News from the Delaware Credit Union League Winter 2006 - 2007

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Volunteers (continued)

Diamond State FCU – Margaret Short (22), Jehu Davis (27)
Dover FCU – Ruby Yeomans (25), Russell McCready (35), Martin Talmud (36), Mary Frey-Foss (36). Directors Emeritus: Richard Gaidis (45), Joseph Brown (42)
DPL FCU – John Watterson (36), Gerald Connor (38), John Ritter (43), Robert Oakes (44)
E.W.O.D FCU – Joseph Zirkelbach (30), Paul DiStefano (35)*, Michael McCaughan (42).
Directors Emeritus: Martin Mulrooney (48), William Cicchini (3), Anthony DeLuca (20+), James Hussey (20+)
First State FCU – Alex Siegel (retired after 26 years)
First State Refinery FCU – Paul DaBaldo (27), Prem Tandon (32)
ICI America FCU – Holly Fleming (25), John Redding (28), Ernest Lewis (31)
Louviers FCU – Carol Arnold (22), Vic Carter (24)
New Castle County Delaware Employees FCU – Richard Bacino (21), Fran Lally (22), Robert Aiken (29), Stanley Trzonkowski (30)
New Castle County School Employees FCU – Ray Christian (39), Michael Simmons (47), John Crowther (51)
Provident FCU – James Potts (24), Peter Analore (27), William Hill (39)
Seaford FCU – Ruthe Wainwright (25+), Dudley Lloyd (36), Jane Watson (36)
Southern Delaware Postal Employees FCU – Jack Achenbach (26), Edward Berwick (28)
Sussex County FCU – Maggje Zott (21), John Lewis (26), Carlton Tull (retired after 38 years)


How Volunteers Became Involved
   How and why some individuals get involved in their credit union board is as different as the volunteers themselves. Personal satisfaction and belief in the credit union philosophy are primary reasons directors serve. Others see volunteer service as part of their civic responsibility or a way to gain new knowledge or skills.
John Crowther has been a volunteer at the New Castle County School Employees FCU since 1955 when a “group of young teachers got together and decided to apply for a credit union charter. In the beginning, we operated as often as we could get together – usually on Saturday mornings in the cloak room of Conrad High School.”
   Recently retired volunteer Carlton Tull of Sussex County FCU says his experience as paymaster and cashier at the Dupont plant in Seaford led him to become involved at the credit union. “I felt I could contribute to the needs of the credit union because of my

 


experience, and I served as treasurer/manager for 11 years and 27 years on the board.”
   Jack Achenbach of Southern Delaware Postal Employees FCU became a volunteer in a completely different way: “The first time I attended the credit union’s annual meeting, I found that I had been elected to the board of directors at the end of the meeting!”
   Jane Watson of Seaford FCU became a volunteer when her husband John founded the credit union in 1970. Jane states that she has continued her involvement because “it is rewarding to hear the stories of people we have helped and because of the wonderful staff who are dedicated to our mission.

Changes Over the Years
   Having volunteered for so many years, these credit union members have seen a great change. According to recently retired board president George Bush, “When I started with American Spirit FCU, if a member needed cash, we had to write that member a check and they

 
took it to a nearby bank to get it cashed. Now with the help of a capable board of directors, management, and staff, the credit union has become a full-service financial institution.”
   Alex Siegel of First State FCU, also recently retired, first volunteered at the credit union on the credit committee, whose responsibility it was to approve loans for members. According to Siegel, “Today’s lending decisions are made by professional loan officers and approval time is much quicker. The volunteer credit committee met only twice a week, so loan approval would take at least 4-5 days.”
   Mary Frey-Foss has seen a difference in the number of women now serving in volunteer positions during her 36 years of service. When she started out on the board of Dover FCU, all of the board members were male with military backgrounds, since the credit union served Dover Air Force Base. Today there are three women on the credit union’s nine-member board, and volunteers are sought from the many businesses

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