GRAND RAPIDS, Mich.--CU*Answers recently released its 2015 Board Member handbook. The handbook is developed annually and provided free to anyone with an interest in learning more about how the CU*Answers Board of Directors delivers the 7 Cooperative Principles to the forefront, the CUSO said.
As part of its goals for their board, CU*Answers emphasized that nothing says more about the health of a cooperative than the confidence that the cooperative stakeholders have in the role of the board, and how the board works on their behalf. The CU*Answers Board of Directors wants everyone to know the high goals set to earn its clients’ faith and maintain their confidence in the health of CU*Answers as a cooperative.
Within the handbook, CU*Answers highlighted five primary goals it wants its stakeholders and potential board nominees to understand:
- Goal 1: The board is an asset, creates a return, is a product that can be marketed.
- Goal 2: Board membership is a win-win.
- Goal 3: The board guards the customer-owner perspective.
- Goal 4: The board helps staff to flourish
- Goal 5: The board influences the CU market for the good of all CUs.
CU*Answers said it has found that many credit unions have previously utilized this document as a template in developing their own internal Board Member handbook. “Every CU*Answers owner CEO is openly encouraged to become a part of its board of directors by taking a close look at this handbook and should consider putting their name forward as a nominee for future board elections,” it said.