Busy in Bismarck This Week!

Jay Kruse leads a successful CU Professionals Forum and the Dakota Credit Union Foundation board meets for planning and team-building session.

​The BSC National Energy Center of Excellence was buzzing with activity on Wednesday, August 25th as more than 100 credit union professionals and guests gathered for various activities and meetings hosted by the Dakota Credit Union Association (DakCU). 
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The DakCU Professionals Forum kicked off at 10:00 a.m. with attendees from all around the Dakotas.  The discussion topics ranged from staff training for specialized accounts, to online account opening, managing fraud, contactless payment issues, recruitment and retention of talent, compliance resources provided by the association, lending best practices, and vendor management, just to name a few.  This year, discussions were led by DakCU’s Chief Advocacy Officer, Jay Kruse.  The group even received a surprise “pop-in” visit from CUNA President/CEO Jim Nussle.       

​Also meeting early on Wednesday morning, the Dakota Credit Union Foundation Board of Directors gathered to discuss foundation business and upcoming fundraisers.  Foundation Director Kayla Pulvermacher led a team building exercise in which board members answered questions in small groups regarding the foundation’s cause, actions, and impacts.  They also took a moment to pose for a group photo, the first in quite some time!  Shown are Foundation board members L to R: April Tompkins, Explorers FCU; Katie Dressler, First Community CU; Jane Duerre, Norstar FCU; Abby Murano, Dakotaland FCU; Darla Schafer, Flasher Community CU; Jim Schaefbauer, United Savings CU; Keith Mantz, Capital CU; and Kayla Pulvermacher, Foundation Director.  Please visit the newly updated  Foundation page on the DakCU website for more information. 

On Thursday, August 26th, the Foundation hosted their 5th annual Golf Scramble, which was expanded to a “Play Yellow” event this year to raise money for Sanford Children’s Hospital in Fargo.  Kayla Pulvermacher will be covering the golf outing in more detail in her feature article on Monday.
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Of course, the highlight of the Bismarck meetings was the luncheon with Jim Nussle, President/CEO of CUNA and North Dakota Senator Kevin Cramer.  Be sure to check out the full story in today’s Memo for more photos and details.  A special “Thank You” to everyone who took time out of their busy scheduled to attend our Bismarck events this week!