Registration Ends May 8: Speaking of Power Up, we’re busy working on the final details. With only a few more weeks to register for the May 22-23 event, don’t delay registering! You won’t want to miss this year’s lineup of events which includes educational sessions, entertainment, fundraisers, and more. Questions? Contact Ranel or Renee.

THIS WEEK'S BLOGS

Consumer Blog: If you're on the "treat yo' self" reward-based productivity model like some of us on staff, you know that controlling your spending can be hard. Fortunately, this week's blog covers eight ways you can start spending smartly — from learning how to negotiate to making meal-prepping a habit. (More on treating yo' self through an allowance in next week's blog.)

A Direct Line:  Did you know April celebrates National Volunteer Month? At Montana's Credit Unions, we are especially grateful for volunteer board members and the time credit union staff members spend volunteering in their communities. Read this week's blog for an extended thank-you note. Note: Don't forget to nominate a colleague for this year's Volunteer of the Year award.

Take the Lead Continues to Grow: Take the Lead wraps up another successful year of critical leadership training in Helena. This week, the sixth class graduated from the program, and we welcomed 15 new members to their first year of training. The Take the Lead Community now includes 68 credit union leaders from across the state. Learn more about this leadership program on our website.

Pictured above: Back row L to R: Paul Anderson (Ravalli County CU), Brittany Cook (Valley CU), Jeremy Guzman (Valley CU), Delia Heffley (Intrepid CU), Ida Lewison (Russell Country FCU), Sylvia Basnaw (Richland FCU), Christine Jennings (Richland FCU). Front row L to R: Michaelann McMann (Russell Country FCU), Amber Reich (Ravalli County CU), Bill Nagle (Facilitator), Aurora Forsythe (Intrepid CU), Kristyn Blum (Russell Country FCU), Jennifer Wood (Ravalli County CU).

Buy Two Webinars, Get One Free: Through the month of April, buy any two regularly priced CU Webinar Network webinars and get one free! Simply add any three live or on-demand webinars to your cart, and it will automatically give you one free. Don’t miss out; the deal ends April 30.

For #CUYouthMonth, Sky FCU is encouraging kids to "Unleash the Power of Saving." The average age of membership at Sky FCU is 39, and the national average is 53. The credit union sees that not as a challenge but as an opportunity to drive awareness with younger generations. Sky FCU said, "Our focus will continue to be attracting youth, as we see it as the lifeline for our business."

During Credit Union Youth Month, Sky FCU is educating youth about the credit union, encouraging savings habits, donating to local food banks, and rewarding one lucky winner from each branch with $100.

Collaborative Leadership in Action: Take the Lead was this week in Helena, where 12 participants graduated from Year Two, and 15 new participants started Year One. I was both encouraged and inspired to see this group of leaders focused on their development and ways they can incorporate the learning into their credit unions. One participant told me, “Now, I just need to apply everything I’ve learned.” Another said, “Now, the real work begins.” In every conversation, I heard commitment and confidence in owning the leadership journey and appreciation for the opportunity to participate in this quality program.

I spoke briefly at the graduation lunch about collaborative leadership using the combined American Sign Language for both concepts. You see, in the credit union movement, leadership is so much more. Leadership for us means leading within our respective spheres of influence, and it also means collaborating across our movement. This is our superpower in Montana! You have set an example and modeled the way for our future leaders to lead collaboratively and with empathy.

I know I say this frequently, but I left this powerful meeting with an extra bounce in my step knowing this group of nearly 30 leaders is making a difference for Montanans and will continue to do so for years to come! If you have a participant in the Take the Lead program, please thank them for their commitment to their development. If you or someone at your credit union is interested in future cohorts, please check out the program on our website. If you are currently in Take the Lead, well done! Have a great weekend enjoying our bouncing around spring weather!

Cooperatively, Gerry 

We hope you had a wonderful Easter with baskets filled with your favorite treats. Here are the results of last week's survey.