WOCCU Supporters Recognized At International Leadership Institute

Madison, WI—To honor the generous individuals and organizations that make international credit union development possible, the World Council of Credit Unions (WOCCU) hosted the annual Supporter's Reception at its International Leadership Institute in early August.

The Honorable Minister Aloun Assamba- N'dombet (l) and L.R. (Bobby) McVeigh (r) WOCCU board chairman

The Honorable Minister Aloun Assamba-N'dombet, minister of industry and tourism for the Caribbean and long time supporter of credit unions, gave the keynote address, discussing the importance of credit unions and of becoming involved on the local, regional and international levels. WOCCU's Chairman, L.R. (Bobby) McVeigh thanked Minister Aloun Assamba-N'dombet for her continued support for WOCCU.

Arthur Arnold, WOCCU president and CEO, also spoke, thanking supporters for their growing role in World Council's development work and calling for even greater support in the future.

The evening was chaired by WOCCU's Treasurer on the Board, Barry Jolette who reported that the number of supporters increased sizably last year, with more than two-thirds of the approximately $600,000 in contributions coming from new donors. Supporter dollars make a large impact on several of WOCCU's key programs and functions, including the International Partnerships Program and its Regional Technical Congresses.

In 2003, World Council was able to add three new partnerships and fund ten other ongoing partnerships thanks, in large part, to supporter generosity. Three Regional Technical Congresses were held as well, in Asia, Latin America and Africa.

Arthur Arnold, WOCCU president and CEO receives a Supporters check from a Pacific Service Credit Union representative.

Supporters were given recognition at the Institute with copies of WOCCU's recently released 2003/2004 Supporters' Report on CD-ROM and Supporters' lapel pins. "The 2003/2004 Supporters' Report provides the transparency about what WOCCU is doing with your Supporters money. We, at WOCCU believe in full disclosure, we owe that to you", Arnold stated, "We all can be proud of the results!"

The presence of WOCCU supporters was evident throughout the 2004 Leadership Institute. In one of the general sessions Pacific Service Credit Union also gave a thank-you presentation to WOCCU and made a special check presentation to WOCCU's president and CEO, Arthur Arnold.

In closing Arnold concluded, "There is no way WOCCU can do this all alone. WOCCU needs you to connect, commit and engage. You as WOCCU Supporters have allowed us to expand our credit union development work, to reach out and enable millions of people to grow. You are making the difference, the Credit Union Difference. We thank each of you for your ongoing support!"

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.