CEO Update: DCUC on the World Stage

Earlier this month, several member credit unions gathered in Warsaw, Poland for DCUC’s Overseas Sub-Council Conference. The conference, co-sponsored by Service Federal Credit Union, was a huge success, even with the prior uncertainty about traveling so close to the conflict in Ukraine.

To be honest, Warsaw exceeded all expectations. The city was not only cleaner and more efficient (traffic-wise), but also felt safer than most cities in the U.S. Plus, Warsaw had a vibe fueled by a deep sense of history, national pride, and a sense of hope and vision for the future. The overriding theme of the week was diplomacy. Not just international diplomacy, but what each attendee can take back to their community after spending the week in Poland.

Our conference opened with keynotes from both the U.S. Ambassador to Poland, The Honorable Mark Brzezinski, and General Philip Breedlove (USAF, Ret), the former Supreme Allied Commander for Europe, NATO. Both speakers are accomplished experts in developing and maintaining U.S. National Interests in Europe and beyond. Each did a fantastic job explaining what our Nation's objectives are for ensuring a long-term partnership with Poland and securing peace in the region.

In addition to these excellent presentations from the stage, the group enjoyed several opportunities to explore the city, cuisine, and museums that offered a deep appreciation of Poland’s history and culture. However, what I treasured most was witnessing the growth of camaraderie among the different credit union leaders attending our conference. In my opinion, this is what makes the DCUC experience exceptional. Stronger ties within our industry mean a stronger, more cohesive industry as a whole.

The week culminated with a group tour of Poland’s Presidential Palace and the entire group meeting with President Andrzej Duda. President Duda delivered prepared remarks about Poland and the need for continued cooperation in terms of military, humanitarian (Ukraine), and economic areas. Privately, President Duda told me he was very happy DCUC held its Overseas Sub-council in Warsaw and that he hopes we will return to Poland and see the rest of his beautiful country.

A smaller group was invited to attend the official ceremony marking Poland’s Constitution Day. This involved a national address by President Duda and a military parade in the historic square outside the Royal Castle in old Warsaw. We were honored to sit with diplomats from around the world. Afterward, we were invited back to the Presidential Palace for a garden reception with the First Lady of Poland, several Polish celebrities, and President Duda.

DCUC was beyond honored by President Duda’s remarks about meeting with our council and member credit unions. The official office website of the President of the Republic of Poland released the following statement:

“Polish–American relations have been very friendly and close for many years. We are proven strategic partners. I am convinced that meetings like today’s contribute to the strengthening of relations between our countries,’ Andrzej Duda stressed. The President thanked all the representatives of America’s credit unions for coming. He spoke highly of the work of the Defense Credit Union Council, which brings together more than 180 credit unions serving 37 million members.” (The official website of the President of the Republic of Poland, May 2, 2024, “Meeting with representatives of America’s Credit Unions,” retrieved May 13, 2024, from https://www.president.pl/news/meeting-with-representatives-of-americas-credit-unions,85185).

Overall, it was an honor to represent America’s defense credit unions at a time of great importance. My takeaway is that we are all ambassadors for both our individual credit unions and the communities we serve; but even more, and as we saw in Poland, we are ambassadors for our great Nation.

Whether we are overseas, back in our hometowns, or at an industry event in another state, it is always important to share our values and learn/appreciate similar values in other countries and locations. Our overseas conference was a perfect example of how our cooperative principles can be shared and seen on the world stage.