that the credit union now serves.
   John Lewis has been the president of the Sussex County FCU board for the past 26 years. He acknowledges that the biggest change for the credit union has been changing from a single sponsor (DuPont Nylon Plant) field of membership to a community charter. During this period the economy has changed so rapidly that asset-liability management has become crucial in dealing with growth and complex services.

Benefits of Volunteering
   Being able to see that the credit union and its members benefit from your input is reward enough for these unpaid board and committee members. Helping members become financially savvy is important to William Martin of American Spirit FCU. “I like helping people improve their lives. A credit union works for the best interest of its members and teaches them how to make better use of their financial resources.”
   Michael Simmons of the New Castle County School Employees FCU appreciates the closeness that develops among those who are fellow volunteers. John Lewis of Sussex County FCU expresses it this way: “The strong bond that I have with most of our members, staff and fellow board members cannot be surpassed.”
  Ray Christian also from New Castle County School Employees FCU has found that this same spirit of cooperation and caring connects all the credit unions in Delaware. “I appreciate the congeniality of the volunteers at other credit unions in the state of Delaware, as well as with the Delaware Credit Union League. We recognize that we are responsible for providing financial services to each member of each credit union throughout the state and are willing to share our ideas and expertise.”

Volunteers’ Concerns
   Several volunteers have expressed concerns over issues that are vital to the continued success of credit unions.

1. The continued efforts by the banking industry to have credit unions’ tax-exempt status removed (Ray Christian, New Castle County School Employees FCU)
2. Maintaining focus on member needs while staying abreast of technology (Marie Davis, DEXSTA FCU)
3. Well supervised growth (George Bush, now volunteering with Sussex County FCU)
4. Regulatory demands by the National Credit Union Administration and other government organizations (Jack Achenbach, Southern Delaware Postal Employees FCU). Gerald Connor of DPL FCU puts this in perspective, “Thirty years ago, I don’t recall something called the Bank Secrecy Act or identity theft.”
5. Delinquencies, charge-offs, and bankruptcy (Michael Simmons, New Castle County School Employees FCU)
6. Debt management and financial literacy (Ruthe Wainwright, Seaford FCU)
7. The challenge of providing the “best services we can at the best prices we can” (Edward Berwick, Southern Delaware Postal Employees FCU)

Joseph Brown
Director Emeritus, Dover FCU

Richard Gaidis
Director Emeritus, Dover FCU

Martin Mulrooney
Director Emeritus E.W.O.D. FCU

Continued on page 5>>