Madison, WI—A record-breaking number of credit union enthusiasts from across the world will flood Calgary, Canada, July 29 to August 1, for the 2007 World Credit Union Conference, co-hosted by World Council of Credit Unions (WOCCU) and the Credit Union Central of Canada (CUCC).

More than 2,500 attendees from 62 countries will have the opportunity to network and participate in educational sessions on leadership and strategy, financial inclusion, financial and operational policy, marketing and business development and practical solutions to common challenges.

Keynote speakers at the event include Stephen Lewis, former U.N. Special Envoy for HIV/AIDS in Africa and one of TIME Magazine’s most 100 influential people in 2005, and Michael Treacy, acclaimed author of Double Digit Growth: How Companies Achieve it No Matter What. Two highly accomplished industry executives from Poland and the United States will also share their experiences adhering to cooperative principles in an increasingly competitive and profit-driven culture.

The 59 speakers from the international credit union system and beyond will lead the plenary presentations plus 25 breakout sessions. For more information on the sessions, visit www.woccu.org/meetings/Calgary07< /a> and click on Conference Agenda.

In addition to the high powered educational and general sessions for credit union professionals and volunteers, 47 regulators from 15 countries will participate in the fifth annual Regulators Roundtable, held in conjunction with the conference. The two-day regulators forum will cover topics ranging from new monitoring tools to forming a credit union regulatory network.

WOCCU and CUCC will also hold their annual awards ceremonies during the conference to honor individuals and institutions that demonstrate the true nature of the cooperative spirit.

This year, WOCCU will award its highest honor, the Distinguished Service Award, to former WOCCU Chairman L.R. (Bobby) McVeigh of the Credit Union Central of Canada and to the Foundation for Polish Credit Unions. CUCC will also recognize two Canadian credit unions for their roles in community economic development and innovation, as well as five young credit union professionals for their contributions to the Canadian credit union system.

WOCCU will award its WOCCU Young Professionals Program (WYCUP) scholarships to five of the 36 international applicants participating in the program at the conference. In recognition of their outstanding leadership in the international credit union system, the five winners will receive an all expense paid trip to next year’s conference.

The World Credit Union Conference is an annual event organized by WOCCU and the host country. Next year’s location will be announced on the closing day in Calgary.