Convention 2008
October 6 – 8, 2008
Convention headquarters - Seneca Niagara Casino & Hotel

A Message from the President/CEO

This year's Convention theme is Harness the Power, and what better place to gather than at the site of one of the most powerful natural phenomena in the world? The amazing Niagara Falls provides the perfect backdrop for an event based around the idea of capturing and utilizing the power of credit unions.

Convention 2008 will provide you with countless opportunities to network, learn and celebrate with your peers. The Credit Union Association of New York has lined up valuable education sessions, great speakers and exciting events that will inspire each of us to take the credit union movement to a new, more powerful level.

I hope you will enjoy the breathtaking sites of Niagara Falls, as well as the entertainment offered at Seneca Niagara Casino & Hotel. If you’re feeling lucky, you’ll want to check out the vast array of slot machines and gaming tables. As you will see, we’ve also planned an impressive line-up of entertainment, including receptions, fine dining and a golf outing to benefit the New York Credit Union Foundation. Our exhibit hall will provide you with the opportunity to network with top vendors and learn more about the latest resources and services available to your credit union.

From the falls to the casino, the Niagara Falls area has a longstanding reputation for bringing out the adventurer in those who visit. As some of you may know, the first person to go over the Falls in a barrel was a 63-year-old schoolteacher named Annie Taylor. In 1901, she loaded herself and her cat in a barrel, descended over the falls…and survived! Her determination, however crazy it seemed, made her a pioneer for the daredevils to follow—including our Convention keynote speaker, Alison Levine.

Ms. Levine is the founder and president of Daredevil Strategies and has been named one of San Francisco’s “Top Business Leaders Under 40.” Despite being born with a life-threatening heart condition and suffering from Raynaud’s Disease, she has climbed six of the highest peaks in the world, was team captain of the first American Women’s Everest Expedition in 2002 and traveled across the Arctic Circle on skis for more than 100 miles to successfully reach the North Pole. A renowned speaker, Ms. Levine offers valuable insight on leadership, teamwork, determination and adapting to change. Credit unions already excel in these areas, but imagine the power we can add to the movement by taking our strengths one step further.

Come join us at Convention 2008. I’m confident you’ll learn something new, discover the adventurer inside yourself…and leave inspired to share the power of the credit union difference.

William J. Mellin
President/CEO