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A bunch of my colleagues were in New York City over the weekend for the annual American Bar Association meetings. The meetings have a credit union section where a bunch of credit union attorneys get together and talk shop.  Most of the topics of discussion come from the attendees themselves. I always leave the meetings much better off for having attended.
I also belong to a Washington-area compliance officer's roundtable. It meets quarterly, and again, we all get together and talk about common areas of confusion, frustration, frustration, and confusion.
I highly recommend that you look for such a group near your credit union. And if there isn't a roundtable, why not start an informal one? Call all the credit unions nearby, and once a quarter, invite everyone over for a brown bag lunch to talk about compliance issues. It will be well worth the effort. Here's why:
- We all face common problems, but there are many ways to solve them. Having fresh eyes and ears to look and listen can make all the difference.Â
- Misery loves company. Now, I say that tongue-in-cheek. But our jobs are not simple. Sometimes it is nice to know that you're not the only one that gets a cold shiver down the spine when faced with a UCC issue.
- Problem spotting. When many people bring their own topics of discussion, you're bound to learn something new and be prepared for a problem that has yet to visit your credit union. Roundtables are a great way to see what is coming around the corner.
- Sometimes, someone may actually cater the event. And there's nothing better than a free lunch.