Barcelona

I love the WOCCU conference. There's only 1054 people but they are from 62 countries, the deepest national penetration ever but low numbers. However, considering the economic crisis, it is good. So many people working so hard to bring financial services to the unbanked, who believe that part of running a financial institution is to work in the best interest of the members who are also the owners and investments should be local.

The big credit unions, the multi billion dollar ones still are leaders in green sustainability, balancing the needs of employees, the community and the members so everyone benefits. They talk of values not to talk about values but to live them with specific details on how. Caring for others is expressed as a value over and over not to be altruistic but as making a better society for everyone. Inclusion not exclusion.

Of course some of the people working in the field risk their lives. The man in Afhanistan that has opened 18 credit unions travels with two cars of body guards, and another woman in Eastern Europe had helicopters firing bullets outside her apartment window during a failed coup. But those workers who aren't in mortal danger also find themselves riding hours on bad roads to bring financial services to the poor. A new hand held devise allows them to offer services that include instant accounting back in a main office hours a way and for the first time people can save, earn interest and borrow to start small business, send their kids to school, fix their houses, or do things we take for granted.

Another aspect of the conference, is seeing people I've talked to over the years and met in Dublin, Kilarney, Warsaw, Rome, Paris and Calgary. Some I won't see again because they are retiring or changing posts.

There is no doubt that the conference is stressful. I attend sessions, meetings, do write ups. I've gotten out three newsletters and three days and am also covering the conference for my old paper.

I will miss next year's but 2011 is in Scotland. I am looking forward to it already.