I was immensely proud to recently take up the mantle as the
new President of the Irish League of Credit Unions. I very much look forward to
working with the Board of an organisation that has such a long and proud
history and that continues to provide invaluable support to credit unions the
length and breadth of the country.
I think the President can play a
large part in being the bridge between the members and the Board and making
sure both are moving in lock step. To achieve this, the ILCU Board Officers will
work collaboratively. I look forward to working closely with Gerry Thompson,
Vice President and Eamonn Sharkey, Treasurer. Together with the Board acting as
a collective we will make a thriving ILCU.
We need to be a viable, vibrant local financial service
solution for our members. Credit unions will respond by developing alongside
the communities they serve so that they remain strong and provide a member
service that is not only friendly, but also provides a product and service
range that is relevant for all its members and is fit for members’ future
needs.
Key business development areas are local SME Lending Products,
Expansion of Electronic Services provided by the local credit union and using
technology more effectively to connect and serve our members.
Member service is still as important as ever, and will remain
an important priority especially as credit unions engage in transfer of
engagements and as a result expand common bonds - sometimes in completely
different geographical areas. Member service now is more than just
face-to-face. Using technology more effectively in conjunction with our great
one-to-one service, credit unions will remain connected with their members and
thus maintain our esteemed and award winning member service.
The Irish credit union movement is one of the most successful
in the world. Credit unions continue to be a vibrant and integral part of local
communities because of their award-winning service, not-for-profit ethos, user
ownership and democratic basics. Credit unions continue to change and diversify
to meet their members’ needs.
As credit
unions we are by definition part of a cooperative family, and the day that we
fail to live that reality will be a sad day for the movement. Our principle; “co-operation among
co-operatives” reminds us that “going it alone” will inevitably lead to isolation
and a weaker movement. We need our collective strength to ensure our individual
freedoms.
For so long the Irish movement has been a beacon to the
credit union world in matters of efficiency, local co-operation and collective
action. We will continue to further develop a vibrant, financially healthy
credit union movement which provides a full range of services with the
interests of the member at the heart of everything it does. I look forward to
travelling with the credit union movement along the successful road it will
continue to carve out for itself.
