Where do I begin? The Marketing and Business Development Council has been a life saver at times. Being a one person department is really stressful - some days I can't even think. The ListServe people seem like friends I haven't met - yet they think like I do, they have great ideas and they love to share them. Some of their insight is uncanny and amazing at the same time! This is the whole credit union philosophy "People Helping People"!

- Revonda Dean, Lowland Credit Union

I now have 1,000 collaborators of the same mind set, same soul at the tip of my fingertips! I am a one-man show at my credit union, but when I turn on my computer every morning I am instantly connected to the thousand other marketers who are my support system.

One example - I had a brain block with a community event, and a fellow MBD member gave me the inspiration I needed to create a perfect event. A child safety day with local police and fire turned into Hometown Heroes Day. PERFECT! And getting vendor feedback is incredibly valuable, and don't even get me started with the Photoshop group!

When the listserv is buzzing it is the barometer of what is happening in the credit union world nationwide! I LOVE IT!

- Amy McGraw, Public Service Credit Union

Credit Unions generally don't have multi-person marketing depts so I value "extended" marketing families or departments highly. When I started (13 years ago today) at my CU I was the sole marketer. We now have 3 in our formal dept. hoping to add a 4th and our employee base has doubled. All 116 employees are now "in the marketing dept". The benefit of CMBDC that has helped me the most in transforming from a banker to bleeding CU blood has been the networking. I love the new profile connections by e-mail. At CMBDC conferences I always meet new contacts to bounce off ideas, contact later for input, or just find a new friend for those days when it's lonely "at the top". I started at my CU in Oct of 1995, I was fortunate enough to get a scholarship from my Association to attend the CMBDC conference in Seattle . I'd never been to Seattle. I'm standing outside the airport waiting for my shuttle and a lone woman standing 3 shuttle stops down starts waving frantically...

I look behind me. Even with all of the hundreds of people waiting for transportation, I decide, yes, she's waving at me. So we both start walking towards each other...I'm guessing it's a case of mistaken identity. When we approach, I see that she's just a few years older than me with a smile like Doris Day! Her first words are "Are you here for the CU marketing council conference?" What? Out of everyone at the Seattle airport...she thinks I'm a cu marketer? Jeepers...this gal knows how to profile! She told me I just looked "fun...like a marketer!" So yes, I admitted I was there for that purpose. We've been friends and business cohorts ever since...even though I live in Kansas and she's from California. Her name is Darlene Kindelberger, now at Kern FCU (aka Darlene Diamond). She truly is a diamond and did receive a Diamond Award the year I couldn't make conference! She's introduced me to many other council members and we try to meet at the conference whenever we can. We also share work ideas, obstacles, and solutions. We tell our "how we met" story at every conference and it sits well with "newbees" as we tell them how CMBDC can change your life for good, with resources, connections, & friends! Thanks CMBDC!!!

- Glenda Burkett, Credit Union of America

What can I say first. I feel like I should be giving the Council $1000 in return for all the information I receive from them as well as my peers on the list serve. The time and money you have saved our credit union during our recent core data processing conversion was amazing. The entire conversion process is usually a year-long project and often times snowballs into other products and services. It sure did. We were scrambling to locate new vendors that would work with us on the new system when the conversion took place. During the same time period we had a few vendors go out of business or suspend operations with less than 30 days notice. YIKES, when it rains it pours. During the entire process, you all helped to keep us calm and collected. I used my contacts on the list serve to give me advice on vendors and due diligence. Their references made my choices in moving to a new Home Banking product, email marketing company, in-branch interactive media etc. much easier. I trust your references and know I can rely on you all for support.

Meeting some of the vendors you all recommended at the annual CUNA Marketing and Business Development Council Conference in Nashville this year was the icing on the cake. Some of you even walked me over to meet your sales reps. with existing vendors. No one shares resources or references like credit union people, I mean no one! Needless to say, one of the vendors at the conference obtained our email marketing contract in December. I remembered how eager they were to work with us and how genuine they were with their existing clients. Enough said, Sold. I contacted their President when I received word that my existing email marketing company was no longer supporting us as of NOW. My new vendor had us up and running in no time. I can't tell you how much stress was involved but they took everything off my shoulders and took off with the program. Today, we're in constant contact with them and working on product development as we speak. Talk about a relationship that took off at record speed.

I really do believe the future of credit unions will be defined by our relationships with our members. With that being said, the future of our organizations as a whole will surely follow suit.

- Mary Beth Wilcher, Erie FCU

There are numerous instances where the CMBDC has helped our FCU and myself. Recently there was a thread about Digital Signage that resulted in keeping us from making a bad decision with regards to a particular vendor. How so? After reading the emails, I contacted two fellow CMBDC members "offline" and received candid and experience driven opinions on what to do and what not to do. Simply put, if not for the CMBDC we'd have made the wrong decision on a $10k product/vendor.

CMBDC = 1

Bad Vendors = 0

- Mike Penix, Members Choice of Central Texas FCU

The Marketing Council exhibits the cooperative spirit of credit unions. We pool our ideas and share experiences to improve our service to members. I was struggling to learn new software, inDesign,and got help from a council member. One even sent me a couple of files that I could modify and practice on. I used one to make a postcard that has been used hundreds of times and gets notice whenever I use it. Thanks, Fred! Another sent me all of the information he had collected regarding a community event, which saved me hours of research time. Thanks Rick! And then there's John, who shared his Access database, gives me ideas and feedback.

I can post a question and get several answers within minutes sometimes. Because I am the first person in Business Development at my credit union, sometimes I don't have a subject matter expert here. The Council is full of subject matter experts. And, all are willing to encourage, teach, sympathize, empathize, and to share. This industry is unique among financial institutions, and the Marketing Council typifies the credit union spirit of cooperation.

- Ann Lucas, Meridian Trust FCU

Our Credit Union became the named sponsor for Idaho State University Football game tailgate parties in 2008. The University Athletic department has a history of poor attendance from students, so they asked if we could devise a promotion to attract students. Two things that always attract students are food and music, so with the tailgate party providing the food, we decided to do something with music and eventually came up with the idea of a Guitar Hero tournament. Using the resources of the CMBDC, I was able to contact other Credit Unions who had organized Guitar Hero tournaments and quickly put together rules, entry forms, flyers, and ads to promote the event. I don't think I could have developed the peripheral material and rules as well or as quickly without the help of the CMBDC members. So far, we have only held the first round, but it went very smoothly and we are looking forward to the championship round November 22.

- Rick Cheatum, Idaho State University FCU

I attended my 1st CUNA Marketing & Business Development conference in 2007. I have been in the credit union industry since 2002 marketing credit unions. What a fabulous conference! The networking paid for the conference itself. I made so many contacts and came back with great ideas to implement at my credit union. The value of CMBDC is out of this world!

- Bethany Dutcher, Catholic Federal Credit Union

It's really simple...two heads are better than one; how about 1,000 heads working together for a common goal; the betterment of products and services to our members around the world. CMBDC exemplifies the cooperative principles that credit unions were founded on 100 years ago.

- Deb Prior, Upper Valley Credit Union

One of the things I love about the credit union industry is that we share ideas and successes with one another, and the CMBDC listserv makes it easy to do that. My CU has certainly benefited from those shared ideas -- and although I don't always have the time to respond to listserv requests, I hope I've been able to provide some info and ideas to others as well. In my opinion, the listserv and file library alone are worth the price of membership!

- Rachel Justus, Sandia Laboratory FCU

Having a CMBDC membership allows our marketing team at First Community FCU find information, insight and inspiration. Having access to the network of members, all peers within the same industry and department is priceless. We also utilize the tools and resources- I espcially like reading the white papers. We are very excited about entering the Diamond Awards for our first time this year. Congratulations CMBDC on 1,000 members strong!

- Meaghan Natale, First Community Federal Credit Union

The Ultimate Member Experience... First Timer 2008 Conference

I am a new member and I had the privilege of attending the 2008 Marketing and Business Development Conference for the first time. The experience was motivational and empowering…it really rocked!

My favorite experience at the conference was the panel discussion regarding the potential for a National Credit Union campaign. The views of the Credit Union marketers and business development professionals throughout the room really opened my eyes to the fact that all it takes is one vision and a strong team to make extraordinary things happen.

Our founding fathers established this great movement in our nation nearly 100 years ago by being true visionaries The attendees in that room were people who truly understand the movement of credit unions and why we do what we do everyday. It's not just a job for us it is life.

What I learned from the experience is that we are more than marketers and business development professionals we are world changers. We have the great responsibility of having an impact on millions and millions of Credit Union members each day. In my heart as a Credit Union member since birth I truly felt so proud to be part of history in the making.

It was great to be in an environment where people really get it and want to leave a legacy the movement can embrace into the next 100 years. The great story of our rich history, solid roots, and great purpose of people helping people should be shouted from the roof tops. The passion and true dedication of my fellow Marketing and Business Development Council members could not be depicted in such a way in any other place. I can't wait until the 2009 conference!

- Trecia Marchand, Pioneer Valley Federal Credit Union

I've been a member of the CMBDC since it's inception because of the value of peer-to-peer networking with other credit union marketing professionals! My return on investment for the annual dues is always paid back multiple times with the sharing of ideas with other credit unions across the country. Just from attending the last couple of conferences, we gained valuable feedback and information on marketing to college students from other credit unions that has helped us with our marketing to the University of Georgia students who are now in oiur field of membership. We gained valuable information from others who had offered student loans, college scholarships, set up Facebook pages and sponsored campus events. We learned more about serving Gen Y, heard about the "Young and Free" accounts in Canada and gained insight from the editor of Brass magazine during some of the breakout sessions. The UGA community is now one of our fastest growing member segments and I believe our contacts through CMBDC helped us "jump start" our efforts.

- Kim T. Wall, Georgia Federal Credit Union

Being a member of the CMBDC has proven to be a benefit to me both personally and professionally. I feel that my experience in this industry, largely due to the Council, has truly come full circle. The Council is where I started when I was just learning about marketing in Credit Unions. I remember gaining such a wealth of knowledge from the volunteers on the Council some 10 years ago – totally immersing myself in their experiences and direction. Now years later, I've been privileged to help others by serving as a guest speaker – specifically to share our experience about the importance of disaster communications with our members in a Post-Katrina environment. Having been at the center of the nation's largest national disaster, I felt a personal obligation to pay it forward and share what the credit unions of the gulf coast experienced so that it may help prepare other credit unions in the face of disaster. The CMBDC has helped steer me and challenge me by giving me the opportunity to learn from and network with so many other successful professionals. This has allowed me to constantly strive for innovation in my Credit Union's thinking and positioning. It's only by associating with the most creative, fresh, and reputable that I can constantly challenge myself and my own Credit Union to be the best in my own market.

- Mia Perez, Louisiana FCU

As a new member of he CUNA Marketing and Business Development Council, the experience is growing! At first I was overwhelmed by the amount of information that is shared on a daily basis. But soon I recognized the contributions of sage marketers and a wave of youth that allowed me to see a broad range of issues and access ideas and solutions. The latest information is almost immediately addressed or questioned, and discussion provide direction to keep us on the leading edge of credit union marketing and financial market. opportunities!

- Kyle Frick, Mid Oregon Credit Union

A hundred members have helped me. Not only on a daily basis...via reading all the comments, questions, helpful answers on the Cuna Mareketing Council listserv, but I was inspired at a Conference. It was at the 2007 conference when I spoke with many members about our frustration. Frustration of banks positioning themselves as credit unions (WaMu).

I finally got too sick and too tired of not fighting back. The contacts I met inspired me to go forth with a campaign that I've been thinking about for a long time. My www.DropMyBank.com website. Not only did I end up creating a 8-series direct mail postcard campaign (in-house)...I continually run a banner ad outside a branch (located across the street from WaMu) advertising the DropMyBank website.

The campaign is creating awareness in the community and it couldn't have begun at a more perfect time considering the turmoil with the banking industry today. Thank you to all the other marketers that I have met that also have taken a chance. Credit unions can still be the "nice" guys without letting banks walk all over them.

- Jennifer Fournier, Premier Credit Union

Catch the Cooperative Spirit!

Seven and a half years ago I attended a Marketing Workshop. I had just started working at the credit union. I didn't have a single brochure and had never done a promotion - nothing, nada, zip, zilch. As the first marketer at my credit union, I was charged with the task of creating it all from scratch. I was very young and quite frankly, scared to death - it wasn't easy being green.

I walked into the classroom, sat down in the second row, and made sure to have an empty chair in between myself and those around me. I thought that was the unspoken rule at conferences: dare not invade other people's space. I was mistaken. In walked this bubbly ball of energy who immediately bounded into this shelter of air I had barricaded around me. She asked who I was and where I came from and when I admitted how new I was to CUs, she gave me a big hug. And with the toothiest smile I'd ever seen exclaimed, “Welcome to Credit Union Land ”. She then proceeded to tell me that if I ever needed anything to call her, and gave me samples of her brochures.

When others heard us chatting, they turned around and said similar things to me, welcoming me to this fictitious place as mysterious as Narnia. One even made sure to sit down in the open seat right next to me as an unspoken gesture of “Hey, we're in this together.” I had the fleeting thought that perhaps I had been abducted into some sort of religious cult. Coming from the sterile medical industry, I'll admit hugging was a foreign business practice. Such gregarious and demonstrative signs of affection would have been frowned upon.

It was shocking. Here I sat in a room with my peers, and they just all openly shared ideas. My hand cramped from all the notes I took and in my head I even designed our first brochure.

It's funny to think about it now, because I have since steamrolled newbie colleagues with my enthusiasm a time or two. The passion people feel in this industry is absolutely contagious. What's even more amazing to me is that the cooperative spirit is still alive despite our “live, work, worship, breathe in this area” charters. It's pretty special, and knowing that you can rely on an army of a thousand is power second to none.

When I hear outsiders say that the cooperative spirit is dead in CUs, I shake my head because I honestly witness its presence everyday. I saw it just the other day on this Listserv when one marketer raised the question that we work together to get more press – and HUNDREDS responded. I witnessed it locally when after that email went out a collaborative marketing committee was immediately established. Sometimes it's quiet, but the energy is still there, and the conversation is still going.

I witnessed the cooperative spirit especially in Nashville this past March. I can't express to you how energized I felt after I came home from a couple days of being around my peers. There is an energy, a passion and a collaboration in credit unions that is second to none. To showcase this to our friends in the office, we even kidnapped our CFO's blue highlighter to show it a good time on the adventure to Nashville . He was even amazed at the energy and well…sheer fun it was. Here's a link to the “Blue Highlighter's Adventures”.

The CUNA Marketing & Business Development Council is proof that the cooperative spirit is still alive in credit unions everywhere.

So…please pass it on!

- Kelley Parks & Amalia Herald (the Marketing Department), Call Federal Credit Union

When I became the Marketing Director at Linn Area Credit Union in 1998, our marketing pieces left something to be desired. We had just entered the age of desktop publishing (with PageMaker) and thought we were publishing some pretty cutting-edge work. At least when you compared it to the local competition.

Boy, did I have my eyes opened when I attended my first CUNA Marketing Conference! I spent hours in the Diamond Award display area memorizing the work of some amazing graphic designers and writers. I took dozens of pictures of entries to inspire me and refresh my memory. I filled a notebook with valuable tips from the sessions, learned what an MCIF system was and vowed to kick it up a notch when I got back to work.

I remember watching in awe as fellow Iowans, Joe Hearn and Mike Weber of Dupaco Credit Union, cleaned up in the Diamond Awards. I couldn't believe the level of professionalism they were at in comparison to the work I'd been doing.

This national exposure truly helped bring Linn Area Credit Union into the 20th century in terms of marketing expectations. I hired a professional graphic designer, purchased a MCIF system, and revised everything we had been doing in marketing. In a few short years, we went from photocopied statement inserts to national quality work.

Today we have our own little collection of nine Diamond and Merit Awards from the CUNA Marketing & Business Development Council, plus an Addy Award. Not only are we proud of the work that earned those awards. But we're grateful to the CMBDC for teaching us the skills and exposing us to the information we needed to be successful for our Credit Union and our members.

In 1998, Linn Area Credit Union was $55.5 million in assets with 10,112 members. Today, thanks in part to the success of our much-more-professional marketing efforts, Linn Area Credit Union is $176.7 million in assets with 21,610 members.

People tend to perform as well as the company they keep. I've made a lot of good credit union friends at the CUNA Marketing & Business Development Council Conference. We stay in touch throughout the year and encourage each other to do well professionally. We share ideas, expertise, and great memories of fun nights out during conferences.

So, do I think being a member of the CMBDC has helped me and my credit union? You betcha!!! In so many ways.

- Alice Hagerman, Linn Area Credit Union

After spending the last few years working for a credit card processor, I returned to credit union marketing at Southwest Airlines Federal Credit Union. I was very excited about the new challenges ahead, but needed to regain focus on what was impacting credit unions. I also needed a place to reconnect with my peers. The CMBDC provided me those opportunities. By creating a profile and becoming part of the list serve, I have reached out to my peers and gained valuable knowledge from them. And, hopefully by answering a few questions, I have been able to help a credit union professional too.

Because of some of the things I have read on the CMBDC site, my first campaign here at SWACU has been a success. We are looking at new products and services to offer our members, and some of what we implement will come from the collaboration that exists on the list serve.

I really appreciate having a group of 1,000 peers from all over the country to learn from; and I get a few laughs from some of the humorous side bars going on throughout the day. So, happy 1,000 members CMBDC!

- Amy Ecker, Southwest Airlines Federal Credit Union

Being a member of the CUNA marketing council has been especially important when gathering research on new products and recommendations for promotions. I especially enjoy getting to reach my peers in a nonintrusive environment.

- Alison Wolf, FAA Credit Union

I attended a webinar last year presented by the CMBDC on media relations. It inspired me to take a more diliberate approach to public relations. With my new knowledge we got great press. Now we have a very concerted effort in PR and have received lots of free press. My success helped me convince management to make a real investment in PR and hire an agency to increase our impact even further.

- Sandy Brillowski, Hawthorne Credit Union

Being a member of the CMBDC has really encouraged and inspired me. Being a part of the listserv is so much fun. I really love being able to share and receive information so quickly. As an example, I recently asked for input regarding naming a new product. Within minutes others had shared potential names and offered advice on checking copyrights. How cool is that? The council serves to make us stronger through the spirit of cooperation and being united. The businest email day ever for us was when our lawmakers were busy signing a bill to bail out our competitors! Talk about a passionate exchange! This council is so very important to our industry! It's important and wonderful that we now have the ability to connect this way. Thank you!

- Paula Piccinini, Sun Federal Credit Union

I would like share with the Council Members and the Council Committee 5 reasons why I LOVE Marketing and Business Development Council.

1. Knowledge--Being able to tap into the brain power of 1,000 people has been incredible and extremely valuable. I learned a great deal from monitoring and participating in the discussions on such a vast range of topics on ListServe as well as from reading the white papers.
2. Quick Access to Information--the set up of the Council makes it easy to get what you need quickly and efficiently.
3. Interesting Discussions--I have enjoyed a wide variety of discussions both serious, lively, and fun. ListServe has actually helped free a person who was locked in a room and could not get out. To get his boss's attention, he posted a question on ListServe asking for help, knowing that his boss is on the ListServe. That was great!
4. Friendships-I have made good friends that I follwed up with and had numerous discussions through the Council.
5. Improved Credit Union Performance--because of the ideas, projects, and plans implemented and shared by other Credit Unions through the Council, I was able to administer better programs based on the experiences of other Credit Unions.

But if I was to name one particular event or experience that made a big impression on me and was extremely valuable, that would be a great discussion initiated by Chris Blough from Pennsylvania following the bailout announcement and a call on Credit Unions to use this moment to shine. This was one discussion that generated hundreds of postings and I just remember feeling so excited and energized to read responses from people all over the nation. The discussion was not only a "disussion", it led to a formulation of a plan of action to do something. I shared it with the Ohio Credit Union League and other Credit Unions at the Town Hall Meeting in Cleveland, OH, and that generated a great conversation as well.

- Yuliya Franklin, CommStar Credit Union

As a new member of CMBDC this year, I have repeatedly benefitted from the widsom and experience of other council members who interact via the list serve. I find myself routinely searching by topic whenever I'm looking for an answer, a vendor, or simply a fresh new idea. I truly appreciate the open exchange and plan to be more active in sharing my thoughts in 2009. Thank you for saving our Credit Union time and money by providing such a valuable interactive service.

- Holly Stapleton, Fort Knox Federal Credit Union

It's not easy being green...but it is when you're a member of CUNA's Marketing and Business Development Council.

I can't tell you how impressive this listserve, web, white papers and more have helped me learn more about credit unions right from the start. I began my position at Hopewell Federal in February of 2007. While I was not new to marketing by any means, I was completely green to marketing in the world of financial institutions. I'm not even exactly sure that I knew what a credit union really was, and the difference between CU's and banks. All I knew was that I talked a good game, got the job and now it was time to show what I could bring to the table.

I'll admit, I may have been in a bit over my head. But that's when I found out about the Marketing and Business Development Council. The ideas, the sharing, the fellow marketers who helped me through this process were simply amazing. And before you knew it, in my first two months-I got great ideas for the grand opening of my new branch. And was inspired to re-do our website, which was in dire need of a makeover thanks to some of the discussions I had on-line with my fellow marketers. And as fate would have it, it won a Diamond Award in 2008.

And that was quite a surprise! When I attended the conference in Nashville , I met so many people who said they saw me on-line. It was great to put names and faces together! What a comaraderie we all shared! Plus, I was one of the top 10 finalists in the country cu song contest-it was too much fun!

I'll be here 2 years in February, but with the Marketing and Business Development Council's help, education and discussions, I feel like an old pro. I love being a part of it!

- Cammie Morrow, Hopewell Federal Credit Union