Firefighter Credit Unions Organize Conference

Firefighter Credit Unions nationwide met for the first time to plan an annual conference program.

St. Louis, MO October 5, 2002 - Firefighter credit unions from across the country met for the first time as a group to organize an annual conference program. Forty-three credit union officials met on September 19-21, 2002 in New Orleans, LA at their first national Firefighters Credit Union Conference. William Rogers & Associates in St. Louis, MO and Support Processes Corp. in Washington, DC were the sponsors of the conference. Both companies provide a range of consulting and conference management programs for credit unions. Their organizational meeting was held in conjunction with the annual conference of the Combined Council of Automotive Credit Unions.

A key area of discussion was the overlapping fields of membership being faced by many credit unions with competition coming from neighboring credit union organizations. "Fields of membership are far-reaching these days with the addition of SEGs (Small Employee Groups) by many organizations. Some credit unions look upon this as competition from fellow credit unions while others feel it's not a problem," according to Bill Rogers, conference moderator. Other areas of interest and concern expressed by the group included bankruptcy, loan delinquency, security and fraud issues, technology and loan growth. Attendees also cited the conference roundtable discussion and meeting fellow firefighters to discuss common issues as a highlight of the conference.

The firefighters appointed a four-person advisory committee to lend guidance in designing next years program. The committee includes Albert Braggs, Chicago Fireman?s Association CU; Grant Sheehan, Miami Firefighers Fed. CU; Mike Arguelles, Los Angeles Firemen?s CU and Bill Ryan, Syracuse Fire Department Empl. Fed. CU.

Rogers said the group was enthusiastic about getting together on a regular basis. "Firefighter credit unions have their own uniqueness and the exchange of information between them was very valuable in this first meeting," according to Rogers. "We are already working on next year?s conference in Scottsdale, AZ on October 9-11, 2003." Linda Bikoff with Support Processes Corp. reported that one firefighter said, "I"ve been attending credit union conference programs for 14 years and this was the best conference I have ever attended."

The Firefighter Credit Unions have set up a communications network using Yahoo?s Group programs. Credit unions interested in participating may sign up at http://groups.yahoo.com/group/FirefighterCreditUnions/.

There are more than 105 credit unions serving the firefighter community representing over 870,000 members with assets over $5.8 Billion. ?We?ve identified 105 credit unions but we know there are more out there,? according to Rogers. Credit Unions interested in participating in the conference should contact Bill Rogers at billrogers@swbell.net, Tele: 800-745-2455 or Linda Bikoff at Lbikoff@earthlink.net, Tele: 202-337-0023.

Contact Information:
William Rogers
William Rogers & Associates
P.O. Box 510047
St. Louis, MO 63151-0047
Tel: 800-745-2455
E-mail: billrogers@swbell.net