WASHINGTON—Nominations are now being accepted for eight open director positions on CUNA’s board as well as for five open positions on the board of the National Credit Union Foundation.
For the CUNA board, the deadline for nominations and seconds is Nov. 6. In contested elections, voting will begin Nov. 12 and close Dec. 18. Nomination information can be found here.
Two Class A and two Class B positions are up for election as follows:
- District 1—Connecticut, Maine Massachusetts, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, Vermont, Puerto Rico and Virgin Islands:
- Class A: Credit unions having less than 38,000 natural-person members.
- District 2—Delaware, District of Columbia, Indiana, Kentucky, Maryland, Ohio, Virginia and West Virginia:
- Class B: Credit unions having at least 38,000 but not more than 141,000 natural-person members.
- District 4—Illinois, Iowa, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri and Wisconsin:
- Class A: Credit unions having less than 38,000 natural-person members.
- District 6—Alaska, California, Hawaii, Idaho, Nevada, Oregon, Washington, American Samoa, Guam, Johnston Atoll, Midway Atoll, Northern Mariana Islands, Palmyra Atoll and Wake Atoll:
- Class B: Credit unions having at least 38,000 but not more than 141,000 natural-person members.
Two Class C and two Class D positions are also up for election, CUNA said. Elections for Class C (credit unions having more than 141,000 natural-person members) and Class D (leagues) will be conducted at-large nationwide, rather than by district, CUNA said.
The current CUNA board of directors can be found here.
Who’s Eligible
Each credit union nominee must be an employee or a voting board member of the nominating credit union, with the nomination seconded in writing by at least two other credit unions from the same class and, for Class A and B, district, CUNA said.
Nominees to be elected by leagues must be a league chief executive officer and be nominated in writing by that league, with the nomination seconded in writing by at least one other league.
“CUNA’s board has determined that a board candidate should possess certain qualities and characteristics. The CUNA board also desires to be diverse and inclusive. The board considers diversity to encompasses all the characteristics, experiences and cultural influences that make each person unique,” CUNA stated.
“The collective sum of the individual differences, life experiences, knowledge, inventiveness, innovation, self-expression, unique capabilities and talent plays a significant part in the strength of the CUNA board,” the trade association continued. “Candidates should consider these characteristics, experiences and influences when self-assessing their qualifications for a board position.”
Ideal Characteristics
CUNA said its board considers these characteristics important in qualified and diverse candidates:
- Demonstrated commitment and engagement in the CUNA/league system
- Involvement in their credit union community
- Proven decision-making skills
- Demonstrated local, state and national CUNA advocacy experience/efforts
- Business savvy
- Communication skills
- Strategic expertise
- Dedication to credit union values
- Leadership skills
- Demonstrated commitment to ensuring diversity and inclusion in professional settings, e.g. qualifications, experience, geography, demographics, etc.
“Candidates will have the opportunity to address how they meet these characteristics as they complete their candidate profile form,” CUNA said.
Directors elected will take office upon the adjournment of CUNA's Annual General Meeting in Washington, Feb. 24, 2020, during CUNA’s Governmental Affairs Conference.
National CU Foundation Board Nominations Open
Meanwhile, the National Credit Union Foundation is also currently seeking nominations for five board seats. Volunteers may generally serve up to three terms of the duration of the term of office for the seat they are selected, as long as they are re-nominated by the Foundation Nominations Committee and re-elected by the Foundation Board.
Board Seats
The qualifications for the five Foundation Board seats are as follows:
- Seat 1 – CUNA Board Representative.
- Seat 4 – Credit union executive or director. The candidate must be an executive officer or director of a credit union.
- Seat 7 – Credit union executive or director. The candidate must be an executive officer or director of a credit union.
- Seat 10 - Credit union executive or director.
- Seat 16 – Credit union executive or director or system affiliate or at-large.
The five Foundation Board seats are currently occupied by the following:
- Seat 1 – Maria LaVelle, CEO of pheple Federal Credit Union in Greensburg, Penn., is retiring from the CUNA and the Foundation board after completing an unexpired term on the Foundation Board
- Seat 4 – Angela McCathran, president/CEO at People’s Trust Federal Credit Union in Houston, is completing her second three-year term
- Seat 7 – Carlyn Roy, president/CEO of Tapco Credit Union in Fircrest, Wash., is completing her first three-year term on the Foundation board
- Seat 10 – Vacant, previously held by Kathy Garner, president/CEO at Catalyst Corporate Federal Credit Union in Plano, Texas
- Seat 16 – Howard Spencer, director of Northland Area Federal Credit Union in Oscoda, Mich., is completing his second, third-year term on the Foundation Board.
McCathran, Roy and Spencer have all expressed their intent to run as incumbents for the seats they currently hold, the Foundation said.
How to Apply
Qualified candidates interested in applying for any of these five seats can visit www.ncuf.coop/board to obtain the “Declaration of Candidacy” document. Applications must be received by Oct. 25.