The reason why.

Why are we frustrated with many of our elected officials? (Some say a movement is gaining traction to vote long-term representatives out of office.) Why are so many credit unions struggling to survive? Because they are focused on WHAT they are doing instead of WHY! Loyalty comes when people are inspired by WHY you do what you do. Why creates trust beyond the immediate choice, the immediate law written, the immediate rate or loan product you provide. Why we do it conveys who we are that it is our choice to get up in the morning to be the best we can be. For many of us, the best our legislators can be is not just keeping their job by passing another law or spending more money. The best credit unions can be is not just making another loan. Any bank can do that.


I was contemplating this with Scott about why we get up in the morning excited to go to work everyday, building Credit Union Strategic Planning. Why we do it is because we believe the world is a better place with credit unions creating financial opportunity through the realization of the International Operating Principles. How many credit union's even consider the operating principles in their strategic planning? How can you have a plan that isn't defined by why you exist? 


So it is that we came to the logical conclusion:

"Our goal is not to do business with everyone that needs what we do. Our goal is to do business with credit unions that believe in why we do it." 

And that's why our clients are getting $500,000 grants from Harlem NYC to Hawaii and growing loans by 50 percent in a single year. 

This short, inspiring video provides more insight:

Trip to Turkey!

I'm honored to share that the Acacia Foundation invited me on behalf of my firm Credit Union Strategic Planning to participate in a cultural trip to Turkey to develop mutual understanding between Turkish and American people. I am deeply moved to visit my second predominantly muslim, democracy to study their economy, culture, history and of course the presence of cooperatives and credit unions.


I learned much during my 2006 trip to Mali, West Africa. It too is a predominantly Muslim nation with a thriving democracy. The role of cooperatives and credit unions there, inspired much of my community development credit union work during the last three years.


We depart for Turkey next month! My passport is ready. 

Such Great Heights

This spring has been beautiful with mist and sunshine producing a rainbow over Tacoma at least once a week, and there is a pot of gold under it, I swear.  Einstein blessed us all with his philosophy, "in adversity there is opportunity." The adversity is nearly a vague memory, even my attachment to it. Now the opportunities that continue to unfold are taking my life to such great heights!

Such Great Heights Top Ten List:

10. Inventing a new exercise regime resulting in my trainer guiding me to beat all of the men at the gym to gain the most lean muscle mass during the Fitness Challenge. My weightlifting and yoga with SkyAnn has become an incredible spiritual practice with affirmations between weight sets like, “I am one with God,” and “I am strong, powerful and focused,” held in warrior two position with an archer movement. This focus has direct application to getting results with my home and work.

9. Amsterdam in August. I am actively pursuing affordable ways to broaden my experience of the world. The planning is paying off. Another consultant offered to do a brief home exchange. Details to come…

8. The guest cabin is finished and officially a revenue stream that produces financial stability with a renter that also enhances my quality of life. My long-time friend, Sam Dollar, friend of both Graef kids and all around good guy is great fun and help to have around. The cabin is there if Grandma ever wants to come live with me. It could also be a future office as Credit Union Strategic Planning continues to grow.

7. Quality family time at Camp Seymour with Dylan, one of the best weeks every with my son. We canoed, climbed a giant rock wall, and made new friends. My co-cabin leader Kelly, ended up becoming one of my dearest friends. She’s from New Zealand and a real kiwi.

 (My camp uniform)

(Dylan smiling on a big canoe.)

 

(My cabin pranksters: We stole the boys' shoes, including Dylan's.)

6. Credit Union Strategic Planning is rocking. The Congressman’s Office called us to offer official Congressional Recognition for the American Debt Relief Challenge. And after adding Scott as our CEO the quality of work continued to exceed expectations. The reward is in the referrals. We will be speaking at the national Community Credit Union Conference as experts on The US Treasury CDFI grants in Boston in October. Landing the largest individual credit union grant from the Obama Administration’s Recovery Act Funds had a little something to do that.

5. Recovered pictures from Africa. After the 2006 World Trade Center Tacoma  Goodwill Mission to Africa debrief at the University of Washington with Congressman Adam Smith, my hard drive deleted my photos. I was bummed. Most of the trip was spent studying poverty reduction and visiting credit unions and cooperatives. A conversation this week with my brother and viola, he had backups the whole time!

4. Paying off debt. It feels good to be complete with my word. Money is just a means to exchange value. I value my word and am being100% complete with my word, beyond legal obligation. (Even paying cheating ex-boyfriend who I don't legally owe money. I did care deeply about him and have the respect to bring closure for myself.)

3. Being a role model for friends who see I made it through a hard time to show them they will get through it too. Two friends have called me on the brink of taking their lives during the last year. Both have thanked me for being there at the critical time, being unwavering in my demand that they deal with it head on, and being so honest about my own challenge last year that they weren’t embarrassed to talk to me. Several other friends have sought assistance with starting their own businesses. It feels good to be a reliable friend.

2. My brother desires to plant another garden this year. Scott and his boys want to help build the fence. Whitney is committed to lead the old concrete removal and I will have a new back yard when we paint the back house to get ready for a refinance. The goal, thank my grandmother for believing in me by getting her name off the loan.

1. I feel like myself again and life is rocking. And with that comes the realization that I am best when I am fully being me. And with that comes the knowledge as a parent to support Dylan fully being himself. 

(Dylan during a recent trip to Washington DC visiting Cousin Simon.)

 

I am motivated to action by my awareness that what holds us in the same place is only what we do not do. And wow I am not in the same place now I was at this time last year. I got rid of all of the negative influences. Took action on every opportunity and am making life the reality I desire to live…

I'm going to be a C.U.D.E.

 



It sounds a lot like "dude", but means social responsibility to me. I can't contain my excitement. I'm going to be one.

Being a CUDE is about gaining contemporary perspective on how a cooperative business model of social responsibility, volunteerism and community development makes the world a better place. In my mind,CUDEs are the protectors of the credit union movement and uphold the international operating principles.

"Those who have graduated from DE Training are some of the credit union movement's best and brightest around the world," said Mike Beall, president of the Maryland and District of Columbia Credit Union Association

Currently, there are about 350 CUDEs active in the credit union movement among the 700 who earned the designation since the DE Program was launched in 1982. Of the 202 active CUDEs from individual credit unions, 101 are CEOs, vice presidents, or board members. Another 102 CUDEs represent state and national credit union support organizations.

I feel humbled and honored. Thank you Tom Decker!