Notice - Servus Credit Union

Notice
2011 Board of Director
Candidate Profiles
Derek Baird
Vimal (Mel) Bhatia
Sam Cooper
Terry Cooper
Jonathon Holt
Mavis McKay
Dennis Moffat
Penny Reeves
Lloyd Robinson
Alison Starke
Don Weideman
Rob Wiedeman
Candidate Statements
Derek Baird
I am a 56 year old retired school
teacher. Although I am currently
enjoying retirement status, I am
looking for a new challenge to which
I can devote some of my newfound
spare time. I have been a member
of the credit union in Innisfail since arriving in this
community in 1979 when I began teaching. It has
always been a pleasure to have the service and
dedication of the employees working on my behalf for
so many years.
Over the past 31 years as a teacher and department
head, I was committed to working with others and
knew how to work within budget. I have a proven track
record as a team player as I am committed to the task
until it is complete. Serving as town councillor with the
Town of Innisfail for the past 12 years has given me a
clear understanding of good governance and working
with finances. I have maintained an excellent rapport
with students, parents, colleagues, administrators
and residents. Joining the Board of Directors for
Servus Credit Union is a task I look forward to so I
can once again give back to this organization and the
community that has always supported me.
Vimal (Mel) Bhatia
I am a Certified Management
Accountant operating my own
private practice in Edmonton, Alberta
since 1994. Prior to opening my
practice, I was the Controller at
Anglo Canadian Motors (Jaguar/
Volvo dealer) for 14 years. I have been a Community
Council member with Servus Credit Union since 2004
and have served as a Director of the Hindu Society
of Alberta and the Strathcona Business Park. I am a
member of the Canadian Federation of Independent
Business and a founding member of the Indo-Canadian
Chamber of Commerce. I would describe myself as
a versatile, analytical and hard-working professional
with experience in advising small to large—and local
to national level— businesses in areas of accounting,
operational efficiency and negotiations. I believe that
my background as an advisor to over 300 corporations,
and my history with various leadership positions in
Alberta, has given me a set of skills that would assist
me greatly as a Director with Servus Credit Union.
Regarding my personal background, I was born and
raised in India but eventually settled in Edmonton,
Alberta just over 30 years ago. I am married to my wife
Nisha Bhatia and together we are the proud parents of
two children.
Sam Cooper
What has permanently altered the
way you interact with your financial
institution today? The answer is
“Information and Communications
Technology (ICT),” best examples
being online and automated
banking. ICT is evolving at light speed to present
new financial products and delivery systems that
offer members transaction convenience, time
efficiencies and greater choice.
With a University of Alberta MBA, US athletic
scholarship and extensive travel to fifty countries
as foundation, I possess 12 years of ICT experience,
beginning with Alberta start-up Messaging Direct that
sold its transactional software to the financial industry,
to today, as an Account Consultant with Bell Canada,
the largest national ICT company.
In this unique technology context my expertise can
guide decisions that shape the Servus experience. This
will be accomplished by continuing to live up to the
guiding principle of “customer first” while encouraging
use of innovative technology tools, processes and
techniques that identify member needs and tailor-made
solutions to match.
As a long-standing Servus customer (income properties
investment), additional credentials include volunteer
activism (kidSport for underprivileged children), other
board memberships, and a strong social network.
Thank you for considering adding my cooperative
spirit, exuberance and technology experience to the
Servus Credit Union Board.
Terry Cooper
First elected to the Board of
Community Savings (Medicine Hat)
in 1987, it has been my honour and
privilege to serve as your director
through the successive mergers with
Parkland, Common Wealth and Servus
credit unions. Currently serving as a Servus Credit
Union director on the Credit Union Central Alberta and
Concentra Financial boards, I have also participated in
provincial governance task forces and completed the
Credit Union Director Achievement program.
A graduate of the University of British Columbia
(BSc., Ph.D.) and Institute of Corporate Directors
(ICD.D), I was employed by Medicine Hat College,
beginning as a chemistry and computer science
instructor, followed by several years as the Dean of
Science before being appointed as the Vice President
Academic in 1995, a position I held until my retirement
in July 2010. I continue to work with the college senior
management on projects related to institutional
readiness for degree granting and risk management.
Celebrating our 40th wedding anniversary, my wife
Carol and I continue to remain actively involved in
our community. A member of the Sunrise Rotary and
Friendship Force clubs, I also serve as a director on
the Friends of Medalta Historical Society and Alberta
Council of Technologies, two not-for-profit societies.
Jonathon Holt
I’ve been a credit union member for
21 years, 11 of those with Servus.
I’m the founding partner in a boutique
software consulting firm in Edmonton.
I’ve been happily married for 10 years
and am the proud father of two
children. I have a BA from the University of Alberta and
was a Toastmaster for five years.
I served on the Servus Board in 2008 during a very
tumultuous time, sitting on the Credit and the
Community Support and Governance Committees.
I was happy to represent Servus at the 2008 Credit
Union Central of Canada AGM and reported to the
board on behalf of the Credit Union National Young
Leaders’ committee for leaders under 40.
I have a strong belief in customer service and a
personal relationship with clients, which I feel I share
with the credit union principles. I believe strongly in
the co-operative movement and the accountability
of an elected board responsible for governance and
strategic oversight. For me, governance is being the
organization’s conscience; strategic oversight is the
ability to look past the day-to-day operations to look
for future opportunity and to prepare against future
trouble. I’m excited to represent you at Servus.
Mavis McKay
I have been a credit union member
for over forty years. I strongly believe
in the credit union and cooperative
system. I have served on credit union
boards for over twenty-five years, and
have been a member on the executive
committee, policy committee,
nominating committee, search committee, chair of the
audit and finance committee, and other various sub
committees. I am encouraged to see the direction our
credit union is moving and excited to see that we are
working with other credit unions in other parts of the
world to help those less fortunate than ourselves to
start small businesses. I have talked to members of
Servus Credit Union who are staunch supporters of
this member-owned institution which has given them
an opportunity to start businesses in Alberta. I ask for
your support as I run for a position on the board.
Dennis Moffat
It is a privilege to be able to run for
the position of Director for Servus
Credit Union. Our dream of provincewide financial services for credit
union members is being realized. The
amalgamation of the three best credit
unions in Alberta is a tribute of the vision of all the
contributing boards of previous years.
The board actively participates with management in
the annual strategic planning process. It is this strong
team effort that serves you, the membership, well as
evidenced by our level of success. I am proud to serve
as a member of that team.
There will be challenges ahead until the economic
climate stabilizes and during our banking system
conversion. I very much want to play a part in meeting
those challenges.
If I am successful in receiving your support, I would
work to increase our credit union assets and maintain
the member shared earnings. The image and style of
our Servus branches should be an important priority.
I would value the opportunity to serve you for another
term.
The continued position of the best place to work
and the internal support for our valued employees
would be my ongoing attention. We are blessed with
a productive and loyal staff. I see there are still some
development problems that need to be corrected.
Lloyd Robinson and his wife Val reside
in Medicine Hat, and he remains an
active farmer in the Burdett Bow
Island area. Lloyd has an extensive
background in agriculture and has
served on both federal and provincial
agricultural boards. Currently, Lloyd is a member of
the National Agri-Invest Appeals committee. He was a
producer representative for the province of Alberta on
the National NISA Board and the National CAIS Board.
Lloyd was a member of the National Intermediary
Appeals Board, the National CAIS Appeals Board and
past chair of the Alberta CAIS Appeals Board.
This is my pledge to you.
Penny Reeves
It has been a personal privilege to
serve on the Servus Credit Union
Board and I am honored to be
nominated to serve another term.
I currently serve as the Chair of
the Enterprise Risk Management
Committee, represent Alberta as Second Vice Chair
on the Board of Credit Union Central of Canada and
represent Canada as Secretary on the World Council
of Credit Unions Board.
Servus has weathered the uncertainty of the current
economic climate extremely well. Our merger of
three large credit unions into one has been handled
competently. This can be attributed to the exceptional
leadership provided by our CEO, management and
the commitment we enjoy at all levels from a team of
extremely dedicated and professional staff.
Lloyd Robinson
Lloyd was past chair of the Alberta Corn Committee.
He has served on various local community boards
in the Burdett and Bow Island areas. Lloyd is a past
president of the Southern Alberta Curling Association
(SACA) and a Honorary Life Member.
Lloyd Robinson served on the first community council
of the Bow Island Credit Union, and was elected to
the Community Savings Board of Directors in 2003.
In 2008, Lloyd was elected to the new Servus Credit
Union Board of Directors.
Lloyd’s goal is to represent all members of Servus
Credit Union at the Board level.
Lloyd and Val have two children and six grandchildren.
Alison Starke
Servus Credit Union is a great place
to bank and work. It has been my
privilege to serve as a director since
2002, with Border, Common Wealth,
and now Servus as well as Credit Union
Central of Alberta. It has been an
exciting challenge taking the best practices from each
of our pasts and putting them all together. We continue
to work hard for our members to develop a brand new
vision and values. As we look towards the future there
are still many exciting opportunities for this dynamic
organization. I am seeking re-election to the board
because I still have much to contribute to build Servus
into the best credit union imaginable.
I was educated as a veterinarian, co-owning and
managing two award-winning veterinary practices
in Lloydminster. In 2002 I obtained my Master of
Business Administration degree. These are the skills
and experience I bring to the board table. I have seen
and helped guide a great deal of exciting change in the
past eight years, and remain enthused about the new
challenges we face. It would be my honour to continue
to have a hand in building towards the vision we have
set before us.
Don Weideman
Greater Edmonton and all Alberta
Servus Credit Union members will
benefit from the knowledge and
experience that I bring to serve you
on the Board of Directors.
I am a Professor Emeritus, University
of Alberta, as Professor of Land Economics for twentyseven years, with over thirty years practical business
experience in real estate development projects as
company President. Qualifications include Ph.D. in
Business, MBA, and B. Comm.
Community involvement includes service on NAIT
Board of Governors, Chair of Edmonton Housing for
Seniors, President of Alzheimer’s Society, Executive of
Oliver Community League and selected to the 2004
Canadian Election Observer Mission to Ukraine.
I was privileged to serve you on Capital City Savings
Board from 2002 to 2005 where I served on the Credit,
Audit and Finance Committees, board representative
on Alberta Central Credit Union Dues and Governance
Task Force.
Servus Credit Union continues to prosper with sound
business development credited to outstanding
leadership provided by the management team and a
proficient team of dedicated staff. It would be an honor
to serve you as Director on the Servus Board.
Rob Wiedeman
If elected as a board member I would
like to add my experience to help
Servus Credit Union continue on as
one of the best financial institutions
in Canada. My background in several
businesses as well as a former mayor
running a municipality with a $75 million dollar
budget has taught me many skills which I will apply as
a board member.
If it was not for the credit union’s help I would not be
in the position I am today. Over 20 years ago I started
a business financed by a credit union that grew from
2 employees to over 120. They took a chance on me
because they are that type of organization.
The recent financial crisis taught all of us how
close we could have been to failure had we not had
proper governance, management and direction like
that at Servus.
Over and above all else one trait that Servus is better
at than any other is that it is people friendly, both to
members and staff and that is the most important
feature we could ask for.
I look for your support and vote to elect me to the
board of Servus Credit Union.
Notice
of Election
Servus Credit Union Board of Directors 2011
Elections for the Servus Credit Union Board of
Directors will take place in all branches of Servus
Credit Union and online from Friday, February 4, 2011
to Friday, February 18, 2011. You are encouraged to
vote at the branch most convenient to you or online
on our website servus.ca (you will need to obtain a
control number in branch or by calling the member
contact centre).
The Board consists of 12 Directors with four (4)
positions up for election each year. All member
owners are asked to vote for at least one (1), but no
more than four (4) Director candidates.
Current Board members and their term expiries are:
2011: Terry Cooper, Merv Loewen, Penny Reeves,
Alison Starke
2012: William J. Anhorn, Peter Elzinga (Chair),
Peter Galloway, Doug Hastings (Vice Chair)
2013: Helen Cheung, Amy Corrigan, Perry Dooley,
Simon Neigum
Candidate profiles and video presentations will be
available in all Servus Credit Union branches and
on our website at servus.ca. A list of current Board
members and their biographies are also available on
our website.
The results of the election will be announced at
our Annual General Meeting.
Servus Credit Union Annual General Meeting
March 17, 2011
Winspear Centre, Edmonton, Alberta
Voter Eligibility and Election Rules
In order to cast a valid ballot you must meet the
following requirements:
• O
nly adult members (18 years of age or older)
may vote.
• T
he voter must have been a member of Servus
Credit Union as of December 31, 2010.
• A
member may vote only once, unless a member
is also a designated representative of an
organization. Then the member may vote once
on their personal membership and once for the
organization, to a maximum of two votes.
• In the case of a joint membership, each person
will be allowed a vote provided that they have not
already voted on another personal membership.
There must be at least 1 common share for
each voting member on the joint account. Once
votes have been cast for each of the common
shares, no further votes will be permitted on that
membership.
• T
rustees, corporations, partnerships and
associations are allowed ONE vote by the
designated representative.
• B
allots must be cast in person at a branch or on
the designated website, unless the member will
be out of the province. In that case a mail-in ballot
may be obtained from the member’s branch. Proxy
voting (casting a vote on behalf of another member)
is not permitted.