Representation of Women
By Joyce Moed, Reporter

WICHITA, Kansas–One CUNA board member said she is living proof that the representation of women among the credit union movement's national boards is growing.

"And so are the eight other female members of the CUNA board," said Marla S. Marsh, president/CEO of the Kansas Credit Union Association, and CUNA board member. "I think the representation of women is growing; I'm living proof of that, and so are the eight other female members of the CUNA board. Representation by women in leadership positions is growing throughout the system, too."

This topic is the next installment in a series of stories being published by the Credit Union Journal focusing on diversity among national credit union boards. Previous issues featured African-American and Hispanic representation on these boards.

Marsh said she believes diversity among the board should be encouraged.

"And it is," she said. "I have been encouraged to apply for or run for leadership positions throughout my career, starting with my run for chairmanship of the National Youth Involvement Board in the ‘80s to my present position as president of the Kansas Credit Union Association to serving on the CUNA board. The opportunities are there."

Marsh said she would like to see more women take part in networking groups and other forums that provide the background and contacts that are necessary to make a successful run for a board position.

"This is something I try to talk up whenever possible in my discussions with other women in the credit union movement," she said.

One organization within the industry that has always had women on its board is the National Federation of Community Development Credit Unions, said Cliff Rosenthal, president/CEO of the Federation.

"And our last two board chairs were women," he said.

One woman on that Federation's board is Helen Godfrey-Smith, CEO of Shreveport Federal Credit Union, in Shreveport, La.

"The hallmark of credit union philosophy is the demographic process," Godfrey-Smith said. "That said, I do believe that organizations are more effective when setting policies and programs when the folks are likely to be affected by the policies/programs are part of the process."

Godfrey-Smith said that although she sees better representation of women today than she did in the past, it could always be better.

"Yes, because there is a body of very competent leaders out there which could be the creative genius to bring to the table," she said. "Yet, because those leaders do not match the profile of the desired leader, they may not offer themselves for service."

To get more women involved, "there should probably be thought given to implementing term limits and recruitment as avenues to gain a better mix of diverse members on the boards," Smith-Godfrey said.

"The organizations which are serious about change and inclusiveness will recognize that things don’t just happen," she said. "We must create opportunities and then make them happen. I am a big proponent of open discussion at the board tables, led by a competent facilitator, around these highly volatile and emotional issues.  It is amazing how great people can agree on right courses when all is said and done."

Teresa Freeborn, president of Xerox Federal Credit Union in El Segundo, Calif., and board member of CUES, said that the lack of women on some boards might not be due to the choice of the organization, but instead the choice of them women. She said that because women usually have a lot on their plates, between the full-time careers, and their families, they don’t always have time to sit on a board. Freeborn said that CUES is an exception as they make board-membership easier by allowing for such conveniences including teleconferencing when a board member cannot make a meeting in person.

"They respect we are all busy people," she said, of CUES. "It's not that we don’t want to be at those meetings. It's that we have demands competing for our time."

Still, Freeborn said she has seen many more women sitting on national boards over the years.
"There is less and less discussion about it because it's becoming more common now," she said. "Is it is as much it could be? Perhaps it's not as much as it should be, because it's all about how we are balancing life and our families. When forced to choose, you’d obviously choose your family."

"I make sure women are involved in my credit union, from the staff level to the board," she said. "Women are the ones usually making financial decisions. Women mirror our members."

Though it's important to discuss ways on how to get women more involved on these boards, Freeborn said "it will be great when it comes to a point where we don’t have to talk about it, and it's normal."

www.cuna.org
www.cues.org
www.cdcu.coop
www.kcua.org
www.xfcu.org
www.shrevefcu.org