DE Training Day Five

Monday, April 19th – Happy Birthday Michael Ray!!! And thanks Julie Gee for writing our blog of the day!

The morning started with the groups presenting their DE projects to Mentors. After an hour of review, each Mentor presented the participants’ projects. Our new DEs-to-be are excited and anxious to return home to start on their projects. Beginning with this class, we return to reporting on projects. Tom Decker informed the group that quarterly progress reports will be required – he’ll be posting the complete list of DE projects in the coming days. Your assistance in helping guide and ensuring the success of our newest DEs will be much appreciated – btw, they know YOU are out there.

There were a number of team building activities this morning; starting with the “Circle of Trust”. Participants gathered in the lobby and formed a circle, stretching their arms as far as their arms would allow. Once the circle was in order, the group counted off in 2’s. Tom instructed the group that the “1’s” would lean forward and the “2’s” would lean backward as far as they could. The element of trust came into play when Tom counted to three and everyone leaned forward or backward----hands are hard to hold together under extreme pressure!!!! After the second round, the group tried the exercise with their eyes closed and refrained from any noise then returned to the classroom for a lesson in “speed dating”.

Jen Kloepping instructed the group to break off in partners to speed date -- she timed the group to share their experience at DE and the moments that impacted them the most. Each participant had one minute to share with the other. At the command from Jen, the group switched and each person had a new partner to share their story. The exercise continued until each person had shared with every member of the group.

After the exercise, participants had time to reflect on their experience. Then the group returned to the team building exercise “Circle of Trust”. This time, participants displayed yet a better sense of trust in each other.

The bids on the auction items keep going up!! The Peeps war continues…

Afternoon rolled around and the anticipated projects were assigned. This year we have brand new Case Studies, thanks to Bill Myers and the editing skills of Carla Decker. The Case Studies build off the Hot Topics session and reflect the challenges of today: Expanding Service to the Underbanked, Shifting Demographics – Growth in Hispanics, Shifting Demographics – Aging Membership, A Discussion on National Branding, and Credit Union Philosophy in Succession Planning. Once the topics were assigned and the meeting rooms battled for, the groups eagerly began preparing for their presentations.

Dinner rolled around and the groups were hesitant to break as they realized the intensity of their mission… And we had a couple of surprises: sparkle and shine for Michael Ray, and news from Marlene Shiels that she’ll be spending the next two days in Haiti!!! While we’ll miss her for graduation we all wished her safe travels!

By 1:35 a.m. three groups were in bed while two groups continued their arduous task of project completion… Despite some drama, the groups came together in a cooperative spirit to carry forth their missions.