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After three days of successful sessions, the Southeast Leadership Development Conference concluded Friday, Nov. 8, with a talk Friday from LSCU CEO Mike Mercer about how credit unions help people afford life. This differentiation between banks (who harvest profits from customers for the benefit of shareholders/stock owners) and credit unions (who work to better members lives and turn profits back to them in various ways) is one that makes our cooperative principles stand out in the marketplace.
Mike explained our success in credit unions lies in embracing our cooperative model. We can get numb to how important our work is with the burden of regulation, dealing with big projects, handling the daily to-do list, etc. But building a strong service culture and making a difference in the lives of our members is what matters. Our work matters to so many people around the world.
Guest speaker on the topic of Leadership was Commander Kirk Lippold, who was in charge of the USS Cole during the vessel’s deadly terrorist attack by Al Qaeda in 2000. His training and leadership during the crisis saved the ship as well as lives.
During his speech, he walked attendees through Authority on Leadership and Crises Management. Lippold provided strategies through his Five Pillars of Leadership, which he used to instill integrity into his team members and mitigate crises during his naval career.
A wine pull to benefit the Southeastern Credit Union Foundation was a new addition to SLDC this year, raising more than $1,700 for the cause and creating a stir of excitement among attendees. Participants were entered into a drawing for a fine bottle of champagne, and the LSCU’s Jordan Burroughs won the magnum. Another fundraising event kicked off SLDC, a golf tournament for the SECUF, which was filled with camaraderie and competition and also raised funds for the charity.
