SHEPA LEARNING COMPANY NEWSLETTER

Building Your Positive Network 
 
Judy and Gayle on Moneytalk
Judy Thomson and Gayle Hallgren-Rezac
Hello everyone,
 
Thank you so much for attending our Connected Leader workshop at the CUMA 2007 Conference. In this newsletter, we've summarized the many great ideas generated at the sessions as a way to inspire you to do more networking. If you would like to receive our weekly free Positive Networking tips, just go to www.workthepond.com and click on the sign up link.
 
It was a pleasure meeting you and please feel free to contact us if we can assist you in any way.   
Gayle and Judy
bright ideasSHARING BEST PRACTICES AND BRILLIANT IDEAS
 
Here are some of your ideas on how to build awareness in your communities.
  • Give presentations in high schools on identy theft, credit cards and other financial topics. Give MONEY $$$$ for prizes when the students answer those skill-testing questions correctly.  This definitely gets the kids attention!
  • Implement a "Pay for A's" program in schools.
  • Start a "Laptop for Learners" program.
  • Support or start inner city school programs.
  • Open your community room to the non-profits in your community. Provide them with space (and coffee and soft drinks) for their meetings. They end up as your customers!
  • Provide a scholarship for high school students program. (Some of these programs didn't even require the winners to be members of the credit union to qualify.) Parents and students became new credit union members.
  • Use high profile community members in your ad campaigns. (e.g. First lady cop in the community.)
  • Start a challenge with other financial institutions. Be the lead on this, and even better--win! Remember the Blood Services challenge? They beat out all the banks in their area.
woman on phoneAND WHILE I'VE GOT YOU ON THE PHONE.... 
 
We heard a number of great stories, but Lorna Ball's story showed someone who sees an opportunity, even in a crisis-- while being robbed!  While on the 911 call, she asked the police if they would consider putting a community policing station in her credit union building since Lorna's building had spare space. Sure enough, most of the time they now have a police car parked in front of the credit union and there are community police walking in and out of the buidling.  Not only did she organize space in the building for them, she offered the credit union boardroom for their meetings. Brilliant idea!
SHEPA LEARNING IDEA: STORYTIME FOR CREDIT UNIONS
 
Try starting every staff meeting with a story. Have someone on your team share a great customer interaction. One that is memorable. Make sure someone writes the story down. Then circulate it and make it part of your training manual. If no one has a story, have one ready to share. It will jumpstart the storytelling and provide some inspiration to the group. In time, perhaps you will create your own book of stories.
YOUR IDEAS ON PLACES TO BUILD YOUR NETWORK
  Networking Photo
Service clubs
Associations and unions
4-H Club
Tim Horton's
BNI
Go to your local community bulletin board and see what's happening and lend your support.... and bring doughnuts.
Create or host an event of your own.
Get involved with a business advisory group (or start your own). Make them lunch and learns.
WHERE TO BUY WORK THE POND!
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