WOCCU Looks Forward To 7TH Annual Leadership Conference!

Nassau-World Council of Credit Unions, Inc. (WOCCU) is gearing up for its 7th annual International Credit Union Leadership Institute, held this year in Nassau, Bahamas, August 1-4. The event will is co-hosted by the Bahamas Co- operative League, Ltd., in cooperation with the Caribbean Confederation of Credit Unions.

For four days, 1,018 credit union leaders from 37 countries around the world will meet at the Atlantis Resort on Paradise Island to compare experiences, discuss the latest challenges and issues facing credit unions worldwide, learn best practices from experts in the field and form invaluable connections that will help carry the movement into the future.

This year's theme, "Value in the Credit Union Difference," focuses on meeting the needs of the most important person at any credit union: the member. A program of high-level topics will help participants see their credit unions through the eyes of their members so services will be better tailored and their staff better trained to meet every person's individual needs.

In 14 interactive workshops and breakout sessions, a diverse group of experts will lead discussions on topics ranging from protecting credit unions against computer hackers to "Credit Union Progress Around the World."

Along with general session, workshops and break out sessions there will be opportunities to visit local credit unions. A limited number of participants will tour credit unions to learn about the history, services and operating procedures of these area institutions.

Other highlights of the conference include a trade show, WOCCU's Annual General Meeting and WYCUP—WOCCU's Young Credit Union People—program activities. With the aim of building a strong future for the credit union movement, World Council chooses five outstanding young credit union professionals each year to honor with a WYCUP scholarship to the following year's Leadership Institute.

In the Bahamas, last year's winners and the current nominees will have the chance to network with credit union leaders from around the world, and this year's winners will be announced at the end of the conference. Past participants have called WOCCU's leadership conferences "outstanding" and its speakers "world class." Arthur Arnold, WOCCU president and CEO explained, "We look forward to celebrating the qualities that make credit unions stand out from other financial institutions and exploring how we make those qualities stand out even more."

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.