL offices and the Bahamas Law Enforcement Co- operative Credit Union Ltd. and participated in a banquet celebrating the latter's 20th anniversary.

Board and management of the Bahams Law Enforcement Cooperative Credit Union Ltd.; Massachusetts league representatives; and WOCCU's Victor Corro

The last day, the three were joined by Massachusetts league chairman Eugene Foley for a tour of two other Bahamian credit unions, the Transportation & Service Industry Co-operative Credit Union Ltd. and the Teachers & Salaried Workers Co-operative Credit Union Ltd. The size and scope of these to credit unions, as well as those visited the previous day, are quite diverse, each providing unique perspectives on the Bahamian credit union system. Representatives from the Bahamas league visited Massachusetts for the same purpose in November of last year.

At a ceremony at the Teachers & Salaried Workers Co-operative Credit Union, the partnership agreement was signed by Mr. Foley, representing the Massachusetts league, and BCLL representatives Francis Davis, general manager; Rufus Johnson, president of the board; and T. Carmichael Brown, secretary of the board. The partners have agreed on a number of goals for the next year, including items related to branding and marketing strategy, financial services, education for board members, and insurance.

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.