Message to Members

As a member and owner, you have the right to participate in the governance of Assiniboine Credit Union. Each year thousands of our members exercise that right by voting on resolutions and for the people they would like to have represent them on the Board of Directors. This year, members will elect four members to the board and vote on two resolutions.

Your board is committed to strong, responsible and ethical governance of your credit union. Integral to this commitment is ensuring that your board has strong and competent directors who bring a well-rounded mix of skills and experience and who can help to represent the diversity of members and communities we serve.

The board looks for a mix of skills and experience in one or more of the following areas: finance, community/social inclusion, human resources, environment, co-operatives/credit unions, community development and management. We strive for gender balance, ethnic and cultural diversity, and diversity of age and lifestyle.

Integral to our endorsement process, is an annual review of the composition of the board against the board approved ideal skills, experiences and diversity to identify gaps on the board. With the approval of the board, the Nominating Committee then looks for strong candidates to fill the identified gaps and recommends them to the board for endorsement.

In 2010, the Nominating Committee looked for strong candidates with skills and experience in the areas of Finance and Environment.

To increase diversity on the board we also looked for strong candidates who were:

• Male
• Aboriginal
• Person of colour
• Person with a disability
• Active in the work force
• Parent/guardian of school-age children

To ensure a fair endorsement process, the Nominating Committee developed interview questions and assessment tools using the ideal board composition. Candidates were asked the same prepared questions and were assessed using these tools. The Nominating Committee then made a recommendation to the board on candidate endorsement.

This year, six eligible members put their names forward as candidates and the board endorsed all six as strong candidates who fill identified gaps in skills, experience and diversity. The candidates are (in alphabetical order):

• Scott Baldwin
• Wilbur Coates (incumbent)
• Margaret Day (incumbent)
• Susan Deane (incumbent)
• Garry Loewen (incumbent)
• Kit Wilson

For the convenience of our members, and in keeping with our long-term commitment to the environment, ACU members had the option of voting online or by mail-in ballot for the 2010 general election.

Vera Goussaert, Chair
2009-2010 Nominating Committee