Keeping you connected to key credit union news, events, and trends: August 23, 2017
In This Issue
Headline News

Take Advantage of LCUL's Strategic Planning Services
Planning season is in full swing, and your League stands ready to help. As a dues-supported service, we offer a variety of strategic planning sessions available that can be tailored to your availability and level of need.  We now offer the following: 
  • CU DNA: A look at your mission, vision, core values, core competencies, and your culture and brand.  This session takes about 2 hours.
  • Developing Credit Union Planning: This session is the shortest session, at 1.5 to 2 hours, and provides a basic situation analysis, financial goals, identifies focus areas and lays groundwork for a one year "to do" list.
  • Achieving Credit Union Planning: This session runs from 2 - 4 hours, and provides the basic situation analysis, a bit more in depth financial review, and external environmental review.  You will also develop your key focus areas, with goals, objectives, and tasks, along with training to write action plans and use mind maps.
  • Innovating Credit Union Planning:  For credit unions willing to devote a full day (8 hours or more) to the planning process, you can get the basics, and explore alternative ways to analyze your performance, such as Balanced Scorecard.  This session includes more in depth financial review and resources.  In addition, you may schedule a follow up session for management to understand how to move the plan forward.
All sessions are dues supported, at no additional charge to affiliated credit unions and all planning materials are furnished.  You will receive a written business plan within two weeks, and follow-ups for review or assistance in the execution of your plan. 

"Thinking about the future of your credit union can be a complex and overwhelming task.  It's sometimes difficult to think even a year out without someone to guide the process.  A good plan, carefully crafted, can ensure that your credit union does more than just survive next year.  Our goal is to lay the groundwork for your credit union to thrive for decades to come.  And it all starts with the planning session.  We do our best to make the session enlightening, fun, and results oriented," commented Susie Fair, LCUL's Senior Vice President of CU Support.
 
Credit unions are encouraged to take advantage of this valuable service. Contact Susie Fair or Danielle Thibodeaux for more information.
Don't Miss a GOLDEN Opportunity at LCUL's Marketing & Business Development Conference, Registration Now Open


October 3-4, Golden Nugget Casino
  
The goal of any organization is to create value for its members.  The role of Marketing & Business Development Professionals is to understand what drives that value and how to best communicate it. Join us at the Golden Nugget in Lake Charles to learn about the hottest trends, new ideas, fresh perspectives, and of course make great connections with your credit union peers.  Even more exciting: the team at the Golden Nugget will provide a fascinating look at Brand Expansion and Development!

During this 2 day session, we will participate in individual and group hands-on exercises that will uncover your credit union's Value Proposition, design a TEXT campaign that generates leads, appointments and sales, and even produce a brief video using equipment you already have!! 
  • What is YOUR credit union's unique value proposition?
    • Once you identify your credit union's value proposition, learn how to leverage it to existing and potential new members
  • Learn the 5 critical pivots your credit union HAS to make to stand the test of time.
  • Build a Powerhouse Content Strategy
  • Mobile Marketing 101+... Create the message that generates leads and sales
    • Pick the right mobile tool for your members, easily capture those elusive cell phone numbers, stay compliant, & discover the type of content that keeps members actively engaged and setting appointments!  
    • Witness the campaign that generated $4 Million in loans in 48 hours from 3 Texts
  • Harnessing the power of Online Video for Sales and Lead Generation
    • Video can quickly convey culture, personality and expertise.  See what attracts, inspires and engages your members. 
    • Best Practices for Producing Videos (on equipment you already have!!)
    • Bring your cell phone and laptop and let's produce a brief video!
  • Digital Marketing - What was hot and new just months ago could now be obsolete
    • Discuss the latest social media tools that provide big returns for small budgets.  
    • Get an online assessment of your website in real time! 
  • A fascinating look at Brand Expansion and Development with the Golden Nugget Team.  
  • Facilitated Discussion of Current Business Development & Marketing Trends and Issues
Location 
Golden Nugget Lake Charles
2550 Golden Nugget Boulevard
Lake Charles, LA 70601

LCUL Room Block $135/night. CLICK HERE for online reservations.

Educational Investment
Registration fee of $425 per person includes cost of both lunches valued at $75*

Peer Group members receive a registration discount of $25. Enter coupon code PEER at checkout! 
 
Credit Unions Celebrate Miracle Jeans Day Sept. 13
There's still time for credit unions to sign-up and participate in Miracle Jeans Day, Sept. 13.  To date, employees from over 200 credit unions representing 45 states will demonstrate the "people helping people" philosophy by dressing down to show their support for sick kids in their area. Participation is extremely easy. Visit the website for all the resources you need. 

The annual Credit Unions for Kids Miracle Jeans Day event, now in its' eighth year, encourages credit union employees to donate $5 for the opportunity to wear jeans to work that day. Credit unions can order free paper icons and stickers so their members can participate as well. Proceeds are donated to the credit union's local Children's Miracle Network Hospital. 
Have You Heard?

Pelican State CU Merges with East Feliciana Teachers FCU
  Pelican State CU merged with East Feliciana Teachers Federal Credit Union on Tuesday, August 1, 2017.
 
"Pelican is honored to provide all 398 members of East Feliciana Teachers FCU with access to our 12 branches, as well as products and services that were previously unavailable to them, such as free checking accounts, free credit counseling and online banking," said Pelican CEO Jeffrey K. Conrad.
 
Following the merger, Pelican attended the East Feliciana Parish School Board's Teacher Pre-Service Training Day. Pelican provided giveaways and on-site account opening. Attendees also met Pelican team members and learned more about the benefits of credit union membership.
 
Everyone employed by the East Feliciana Parish School Board and their immediate family members are eligible to become members of Pelican. 

ASI FCU Hosts a Fundraising Drive for Back to School
With continued efforts of community support, ASI FCU held a Back to School Fundraising Drive throughout the month of July. All monetary donations were contributed to local schools to help purchase much needed supplies and fund school-based initiatives for this upcoming school year. In partnership with their sister nonprofit, A Shared Initiative, Inc. and generous support from members, ASI FCU raised more than $2,700 during the Back to School Fundraising Drive.

Sally Hoffstadt, VP of Marketing for ASI mentioned, "The care and response from the community was heartwarming. While this donation provides a small level of support for selected schools, we know this is just the beginning".

In addition to cultivating volunteering and partnering opportunities throughout the school year, recipients will use the donated funds for several initiatives including career days and student financial education.

"Our back to school drive created an opportunity for our staff and members to come together and focus on providing much-needed support in our communities while addressing needs of local schools and student programs," Hoffstadt adds.

Checks were presented to the following schools:
* Miller Wall Elementary School
* Granville T. Woods Elementary School
* St. Tammany Junior High School
* William Pitcher Junior High School

New Orleans Firemen's FCU Places 2nd in National XDI Chili Cookoff
On August 5, New Orleans Firemen's FCU (NOFFCU) competed in Xpress Data Inc's (XDI) Fifth Annual Credit Union Chili Challenge. Employees of the credit union prepared their unique chili recipe, and traveled to California to compete against other credit unions for $14,000 in total prize money for their favorite charities.
 
NOFFCU employees Toni, Vickie, and Kym represented the credit union with their Team All Fired Up, placing second in the competition. They won $3,500 in prize money, which was donated to Children's Hospital of New Orleans. When asked about the competition, Kym Copeland said, "It was a great experience as credit unions came together in friendly competition, assisting one another, and having a great time as we donated money for our charities."
 
For their placement in the competition, NOFFCU will also move onto the next round of the competition at the World's Championship Chili Cookoff in the Homestyle Division, which will take place on Saturday, October 21st in Reno, Nevada.



Quote of the Week:  
"If your actions inspire others to dream more, learn more, do more and become more, you are a leader."
- John Quincy Adams
Educational Calendar
Upcoming Conferences & Seminars from your League:    

October 3-4:  LA/MS Marketing & Business Development Workshop
 
Upcoming Teleconferences & Webinars from your League

August 24: When a Borrower Dies: Next Steps & Best Practices
August 29: Keys to Transitioning from Member Business Lending to Member Business Services
August 30: Regulation E Series: Comparing Regulation E with Visa & MasterCard Rules
September 6: Understanding & Processing IRA Rollovers & Transfers
September 7: Responding to Official Demands for Member Funds
September 11: Preparing for Reg CC Rule Changes Part 1: Impact, Detailed Changes & Action Plan
September 12: Regulator Issues for the Credit Analyst
September 14: Director Series: What Directors Should Know About Risk Management
September 19: Managing & Mitigating Data Breaches: Fraud, Forensics & Incident Response
September 20: Supporting Documentation for the ALLL: Current Rules & Future Expectations Under CECL
September 21: ACH Specialist Series: RDFI Returns: 2 Day vs. 60 Calendar Days
September 26: Financial Literacy for Directors Part 1: Introduction to Key Risk Components
September 27: Step-by-Step SAR Completion: Dos & Don'ts
September 28: Record Retention & Destruction Rules: Compliance & Best Practices 
     
For a complete listing of educational opportunities available from LCUL, visit the League website and click on "Education".
  
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