FORT WORTH, Texas–Ask yourself: will your legacy outlast you?
That question was posed by Dick Ensweiler, who is retiring as CEO of the Cornerstone Credit Union League after more than 50 years in credit unions, during remarks at his final league meeting here.
“There is so much good coming, and so much opportunity ahead, and a chance for all of you to make a lasting impression,” Ensweiler said. “As I listened to CEOs at breakfast this morning I listened with excitement to them. I had an opportunity to visit with volunteers and the energy there and the passion and commitment there for what they do is beyond anything any other kind of movement can experience. And as I see the young professionals and their energy, I’m blown away.”
Ensweiler told the meeting that two thoughts came to mind as he retires: First, he asked himself why is he getting out of the credit union business, and second, he is leaving with the CU movement in “great hands.”
Ensweiler, who missed CUNA’s GAC this year for the first time since 1974 due to illness, was also presented with the Lifetime Amigos Award and his induction into the Credit Union House Hall of Leaders at the Cornerstone CUL meeting after not being able to do so at GAC.
“Today, credit unions are just full of amazing opportunities I hope you’ll take ownership in,” Ensweiler said. I think about 50 years ago when I was a credit union CEO and the tools we had then, and there were none. Our purpose is to reach out and serve everyone we possibly can. I want to encourage you to embrace the brand of being financial institutions that embrace financial education. No other financial institutions have that as their mission. They are about profits. I believe every interaction with the credit union should leave the member better off. We should not miss the opportunity every day to help every member with every interaction.”
Ensweiler, who called credit unions the “moral compass” in the financial services space, need to commit to the vision of the forefathers of CUs who created the movement, he said.
“Make sure you have the passion and rationale every day to show how we can make a difference,” urged Ensweiler. “I also emphasize every time I speak that every credit union should understand and adopt the Seven Cooperative Principles. I hope to see the day when every employee manual has them on the first page. They should be the first page in every board book. They ought to hang in every break room. And better yet, they ought to be on a great big poster in the credit union lobby.
“I leave proud of what I’ve seen and delighted to have worked with so many of you,” added Ensweiler. “But I think our future is yet ahead.”