A Direct Line Blog

By Donya Parrish, MCU VP Risk Management

Now that 2026 is upon us, I am curious — did you make a New Year’s resolution? Pew Research reported in January 2024 that younger people were more likely to make them than older generations. Whether you make a formal resolution/goal or not, early in the year can be a great opportunity to spend some time on reflection and planning. Don’t forget to be mindful of the credit union and your role there in your ideas and goals.

These are some great suggestions that AI gave on considerations for board members, both to resolve as individuals and also as a group:

• Be a better advocate: Practice your “elevator speech” to spread excitement and attract supporters
• Support staff: Respect boundaries, avoid directing staff, and support fair compensation
• Question the status quo: Be open to new ideas and ask, “Why do we do it this way?”
• Foster positivity: Lead with compassion, listen before reacting, and focus on solutions
• Show up: Be present, responsive, and helpful

• Enhance Diversity & Inclusion: Conduct audits, recruit diverse candidates, and provide training
• Strengthen Governance: Review bylaws, refine committees (finance, audit), and conduct self-assessments
• Improve Financial Oversight: Ensure fiscal health and sustainability
• Think Bigger: Develop exciting visions that attract resources and people
• Improve Meetings: Ensure meetings are productive and action-oriented

Whether you make it past “Quitter’s Day” or not (just an FYI, it is the second Friday of January, so it is coming up in a couple of days!), the new year has the potential to be one of excitement, challenges, and change for credit unions. Our MCU team looks forward to being a partner with you along the way!