Credit union reps from Africa tour Shelton

What led to 30 credit union representatives from eastern Africa dancing and creating letters with their arms to the Village People tune "YMCA" July 16 at the Shelton Family YMCA?

The 30 people from Kenya and Malawi visited the Puget Sound region July 13-20, including stays in Olympia and Seattle, and a day in Shelton. The Learn and Share trip was organized by the African Confederation of Cooperative Savings and Credit Association that supports Savings and Credit Cooperative Organizations in 29 countries in Africa. The tours, which have included visits to New Mexico, Texas, North Carolina and Ireland, are opportunities for credit union board members and executives to see how credit unions operate in their communities.

Their day in Shelton came through Jim Morrell, the CEO of Peninsula Credit Union. Morrell said he's traveled to Africa about six times, conducting development work with credit union colleagues in six or seven countries.

The group started the day at Peninsula Credit Union, toured the Sierra Pacific Industries mill on the Shelton waterfront, lunched at Kneeland Park and then toured the Shelton Family YMCA. They met with Shelton Mayor Eric Onisko, Shelton Police Chief Chris Kostad and other city officials at the Shelton Civic Center. They then attended a board meeting of Peninsula Credit Union, which because of the size of the crowd was also hosted at the Shelton Civic Center. Their day ended with a dinner at a private residence on Hammersley Inlet.

"We were honored by their visit," Morrell said.

During their tour of the Sierra Pacific Industries mill, "They were amazed at the mill and the operations," Morrell said. The visitors have a great interest in climate change and were impressed that SPI plants more trees than it uses, he said.

At the Shelton YMCA, they not only toured the facility but learned how it is used as a hub for the community. Peninsula Credit Union uses the location for its community financial educator to meet with people to talk about improving their financial well-being, resources of the WIC program and Mason General Hospital.

The group visited four credit unions in South Sound: Peninsula, BECU, WSECU and Olympia Credit Union. They also visited the Go-West Credit Union Association, the state Capitol and The Evergreen State College's House of Welcome Cultural Arts Center about Northwest Tribes. They rode a state ferry to Bainbridge Island and visited Pike Place Market in Seattle.

The group then flew to Boston for the World Credit Union Conference, also attended by Morrell.