WOCCU President and CEO Stresses Importance of Growing Global Credit Union Movement at CUNA GAC
Elissa McCarter LaBorde also meets with Ukrainian American credit union leaders
March 01, 2022
WASHINGTON, D.C.—World Council of Credit Unions (WOCCU) President and CEO Elissa McCarter LaBorde Tuesday encouraged more American credit union leaders to become engaged with the international financial cooperative movement in her first address to a Credit Union National Association (CUNA) Governmental Affairs Conference (GAC) general session.
“We’ve got to grow this movement. And that means innovating, that means growing membership, that means being able to grow and deepen the kinds of services we provide to every community," said McCarter LaBorde. "If you’re not a Champion now, please come see me, because we need every single one of you.”
"Champions" is the term Worldwide Foundation for Credit Unions, the charitable and engagement arm of World Council, uses to refer to the generous credit unions, and other institutions and individuals who provide them with financial support.
McCarter LaBorde also asked the U.S. audience to consider the importance of what WOCCU International Advocacy does to level the regulatory playing field for credit unions worldwide.
"If we didn't know what happens globally comes back to hit us locally, well certainly two years after a pandemic and what's unfolding in Europe, we know it now," said McCarter LaBorde, referencing the war in Ukraine.
After her speech to the general session, McCarter LaBorde and WOCCU Senior Vice President of International Advocacy Andrew Price met with executives from three Ukrainian American credit unions about some possible ways to work together to provide relief to both credit unions and their members in Ukraine.
One of those executives was Anatoli Murha, Senior Vice President of Ukrainian Selfreliance Federal Credit Union, who also spoke at the general session about the challenges being faced by the people of Ukraine.
"I stand before you as a first-generation Ukrainian American who deeply values the freedom of speech, press, assembly and so many more that I want my family, friends and all Ukrainians to freely experience. I also want our credit union colleagues in Ukraine to be safe, stable and free," said Murha.
Worldwide Foundation for Credit Unions and WOCCU launched the Ukrainian Credit Union Displacement Fund February 27, but is looking at additional ways to provide support going forward as well.
In the first 48 hours since the Displacement Fund was established, nearly $60,000 has been raised to support Ukraine's credit unions and their members.
People in the United States interested in donating to the Ukrainian Credit Union Displacement Fund can text CUS4UKRAINE to 44-321, while anyone worldwide can donate by clicking here.
World Council of Credit Unions is the global trade association and development platform 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 300+ technical assistance programs in 90 countries. Worldwide, 82,758 credit unions in 97 countries serve 404 million people. Learn more about World Council's impact around the world at www.woccu.org.
Organization: World Council of Credit Unions
E-mail: gneumann@woccu.org
Phone: +1 608-395-2048
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