Recent Network Events
New York/New Jersey Sister Society Meeting - April 25
Thank you to all who were able to attend the New York / New Jersey Sister Society Meeting on April 25th. Twenty female credit union managers and volunteers joined together to discuss issues relating to Women in Leadership. The session began with introductions and networking. Special guest, Sandy Shaw, from FirstOntario Credit Union, spoke about her interest in starting a Sister Society in her region of Canada and having a connection with the NY / NJ group. A group video and photo was then taken followed by lunch. A power point presentation was then given by Robin Myers with regards to women leaders in government and credit unions. Next, Shirley Jenkins, from Municipal Credit Union, spoke about her experiences as a volunteer in many different organizations. Discussion was held with regards to the need to establish a social mission for our group. Many great ideas were shared and will be explored to see if they are practical to pursue. The meeting ended with a short video of the Half the Sky documentary as an introduction to the upcoming GWLN forum's guest speaker, Sheryl WuDunn.
Bay Area Sister Society Meeting - March 13
Thanks to Travis Credit Union for an outstanding Global Women's Sister Society meeting. Some of the highlights included a presentation titled "A Splendid Gift" from Patsy VanOuwerkerk, CEO of Travis CU, which talked about the gift of mentoring and supporting other women in their journey towards success- personally, professionally, and in their communities. She told her personal story about taking risks, building a network, and her willingness to listen as people reach out to her for collaboration. The charity selected was the Boys and Girls Club of Sacramento, to which we donated valuable school supplies. Thanks to everyone who attended this productive meeting!
Networking Breakfast at the GAC - February 27
The annual networking breakfast brought together 105 top leaders from 23 states to connect with one another and hear from legislative and political representatives. The event took place at the National Museum of Women in the Arts in Washington, D.C., during the Credit Union National Association's (CUNA) Governmental Affairs Conference. Featured speakers included Bill Cheney (president and CEO of CUNA), Rep. Suzanne Bonamici of Oregon, Teresa Freeborn (President and CEO of Xceed FInancial Credit Union), and Zixta Martinez (Assistant Director of External Affiairs from the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau).
Supporting Children This Holiday Season — December 13, 2012
THANK YOU to the Bay Area, Michigan, NY/NJ and Nevada Sister Societies for generously supporting children's charities this holiday season. In lieu of a December meeting, each of these sister societies make donations to the Busia Orphanage in Kenya, a World Council program supported by the Global Women's Leadership Network. Additionally, the NV Sister Society made an additional donation of diapers and cash from Boulder Dam Credit Union on behalf of World Council and the Network to Southern Nevada Social Services, administered by Catholic Charities. We are grateful for their comitment to changing lives in communities across America and the world.
"A Brave New World: Australia's Credit Union 'Banks'" — November 14, 2012
During the 2012 CA/NV League Annual Convention, Louise Petscheler, CEO of ABACUS (which represents credit unions and other mutual organizations in Australia), lead a break out session about Australia's credit union challenges with differentiating themselves fom banks while raising consumer awareness. Petschler spoke about recents developments in her country, where credit unions are legislated and regulated under the same rules as banks. Petschler discussed the "even playing field" environment, public perceptiosn of credit unions and mutuals vs. banks, why some credit unions and building societies have changed their names to banks, and how ABACUS keeps the various "credit union cousins" together under the umbrella of "mutuals". The presentation was sponsored by the Global Women's Leadership Network.
Jamaica Sister Society Meeting — November 5, 2012
The Jamaica Sister Society is a local network that connects to the global credit union community through the Global Women's Leadership Network, a program of the World Council of Credit Unions. During this first meeting, Sue Mitchell, Network Chair, gave an overview of the Network and its role within the World Council of Credit Unions. Participants brainstormed ideas and developed an action plan for the Jamaica Sister Society in the year to come. Topics of interest included mentoring currrent and future women leaders, financial education and buiding a strong network to support each other.
Women's Leadership Workshop in Nadi, Fiji — October 25, 2012
Held in conjunction with the Pacific Credit Union Technical Congress in Nadi, Fiji, the Network offered the Leadership Development Workshop to credit union executives and board members interested in expanding their leadership capacity. Participants discussed current credit union challenges in the region and had the opportunity to network with other industry leaders in the region. Representatives from several countries expressed an interest in starting local Sister Societies. Topics of interest included mentoring current and future women leaders, professional development, and buliding a strong network locally and globally to support each other.
Bay Area Sister Society Meeting — October 9, 2012
The Bay Area Sister Society first met in April this year and have inspired credit union women from this region had the opportunity to share about their backgrounds, exchange information and talk about their work in their communities. The October meeting took place in at KeyPoint Credit Union and focused on "Women and Leadership: How the Game is Won", as presented by Colleen Cabey, board member of Patelco Credit Union. In addition, the Sister Society collected charitable donations benefiting InnVision Georgia Travis Center (www.innvision.org), a local women and children's center. Members brought unwrapped new toys and children's items to help brighten their day!
New York Sister Society Meeting — September 12, 2012
Local Global Women's leaders from both New York and New Jersey hosted the second Sister Society meeting at Somerset Hills Hotel in Warren, NJ. Topics included: Mentoring and Coaching Women (Denise McGlone. CFO, Affinity), World Council Global Women's Leadership Forum in Poland (Robin Myers, Controller, Melrose), Changing Lives through Financial Empowerment (Sue Mitchell, Network Chair), Group Discussion and Networking on Compensation / Negotiating, Life Balance, Local Network Project.
For additional information about this meeting and future meetings, please contact Robin Myers at robinm@melrosecu.org or Deborah Mackintosh at deborahm@affinityfcu.com.
Michigan Sister Society Meeting — September 5, 2012
Last April Frankenmuth Credit Union had the pleasure to host the first World Council's Global Women's Ledarship Network's Sister Society in Michigan. Credit union women from this region had the opportunity to share about their backgrounds, personal brands, exchange information and talk about their work in their communities. Thanks to the Michigan Sister Society and the multiple other Societies in progress, our movement is fastly growing. The agenda for this second session was: "Negotiating our value, creating balance in our life and connecting to another Sister Society".
For more information about this meeting and future meetings, please contact Vickie Schmitzer at vschmitz@frankenmuthcu.org or Jody Karnes at jkarnes@cuanswers.com.
Nevada Sister Society Meeting — August 21, 2012
The World Council of Credit Unions sponsored the first Global Women's Leadership Network meeting in Nevada at Credit Union One. Local network leaders include Sue Longson (SCE Federal Credit Union) and Brandi Stankovic (Mitchell, Stankovic and Associates). Attached please find the meeting minutes to learn more about what this group is all about and who's involved.
For details about the meeting or to join, please contact Sue Longson at suel@scefcu.org or Brandi Stankovic at brandi@mitchellstankovic.com.
Bay Area Sister Society Meeting — August 7, 2012
Last April credit union women leaders from the region had the opportunity to discuss about their work in their communities, echange ideas and explain their engagement in better serve women all over the world. During the meeting, a clothing drive was organized in San Mateo, California to collect clothes (no bathing suits or work-out clothes), casual clothes, handbags and shoes for women getting ready to go back to work. The Bay Area Sister Society partnered with Career Closet, a small, volunteer-based nonprofit organization that helps victims of domestic violence, veterans as well as economically disavantaged and underserved women, re-entering the workforce.
Local leaders: Colleen O'Grady (Patelco CU), Linda White (United Health CU).
For additional details or to join, please contact Colleen at co1864@att.com or Linda at lwhite@unitedhealthcu.org.
Network Fundraiser: Golf Tournament — July 14, 2012
Held in conjunction with this year's Global Women's Leadership Forum in Gdańsk, Poland, golfers and sponsors raised over $80,000 to support the Global Women's Leadership Network! THANK YOU!
Global Women's Leadership Forum in Gdańsk, Poland — July 14–15, 2012
This exclusive two-day event event offered members the opportunity to connect face-to-face with women from other credit union movements across the globe and learn from successful women outside the industry too, like branding expert Jiao Zhang, a partner with Attune, a marketing research and strategy firm that focuses on return on investment; and international development professional Gabriela Zapata, consultant for the Consultative Group to Assist the Poor.
View the program agenda and presentations:
- Promoting Gender Equality and Empowering Women: The Role of Credit Unions in Global Development by Gabriela Zapata Alvarez, consultant
- Panel: Women Serving Women presented by
- Yamata Karki, Program Coordinator & Social Worker, Prakritinagar Women Independent Group & Nayapati SACCO (Nepal)
- Jedidah Musamali, Program Manager, Goezraal Springs Empowerment Foundation (Kenya)
- Gail Rajkumar, Executive Director-PRO, TATECO Credit Union Co-operative Limited (Trinidad)
- Lara Thomas, Founder, The MILLA Project (U.S.A.)
- Branding the Credit Union Difference presented by Jiao Zhang
Global Women's Leadership Network Luncheon — June 15, 2012
A special luncheon organized by one of the Global Women's Leadership Network advisory committee members, Ms. Laida Garcia, President/CEO of Floridacentral Credit Union, was held on Friday, June 15, 2012 from 12 (noon) to 1:15 p.m. This event took place at the JW Marriott Orlando Grand Lakes in Orlando, FL.
The goal was to provide our network members a better understanding about the Global Women's Network and raise awareness about the network. To do so, Susan Mitchell, chairwoman of our network gave an overview of the history and results to date. Our very special guest, Roxy Ostrem, chairwoman of the Ventury County Credit Union presented the first USA iBelong Program launched through the Global Women's Leadership Network in California. Additionally, Nicole Bice, network manager at the World Council of Credit Unions (WOCCU) talked about ways in which members can get more involved, such as through participation in engagement program, the Make a Match program and joining one of the Sister Society groups that are being formed around the world and in the United States dedicated to making a difference through women. This powerful presentation demonstrated how we, as women leaders, can all make a difference in our communities through credit unions by working together.
It is was great opportunity for Network Members to get together before the great Annual Conference in Gdańsk, Poland! We were glad to see you there!
Engagement Program to Ventura, Calif. — May 20–25, 2012
Participants had the opportunity to see firsthand how Ventura County Credit Union has partnered with WOCCU to provide financial services to local immigrant works and explore how other credit union can use that technology to reach new markets.
New York Sister Society — May 15, 2012
Global Women's Leadership Network was in New York! Credit union women from the region discovered and learned more about the network in a meeting hosted by Robin Myers, Controller at Melrose Credit Union and Laurie Benjamin, Board Member at Melrose Credit Union.The meeting was held on Tuesday, May 15, 2012 from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at Melrose Credit Union in Briarwood, NY. This event was free and lunch was generously provided by Melrose Credit Union.
Midwest Sister Society — April 16, 2012
Midwesterners, Global Women's Leadership is meeting in YOUR region! As part of our new program called Sister Societies, a meeting was held on Monday, April 16, 2012 from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. at Frankenmuth Credit Union in Frankenmuth, MI. Local GWLN leaders Vickie Schmitzer, CEO of Frankenmuth Credit Union and Jody Karnes, COO of CU*Answers were hosting this event. This was an exceptional chance to learn more about Global Women's Leadership Network and connect with other credit union women leaders. There is no cost to attend this event and lunch was generously provided.
Bay Area Sister Society — April 11, 2012
Global Women's Leadership Network is now meeting in YOUR region! We are proud to introduce you to our brand new series of local events in different regions of the United States. Our first meeting was held on Wednesday, April 11, 2012 from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at Patelco Credit Union, in San Francisco, CA. It was a great opportunity for networking and learning more about Global Women's Leadership Network's work to connect women leaders who are working hard to promote positive change through credit unions. Local GWLN leaders, Colleen O'Grady, Board Member of Patelco Credit Union and Linda White, CEO of United Health Credit Union were hosting this event. There was no cost to attend this event and lunch was generously provided by Patelco Credit Union.
Global Women's Leadership Network Breakfast — March 21, 2012
More than 100 network members and supporters attended the annual Global Women's Leadership Network breakfast meeting, sponsored by CU*Answers. The event was held at the National Museum of Women in the Arts in Washington, D.C. during the Credit Union National Association's (CUNA) Governmental Affairs Conference. Click below to see the photo gallery from the event.
