The Credit Union World's Best Kept Secret

America's Credit Union Museum

I visited one of the best kept secrets in the credit union world on Saturday, April 5. I was there to attend a group-directed conference called BarCampBankNewEngland organized by a talented credit union professional, Morriss Partee the CEO of EverythingCU. America's Credit Union Museum is located on the west side of the Merrimack River in Manchester, NH. It shares a city block with the Catholic Cathedral and faces Lafayette Park. Museum Executive Director Peggy Powell, in the spirit of credit union helpfulness, opened the museum to the group on a Saturday and conducted an inspiring tour. The first two floors of America's Credit Union Museum house mementos and artifacts from the beginning of the credit union movement in the United States. We heard how in 1908 Monsignor Pierre Hevey responded to the needs of the French Canadians who settled in Manchester to work in the mills. He wrote to Alphonse Desjardins (the founder of the credit union movement in Canada, Caisse Populaire) requesting his help to establish a credit union in Manchester to meet the financial needs of his immigrant parishioners. Msgr. Hevey recruited Joseph Boivin to become the first president of La Caisse Populaire Ste.-Maire and house the newly formed credit union at his home at 418-420 Notre Dame Ave. America's Credit Union Museum is administered by a foundation made up of credit unions throughout the United States. The museum includes exhibits detailing some of the highlights of credit union history. The old building is beautiful and it was thrilling to walk through the rooms where new US citizens, who were turned away by established financial institutions, made deposits and received the means to secure a future in their new land.

What's a BarCampBank?

This venue celebrating the past was a perfect location for a gathering focused on the future. BarCampBankNewEngland gave participants a chance to spontaneously share information about using technology and social web tools with customers and members. In addition, we discussed critical credit union issues like mergers and their effect on the reputation of credit unions. All participants were able to post discussion topics which were placed on a timeline on the wall of our meeting room. Participants settled on the topics and schedule and the individual or group making the suggestion led the discussion. This format worked very well and Morriss Partee, our moderator, moved us along. BarCamps like this have increased in popularity because they allow the participants to formulate the content and they encourage participation by all.

The Group

Our BCBNE group was diverse, lively, interesting and interested. It included credit union employees, a board member, a senior analyst as well as a group of credit union and financial institution service providers. Each participant brought a high degree of expertise which they shared generously throughout the day. It was delightful to get a glimpse of young, enthusiastic credit union advocates like Mark Vautour, Andy LaFlamme, David Inverarity and Adam Lueb who, I predict, are the CEOs of the future. Christian Mullins, Joe Mello, Jeanine Perrone, Charlie Kroll and Dave DelVecchio represented entrepreneurs with skills at the cutting edge of technology as it is used by credit unions and other financial institutions. Debra Trautman, who is with the Maine Credit Union League, brought the freshness and enthusiasm of someone who is not afraid to bring new ideas to credit unions in her area and Morriss Partee, Gene Blishen and Ron Shevlin shared the knowledge and insights gained from their extensive experience in credit union and financial services. BarCampBankNewEngland 2008 combined the best of an educational gathering - a wonderful opportunity to network with an enthusiastic group, terrfic content and an inspiring location.

Comments

[Morriss Partee]

Hi Ginny, I can't begin to express how grateful I am that you made the trek from Plattsburgh to Manchester NH. And how much it means to me that you recognized and appreciated the connection of the new personal finance innovations we were discussing on the spot where the credit union movement kicked off the personal finance revolution 100 years ago. In a certain sense, our BarCampBank gathering had parallels to the Estes Park gathering 74 years ago. Another aspect you have pointed out is that a big appeal of BarCampBanks is that everyone has a voice, a chance to be heard. Which is the same appeal as belonging to a credit union. Which is the same appeal as P2P lending.

I'm also glad you discovered that you have a soul-sister in Louise McCarren Herring. The resemblance is uncanny!

[Ginny Brady]

Morriss, I'll be pushing for a board/staff field trip to Manchester within the next year or two. Your idea to have BCBNE there was an inspiration.

[Mark Vautour]

Ginny,

It was a pleasure meeting you at BarCampBankNE. Thank you for pointing out that the credit union museum is not as well known as it should be. I think everyone in the credit union world should see it.

[Jeff Hardin]

Ginny -

So sorry to have missed an excellent gathering of people at such a wonderful location! Thanks so much for sharing your thoughts about the meeting with us.

[Jamie Chase]

Ginny,
Thanks for sharing how the BarCamp facilitated conversation around Mergers. It would be interesting to have one done around the topic of uncontested board elections and appointments.

[Ginny Brady]

Jamie, thanks for your comment. Interestingly enough a similar topic was on the agenda but we didn't get to it. It would be great to do a BarCampBankCUBoards, invite board members and have a day full of topics like the one you suggested. That's certainly a dream for the future!!

[Morriss Partee]

Ginny, I think that would be called CUBoardCamp. :)