07 February 2006

Keeping credit unions strong
Governor Sebelius appoints four to Kansas Credit Union Council

Many Kansans rely on credit unions as a place to put their savings or as a source for loans and other services. Maintaining the reliability and stability of credit unions is the mission of the Kansas Credit Union Council, to which Governor Kathleen Sebelius has appointed four new members and reappointed three.

“People deserve to know their money is safe and that their credit union is well-run. They should also feel confident that their credit union is upholding a high standard of integrity,” said Sebelius. “Members of the Credit Union Council work to make sure those standards are maintained.”

The Kansas Credit Union Council supervises and regulates credit unions, and the seven-member council works closely with the Kansas Department of Credit Unions. The goal is to protect Kansans from undue financial risk through the examination and supervision of credit unions, and to assure safe and sound operation and compliance with applicable laws and regulations.

Denise Bonner, William McCurley, Garth Strand, and Alvis “Lee” Williams were appointed to serve as new members, each for a three-year term. In addition, Mark Bezdek, Topeka, Mark Kolarik, Pittsburg, and Erich Schaefer, Garden City, were each reappointed to serve a three-year term.

Bonner, Lawrence, is the manager of Wakarusa Valley Credit Union, formerly known as C.F.C.A. Employees Credit Union. Prior to coming to Kansas in 2000, she was the manager of Tribune Employee’s Federal Credit Union in Montana and Richmond City Employee’s Federal Credit Union in Indiana. Bonner also served on the Board of Directors of the Eastern Indiana Chapter of Credit Unions from 1993 to 1998.

McCurley, Overland Park, is retired after a long career in computer and system design. Since 1983, he has worked with credit unions in designing and programming a computerized credit union system that runs across the United States. McCurley has been a member of Toastmasters International since 1965, serving all district offices including District Governor.

Strand, Hutchinson, is the president of Hutchinson Credit Union. He has been with the credit union since 1980 having also served as vice president. For six years, he was a board member of the Kansas Corporate Credit Union, and for five years he was chairman of the Kansas Credit Union Association.

Williams, Wichita, has been with Central Star Credit Union for 21 years, and currently serves as the chief executive officer. Previously, she worked for Bank of Mid America. For three years, she served as vice president of Kansas Credit Union Association and two terms as board member.