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 for the people they would like to represent them on the Board of Directors. This year, members will elect three members to the board.

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

To this end, the board looks for skills and experience in one or more of the following areas: finance, community/social inclusion, human resources, co-operatives/credit unions, community development and management. In addition, the board wishes to be representative of the communities we serve. 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 seeks strong candidates to fill the identified gaps and recommends them to the board for endorsement. In 2011, the Nominating Committee looked for strong candidates with skills and experience who were:

• People of colour
• People of Aboriginal ancestry
• People with a disability
• Parents/guardians of school-age children
• People under 45 years of age

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. The candidates are (in alphabetical order by last name):

• Dennis Anderson (incumbent)
• Jules Gareau
• Gary Gervais
• Vera Goussaert (incumbent)
• Crystal Laborero
• Arvind Pal Singh Matharu

Of these six candidates, the board has endorsed the following candidates:

• Dennis Anderson (incumbent)
• Jules Gareau
• Gary Gervais
• Vera Goussaert (incumbent)
• Crystal Laborero

ACU members have the option of voting online or by mail-in ballot. We encourage you to exercise your democratic right by voting in the election and we strongly encourage you to vote online.

Nicole Ritchot, Chair
2010-2011 Nominating Committee