Directors' Forum
The annual Directors' Forum is a professional development, educational and networking conference that is organized specifically BY credit union directors FOR credit union, caisses populaires and co-operative Chair/Presidents, board members, and key volunteers.
2011 ACTIVITIES
DIRECTORS' FORUM CONFERENCE - Due to the many credit union-related related events taking place in the fall of 2011, there will be no Directors' Forum conference held in 2011. The DF will return in 2012. The Directors' Forum will host three events in 2011. More information is available from the links at right.
- CUDA CAMP LUNCHEON - The Directors' Forum will host a luncheon for all directors taking part in full-day or half-day Credit Union Director Achievement (CUDA) courses on Monday, October 31, 2011. The luncheon will include an abbreviated DF business meeting, election and discussion led by Tomo Matesic, chair of the Directors' Forum.
- "WHAT IYC MEANS TO CREDIT UNIONS" FORUM - This session, hosted by the DF, and held during the Central 1 Fall Conference in Ontario on Thursday, November 3, 2011, will introduce credit unions to the International Year of Co-operatives; discuss the objectives of IYC 2012 as they related to credit unions; and brainstorm ideas surrounding the role of credit unions within the International Year.
- DF ONLINE - a series of webinars presented by the Directors' Forum. With the launch of DF Online, and its association with CUSOURCE Credit Union Knowledge Network and other partners, the Directors’ Forum will be providing year-round training opportunities for credit union directors in Ontario and across Canada. Sessions begin again in the late Fall of 2011. Learn about the upcoming sessions offered through DF Online by clicking here, or using the links at right.
ABOUT THE DIRECTORS' FORUM
The mandate of the Directors’ Forum (DF) organization is to provide education and professional development options tailored specifically to the needs of credit union directors. The DF is an independent, non-profit group comprised of credit union board members and funded solely through event sponsorships and registrations.
For more than 25 years, the Directors’ Forum has played a significant role in credit union director professional development and education. The Directors’ Forum is also a meeting place for system volunteers, facilitating a wide range of discussions and events that are uniquely tailored to the role of Ontario credit union directors. Every credit union and caisse populaire in Ontario should send at least one board member to this event!
Directors attend the two-day Directors' Forum conference or participate in online development sessions to learn new skills, participate in discussion forums, and interact and network with other credit union leaders. Directors return to their credit unions to share their experiences and materials, further expanding the reach and influence of the Directors' Forum.
The Directors’ Forum offers a unique method of supporting directors and other key volunteers in the credit union system. All sessions provide practical advice and real-world examples that can be applied to your credit union.
BELONG TO THE DIRECTORS' FORUM
The scope of the Directors' Forum has been broadened to become a conference and webinar series open to credit union directors from across the country, and to board members from all types of co-operatives. Credit Unions often use the DF to also provide professional development opportunites to their committee members, and to introduce director-candidates to credit union system issues. Credit union managers and staff generally do not participate in the DF.
Paying participants at the Directors' Forum conferences are considered "delegates" and may vote on issues that are presented during the business meeting. If a credit union sends more than one paying director to the business meeting, each paying participant is considered a delegate.
KEEP IN TOUCH WITH THE DF. To be invited to DF events and to be added to the print or electronic mailing list, please email your co-ordinates to directors@ontario.coop. It is recommended that every credit union with a board training and development liaison (usually a staff member) be included on the DF information list.
The Directors' Forum is an independent organization and is not funded by Central 1 Credit Union, CUSOURCE, On Co-op or any other organization. Funding for DF activities comes from event sponsorship and registration fees.
Directors’ Forum activities are planned and organized by a volunteer Executive Committee made up of credit union board members including: Marty Gillis, Windsor Family Credit Union; Dave Kilgour, Northern Credit Union; Tomo Matesic, Unigasco Community Credit Union; Dave Sitaram, Auto Workers Community Credit Union; and Amber Aird-Williams, Education Credit Union. (2010-2011).
LONG-TIME SERVICE AWARDS
The Directors' Forum recognizes Credit Union Directors who have attained 25 or more years of service to the Ontario credit union system. A small plaque will be presented during a ceremony within the annual Directors' Forum business meeting.
Criteria:
- Credit Union directors who have achieved 25 or more years of volunteer service to one or more Ontario credit unions are eligible.
- Applicants must be current credit union board members (e.g. not retired or deceased).
- Thos who have previously received long-time service recognition from the DF are not eligible.
- Directors must be in attendance at the current year's DF to accept an award.
Process:
- Credit Union boards, staff or managers may apply on behalf of the Director.
- Submit the Director's name, credit union and contact information, along with a brief (75-100) word bio or summary of his/her credit union service.
- Provide confirmation that the Director has registered for the current Directors' Forum.
- Submissions are accepted any time of the year, up until 30 days before the start of the current Directors' Forum.
- The award will be presented at the current Directors' Forum and the bio/summary will be included in the annual DF program.
THE DIRECTORS' FORUM E-NEWSLETTER
The new DF eNewsletter—issued a few times a year—provides a quick and easy way to keep up to date on issues and information board members need to know about. To receive the eNewsletter, send your name, organization name and personal email address to directors@ontario.coop. (To ensure that board members recieve the eNewsletter directly, we recommend that each director include his/her own personal email address, rather than the corporate email address of a credit union staff members.) Those who register for DF events are automatically added to the distribution list.
The Ontario Co-operative Association (On Co-op) manages the Directors' Forum on behalf of a volunteer committee of credit union directors.
