Brazil and Florida meet to discuss prospective partnership

Guy Hood, President of Florida Credit Union League, welcomes the Brazilian delegates to Florida.

On July 25, 2007, delegates from the Brazilian credit union movement, SIDCREDI, travelled to Tallahassee and Jacksonville, FL to meet with the Florida Credit Union League (FCUL) about prospective plans for a partnership through World Council of Credit Unions’ (WOCCU) International Partnerships Program. The delegates were on their way to the World Credit Union Conference in Calgary, Alberta, Canada.

On the first day, Guy Hood, President of FCUL, along with a few other branch managers welcomed the delegates at their headquarters in Tallahassee. The opportunity allowed for the two credit union movements to familiarize themselves with each other and share common challenges and successes. The discussions particularly focused on the challenges of lobbying in today’s world and dealing with politics.

The delegates also had the privilege to get to know Southeast Corporate very intimately. The group was able to tour both their Jacksonville and their Tallahassee offices. At the Tallahassee office, the group also met with William Birdwell, Southeast Corporate CEO and President to discuss the services offered by Southeast Corporate, such as share draft processing, virtual deposit, and a corporate synergies service. The group was specifically interested in the advanced IT system and Southeast’s ability to offer low cost investment opportunities to the credit unions.

At the Jacksonville office, the group was given an in-depth presentation on all of Southeast Corporate’s services led by Gisli Magnusson, Member Relations Manager of Southeast Corporate. The presenters included many of Southeast Corporate’s Vice-Presidents and Directors. The delegates were particularly fascinated by the check processing system and how the images are sent electronically.

The group was also able to visit Community First Credit Union of Florida and visit one of its local branches.

The delegates left Florida with a new hope of an international partnership between the two entities. There are plans in the works for FCUL delegates to visit SIDCREDI in Brazil in late March 2008.

The delegates included: Graziela Reis Bogorni, Valdir da Costa Silva, Luiz Emídio Dantas, João Carlos Spenthof, Sadi Beledelli, Ricardo Ce, Alcenor Pagnussatt, Manfred Alfonso Dasenbrock, Luis Roberto Baggio, José Olírio Alberton, Jair Kauffman, Orlando Muffato, Anildo Pedro Broch, and Ciro Bavaresco. The group included delegates from 4 different Brazilian states and numerous different SIDCREDI branches. Most of the delegates are vice-presidents or presidents of a branch.

Written by Josh Fetting, International Partnerships Program Specialist