Business Development Workshop: Join business development professionals in Bozeman for a participant-driven think-tank where ideas are sparked and transformed into vibrant realities to drive positive change and reshape the credit union landscape. BD NOW Innovation Summit is September 16-18 at The LARK Hotel. Watch this short video ⬅️ to hear from facilitator, Julie Ferguson, owner of JRF Consulting Services, LLC, to learn more about the event.

Upcoming Webinar: What’s the best way to ensure your business continuity plan is complete and fully equipped for disaster recovery? Put it to the test. Join Agility Recovery and the Association of Continuity Professionals (ACP) on Tuesday, April 30 for Tabletop Testing into the Future: Why, When, and How to Boost Resilience with Tabletop Testing Exercises. Have questions about your business continuity and recovery? Talk to an Agility Recovery expert.

Online Learning: Make training your staff easy and affordable with webinars from our various partners. Webinars allow you to train as many people as you like for one price from the comfort of your office, home office, or training room. New webinars are added regularly so check out our website and start planning your training schedule this summer.

During the inaugural 2024 Funding Factory Forum (3F), Sharon Small from The Morning Star FCU (pictured here) highlighted the credit union's community service and financial support efforts. Maria Valandra facilitated the event, while Jack Lawson (both from Clearwater CU), conducted a breakout session. This forum aimed to unlock capital for Montana's entrepreneurial ecosystem, focusing on underserved communities. Bringing together top funding minds, the two-day event explored solutions for statewide finance gaps and emphasized innovative funding models and technologies that drive impact and foster partnerships.

The participation of credit union professionals like Sharon, Maria, and Jack in the Forum exemplifies the #CUDifference by showcasing their commitment to economic development, community service, financial inclusion, and innovative solutions for underserved populations in Montana's entrepreneurial ecosystem.

Cooperation among Cooperatives: Did you know Montana has more than 300 cooperatives across the state? I love that credit unions are part of a much larger cooperative family. Montana’s Credit Unions plays a critical role in the cooperative movement in Montana; we serve on the boards of the Montana Council of Cooperatives (MCOC) and the Montana Cooperative Development Center (MCDC). Many of our credit unions are members of these organizations, and together they serve the various cooperative sectors, from finance to ag to electric to housing to telecom and broadband. With cooperatives, Montanans have choices and ownership in their communities.

Leaders from various cooperative sectors in Montana have recently started meeting to share best practices, highlight key initiatives, focus on our advocacy efforts, and learn from one another. I realize how much we all have in common, and I have seen new ways we can collaborate for the benefit of our mutual members. One such collaboration is the creation of a Cooperative Academy. This academy will focus on the “why” of cooperatives to raise awareness with:

• new cooperative leaders and employees
• volunteers
• college students exploring careers in cooperative fields
• lawmakers

I am excited to share what credit unions do to share the cooperative difference. Each of the cooperative sectors has programs and resources we can leverage to build out the Coop Academy. I want to give a special shout-out to John DeGroot at Clearwater Credit Union. He is part of the steering committee for the academy, and he is making a meaningful contribution to the curriculum and the ideas around how best to teach cooperative finance. I have enjoyed getting to know John and learning from his vast experience and expertise. Way to go, John!

Do your employees, boards, members, and community know the full value of the cooperative difference? Do they know what membership in a credit union means? Do you embrace the cooperative principles in your communications, marketing, and culture? How are you integrating the “credit union difference” in your new employee education programs and ongoing staff training? As I’ve traveled around the state meeting with you, I hear a common theme of needing more resources and ways to educate your stakeholders on the cooperative difference. The Cooperative Academy — and other resources — are some of the tools we’re working on for you. Please reach out anytime to talk more about your ideas and suggestions. Enjoy your weekend.

Cooperatively, Gerry 

For more queries to discuss with your friends, families, and colleagues, check out the list of 131 "would you rather" questions we found.